Sarah Penner

A Novel

Lost Apothecary

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.

The Lost Apothecary

joy-lynn

Besides, just because my mother did not use poisons against anyone does not mean she did not know how." She nestled farther into the hay bale. I suppose this made her even more admirable. Like a dog with a mouthful of sharp teeth who never once attacks, my mother's knowledge was a weapon she never once used.

For many of these women," Nella whispered, "this may be the only place their names are recorded. The only place they wil be remembered. It is a promise I made to my mother, to preserve the existence of these women whose names would otherwise be erased from history. The world is not kind to us... There are few places for a woman to leave an indelible mark." I finished tracing an entry, moving on to the next one. But this register preserves them – their names, their memories, their worth." 

Holly 

 "First, there was trust. Then, there was betrayal. You cannot have one without the other. You cannot be betrayed by someone you do not trust." I nodded, and she leaned back again. "Eliza. what you have just described is the samne heart-wrenching Journey of every woman to whom I have sold a poison. And it is, indeed, the same path for me."

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecaryis a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time. 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. 2021's Most Highly Anticipated New BooksNewsweek Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Popsugar 'A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!'Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Huntress 'Intriguing... Readers who enjoy parallel historical/contemporary narratives about women's lives, such as Claire McMillan's The Necklaceor Liz Trenow's The Forgotten Seamstress, will enjoy the historical details and mystery in this engrossing tale.'Library Journal 'Readers who enjoy Katherine Howe and Susanna Kearsley will be drawn to this promising, fast-paced debut.'Booklist 'A superb debut novel... crackling with suspense, this is an original and compelling story'WI Life

The New York Times Top Ten Bestseller

Booklyn Betty | Amanda Strombeck

Caroline is facing a crisis in her marriage, and takes a trip to London that she originally intended to take with her husband. While there, she finds an artifact that sends her into a world where, 200 years ago, an apothecary created tinctures for women…and some of them are deadly.

I loved this book. It was a blend of historical fiction and mystery and very interesting to read.

Cheri McElroy

Caroline is facing a crisis in her marriage, and takes a trip to London that she originally intended to take with her husband. While there, she finds an artifact that sends her into a world where, 200 years ago, an apothecary created tinctures for women…and some of them are deadly.

I loved this book. It was a blend of historical fiction and mystery and very interesting to read.

Ember Skies

Well written, but frequently far-fetched and sometimes eye-rollingly corny. Still an enjoyable read, if you’re able to effectively suspend your disbelief.

Rebecca Hurd

Love love love!! A good blend of history and present day, 3 different women with 3 very different lives that connect in amazing ways!! Great storytelling, good writing, and interesting characters!!

Kiran Aftab

** spoiler alert **
           This seemed so interesting but it wasn’t executed well. Caroline’s POV was boring and also kind of annoying? Also like girl your husband cheated on you?? Why are you being so nice and comforting with him?? Not to mention he kinda made you let go of your passion and essentially manipulated you?? Caroline’s POV wasn’t really needed at all. Also, I thought this book was going to be a lot darker. The men ofc were trash but I wish the women retaliated more and it could have been more empowering and badass.

Ryan Mateyk

3.5 stars. Could be quite simple or silly at times but overall I did enjoy reading this, as it was always compelling and quite the pageturner.

Bria

Caroline is boring but Eliza? Nella? Love them.

Julie Rubens

I actually liked this book a lot, I don’t understand why the reviews are this bad. I love books that alternate between time periods and protagonists and I actually thought it was such an interesting story. I very much enjoyed reading it!

Alice S 

Lakshya Malik

Melissa Palmer

This book was a mix of historical fiction/fantasy/women's fiction. There were two parallel storylines--one in the past and one in the present. Interesting female characters. I enjoyed it.

I greatly enjoyed the idea and the drive to tell women’s stories. Unfortunately, it was very straightforward, with many monologues which became quickly repetitive. At no point did I really have to analyze the book or consider the characters’ intentions or predict what came next, it all laid itself bare. The actual stories of these women though are the real stories of women from the past that never get told, which redeems it well.

Emily McMeans

Patricia Nelson

Many thanks to Park Row for the opportunity to read this advance copy in return for an honest review! 
A woman on a London vacation at an inflection point in her life happens upon an antique bottle with a bear inscribed on it. Her love of research and historical connections leads her to not only solve a mystery that no one was aware of, but also gain clarity about her own desires for the future. A dual time line is set in 1791 London and features a woman apothecary who not only dispenses healing herbs and medicines for other women, but also helps them deal with men in their lives who have done them wrong.
The story grabbed my attention at once, and the dual time line was very well done, without giving the reader whiplash about which time period you were reading about. The idea of women supporting and taking care of other women is brought up over and over again in the novel, with the acknowledgement that many women have little about their lives that leave a mark on the world that they can claim, particularly in the 1791 story. The reader comes to love these characters, in particular the apothecary and the present day woman. There are some twists and turns in the story that I didn't see coming, along with some outcomes that were easy to spot ahead of time. Overall this is a well-written, enjoyable read that was just right for my reading life right now.

https://dev.edelweiss.plus/?sku=07783...

Courtney Atkinson

Really interesting idea with very whiny execution. I literally could not have cared less about any of the characters. They all wallow in their own self pity and refuse to take responsibility for their own action. And we get it, men suck, but this book takes it to a whole other level of annoying, self-righteous “down with the patriarchy” attitude that is just so inaccurate and terrible to read

Joy Bush

altlovesbooks

The premise sounded strong and promising, but I can't help but feel a little disappointed at how things played out. It wasn't thrilling enough to be a thriller or mysterious enough to be a mystery, and while I really enjoyed the historical setting, it just wasn't enough for me to rate the book much higher.

This book covers two different points in time: Caroline in present-day London who is trying to make the best of an anniversary trip despite her marriage being on the rocks, and the dual viewpoints of Nella the apothecary and her brief young assistant Eliza in the 1790s. Nella has been a secret dispenser of poisons, with a very strict set of rules about who they can be used on. This personal code is called into question with one very particular client, and the book largely centers around the buildup and resolution of this one particular case. Caroline, in present-day London, stumbles on the mystery of these two individuals through finding a relic from Nella's shop while out on a spur of the moment mudlarking trip, and spends the rest of her trip unravelling the details while also trying to figure out how to move forward with her personal life.

I have to admit that I was not interested or invested in Caroline's viewpoint at all. She felt a bit bland, and her personal struggles with her marriage and life choices felt tired and not all that compelling. I feel like she existed solely to tell the reader the story of Nella and Eliza, and her personal struggles only existing so the reader can draw obvious parallels between the two points in time. 

I also was disappointed at how Nella and Eliza's story played out. I was expecting something a bit darker and mysterious given the premise of a female apothecary who poisons men, but very little of the business of being an apothecary was shown. This just didn't quite scratch the I-want-to-read-about-poisonings-please itch I was expecting it to.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

rumbledethumps

It started off okay, even if the three people telling the story were three people with remarkably different backgrounds and yet remarkably similar voices. But by the time it finished,  from the rapidly draining phone battery in an attempt to build unrealistic tension, to the wholly contrived and completely unbelievable ending, I wanted to throw the book across the room. Two stars because I actually finished it,  but would not recommend.

Caitlin Moore

There were so many parts of this book I loved. A tale told by three women in two time periods, however I found the 1790s characters (Nella and Eliza) more exciting than the current time character (Caroline). So during Caroline’s story, I found myself drifting off. I also think that too much of both stories were repeats (Caroline explores what happens to the women in the past), and lots of the corresponding chapters said the same thing. 

The plot itself was really interesting, and I wish I could know more about the apothecary. It feels like a real place. Overall, it was a good read, but it wasn’t one of my favorites.

Q&D- cute debut with simplistic writing and interesting premise that follows multiple POV across two time lines. Read as part of my blind book series, rain. 

Abigail F

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. 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. Shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award 2021's Most Highly Anticipated New Books Newsweek Most Anticipated Books of 2021 Popsugar 'A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!' Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Huntress 'Intriguing... Readers who enjoy parallel historical/contemporary narratives about women’s lives, such as Claire McMillan’s The Necklace or Liz Trenow’s The Forgotten Seamstress, will enjoy the historical details and mystery in this engrossing tale.' Library Journal 'Readers who enjoy Katherine Howe and Susanna Kearsley will be drawn to this promising, fast-paced debut.' Booklist 'A superb debut novel... crackling with suspense, this is an original and compelling story' WI Life

Will I stop reading books based off of the cover? Probably not. 

Honestly this could have been such a great book! The story is there, I just needed more. The ending completely ruined it because it felt so rushed.  

I did enjoy the two different timelines, but I really wish it went more in depth. 

🌞Laur🌞

Will I stop reading books based off of the cover? Probably not. 

Honestly this could have been such a great book! The story is there, I just needed more. The ending completely ruined it because it felt so rushed.  

I did enjoy the two different timelines, but I really wish it went more in depth. 

momo-reads

An ok distraction for reading on a plane but ultimately lacking depth and far too predictable.

Colleen

3 Stars
 
*An engaging but unbalanced debut that didn’t have enough female empowerment*

ARC provided by Harlequin Trade Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


I found The Lost Apothecary on Netgalley and was intrigued by the premise. I don't usually like dual timelines but was willing to give it a go. The story was told through three points of view: two in 1791 and one in present day, all set in London. If I recall correctly, two were told in first person and the other in third person.
 
From the start, I was not nearly as invested in the present day storyline. Part of that was the same reason I struggle with non-chronological storylines: the present spoils what will happen in the past.

But mostly, I simply didn't care about Caroline and therefore was not invested in her chapters. The problem was that the reader doesn't get to know her as anything but the wronged woman suffering because of her cheating husband. I've had similar issues with other books when a character is only presented as a victim of something but the reader is not given the opportunity to get to know them before. It makes those characters defined by what happened to them rather than feeling like well-rounded characters. And although Caroline did have some character development by the end, I'd be hard pressed to come up with any descriptors for her. I've been sitting here and literally cannot think of a single adjective to describe her personality. And it's pretty bad for one of the main characters in a supposed female empowerment story to have no identifying personality other than "woman who was cheated on."

I was expecting more wily, powerful women hell-bent on revenge. Frankly, Nella came across as pretty tepid. The story didn't pack as much of a punch in the Girl Power department. I expected more from a vigilante serial killer. Some deviousness. Or passion. Instead, Nella was rather pathetic. The "Poor me; I'm damned for harming people so I guess I'll just keep on doing it," bluster got old quick. Despite the attempts at life affirmations, the self-pity and victimization dominated most of the book leading to a bleak tone.


  “First, there was trust. Then, there was betrayal. You cannot have one without the other. You cannot be betrayed by someone you do not trust ... what you have learned is the same heart-wrenching journey of every woman to whom I have sold a poison. And it is, indeed, the same path for me.”

Eliza was your typical feisty orphan type character. While not original, she was at least entertaining and somewhat endearing. Although she wavered inconsistently between street smart and ridiculously naive. So the characterization in The Lost Apothecary was not a strong point.

The plot was slow to start, but I was never bored with the story despite my disinterest in the present day timeline. I wouldn't really call this a mystery, which was a little disappointing because I was expecting that to be a stronger element of the story. It was mostly character driven. Someone who was more invested in the characters would probably find the story more riveting.

I expected some man hater vibes since this is essentially a story of women taking vigilante justice against the men who mistreated them. But this black and white delineation of all men being bad felt one dimensional and overly simplistic. I know this was supposed to be a story about women finding their way in a sexist world despite the men abusing them, but it was over the top that every single man was a villain. Though I suppose one could make the argument that it is a good thing that the author didn’t make the story too inspiring in the whole “murder the men who dun you wrong” message. There are laws against that after all...

The ending somehow managed to wrap things up too quickly and conveniently, but the more I thought about it, the more holes I saw. It was the sort of ending that seemed too near at first glance and too messy on closer inspection.

Overall, the story was engaging even with the issues mentioned above. It shows promise for a debut. I liked it well enough, but it isn't a story that will stick with me.


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 3 Stars
Writing Style: 3 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 2 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 3 Stars
Level of Captivation: 3 Stars
Originality: 4 Stars

Kei demand 

The exposition way overshot the disappointment of the ending 🫤. Everything wrapped up WAY too quickly and the main character was somehow both an idiot… and smart enough to solve multiple mysteries at breathtaking speed. Plus the ending of this??? ATROCIOUS, NONE OF HER ACTIONS IN THE LAST FEW PAGES MAKES SENSE, WHY ARE YOU THROWING AWAY RESEARCH MATERIALS AND HIDING THE TRUTH????????????? bye

A beautifully written piece of historical fiction, depicting love, loss, and powerful female relationships!

Lost Apothecary A Novel

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