A wonderfully written and well researched book, "Arsenic and Clam Chowder" is guaranteed to make you look at your family and food in a totally different light. Mr. Livingston does a fantastic job of telling the story of a powerful Socialite family and the tragedy that struck them and shook all of New York. What I found even more interesting is that the story is not just another story to the author, but is much more personal, as Mary Alice is his distant cousin!

I found this book transported me to the time, and made me familiar with New York in the late 1890's and early 1900's. His descriptions and retelling of events made the time and event come to life, making this an easy book to read. The twist that were revealed left me shocked and amazed. I was also amazed at how over 100 years ago, the evidence was collected and tested.

This book is a must read for anyone interested in True Crime, history of New York, the Gilded Age, or just a good book about a horrific deed centered around a bucket of clam chowder. ( )

Wow! What a book! Definitely one that I would be interested in reading again. James Livingston really dug deep into history and into the facts on this murder and put them all together into one FANTASTIC read!

Livingston tells the story behind this murder. A murder in the 1800's, to me, is just intriguing. Intriguing because when I think of the 1800's, I think of peace and a time that I would LOVE to be a part of. Not a time where someone who, with 4 children out of wedlock and living across the hall from her stepfather at a hotel, decides to take the life of her own mother, by sending her clam chowder laced with Arsenic. I found this novel to be VERY mysterious with it's twist and turns of trying to determine this one thing: did Mary Alice Livingston, a woman who baited men with her children, whom never really loved her children, KILL her mother with poison?

The style that Livingston uses to write this novel, makes it read more like a fictional novel than a true crime novel. I really liked that, however, I think he could have used a bit less of the headlines. Those did get a little boring for me. But, once I got past all those, and really got a good dose of the crime and the mystery behind it all, I was hooked! I felt like I was a part of that gilded era and helping to convict Mary Alice. I mean, come on. WHO in their RIGHT mind would do that to their 50 something mother?!

I loved how Livingston added the details of the changing times and how the investigation took place. The evidence gathered against Mary Alice was intriguing. I also loved how this book showed that just because you come from a prominently wealthy family, doesn't always mean that you are a good family. Every family has their problems, but this family CERTAINLY had just a few more than most people during that time. This book really opens up my eyes to a different era in time and gets me thinking that history, while one of my favorite things to learn about and read about, it has some details to it that isn't all that different! Crime happened then just as it does now and I enjoyed reading about how the trial went and the outcome of the crime.

Is this a book that I recommend? Most definitely! Especially if you are into the true crime TV shows and movies. This is a perfect addition to your shelves! Four stars and two thumbs up to a great author!

*This book was provided for review by PUYB* ( )