The Lost Apothecary

This book was such a fantastic blend of historical and urban fiction. I'm not usually one for historical fiction, but the mystery aspect of the plot kept me turning the pages. The storyline was one of the most original ones I've come across, and the writing was so atmospheric I could fully imagine myself there. The subtle foreshadowing with certain characters and items had me hooked all the way through. This is the perfect read for the fall season, but honestly, I would read it any time of the year!

The books I love the most are those that deliver on the promise of a big “hook” but also delve deeper in unexpected ways, making me feel excited and satisfied.

Penner’s book is a perfect example. The promise of the complex mystery surrounding the “apothecary murders” is delicious, but how I felt about the characters emotionally was unexpected and kept me turning the pages.

In this book, the protagonist escapes to modern-day London and uncovers a centuries-old mystery. The story is told in parallel timelines juxtaposing modern-day and Victorian London, and it’s such a cool vibe. I loved how the FMC, Caroline, walks the same roads and travels the same paths as the long-dead apothecary and how their stories of women in a misogynist society mirror each other.  

I loved following Caroline as she pieced together the story of the poisoners and the “crimes” they committed and how she stepped into her own and found her confidence.

This book kept me engaged when I was stressed and feeling guilty for reading anything other than my own work in progress. It gifted me with an escape each night, which was therapeutic.

The seamless transition between eighteenth-century London and the present day was masterful, and I was equally invested in both casts of characters and storylines.

I particularly loved the mysteriously dark nature of the original apothecary shop, and the final twist that brought the two tales together was cleverly done.

A page-turning, spell-binding book about female empowerment that unspools in exhilarating cliffhangers, this novel will keep you up all night. Two strong and independent Victorians—young and clever Eliza and broken-hearted, vengeful Nella—mix secret potions in a hidden apothecary, where their only customers are women who’ve been wronged. The ending will take your breath away and leave you wanting more.  Which is great, because the author’s next book is coming in 2023.

I devoured this scrumptious, dual-timeline historical mystery set between modern-day and eighteenth-century London. The narrative focuses on Nella, an apothecary who dishes out deadly poisons to rid women of the troublesome men in their lives. A feminist tale of revenge, murder, and mystery. 

As a historical fiction author, I am a picky historical fiction reader, which made Sarah Penner’s, The Lost Apothecary, an exciting find. Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? Set in the back alley of London in 1791, in an apothecary shop, we meet Nella, a woman selling poisonous potions to other women who are looking to kill off the men in their lives. Weaving in a modern-day component, Penner takes us into the life of Caroline Parcewell, a historian on a trip to London who accidentally discovers this series of unsolved murders from centuries earlier. A fantastic story… show more.

This compelling novel weaves the narratives of three female protagonists over two timelines in a tale of poison, revenge, and secrets. It takes place in modern-day London, where an aspiring historian, Caroline, spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from her husband’s infidelity. It’s also set in eighteenth-century London, where a secret apothecary shop caters to women who want revenge on the men who’ve wronged them. I loved this book because the grittiness of 1791 London truly comes to life on the page, and Penner has a great eye for historical detail. It was reminiscent of the Dickens stories I… show more.