The League of Lady Poisoners: Illustrated True Stories of Dangerous Women

Lisa Perrin documents the lives and methods of over twenty-five historical women who used toxic substances to commit murder. The text categorizes these figures based on their motives, ranging from financial gain and political power to self-preservation against abusive partners. Perrin highlights specific cases like the Roman professional poisoner Locusta, the 17th-century entrepreneur Giulia Tofana, and Victorian-era arsenic users. Each biographical entry is accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations that showcase the botanical sources of fatal toxins such as belladonna, cyanide, and strychnine.

This book serves enthusiasts of true crime and feminist history who seek a visual approach to the darker side of the past. Readers gain a detailed understanding of the chemistry behind various poisons and the cultural circumstances that drove marginalized women to use these covert weapons. The collection provides a factual look at how criminal justice systems evolved to detect invisible killers. A reader finishes the book knowing how these women bypassed traditional physical strength to exert lethal influence within patriarchal societies.