One chapter in, and I was already dreading the rest of the book, with the setup of the main character and their access to Chekov's Gun, if you will, leading me to believe I already knew where all of this was going. The weapon of choice is in the title of the novel, after all.

Or is it?

I'm glad I ignored my instincts and forged ahead, for A Dram of Poison turns out to be so much more than the dry whodunit it's false start implies, and instead evolves into a bizarre existential road movie, a strange cross between Agatha Christie and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. I won't even discuss the plot out of fear of spoiling... not any obscure plot twist, but the slow revelation of personalities and situations that completely endear every eclectic character that jumps on as the story barrels towards the inevitable conclusion.

This is a book with feels, and it earns your trust as it entertains. For the life of me, I can't understand how this has not been adapted to the screen yet. As far as I can tell, Charlotte Armstrong has had many works adapted to film and television, but the best A Dram of Poison was an episode of an old Playhouse episode most likely lost to time. Seriously, if you enjoy caring about the characters you read, and don't mind some philosophical soul-searching mixed in with your mystery, you can't pass this one up. ( )

I loved the second half of this so much it’s hard to review it without giving it away, but I’ll do my best. It’s a thriller rather than a mystery, about a rather drab university professor and a young woman he gets involved with. After an initial scene involving a discussion of poison which tips the reader off that there is fun to be had later, the story proceeds at a gentle pace and is in danger of plodding a little until the mid-way point when a wonderful plot turn switches the tale into a desperate and gripping race against time. It’s packed with really engaging characters, a little comedy and some sentiment that just about manages to stay on the right side of cloying. I really liked it. ( )

This book almost lost me in the beginning - it was very slow and almost boring. I wonder if the author intended this? When the action does pick up, it goes into high gear immediately. A most unlikely group are gathered up like a comet's tail to aid and comfort a hapless poetry professor, and prevent a potential tragedy. As much philosophy as suspense from a writer who is not well-remembered now but was famous in her day. ( )

I am engaged in a (slow) project to read all the Edgar Award winning Best Novels, starting with the first in 1954. #4 was Charlotte Armstrong's A DRAM OF POISON. I had been seeing Charlotte Armstrong's name on bookshelves since I first got into the adult section of the library, but I don't believe I'd ever read one of her books. Now I think I'll read some more!
This was the first of the books that I have really enjoyed, even though it still didn't fit the classic detective story paradigm. The LC subject heading was Romantic Suspense, and my library had the book (enclosed in The Charlotte Armstrong Reader, with two other novels) in the general fiction section, although some of her books are in its mystery section.
Based on this sample, Charlotte Armstrong wrote extremely well, was able to create characters with depth of personality that readers can care about, and to create page-turning suspense. Someone commented to me as I was beginning to read the book that it started off slowly, and I would agree, though the quality of the writing kept me going through the set-up part. When the suspense gets going it really takes off, and yet Armstrong managed to include a fair bit of humor, romance, and trenchant philosophy from a bus-driver with it all. I was even surprised by the ending! You'll note that I haven't summarized the plot -- it's a hard one to summarize without giving too much away. Just read it. You won't be sorry. ( )

Not quite what is says on the cover, but a good read nonetheless. Kindly academic marries bereaved and penniless young woman, more from generosity and pity than any romantic expectation. Much to their mutual surprise, they do slowly fall in love, but after a crippling accident, their happiness is jeopardised by guilt, suspicion and despair. Then an attempted suicide leads to a tense and hilarious chase that gathers both momentum and participants.
Armstrong's compassion shines through in this book, with even the quite dreadful sister being given a fair shake.