the lost apothecary by Sarah Penner

24th book of 2021

Reading period: Mar 20th 2021

Summary

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.

Rating

Review

Overall, I liked this book. However, the dual timeline bothers me the whole time.

It’s not the first time I talk about the issue I have of a dual timeline in historical fiction. I don’t really like that as I found it generally not well-done. You have a part with a lot of research and well written and another one, usually close to our time, to make the reader connect to the story, a lot less well done. I see the importance of those two parts, but it’s not a match for me.

However, in this book, even if I struggle with the dual timeline, it’s not because of how it’s done but more because I didn’t have enough details, and the fact that it’s a short book didn’t help. I would have liked to have two books instead of one as I had a problem linking them, but it didn’t change that I appreciated them both.

I like the historical part of the story, but it’s a historical nerd talking, so it is usual to prefer this part. Nevertheless, the part closer to us was also enjoyable. Both of the endings was surprising; they are well-done and wrap the story logically.

As I say before, I am not against this book, and totally I understand why people love it, just I would have loved to have two different books and not just one.

Liz.