The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner Published by Harlequin on March 2, 2021
Genres: Fiction / Feminist, Fiction / Historical / General, Fiction / Literary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 301
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bookstore
INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Named Most Anticipated of 2021 by Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Hello! magazine, Oprah.com, Bustle, Popsugar, Betches, Sweet July, and GoodReads!
March 2021 Indie Next Pick and #1 LibraryReads Pick
“A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!” —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network
A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to The Lost Apothecary…
Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.
Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.
With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.
Don’t miss THE LONDON SÉANCE SOCIETY! Sarah’s next spellbinding book about truth, illusion and the grave risks women will take to avenge the ones they love.
My Review
This book is all the stars for me. I absolutely loved it. Oh and the cover I can’t forget to mention how beautiful this cover is I mean just gorgeous.
Enough chat about the beauty of the cover lets dig into what is under the cover which in my opinion is sheer brilliance. This story takes place in London during the 1790s and also in the present day. The Apothecary is tucked away out of sight from those who do not know it is there. The shop was started by Nella’s mother and her only intent was to do good in the world by helping women. It wasn’t until Nella took over after her mother’s death that it became so much more. No longer was it a place for women to get remedies for their ailments. It also became a place where women could get rid of the men in their lives who were causing them harm in some way or another. These women were given poisons disguised in a way that would allow the women to get away with murder. Why was Nella so intent on helping these women commit murder? It isn’t until little Eliza comes into her life that you begin to learn what happened to Nella. Eliza and Nella find themselves in a situation that will identify them in history.
In the present day you will meet an American woman named Caroline who once dreamed of becoming an historian. This dream of hers she put on hold for years because she married a man right out of college. It isn’t until a secret is revealed that Caroline finds herself in London mudlarking in the River Thames for the first time and discovers a treasure. Caroline finds an aged apothecary vial with a symbol on it and no words which sparks a whole lot of questions that she wants answers to. Does this set her back on track for the long-ago dream of becoming a historian before she married?
This is a story of three women throughout time. It is one of bravery, friendship, loss, and love. It is one of adventures, what-ifs, and wrong turns. The atmosphere and setting are so beautifully written and have the power to fully transport you into the time periods. I absolutely loved every bit of this book and I had a very hard time putting it down to get back to reality. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good comfort read. Like I said before this is a five-star for me and a future reread for sure.