The Lost Apothecary
| Age of Revolutions |
|---|
 The Lost Apothecary
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| Content Warning |
|---|
| miscarriage, murder, suicidal ideation |
World History > Age of Revolutions > Women's History
A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to The Lost Apothecary...
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.
Emily's Review
I found this story so compelling. I'm not always a fan of dual timelines, but the way the lives of these women across the centuries wove together was done so beautifully. Told in multiple perspectives, we follow three women: Nella, Eliza, and Caroline. Each of them had distinctively different voices, and each woman's story was so engrossing. I found myself guessing all the way to the last chapter, trying to put together the puzzle of what was happening and the fates of each woman.
I love the concept of a secret apothecary that caters to women seeking vengeance against men. That was enough of a draw for me to want to read this book. But then it wove in a historical investigation plot uncovering the lost and often hidden history of women. Mix in some suspense and you end up with a near-perfect book. My only negative was the somewhat ambiguous ending for some of the characters. However, considering the story is about the hidden history of women, being ambiguous about their fates does make sense.
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