Science Friday How Agatha Christie Used Chemistry To Kill (In Books)
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Aug 18, 2025 Join Kathryn Harkup, a chemist-turned-author, as she unravels the deadly secrets behind Agatha Christie's use of poison in her mysteries. With a background in pharmacy, Harkup explains how Christie's chemistry knowledge enriched her storytelling. Discover the allure of toxicology, the dual nature of poisons, and the science behind crime-solving. Harkup also reflects on how societal perceptions of toxicity have shifted, shedding light on Christie's personal encounters with lethal plants that inspired her infamous plots.
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Christie’s Scientific Imagination
- Agatha Christie displayed wide imagination and scientific accuracy in her choice and use of poisons.
- Her creativity extended to deployment, detection, and narrative signaling within plots.
Christie’s Pharmacy Training
- Agatha Christie trained during WWI as a dispenser, hand-mixing prescriptions and working with hazardous compounds.
- She learned both the technical and practical pharmacy skills that informed her novels' accuracy.
Bacterial Poisons And Historical Timing
- Christie understood bacterial agents as deliberate murder weapons before antibiotics were widespread.
- She later avoided such plots after antibiotics reduced their lethality.
