Historical

The Lost Apothecary

The Lost Apothecary

  • Downloads：8390
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-05-04 06:52:42
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Sarah Penner
  • ISBN：077831197X
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

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 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。

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。

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Reviews

Jessica Horning ，

So very bad。

Andrea Rein ，

Loved the story and historical perspective。

Debbie Thomson ，

I loved this book。 Read it in a day。 Enjoyed how the story flitted between the past and present and how it all came together。 Had seen some 1 and 2 star reviews before reading it， so glad I decided to read it anyway。

Danie Lagunes ，

Es un 4。5， porque me gustó demasiado。

Dana Muus ，

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I wish I could give half stars since this book deserves the extra 1/2。 Overall， easy read and well written。 The story is easy to follow even though it is narrated by several characters。 I liked the main characters， the relationships they develop and I was rooting for all of them。 I really enjoyed the story of Nella and why she became the way she is and does what she does。 The book takes on a sort of a feminist approach but in a subtle way。 I only wish the ending gave me one more chapter of Eliza I wish I could give half stars since this book deserves the extra 1/2。 Overall， easy read and well written。 The story is easy to follow even though it is narrated by several characters。 I liked the main characters， the relationships they develop and I was rooting for all of them。 I really enjoyed the story of Nella and why she became the way she is and does what she does。 The book takes on a sort of a feminist approach but in a subtle way。 I only wish the ending gave me one more chapter of Eliza， I wanted to know what happened！ I would recommend this book for a book club since they have good discussion questions and lots to talk about。 。。。more

Francine Rodriguez ，

The story was interesting but I feel the ending got lost and was too predictable。 I would have liked more development about how the the owner and Eliza survived and what happened to them after that。 The ending felt rushed。 Everything tied up too neatly which it doesn't in real life。 The fact that she left her purchase log around to "record and perserve her customers，" seemed to far-fetched to me since discovery of that log would automatically result in her being categorized as a murderer。 On the The story was interesting but I feel the ending got lost and was too predictable。 I would have liked more development about how the the owner and Eliza survived and what happened to them after that。 The ending felt rushed。 Everything tied up too neatly which it doesn't in real life。 The fact that she left her purchase log around to "record and perserve her customers，" seemed to far-fetched to me since discovery of that log would automatically result in her being categorized as a murderer。 On the series the Outlander， there was some information about these women， and apparently there were a number of them who provided poisons for killing。 。。。more

Jojo ，

Goodreads Nominee for Best Historical Fiction 2021。 I did quite enjoy this one for the most part。 It was different to a lot of historical fiction that I read。 It is an interesting little section of history that perhaps can be overlooked。 I do feel like it certainly worked out fairly well for the main present day character being able to find out/figure everything out; that just seems a bit fantastical in ways （especially over only a week's time！？ or so）。 Her husband， on the other hand， man what a Goodreads Nominee for Best Historical Fiction 2021。 I did quite enjoy this one for the most part。 It was different to a lot of historical fiction that I read。 It is an interesting little section of history that perhaps can be overlooked。 I do feel like it certainly worked out fairly well for the main present day character being able to find out/figure everything out; that just seems a bit fantastical in ways （especially over only a week's time！？ or so）。 Her husband， on the other hand， man what a douchebag。 I just have to comment on it。 At first， （view spoiler）[ I thought he was just an idiot because who would ingest something and not see a toxicity warning？！ But then it turns out he's an idiot who is also a manipulate asshole！ First he cheats on her and then attempts to guilt her by nearly killing himself。 What a POS。 （hide spoiler）] Anyway yeah I think this was pretty good。Grade: B+ 。。。more

Jeanne ，

So this book really sucked me in from the start！ Part historical fiction， part mystery， part contemporary drama。 Old maps， potions， engaging characters。 I thought it was a very clever story。

Vicky ，

The Lost Apothecary， by Sarah Penner， follows two story lines。 The most recent is Caroline， on a solo anniversary trip in London after discovering her husband's been cheating on her， she delves into the history of a bottle she found on a mud larking exploration。 The bottle traces back to the first story， from the eighteenth century。 A woman uses her knowledge to carry on her mother's legacy of helping injured or wronged women。 Though she strays from her mother's intent by providing much of this The Lost Apothecary， by Sarah Penner， follows two story lines。 The most recent is Caroline， on a solo anniversary trip in London after discovering her husband's been cheating on her， she delves into the history of a bottle she found on a mud larking exploration。 The bottle traces back to the first story， from the eighteenth century。 A woman uses her knowledge to carry on her mother's legacy of helping injured or wronged women。 Though she strays from her mother's intent by providing much of this help in the form of poisoning the men who have harmed women。 。。。more

Alison ，

3。5 stars。 This was a book club selection and I listened to it on audio。 I waited too long to review to remember all the details that made me like it so much。 I did like the time changes from present to past and how it all connected in the end。

Melinda Collins ，

Excellent！！！ I'm not sure if I would have found this book as amazing as I did， had I read it vs listening to it。 Voices matched the characters， loved loved loved！ Excellent！！！ I'm not sure if I would have found this book as amazing as I did， had I read it vs listening to it。 Voices matched the characters， loved loved loved！ 。。。more

Hayley ，

An 18th century apothecary devoted to helping women。 A present-day history-lover who stumbles upon an empty vial。 Secrets of scorned lovers， handmaids， and deadly concoctions。 This should have been a recipe for success。 But this story does not live up to the mystery and magic evoked by its cover。 The story rotates between three POVs （one of which is particularly unlikeable） with painfully drawn out exposition。 This could have been so much more of everything。 More mystery， more adventure， more sp An 18th century apothecary devoted to helping women。 A present-day history-lover who stumbles upon an empty vial。 Secrets of scorned lovers， handmaids， and deadly concoctions。 This should have been a recipe for success。 But this story does not live up to the mystery and magic evoked by its cover。 The story rotates between three POVs （one of which is particularly unlikeable） with painfully drawn out exposition。 This could have been so much more of everything。 More mystery， more adventure， more spooky。 It's dry and not much fun at all。 I also particularly dislike contemporary fiction written in first person， so that's on me。 。。。more

Cortney B ，

3。5/5 - The cover is as alluring as the base plot with this book！ I enjoyed Eliza and Nella’s storylines but I didn’t connect with Caroline very much， which elongated the book’s progression for me overall。

Avigail ，

I am giving The Lost Apothecary 4。5 stars。 The truth that pushed me to pick up this book is the cover afterward， the summary。 Is the apothecary a heroine， murderer， or both？ You’ve got to read it to find out！This dual timeline tale takes place in the 1790s and present-day London， centering around a mysterious hidden apothecary shop and its effect on the lives of two troubled women。 Women had very few options in this London。 One had to put up with whatever situation one found themselves in regar I am giving The Lost Apothecary 4。5 stars。 The truth that pushed me to pick up this book is the cover afterward， the summary。 Is the apothecary a heroine， murderer， or both？ You’ve got to read it to find out！This dual timeline tale takes place in the 1790s and present-day London， centering around a mysterious hidden apothecary shop and its effect on the lives of two troubled women。 Women had very few options in this London。 One had to put up with whatever situation one found themselves in regarding philandering spouses or abusive ones—reading The Lost Apothecary is an excellent look at the lengths women would go to seek revenge。I loved the theme of finding oneself and following one’s heart even when that requires one to let go of people， places， and things one puts above oneself。 This story encourages individuals on a deeper level not to be afraid to pursue their hearts' desires and not let unfavorable circumstances define them or hold them back from their dreams。 I am looking forward to reading more works by Sarah Penner。 。。。more

Tara Evans ，

I really enjoyed this story！ It was full of life and vibrancy in her description。 I could clearly picture the story in full。 It took me a good 3 chapters to really get into it， but once I did， I was sucked in！ I truly enjoyed this book。 My only complaints are that it was a bit TOO descriptive on irrelevant information at times and that the sentencing structure was different than what I am used to。

Helen ，

Fabulous dual timeline debut novel which completely immersed me in 1790's London。 The Lost Apothecary is an atmospheric tale of murder， betrayal， love and self discovery with a great sense of sisterhood and a touch of magical realism thrown in for good measure。 The issue of betrayal features heavily throughout alongside the moral issue of whether Nella should have been providing women with the means to revenge or protect themselves from their brutish partners。 I must admit that I preferred the h Fabulous dual timeline debut novel which completely immersed me in 1790's London。 The Lost Apothecary is an atmospheric tale of murder， betrayal， love and self discovery with a great sense of sisterhood and a touch of magical realism thrown in for good measure。 The issue of betrayal features heavily throughout alongside the moral issue of whether Nella should have been providing women with the means to revenge or protect themselves from their brutish partners。 I must admit that I preferred the historical setting of this book and found those characters （Eliza and Nella） far more engaging than present day Caroline but I throroughly enjoyed this story and the very satisfactory outcome。 The list of cures and potions listed at the end of the book was a lovely touch。 With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book。 。。。more

☆Hannah☆ ，

I loved this Such a fun mystery。 The characters are all beautiful and I loved them all。 The writing is beautiful and the journey of reading this book is amazing， educational， and so much fun。

jauchi ，

Wonderfully written book <3

Shauna ，

I loved this book and could hardly put it down， I read it in two days！I loved how it went back and forth in the time frames and the characters behind it。 I really liked how it developed the modern day character and how she utilized the history to changer her own future。 It was action packed and had a great storyline。 I was skeptical of reading it at first but so glad I did。

Carol Egan ，

I love this book！ It's a great fast read， I read it in 3 100 page sittings。 Loved the way the characters were written， the way their stories connected。 History & current day mixed with a bit of magic。 I love this book！ It's a great fast read， I read it in 3 100 page sittings。 Loved the way the characters were written， the way their stories connected。 History & current day mixed with a bit of magic。 。。。more

Selena Lucas ，

Very anticlimactic。 Execution of this intriguing premise was a bit of a letdown。

Kyndal Berkey ，

I really enjoyed this book。 The modern storyline was kind of meh to me， I enjoyed the historical plotline much more and would have LOVED to have an entire novel on just that storyline， but I did enjoy seeing the research unfold in the modern storyline as well。 I enjoyed watching the relationship between Nella and Eliza unfold， and it made the ending tug on my heartstrings。 I wasn't the biggest fan of Caroline's marriage plotline， but I understand that it helped give context to her trip and obvio I really enjoyed this book。 The modern storyline was kind of meh to me， I enjoyed the historical plotline much more and would have LOVED to have an entire novel on just that storyline， but I did enjoy seeing the research unfold in the modern storyline as well。 I enjoyed watching the relationship between Nella and Eliza unfold， and it made the ending tug on my heartstrings。 I wasn't the biggest fan of Caroline's marriage plotline， but I understand that it helped give context to her trip and obviously there were major parallels to the historical plotline， so I understand the significance -- I simply enjoyed Nella and Eliza's stories more。 Overall， I really liked this book。 。。。more

Kae ，

I can't say I fully read this book because I quickly began to skip the present-day parts。 I felt the story would have been much better if it had just been Nella and Eliza so I read it that way。 Caroline's story felt jammed in and inconsequential。 She could have been a prologue and epilogue only to satisfy Nella's goal of preserving the women in her book （though how the hell did that book survive 200 years in that shop when it was already fading in 20？ anyway。。。） I must agree with many other revi I can't say I fully read this book because I quickly began to skip the present-day parts。 I felt the story would have been much better if it had just been Nella and Eliza so I read it that way。 Caroline's story felt jammed in and inconsequential。 She could have been a prologue and epilogue only to satisfy Nella's goal of preserving the women in her book （though how the hell did that book survive 200 years in that shop when it was already fading in 20？ anyway。。。） I must agree with many other reviewers in that it was a great concept that just wasn't well executed， though I enjoyed it more after skipping over Caroline's chapters。 。。。more

Hannah ，

I was so so disappointed by this book。 The premise sounded amazing and made it out to be a real thriller。 Instead， I felt like everything was spoonfed and some aspects just didn't make too much sense and were written to just move the plot along。 I also expected a stronger feminist presence in this book and felt really let down by that。 The main driving force behind a lot of the characters' actions were either men or desire to have children。 Overall， I'd probably skip this。 I was so so disappointed by this book。 The premise sounded amazing and made it out to be a real thriller。 Instead， I felt like everything was spoonfed and some aspects just didn't make too much sense and were written to just move the plot along。 I also expected a stronger feminist presence in this book and felt really let down by that。 The main driving force behind a lot of the characters' actions were either men or desire to have children。 Overall， I'd probably skip this。 。。。more

Kirsten ，

This book had an interesting concept and it was a quick， easy read。 I give it 3 stars for having some interesting ideas and not being a slog。 But some of it just seemed。。。。 silly。 Unrealistic？ I guess I liked that it was a quick， easy read。 But I didn't think the book was that great because everything was too quick， too easy。 Want to discover all the mysteries of an 18th century apothecary poisoner？ No worries， just give it 2 days of googling。 That was easy。 But I finished this book in a day it' This book had an interesting concept and it was a quick， easy read。 I give it 3 stars for having some interesting ideas and not being a slog。 But some of it just seemed。。。。 silly。 Unrealistic？ I guess I liked that it was a quick， easy read。 But I didn't think the book was that great because everything was too quick， too easy。 Want to discover all the mysteries of an 18th century apothecary poisoner？ No worries， just give it 2 days of googling。 That was easy。 But I finished this book in a day it's not like I'm sad about the time I invested in it。 。。。more

Adrienne B ，

I loved this book and I’ll be keeping it to enjoy again and again。

Taylor Wigglesworth ，

Actually terrible。 Also it would not have made sense for the British characters to measure things in inches in the 1800's。 I literally wish the plot could have been anything else other than what it was。 Actually terrible。 Also it would not have made sense for the British characters to measure things in inches in the 1800's。 I literally wish the plot could have been anything else other than what it was。 。。。more

Lacy ，

Old timey London， spells， poison， murder， and deceit。 But also loss， friendships， and following passions that have nothing to do with romance。 I enjoyed the back and forth narrative between the 1700s and present day storytelling。 This wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read or anything but I kept wanting to get back to it to find out what happened next and was happy with the ending。

Brooke Law ，

It was 。。。 okay。 Didn't quite live up to all the hype。 There were a few twists that surprised me， and certainly the characters were somewhat compelling， but overall the greatest impression was that some depth was left unplumbed。。。something felt missing。 The book didn't feel layered enough。 It was 。。。 okay。 Didn't quite live up to all the hype。 There were a few twists that surprised me， and certainly the characters were somewhat compelling， but overall the greatest impression was that some depth was left unplumbed。。。something felt missing。 The book didn't feel layered enough。 。。。more

Anna Pardue ，

What a cool idea！ I was hooked into this from the very beginning。 I love the back and forth between time and POV， and the way it all came together was quite an unexpected and welcome surprise！

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Lost Apothecary

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Lost Apothecary&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Lost Apothecary&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0