The Science of Murder - Agatha Christie's Deadly Poisons

Explore the fascinating intersection of chemistry and crime fiction in this Royal Institution lecture where chemist-turned-writer Kathryn Harkup examines the scientific accuracy behind Agatha Christie's deadly poisons. Discover how Christie's extensive knowledge of drugs and medicine, gained through her background in chemistry, enabled her to use poisons more accurately than any other crime writer in her brilliantly plotted novels. Learn about the science behind various lethal substances featured in Christie's works, including arrow poisons from 'Miss Marple's Final Cases,' trinitrine and nitroglycerine from 'Poirot's Early Cases,' chloral hydrate and Mickey Finns from 'Passenger to Frankfurt,' and snake venom from 'Death in the Clouds.' Understand how these chemicals can be so deadly in small quantities, examine the feasibility of obtaining such substances both in Christie's era and today, and uncover how the author carefully selected her poisons to provide clues, red herrings, and plot twists while maintaining scientific accuracy. Gain insights into how real-life cases influenced Christie's crime novels and appreciate the meticulous research that went into creating some of literature's most memorable murder mysteries.