The Lost Apothecary

Author: Sarah Penner
Genre: Fiction
Publisher: Park Row Books, 2021
Pages: 320
Rating: Recommend

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 apothecary's in a stunning twist of fate - and not everyone will survive.

Review: My sister raved about this book, and told me I just had to read it. It isn't a novel I would choose on my own, but I decided to give it a try. I liked it. It wasn't the love affair my sister had, but it was good.

It's hard to write equally compelling past and present timelines, and this book was no exception. I really enjoyed the historical fiction as aspect of this, and returning to the present was jarring. I loved the mystery and allure of the past, as well as the characters. In contrast the present felt typical and ordinary.