Murder mystery writers face a deliciously deadly challenge: how to kill off characters with convincing poisons — without losing readers’ trust or getting the science wrong. Agatha Christie, a verified expert on toxins, used poison as the murder method in 30 of her 66 detective novels, proving how powerful a wellchosen toxin can be in crime fiction.
Enter novelist and chemist Kelle Z. Riley, PhD, who will share her expertise at the next monthly meeting of Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime, at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, April 4.
Riley wrote the Undercover Cat Mysteries – “The Cupcake Caper;” “Shaken, Not Purred”; “The Tiger’s Tale” and “Studying Scarlett the Grey”, as well as the award-winning Riches and Royals series, in which modern career women fall for princes-in-disguise, only to discover that “happily ever after” isn’t guaranteed. In addition to her cozy mystery and contemporary romance fiction, she is a contributing author to “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living with Alzheimer’s and Other Dementias.”
In her presentation, “How to Poison Your Characters … and Keep Yourself Safe,” Riley will explain how writers can use poisons accurately and safely on the page. She will cover the types of poisons and the basic science behind them; plant and non-plant poisons; specific toxins and their use in stories throughout history; and how to determine the true deadliness of a poison. Attendees will leave with practical tools for crafting believable poisoning scenes without a chemistry degree.
Because of scheduling issues with the group’s usual venue, Ponte Vedra Beach Library, this meeting will be held via Zoom only. All writers and readers interested in the topic are invited to attend.
Register for the Zoom link at NEFloridaSistersinCrime.org.
Northeast Florida Sisters in Crime, a chapter of the national organization, welcomes men and women who are interested in learning more about writing, promoting and enjoying crime fiction.
For more information, contact floridasistersincrime@gmail.com.
