The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
“First, there was trust. Then, there was betrayal. You cannot have one without the other. You cannot be betrayed by someone you do not trust ... what you have learned is the same heart-wrenching journey of every woman to whom I have sold a poison. And it is, indeed, the same path for me.”
Author
Sarah Penner
Publisher
Legend Press
Genre
Historical Fiction/Mystery
Number of Pages
257
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Summary
In The Lost Apothecary, we are taken through double timelines. First through the 1970s where we have Nella, an apothecary who brews poison for troubled wives to give to their husbands, and Eliza a twelve-year-old, who is doing the bidding of her mistress. Then we have the second timeline set in the present day where Caroline is in London alone trying to run away from her cheating husband and trying to find peace. But she finds a blue vial instead belonging to an apothecary, probably two hundred years old.
My Review
And then begins a mystery and chase so convincing and riveting and a story so unique in its plot and storytelling that I’m adding this to my lists of unputdownable.
And then we are taken alternately between the two timelines connecting them through their heroine’s commonalities and interweaving a fascinating and enthralling story of murder, betrayal, mystery, and intrigue.
I loved, loved the writing. It was engaging and so dark and mysterious with unexpected twists happening in every few chapters. I was so disappointed when the story ended. Simply because I wanted more.
This was Sarah Penner’s debut book and I am definitely coming back if she offers more stories. I loved Eliza, but so did I love Nella. Her hard work and dedication to her profession came through sharply. And little Eliza was simply so sweet but with a mind of her own.
Final Verdict
I’m bewitched and on my next trip to London, I’m definitely going mud larking.
Who Should Read This
History buffs, mystery readers, readers of British stories will love this.
Sarah Penner
NYT Bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary (Park Row Books/HarperCollins), to be translated into 23 languages worldwide. To learn more, visit SarahPenner.com.
- Top Quotes from The Lost Apothecary -
- “Intermingled in the mess was another, subtler secret ... we were happy, yet unfulfilled. It was possible, I understood now, to be both at the same time.”
- “If you want something different, the only person holding you back is you. What is it you love to do?”
- “It's okay to change," I interrupted, "but it's not okay to hide, to bury parts of ourselves.”
- “To me, the allure of history lay in the minutiae of life long ago, the untold secrets of ordinary people.”
“Healing by way of vengeance ... no such thing existed; it never had. Hurting others had only injured me further.”
“Why did we suffer to keep secrets? Merely to protect ourselves, or to protect others?”
“History doesn’t record the intricacies of women’s relationships with one another; they’re not to be uncovered.”
“If there was anything that the last few days had taught me, it was the importance of shining new light on old truths hidden in dark places.”
“Beneath the ink strokes of my register held betrayal, anguish and...dark secrets.”
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