The Science of Murder: The Forensics of Agatha Christie

Mortuary technician Valentine (The Chick and the Dead: Life and Death Behind Mortuary Doors) takes a breezy and accessible look at the history of forensic science via the fiction of Agatha Christie. In insightful chapters covering fingerprints, trace evidence, ballistics, and document analysis, among other subjects, Valentine uses examples from golden age mysteries to explain, for example, what the author got right (the potential use of thallium as a poison), and what she got wrong (conflating the words revolver and automatic in describing a firearm). Along the way, she traces how fingerprints had been used as identifying marks dating back as far as 1800 BCE in Babylon, and how that led to their being utilized to catch criminals starting in the 19th century. The evolution of poison testing, blood spatter analysis, and other forensic disciplines get similar treatment. Contrary to fears that creators such as Christie inspire real-life imitators, Valentine shows how lives were actually saved by readers familiar with the obscure toxins used in Christie’s works. This is a solid introduction to the realities underlying the detection involved in some of the genre’s best-loved works. Agent: Martin Redfern, Northbank Talent. (May)