Alchemy and Murder in the 15th Century

The brutal murder of an alchemist in 15th-century Rome in Sara Poole's debut book, Poison: A Novel of the Renaissance, sets off a desperate race to uncover a plot that threatens to extinguish the light of the Renaissance and plunge Europe back into medieval darkness.

On Wednesday, November 3, at noon in Westport Library, Poole will talk about her historical thriller and her writing process. The talk is free and open to the public, and books will be available for purchase and signing afterward.

Francesca Giordano is the daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia's poisoner--the man assigned to protect the Cardinal from being poisoned and to create poisons and antidotes of his own. When her father is murdered, Francesca uses the knowledge gained from him to become the new poisoner and avenge his death, but little does she know that the poison he was working on at his death was what led to his murder—and now the Cardinal wants her to continue his research.

     Poole lives in Connecticut, where her discovery of the abundance of deadly flora growing just beyond her doorstep prompted her interest in the poisoner's art.

For more information, check the Library's website, www.westportlibrary.org, or call 203-291-4800.