Deborah Blum

Dr. Harvey Washington Wiley set out to ensure food safety. He selected food tasters to test various food additives and preservatives, letting them know that the substances could be harmful or deadly. The tasters were recognized for their courage, and became known as the poison squad.

Tells the story of the dawn of forensic investigation, focusing on a number of cases of death by poisoning as well as accidental death by exposure to deadly chemicals. Examines the pioneering efforts of New York's first medical examiner Charles Norris and his assistant, toxicologist Alexander Gettler.