The Lost Apothecary is a lighter version of a dark read and one of the rare dual-timeline novels where each timeline is as engrossing as the other. We first meet 18th century herbal-healer-turned-herbal-poison-mastermind Nella, who we quickly learn is a secretive loner with no expectations of getting any joy out life but who finds fulfillment in her work helping avenge wronged women. In the present day we meet Caroline - a fairly average midwestern wife who has just discovered infidelity by her husband that has sent her into a tailspin about all the sacrifices she made for her marriage. It has also sent her to London, on a solo version of a planned anniversary trip with said cheating husband, who she left behind. At first, I was not quite as interested in Caroline's story as I was Nella's but as the story went on I found each woman's story just as interesting and compelling.

Nella is thrown off when she discovers the latest anonymous request for poison ends up having been made by a 12-year-old girl named Eliza, a maid in an aristocratic household, on behalf of her employer whose husband has become too interested in the growing girl's charms. We quickly discover the story packs no punches as Eliza deftly administers the poison and kills the man.

Each character's backstory and motivations are pulled back in layers. In Nella and Eliza's story we are drawn deeper into the past even as present day events begin to catch up with the apothecary. With Caroline we unravel the dreams she once had for her future, and how they might be resurrected. The plot's pace quickens as do the discoveries, complications and dangers in each era. You'll find yourself speeding towards and ending that might not be exactly what you expected!

This book was soooo good! The dual timeline works magnificently as a means to weave both storylines together. Each character's plot is individually compelling and the combining of them truly brings this book to the next level. There is certainly something to be said about a woman apothecary who uses her skills as a means to be a vigilante. Having the three woman experience varying levels of motherhood was very effective at not only allowing them to relate to each other but also to the reader. The historical mystery that Caroline works to unravel was a joy to read. The duplicitous James incites the reader to possibly wish the apothecary was still in business. A fantastic debut novel that is edgy, compelling, and well written.

This book is set in London and alternates between the 18th century and present day. It tells the story of Nellie, an apothecary who provides poison for woman who are seeking revenge on men who have wronged them and Caroline who finds an old vial and decides to research its origins. The parts of this story taking place in the past were especially interesting as the writing includes rich details of the time period. The author's note at the end provides additional historical context. A unique read.

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.

I loved this book! Switching back and forth between then and now, the story tells the tale of a woman who creates poisons for women who need out of bad relationships. While that storyline was engaging, the present tale of Caroline escaping her current marriage was also a great story on it's own. The history was fascinating and I loved how the two tales wove themselves together. One of my best reads of 2020. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

An engrossing historical fiction novel, focusing on the hidden history and stories of women. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!

1791: Nella is an apothecary who sells salves and tinctures for women's medical issues, but also poison to help them cope with personal problems like philandering husbands and violent fathers. Present day: Caroline planned her trip to London to celebrate her tenth wedding anniversary, but ends up spending it mourning her shattered marriage. When she goes mudlarking on a whim, she discovers one of Nella's vials and is launched into an investigation that fully distracts her from her own troubles. Caroline's sleuthing and journey of self-realization aren't uninteresting, but Nella's role as avenging angel, and the terrible danger it puts her in, are far more gripping. Thanks, Netgalley.

I was immediately intrigued by the concept of this book - an historical fiction mystery with parallel story lines is right up my alley! I've never read much about the role of apothecaries through history, and the idea of mudlarking definitely piques my interest. Throw in some strong female protagonists fighting back against oppression and inequality in their own quiet, clever ways, and it should be a real winner. Unfortunately, the structure of the story was a little complicated since it jumps back and forth in time quite a bit between Caroline in the present day and Nella and Eliza in 1791, and the switch between narrators is not always completely clear. While it's easy to root for Nella and Eliza, I found it difficult to identify with Caroline. Her relationship with her husband did not quite ring true. I did almost abandon it, but in the end I am glad I stuck with it. As a whole it was an enjoyable book with plenty of historical tidbits, excitement, and suspense.
**Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.**

I picked this title firstly because I fell in love with the gorgeous cover and secondly because the description sounded absolutely fascinating. It truly did not disappoint. It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel as it’s so well written. Told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of three women, two from 1791 and one from the present, the story just pulls you right in from the beginning. It’s the story of Nella, an apothecary in late 18th century London, who dispenses poisons to women who have need of them to protect themselves from a man in their lives and how she began to do so. It’s also the story of Eliza, a young serving girl of 12 years of age, and how she comes to know Nella and her hidden apothecary shop. Then there is our modern woman, Caroline, on her 10th wedding anniversary trip to London alone and her journey to discover not just the history of a vial she discovers while mudlarking on her first day there but of who she is and what she wants for her life.

I found each of these characters compelling and interesting. Each chapter, regardless of when it was set or who was relating the information, kept me wanting more. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so there’s much I’m holding myself back from saying. Suffice it to say that while the history of the vial and the lost apothecary came out and Caroline’s questions regarding it and the apothecary shop were answered, I still wanted more. I did not want to leave these characters. I wanted to know what happened to Eliza between the events of 1791 and the final mention of her in the book in 1804. And what of Nella? How did she fare and what did her life hold for her after 1791? I want to know more about Caroline’s research and her journey to figure out who she was and what she wanted now turned out. I’m really hoping that Sarah Penner is already hard at work on a sequel that will answer these questions for me. I highly recommend this debut novel. If you’re anything like me, you won’t be disappointed.

This is my type of female-fatale book. I enjoyed the two story lines and was definitely invested in both (although the 1700's timeline was my instant connection). I have a personal connection to searching for lost treasure, so this book was just about made for me. The mystery had me on the edge of my seat until the end - no dull moment in sight. I would definitely recommend to a variety of readers.

Caroline Parcewell is having a pretty terrible tenth wedding anniversary. After finding out about her husband's infidelity, she makes the choice to go on their pre-planned anniversary trip to London. Having given up her previous dreams of studying in London, she uses the trip to lose herself and ends up stumbling upon a clue about the existence of a long lost apothecary shop.  She finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving a woman selling hidden poisons, and the intelligent twelve-year-old who may accidentally end the whole operation.

The Lost Apothecary moves back and forth between eighteenth-century London and present-day London, and also moves between Caroline's perspective and that of Nella and her accidental assistant.  Caroline is such a wonderful and fun character that I simply wanted to see her succeed in all things. Her husband is such an absolutely manipulative piece of trash that I found myself having no pity for a man who clearly blames his own mistakes on others. The mystery is both dark, and fascinating.  The Lost Apothecary is such a fun book, and reads smoothly.  Quick readers will find themselves devouring this book.

The Lost Apothecary is available March 2, 2021.  I expect to see more great things from author Sarah Penner.

This book was everything I dreamed of and more!!! From the very first moment I heard of this book I knew I had to read it, unfortunately, it wasn't coming out until March 2021! I got super lucky in the fall when I received an ARC from my book club.
This story follows 2 timelines. The first is set in the late 1700s and follows the story of Nella, an apothecary, who has taken it upon herself to help women rid themselves of troublesome men in their lives. She crosses paths with a 12-year-old servant girl, Eliza, who is about to help her mistress kill her husband. The ensuing relationship between Nella and Eliza is beautifully written.
The parallel storyline is that of Caroline, a woman who has taken a trip to London to do some soul searching after discovering that her husband of 10 years has had an affair. On her first day in London, she finds a vial while mudlarking on the Thames and the rest of the book is about her trying to discover where it came from and the story behind it. Without giving any more away I will say YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK!
It is a wonderful first novel by Sarah Penny, looking forward to your next work!

The Lost Apothecary is going to be one of those books that I recommend to everyone. Just a heads-up to anyone I see in the grocery store, book store, any of the other admittedly few places I go these days, you’re probably going to hear me talk about this book. Sarah Penner, you have completely astounded me with your breathtaking debut. This is truly a book for all women, a book about loyalty and ethics and betrayal.

I had coincidentally started my own personal apothecary just recently. This book was perfect timing and it was a treasure of a story that was told beautifully. Sometimes multi-line plots can be confusing, but this was told wonderfully! I highly recommend this book, I devoured it in a day and I do not do that often. It takes an extraordinary book to hook me like that!

My only critique is that when aspiring historian Caroline discovers a mysterious bottle while walking along the Thames, she nearly immediately "stumbles" across the information she needs and her hotel is just around the corner from its origin. While unrealistic, for the sake of the pace of the story, I'm sure this was a conscious decision, but I would have appreciated if this information took a bit of work to discover instead of just falling into her lap.

The Lost Apothecary is a story filled with relatable characters, brilliantly written female friendships, a mystery that spans centuries and I loved every single second of it. Nella is an Apothecary, one who deals with a very specific clientele... Women who want to kill men who have wronged them. After being mistreated herself she decided to turn her mothers old Apothecary into a safe haven for women who need help, she has no qualms about what she does and business is running well until one day a 12 year old girl turns up asking for a Poison for her mistress and Nella's world us turned upside down. Caroline is running, running from her cheating husband and the claustrophobic life she has been living. She decides to take their Anniversary trip to London alone, needing space to sort out her feelings. On her first day she gets roped into a spontaneous trip Mudlarking and finds a mysterious bottle with a bear engraved on it. Delving into the bottle takes Caroline on a Journey she could never have expected, one spanning centuries that leads to an unknown Apothecary killer. Neither Caroline or Nella could have guessed how an Apothecary from the 1900's could bleed into modern life centuries later, but as Caroline looks deeper into the mystery she may come across more than she bargained for.

The Lost Apothecary flits between three main perspectives; Nella, the Apothecary owner. She leads a solitary life after being abandoned by the man she loved, and spends her days making Poisons for women who have also been spurned. She is ageing and struggling with Arthritis, though no one knows what that is at the time, and when something happens that puts her, the Apothecary and all the women she has made poisons for in danger, she thinks it may be time to repent for her sins.

Eliza is a 12 year old who works as a servant for Mrs Amwell. She is carefree and happy to spend her days writing for her mistress who suffers from terrible shakes. But when her mistress asks her to visit the apothecary, her life gets entwined with Nella's, no matter how much she tries to stop it from happening. One mistake is all it takes to send both their lives down an unknown path, one that there is no returning from.

Caroline is broken-hearted and a little pissed off to find out her husband of 10 years has been cheating on her. She needs space, and decides to take herself to London on their Anniversary trip alone. She needs this time away, because before long she realises all she has given up for a life that she can never have. She longs to go back to her routes of History so when she finds the little Apothecary bottle it seems like fate has intervened. Whilst looking into the bottle Caroline forges both friendships and ties to this place, ties that she will find hard to cut.

I really enjoyed how much this book focused on female relationships. We have an almost mother/daughter relationships between Nella and Eliza, as well as the friendship that blooms between Caroline and Gaynor, the person who researches the bottle alongside Caroline. You can't know until you read this how vital these relationships are. How much the jaded Nella needs Eliza in her life, the young girl with a constant spring in her step and positive outlook on life. Nella was more than ready to pack it all in, but spending time with Eliza showed her that there was still good in this world. Gaynor helped Caroline dig into the Apothecary, and through that gave her a look at how her life might be if she followed her dreams instead of the expectations of others. Her willingness to listen and eagerness to learn more about the bottle brings out a passion in Caroline she thought long forgotten, a passion that rivals that of her ruined marriage.

The authors writing style and how she weaved the two story lines together gave a flow to the story that had me flying through the pages. Nearly each chapter ends on some sort of cliffhanger, so you are also eager to get back to that particular POV. With some multiple POV style stories you find yourself drawn to a specific character, have a favourite you're more eager to hear from, but I bonded with all three of the MC's equally. They are all so different, and yet the ties that bind them make them so similar. They have all been wronged by men in their life, be it being cheated on, being abandoned, or being touched against your will. It's rare to have a book that is both historical and contemporary fiction that blends the two together so well, but it just worked. You almost forgot the centuries in between the three women's lives. in fact there were times when I could almost imagine Caroline walking down the street and running into Nella and Eliza, their stories are that interwoven.

My one tiny, really really small issue if I'm being picky... I felt this book could have been a little darker and a little more 'adult.' The seriousness of the topic left little for levity and while it wasn't at all a 'light and fun' read, it also wasn't quite as dark as I was expecting for the subject matter. I do feel that this has more to do with my dark and bitter soul than the actual book, but it did seem to edge a little more towards higher YA than truly adult for me. I would also have liked the characters endings to be a little more open, a little more left to the imagination. There were some fantastical elements to this book, though I wouldn't class it as fantasy, and I think the open endings would have been a more fitting end to the story. But as I said, that is me being extremely nit picky and I't didn't affect my overall love for the book and story.

Brilliantly written with characters that are so real they jump off the page. I think this is a book and story that will stick with me for a while, it has the best of historical, women's and contemporary fiction that manages to pull on your heartstrings whilst also making you a little mad in parts. I'm amazed that this is a debut ( although I shouldn't be by now by how many of them have been amazing recently) and will certainly be picking the Authors other works up in the future.

This book checked several boxes for me - historical fiction, women's fiction, a bit of mystery (but not a mystery in the traditional sense), well-written with good character development and solid sense of place. I found it to be an enjoyable read that grabbed my attention from the first chapter.

Sarah Penner's debut novel, The Lost Apothecary, was an imaginative journey with compelling characters. The story follows three women in London, Nella, the apothecary, and Eliza, a precocious lady's maid, during the late 18th century, and Caroline, a modern day amateur sleuth who travels to London to escape her crumbling marriage and reevaluate her life. Their lives become intertwined across centuries when Caroline discovers a vial from the apothecary and she delves deep into research and tracking down the long-abandoned shop itself. The story jumps back and forth in time and each chapter is a first person narrative from one of the women. I enjoyed getting inside each character's head and Penner infused each women with a rich background and individual voice.

I found Nella to be the best written character and her story to be the most captivating. Passages like this from Nella's sections, for example, were some of Penner's best writing: "I am an apothecary, and it is my duty to dispense remedies to women. And so over the years they have come to me, and I have sold them what they wish. i have protected their secrets. I have borne the brunt of their burdens."

I enjoyed reading The Lost Apothecary, and did not see the final twist coming, which was a delightfully surprising end to the book. I expected the book to be a little darker, but instead it was a light mystery and I may have liked it a bit more if it was more of a gothic novel, given the setting and themes. I would recommend The Lost Apothecary for fans of V. E. Schwab and Erin Morgenstern.

I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, it’s not my go to genre but I liked this book a lot and think the dual time periods so some was in the present day was a good device for someone like me. The three main characters were all very vivid to me and I was rooting for them all. I especially liked how Caroline’s research into the past but her in a precarious position with her (dirtbag) husband.

I expected that I would enjoy this book from the amazing reviews, I didn’t expect to devour it and be immersed in both parallel stories from the very first chapter. This debut novel by Sarah Penner is a masterpiece, seriously. You will learn all about mudlarking, if you don’t know what that is (I didn’t). This book isn’t about merely a female apothecary that sells poisons to women so they can seek vengeance on men, it’s much deeper. It’s about defining a woman’s place in the late 1700s and finding control in one’s life when there is none. The role of the apothecary’s register is such a prominent character the more I thought about it after I finished this book. The modern day story is just as compelling as the apothecary’s tale. I found so much joy in reading this book and was sad when it was over. I cannot recommend this book enough! Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. This was a sheer delight to read. I stayed up late into the night to finish it. I predict this will be a favorite if not the favorite title of mine in 2021.

An atmospheric dual timeline story about a female apothecary in 18th century London doling out her own brand of justice and a woman in contemporary London trying to find answers and herself. The historical plot in particular is a satisfying nod to the struggling women who will never make the history pages, and the power that lies within them. A fast read with a satisfying ending for fans of woman-centered historical fiction, though one that spends almost too much time talking or thinking about wrong-doing men.