Audiobook Review: A Drop of Poison

 

A Trial of the Century witnessed by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

In the dock: a quiet American doctor accused of mutilation and murder.

In 1910, Dr Hawley Harvey Crippen stood trial for the murder of his wife, the music-hall performer Belle Elmore, after human remains were discovered beneath the cellar floor of their London home. What followed was one of the first great twentieth-century media manhunts: a transatlantic pursuit to Canada aboard a steamship, the revolutionary use of wireless telegraphy, and a trial watched by a public gripped by fascination and unease.

This script edition accompanies the full-cast courtroom drama audiobook released April 24th, 2026.

Drawn from the original Old Bailey trial transcripts and contemporary reporting, this edition recreates the key exchanges between prosecution and defence: the forensic examination of the remains, the testimony surrounding a troubled marriage, and the steady, methodical dismantling of the accused in open court. The proceedings reveal not only the legal strategies deployed on both sides, but the atmosphere of Edwardian London as science, celebrity, and sensational journalism converged.

My Review

My love for mystery books started with Nancy Drew/Hardy Boys, then, progressed to Sherlock Holmes. I really enjoyed this audiobook. I did not know there were audiobooks like this that did dramatizing of stories. This audiobook includes a full cast of voice actors. 

A very intriguing mystery for sure. Although, it was not hard to figure out early on where the story was going and the motive. Yet, I still found myself intrigued and invested in the story. The trial is the best part of the story. Hearing the actors play out the courtroom scenes was very good. I will be looking at the other books in this collection to listen to.  

The Trial of Dr Crippen is the second title in the Trials of the Century series, following The Trial of Leopold and Loeb and preceding The Trial of Patty Hearst (released Summer 2026).