“This green-gilt edition lays out a ghoulish buffet of 28 women divided by time, circumstance, and motive but “united by the singular toxic trait of being accused or convicted poisoners.” There are the classic cases, like that of Locusta, whose botanical knowledge made her ancient Rome’s assassin to the stars, as well as more modern murderesses, such as Nannie Doss, a 1950s “giggling granny” who spiked her paramours’ food or coffee with rat poison.”
