Author: Sarah Penner
Publisher: Affirm Press
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery
Year of release: 2021
Release Date: 30th November 2021
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
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 apothecaries in a stunning twist of fate–and not everyone will survive.
Review
1791 London, England. Nella Clavinger runs the local Apothecary Shop once owned by her now-deceased mother. Nella knows how valuable her skills and tinctures are to the women across the city and Nella does what she can to keep the shops’ purpose and location secret; so far that has been successful.
One night before closing the shop for the night, Nella receives a letter. This is not an unusual request Nella has had many letters arrive at Number 3 back alley before; she knows nothing about the sender nor why they might need her services? The morning of February 4th 1971 arrives, and Nella meets with the letter’s owner Eliza Fanning. Surely this is not the author of the same letter she received the night before, the bright 12-year-old Eliza Fanning cannot need her help surely?
After spending some time with the girl, Nella soon grows rather attached to the maid; Nella finds the shops location and her identity are at risk of being exposed to The Big Smoke. This will not end well for Nella or her other clients especially when the city discovers Nella doesn’t just help women become mothers or with their woman’s troubles she also prepares poisons just how can she ensure The Apothecary’s shop location remains hidden to most; available to a select few who know where to look whom to ask before time runs out?
Present day, American Caroline Parcewell travels to London alone on what was supposed to be her 10-year-old wedding anniversary. Instead she finds herself questioning her marriage and the path she’s taken in life. London has a task for Caroline she finds she cannot ignore; the unsolved Apothecary murders from 200 hundred years ago. Can she solve the mystery sparking a forgotten dream of becoming a historian or will her search land her in hot water turning her life even further upside down?
I was instantly drawn to The Lost Apothecary thanks to the magnificent cover and the promise of a mystery between the pages I favour wartime novels, but this novel allowed me to stay in my preferred genre, but also explore a darker mystery at the same time.
“To me, the allure of history lay in the minutiae of life long ago, the untold secrets of ordinary people.”
― Sarah Penner, The Lost Apothecary
I am always eager to discover a dual timeline, dual perspective novel I think this worked well within this novel, one of the other things that sold me on purchasing this book was the larger print size if only all physical books were this reader friendly.
I felt as if the Author has done a wonderful job in bringing Nella and Eliza to my attention, they felt interesting to this reader Nella and her strong moral compass but at the same time being nurturing towards Eliza, this made me love Nella; her past made for interesting reading for me.
“Why did we go to such lengths to protect the fragile minds of children? We only robbed them of the truth—and the chance to grow numb to it before it arrived with a hard knock on the door.”
― Sarah Penner, The Lost Apothecary
I was disappointed with Caroline and her storyline overall, I understand her distress in the beginning of the book; but as the novel progressed, I found her continued melancholy about her marriage somewhat boresome especially since she knew what she ultimately wanted sure you can be sad, but it seemed to consume her, I enjoyed the mystery solving Caroline even though that at times felt somewhat convenient for an amateur.
The Lost Apothecary deals well with character growth and development especially when it comes to Eliza Fanning it was enjoyable to watch her mature as the book progressed, I haven’t seen a great deal of character development in a book for a little while always nice to see this is one of those things that worked well for the novel and the reason my high rating.
“Why did we suffer to keep secrets? Merely to protect ourselves, or to protect others?”
― Sarah Penner, The Lost Apothecary
Much the same with characters I will say the chapters in the 21st century seemed to really slow this otherwise fast past book down for me as a reader.
The ending for this book is one I didn’t see coming totally original and an ending I will remember for a long time to come. So many books praise a book opening whilst I enjoyed the beginning, I found the end a standout.
The Historical murder mystery will be a welcome addition to many mature readers bookshelves I know fans of the Historical Fiction genre will be right at home here, if you’re looking to investigate this genre then The Lost Apothecary is the perfect book to kick start your journey.
Sounds great! So glad you enjoyed this one Kim!
Definitely memorable but slow in parts.