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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
I enjoyed reading this one, we learn so much about Graham Young and his crimes, his thoughts about them, his reasonings and so much more. We see how the people around him were affected and we also learn a lot about poison which could almost be seen as too much (to me personally). Highly recommend reading if you are into true crime.
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
A Passion For Poison - Carol Ann Lee
This book is just brilliant. Having read an extract on Readers First, I was immediately hooked and I had to use my points to devour the rest!
The cover is eye catching and makes you want to find out more, it looks like a golden age murder mystery and of sorts it is.
It begins with a short history of poisoning, a whistle stop tour from Egypt to Rome to the Nazi’s to the Queen of Crime Agatha Christie and here was so much interesting information packed in that I just knew I wanted to read on. It paves the way for the introduction to Graham Young, the calm, chillingly frightening schoolboy poisoner and who at trial is committed to Broodmoor. He is obsessed with poisons and has been trialling them on his family and friends ostensibly to see what happens but it seems he may have committed the perfect murder and I needed to read on to know what, who, how and when.
Known as the ‘Teacup Poisoner’, after release from Broadmoor, he very quickly returned to his old ways. It is unsettling and frightening how he was able to obtain poison and pull the wool over the authorities eyes. There seems to have been a catalogue of disastrous errors that led to innocent people losing their lives. To us now it is horrifying that this could happen and in part his case is the reason why laws were changed.
Interestingly there was thought to be a link to The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie where thallium is used as the poison of choice. It is thought that it inspired Young although this was never admitted or proved but quotes from this novel head each section in a rather chilling fashion.
Riveting and utterly mesmerising, I almost couldn’t believe this was real life and not one of the Queen of Crimes novels. This is a brilliantly researched and executed look at one our country’s most notorious poisoners, loved it!
✩✩✩✩✩
This book is just brilliant. Having read an extract on Readers First, I was immediately hooked and I had to use my points to devour the rest!
The cover is eye catching and makes you want to find out more, it looks like a golden age murder mystery and of sorts it is.
It begins with a short history of poisoning, a whistle stop tour from Egypt to Rome to the Nazi’s to the Queen of Crime Agatha Christie and here was so much interesting information packed in that I just knew I wanted to read on. It paves the way for the introduction to Graham Young, the calm, chillingly frightening schoolboy poisoner and who at trial is committed to Broodmoor. He is obsessed with poisons and has been trialling them on his family and friends ostensibly to see what happens but it seems he may have committed the perfect murder and I needed to read on to know what, who, how and when.
Known as the ‘Teacup Poisoner’, after release from Broadmoor, he very quickly returned to his old ways. It is unsettling and frightening how he was able to obtain poison and pull the wool over the authorities eyes. There seems to have been a catalogue of disastrous errors that led to innocent people losing their lives. To us now it is horrifying that this could happen and in part his case is the reason why laws were changed.
Interestingly there was thought to be a link to The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie where thallium is used as the poison of choice. It is thought that it inspired Young although this was never admitted or proved but quotes from this novel head each section in a rather chilling fashion.
Riveting and utterly mesmerising, I almost couldn’t believe this was real life and not one of the Queen of Crimes novels. This is a brilliantly researched and executed look at one our country’s most notorious poisoners, loved it!
✩✩✩✩✩
Rounded down from roughly 4.5 Stars ⭐️
A passion for poison is a true crime book based on serial poisoner Graham Young. His crimes started as a young teen, where he was admitted to a maximum security hospital. However, upon his release his crime spree continued with devastating consequences.
I am an avid true crime fan, yet I had never previously heard of Graham Young (I suspect this could potentially be because of my age). Carol Ann Lee’s writing is so intensely detailed and meticulously research, I feel like I now have a pretty good understanding of the case. This is one of the most haunting yet fascinating true crime stories I’ve ever heard.
Obviously, with any book of this nature, it is not an easy read. It is dark, foreboding and chilling, yet I simply could not put the book down. I found myself devouring this read and really hope that Carol writes more books similar to this one as this is my favourite true crime book, to date. There’s a haunting aspect to true crime that can be extremely tough to recreate in fiction. However, this almost felt like reading a well written thriller, carol is able to narrate in a detached yet informative manner.
I would absolutely recommend this book to any true crime fans! I want to thank readers first, the publishers and author for allowing me to read this book and give my personal opinions.
A passion for poison is a true crime book based on serial poisoner Graham Young. His crimes started as a young teen, where he was admitted to a maximum security hospital. However, upon his release his crime spree continued with devastating consequences.
I am an avid true crime fan, yet I had never previously heard of Graham Young (I suspect this could potentially be because of my age). Carol Ann Lee’s writing is so intensely detailed and meticulously research, I feel like I now have a pretty good understanding of the case. This is one of the most haunting yet fascinating true crime stories I’ve ever heard.
Obviously, with any book of this nature, it is not an easy read. It is dark, foreboding and chilling, yet I simply could not put the book down. I found myself devouring this read and really hope that Carol writes more books similar to this one as this is my favourite true crime book, to date. There’s a haunting aspect to true crime that can be extremely tough to recreate in fiction. However, this almost felt like reading a well written thriller, carol is able to narrate in a detached yet informative manner.
I would absolutely recommend this book to any true crime fans! I want to thank readers first, the publishers and author for allowing me to read this book and give my personal opinions.
I love true crime but I have never really read any true crime novels so this was out of my comfort zone. The premise of this case really intrigued me and it wasn't a case I'd heard of before so I was very interested to read about Graham's childhood, crimes and everything that happened in his life. It was so interesting to read about his obsession with poisons from such an early age and the blasé way he administered it to everyone in his life. I liked the extracts from statements, diaries etc really added to the narrative. The sheaf of images included in the middle of the book also added another layer of depth to the experience, seeing pictures of Graham as he grew up and important places in his life at various points as he grew up. With the inclusion of the end notes I will be spending some time locating some of these sources and reading them so I can get a broader and deeper view of the case as this book has piqued my interest for it.
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
At the age of fourteen, Graham Young was on trial for poisoning a school friend and family members with antimony. Convicted but deemed to be mentally unstable he was detained at Broadmoor. Following his release, with Doctors pleased with his progress and feeling he was no longer a danger to the public, he found a job as a storeman at a local photography supplies company and all appeared to be well, until several of his colleagues started to experience strange symptoms including crippling stomach pains.
Despite being a lover of true crime I had never heard of Graham Young, a fact I’m sure he would have been very upset about. I was drawn to this one as I like Carol Ann Lee’s style of writing, it really ticks all the boxes for me when it comes to true crime, and the cover image reminded me of Jarvis from the Agent Carter tv show!
Young’s case is certainly an interesting one. His strange fascination with poisons and toxicology leads to him becoming a murderer very young as it seems clear to me that he killed his Stepmother, although this isn’t a crime he was ever tried for. He was an incredibly creepy guy by all accounts and his attitude and behaviour gave me the shivers at times.
What was frustrating was how often his family made excuses for him in the early days and then again when his colleagues started to become unwell. They were so concerned about him that they didn’t let him prepare food for them but when he told them about his colleagues getting ill and some of them even dying they never thought to say something in case he was responsible.
Carol Ann Lee’s writing is, as I expected, flawless. She’s thorough and methodical in her research and writing. There’s no hyperbole, she sticks to the facts whilst also being sensitive to the victims and families.
There were obviously failings in the system along the way and closer monitoring should have been carried out once he was released. I understand why his employer wasn’t told the exact nature of his history as there is a need for some levels of confidentiality in order for people who have genuinely made an improvement in hospital to be able to put it behind them and move on with their lives but more should have been done to safeguard his colleagues.
Another brilliant true crime book from Carol Ann Lee, I gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
A really interesting read. Lee provides a lot of context for every element of Graham’s crimes and jail time as well as the subsequent effects to psychiatry and mental health care.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Murder
dark
informative
medium-paced
This book masters the blend of engaging narrative and harrowing non-fiction that is key to a readable true crime book. Outlining the life and crimes of Graham Young, one of the youngest Broadmoor inmates who’s expertise in poison made him one of Britain’s most dangerous serial killers.
The book is well researched and structured going into detail about each stage of his life and exploring the conflicting narratives that are shared about him as well as the different impacts on his family. It also concludes with a wider understanding and exploration of what the cases meant for the future of the legal system and criminals’ mental health.
Carol Ann Lee’s writing is very gripping and readable and they have put the book together to make it as compelling as fiction but it is densely populated with first-person accounts and well researched sources making it a great work of true crime.
The book is well researched and structured going into detail about each stage of his life and exploring the conflicting narratives that are shared about him as well as the different impacts on his family. It also concludes with a wider understanding and exploration of what the cases meant for the future of the legal system and criminals’ mental health.
Carol Ann Lee’s writing is very gripping and readable and they have put the book together to make it as compelling as fiction but it is densely populated with first-person accounts and well researched sources making it a great work of true crime.