The Lost Apothecary - HB

One look at the cover and you are drawn towards the enigma it holds – a vial against a bluish-black background with different flowers. The cover itself feels mysterious and secretive – just like the characters in the book.The book is set in London – spanning two different times – the eighteenth century and the twenty-first century. The book starts with a woman named Nella in 1791, who receives a letter with the words “For my mistress’ husband, with his breakfast. Daybreak. Feb 4’’ at her shop in Back Alley. Nella knew what it meant – a maid would come to collect well-disguised poison for her mistress’ husband. Nella is an apothecary, but she only helped women who were wronged by tyrannical men. Though everything was kept a secret, she diligently maintained a register of all orders.Nella is surprised when a twelve-year-old girl named Eliza comes to pick up the poison. However, she hands over the poison to the little girl. Eliza comes back again as she felt that her master’s spirit was causing her pain. She felt Nella’s elixir will cure her. While, Eliza is at her shop, a rich lady named Lady Clarence comes to take her vial and it is then that Nella realizes that the woman needs poison to kill her husband’s mistress. Though Nella is reluctant to give it to kill another woman, she is forced to give it away for the fear of her life. But as fate would have it, the woman’s husband dies. The search for apothecary begins. Meanwhile, Eliza finds a book of magic spells and starts brewing tincture to reverse bad fortune.Cut to present – there is a parallel story of another woman named Caroline, a historian (not by profession but by heart), who has come alone to London on her anniversary trip because just before the trip, she discovered that her husband’s infidelity. Dejected and running from her own terrors, she meets a man who suggests him to go mudlarking at the Thames river. And here she finds a pale-blue vial, with a rudimentary etching of an animal – a bear. It reignites the history lover in her and as she searches for the origins of the vial, leading her to the woman apothecary at Bear Alley who gave poisons in vials for her woman patrons only.Caroline stumbles on Nella’s shop, which was in ruins. She accidentally finds the register which Nella maintained for her clients.She discovers the secret of the lost apothecary. The little secret should remain – between women because only women can save other women. In the process of this discovery, Caroline makes her own life’s decisions.The book is very high on literary content. The two timelines are woven together beautifully and not even once do the reader gets lost in time zones. The descriptions are vivid – you can actually feel them happening. An intriguing novel for people who love history and mysteries!

They copy received in Okay Condition, it was a bit defective too.Talking about the book!The Lost ApothecaryAuthor: Sarah PennerRatings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery🧿 Before writing a review about the novel, let's appreciate the artwork of the cover page. Damn it's so beautiful, the colors, the detailing, everything is so on point.🧿 The Novel drives us through a eighteenth century apothecary shop who has a unusual client base. A mysterious woman named Nella is selling potions to various clients to use them against oppressive men in their lives. Nella's life is jeopardized when a twelve-year-old makes a fatal mistake and awaits consequences coming in their way.🧿 The novel on the other side, also takes us through a life of a historian named Caroline who spends her wedding anniversary alone in London, running from her own demons. In this current world she comes across a clue which collides whith the apothecary's life unfolding a twist of fate where everyone won't survive.🧿 It's a novel of secrets, I loved how the author has presented two timelines, further connecting each other with creating a lot of suspense through the stories. The supporting characters also play a major role to lead the story further. Overall it was a good read, the author taking us through life of multiple characters with some different storyline in Historical Fiction makes the novel really a good read.So yaa enjoyed reading the novel, and coming from Sarah Penner who is actually a Finance Person is quite impressive.

In 18th century London, there is an dark room in a hidden alley which can be found by only who are looking for it, out of which operates an Apothecary dispensing poisons for discreet murders. Until one day she takes in a girl who makes an unintentional mistake which leads to the beginning of the end.In present day, Caroline is trying to come to terms with the reality of her shattered marriage, on what was supposed to be her 10th anniversary trip, alone. A chance finding of a blue coloured Apothecary vial reignites the history lover in her and as she searches for the origins of the vial, it unravels the story of a murderous Apothecary from 200 years ago.It is undoubtedly a stunning debut novel by the author, and one of the books I had been looking forward to reading. However, I couldn't help feeling it lacked something. I can't pin-point exactly what. It just didn't give me as satisfying a closure as I would have expected from a plot with this much potential.Read it for female friendships and sacrifice- I think those were the best relationships that were explored in the book.

The cover of the book is absolutely beautiful ❤️...but sadly the book starts off interesting and becomes really boring. The writing is really childish and eventually you'll lose interest in it. For me it wasn't a great book but I loved the cover ❤️✨ it had a great potential. There is a lot of repetition, and at one point you'll feel like dnfing this book.

Bought this book simply by going over its cover. So much for "Don't judge a book by its cover".Jokes apart, I liked the story and the pacing - which goes backward and forward - about 200 years to the present. The characters were well thought of and the contents too. Though I suspect there might be a sequel, given the way the protagonist was last mentioned towards the ending of the book. It'd surely be interesting to find more about what happens to her next.And one of the interesting yet cool feature of the book is the subtle life messages the author gives, through the characters.All in all, a super read.

Its very well written! Its predictable yet mysterious and has the perfect balance. I cannot recommend this enough. Its definitely worth a read!

I could not put it down. I don’t usually care much for stories that go back and forth in time but this one hit the spot.All of the women were well written and likable.There wasn’t a lot of options for women in the 1700s and I imagine more than one abuser lost their life thanks to a bit of poison slipped into his brandy. Very satisfying ending.

I really enjoyed this book. There were so many layers to this book. Mystery, personal relationships both good and bad, and the strength of women to keep going no matter the obstacles. The three main characters were so relatable,

Chosen by my Book Club and I am so glad it was. Such vivid writing and such engaging characterisation made it an absolute page turner, which I finished in a day.

Genial para una lectura ligera, me ha encantado y no lo puedes soltar de principio a fin. Muy buena compra, ha llegado en buen estado.

Stunning and gripping; history still touches us across the centuries; never underestimate its intricate weavings; makes you want to spend time in old reading rooms or mudlarking