This book provides an overview of historical and contemporary cases of
homicidal poisoning. While homicidal poisoning is sometimes thought of
as a thing of the past, it continues to be a contemporary problem, and
in fact the unknown offender rate for poisoning cases is 20-30 times
that of other homicide types in contemporary research, and many
poisoners commit serial homicides while going undetected.
The author of this important and timely work explores the theoretical
bases for understanding homicidal poisoning, the nature of poisons used
in homicidal cases, the characteristics of poisoners and their victims,
and techniques for detection and prevention.
This unique book will be of particular interest to: students of
criminology (classes dealing with criminal psychology, and murder
investigation); students of the history of crime; criminal justice
professionals: attorneys, homicide detectives, forensic pathologists,
forensic and clinical toxicologists, and other forensic investigators;
and all interested in poisons, poisoners and the detection of poisoning.
It has relevance to criminology, law and policing, toxicology and
forensic science, the history of crime and detection, and criminal
psychology.
Endorsements:
"A most welcomed addition to the important subject of the criminal
poisoner. The author has done a fantastic job of researching the world
literature, and distilling it down for the reader. The work is very well
referenced, and provides critical information for law enforcement,
forensic pathologists, and others, that could be dealing with the
criminal poisoner."**
John H. Trestrail IIIToxicologistLos Lunas, New Mexico USA
"Dr Michael Farrell has produced a comprehensive and authoritative work
on a most serious but often overlooked aspect of criminal assault - the
act of poisoning. In the Criminology of Homicidal Poisoning, Farrell
seamlessly weaves together the facts about poisons and their use as an
instrument of homicide with the context of the larger issue of murder.
By examining the poisoner and the victim, the reader is provided a depth
of understanding about how a deadly outcome arose and why the choice was
made to employ poison to get the grisly job done. With criminal homicide
by poisoning making up a small percentage of known crimes, the danger of
insufficient scholarly attention is present. Dr Michael Farrell makes a
significant contribution to ensure against this potential. As a homicide
researcher, I know Criminology of Homicidal Poisoning will join the
works I turn to in understanding the nuances of the how and why of
homicide."*
Dr Richard M. Hough, Sr., Criminology and Criminal Justice and
Public Administration Program Coordinator, University of West Florida,
US*
"This comprehensive text links forensic toxicology with criminology,
making a solid contribution to both fields. Farrell not only describes
how homicidal poisoning fits the most popular criminological theories
for why people kill but also examines the nature and lethality of
various poisons, identifies trends in poisoning, provides a history, and
shows offender traits and victim characteristics. In addition, he
discusses issues for investigators and prosecutors who will be taking a
poisoning case to trial."
*Katherine Ramsland Professor of forensic psychology at DeSales
University, PennsylvaniaPsychology Today
