A Very Expensive Poison

A Very Expensive Poison chronicles the assassination of Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian intelligence officer who died in London in 2006. Guardian journalist Luke Harding traces the events leading up to Litvinenko's death and the international investigation that followed. The book reconstructs the complex web of operatives, scientists, and politicians involved in this real-life espionage case. Through interviews and extensive research, Harding examines both the personal story of Litvinenko and the broader context of Russia's intelligence operations abroad. Harding details the forensic investigation techniques used to uncover the truth, while revealing the challenges faced by British authorities in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The narrative moves between London, Moscow, and Hamburg as it follows the trail of evidence. The book serves as both a political thriller and a cautionary tale about state-sponsored violence in the modern era. Through this single case, it illuminates larger patterns of international relations and the evolution of espionage in the 21st century.

Readers describe the book as a detailed investigation that reads like a spy thriller. Many note it provides clear explanations of complex political events and thorough research into Alexander Litvinenko's death. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear chronological structure - Accessible explanations of Russian politics - Documentation and source materials - Balance of personal stories with geopolitical context Common criticisms: - Too much background information in early chapters - Repetitive details and descriptions - Anti-Putin bias in tone - Complex cast of characters hard to follow Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (450+ ratings) Book Depository: 4.3/5 (200+ ratings) "Reads like a Le Carré novel but it's all true" - Goodreads reviewer "Gets bogged down in minutiae" - Amazon reviewer "The timeline jumps make it hard to follow" - Book Depository reviewer

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🔍 Author Luke Harding served as The Guardian's Moscow bureau chief until 2011, when Russian authorities expelled him from the country - the first British journalist to be expelled since the Cold War. ☢️ The book details how polonium-210, the radioactive substance used to kill Alexander Litvinenko, is 100 billion times more toxic than cyanide and costs around $10 million per gram to produce. 🏥 Litvinenko's body was so radioactive after his death that he had to be buried in a lead-lined coffin to prevent contamination, and the autopsy team had to wear protective suits. 🗺️ The assassination trail left radioactive traces across London - over 40 locations were contaminated, including hotels, restaurants, planes, and even Arsenal's Emirates Stadium. 👤 Before his death, Litvinenko had been investigating links between Russian organized crime, the FSB (formerly KGB), and Vladimir Putin - work that likely contributed to his targeting.