What is it about the medical profession and a fascination with poison, especially when it comes to those used in murder mysteries. Poisons have been a tried-and-true way to kill off a character in a thriller since before Sherlock Holmes. And, of course, there’s Queen of Crime Agatha Christie, the demure, ordinary looking, upper-class British lady who used poison to eliminate more than 30 wayward souls in her mysteries. Her passion for poisons began during World War I when she concocted medicines as a nurse and physician’s assistant. She knew poisons like Steph Curry knows basketball.
In the Bay Area, Dr. JP, aka the Princess of Poisons, specializes in these unique substances. Arsenic, cyanide, strychnine and thallium—they’re only a few that capture her lively imagination. Known for helping local and national authors find just the right concoction for their evil antagonist to put to work, Dr. JP is an emergency medicine physician and toxicologist who created, and hosts, Pick Your Poison, a podcast with fascinating facts about toxins, poisons, murder, mayhem, ancient history and pop culture. Find it on Apple, Spotify, Instagram, Threads or PickYourPoison.com.
How much do you know about poisons? Here’s Dr. JP’s quiz:
1. Which poisoning is depicted by the “Alice in Wonderland” character the Mad Hatter?
2. The toxin found in pufferfish is also found in which of the following?
3. The toxin found in poison dart frogs is similar to toxins found in?
4. Cocaine use in Europe was popularized by which psychiatrist?
5. LSD is derived from poisonous fungus on which plant?
6. Athletes have been advised not to eat meat during the Olympics due to fear of contamination with which performance-enhancing drug?
7. What substance is associated with the beginnings of NASCAR?
8. What state in the U.S. typically has the highest incidence of food-borne botulism?
9. Novichok poisons are believed to have been used in which of the following settings?
10. Socrates was sentenced to death and died after drinking?
Dr. JP is a member of Sisters in Crime NorCal. Founded in 1987 by women crime writers to gain equal publishing treatment, Sisters in Crime has more than 50 chapters, three in Northern California. Find out more about SinC on Facebook or contact SinC NorCal President Glenda Carroll at president@sincnorcal.org.