Blog Tour- Review: “The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

About The Book

In this addictive and spectacularly imagined debut, a female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course. Pitched as Kate Morton meets The Miniaturist, The Lost Apothecary is a bold work of historical fiction with a rebellious twist that heralds the coming of an explosive new talent.

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.

Book Review

Told through multiple points of view, The Lost Apothecary follows the stories of women across time. Each chapter alternates from the past to the present and focuses on the lives of Nella, Eliza, and Caroline whose lives become intertwined. Nella is an apothecary from 18th Century who specializes in creating poisons to help women in difficult situations and take revenge. The modern-day aspect focuses on Caroline who learns her husband has been cheating on her and decides to set off on their London anniversary trip alone.

I love the constant shifting of povS and how it works well with the story’s format of linking women across time. The apothecary Nella’s narrative is really interesting because her background and how she chose to use her knowledge to help other women. I also could resonate with Caroline’s excitement of researching history from a random artifact discovery. It’s fascinating how she finds one piece of the past and it sends her on a journey across London.

I think what is most interesting about this novel is the time parallels are executed within the narrative and the suspenseful elements. The reader has a heavy sense of curiosity trying to unravel all of the mysteries. Caroline is trying dig up a mystery from the past while Nella is trying to allude the authorities and keep her business afloat. The science of the apothecary work is so detailed and descriptive of the concoctions they put together.

This was a great debut novel and perfect for fans of the historical fiction genre who also enjoys mysteries.

Final Verdict:

About The Author

Sarah Penner is the debut author of The Lost Apothecary, to be translated in eleven languages worldwide. She works full-time in finance and is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. She and her husband live in St. Petersburg, Florida, with their miniature dachshund, Zoe. To learn more, visit slpenner.com.

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