Posted by: nancycurteman | July 23, 2010

7 Murder Weapons That Will Challenge The Cleverest Sleuth

Mystery writers are always searching for the perfect murder weapon. One that kills but will be untraceable by investigators. Here are a few weapons that will challenge any sleuth.

1. Polonium is a chemical that is poisonous when taken orally. It causes a radiation effect in the body and is time-consuming to detect.

2. A frozen pork loin roast or leg of lamb is a powerful weapon that will radically change its form when cooked and eaten.

3. Hypnosis can induce a victim to jump off a bridge or building. The perp doesn’t even have to touch him.

4. Liquid potassium injected into the body upsets the balance of the sodium-potassium pump by which the human heart works, causing heart failure. The great thing about potassium is it will equalize levels with the sodium in the body even after the victim has died thus hiding the weapon.

5. Poison from a puffer fish is a neurotoxin created by microbes that live in the puffer fish. It causes paralysis of the heart and lungs. It is difficult to detect, besides who would think of testing for it.

6. The proverbial Icicle will destroy itself after the dastardly deed is done. Use it quickly or it may melt before the murder.

7. Peanuts or fermented drinks or bee stings or other serious allergens are effective. Just be sure to connect the right allergen with the right person.

Add your ideas to this list.

Photo: MyWorld


Responses

  1. I’m off to the pharmacy to pick up some polonium and liquid potassium. I may stop by the pet store. Do you know what puffer fish eat?

    But I’m stumped on the frozen pork loin. The only way I can think of to kill someone with a loin of pork is to keep it frozen and to hit them over the head with it.

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    • My mother used to tell a story about a woman who killed her husband by hitting him over the head with a frozen leg of lamb and then later served it to the detectives who arrived to investigate.

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      • Leslie, What a great way to hide a weapon. It reminds me of the novel, Fried Green Tomatoes where the murderers barbecue the body and feed it to the sheriff who really enjoys it. Very clever.

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      • I believe there was a Roald Dahl short story of that plot line.

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      • It was the plot of an Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode adapted from Roald Dahl’s story.

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    • You could use Insullin on someone.

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      • Insulin. Do you mean an overdose? Good point, OD’s might apply to other meds as well.

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  2. Puffer fish eat clams mussels and other shellfish. Are you thinking of raising them for profit? You’re right, the loin of pork would need to be frozen hard before the dastardly deed would succeed.

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  3. Professor Mustard killed Scarlett in the library with . . . KINDNESS. : )

    Excellent post, Nancy.

    Especially like the speedy way that frozen pork can be used as a weapon, instead of waiting for its cholesterol to clog arteries. : )

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  4. Hey, I guess we could use a fresh pork roast as a murder weapon via cholesterol. It would just be slower.

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  5. Well, Nancy, I have no weapons to add, but found your post not only fascinating but positively diabolical! ; )

    My favorite is the potassium. Caught my eye because my potassium level has been low. Taking supplements. Pills, no injections!

    Gretchen

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  6. Others seem to like potassium as a weapon. I may have to use it in one of my mysteries.

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  18. Hi Nancy,

    Thanks for the informatic Articles I am in the process of finishing the murder mystery I am writing. You talked about the undetectable murder weapons but the question is how does one detect them later on

    Aaradhana

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  19. Ah Hah! Great question. You have to select a murder weapon that you already know how you will detect it. For example: The blowfish. I’d decide that there was a source for collecting blowfish, purchase one, do the dastardly deed then have the detective happen to know a character who collects poisonous fish and move on from there.

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