Penner’s ambitious debut gives a voice to women throughout history who have too often been overlooked and forgotten. Flowing between the lives of two women from the 1700s who break the rules and reject society’s expectations for women and a hopeful scholar in the present attempting to find her voice and path, this book is a refreshing look at how we can study and honor the past and those whose lives may otherwise be overlooked.

Although not a book I would purchase in my professional role, it is one that I will be recommending in my personal life! Thank you so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc!
I have been reading quite a few historical fiction books lately, so I was hesitant to start this one. I'm glad I did, though, and I read it very quickly! Told in dual timelines, I wasn't in the "past" too long, and the mystery to be solved kept me turning the pages!

In 18th-century London, there are whispers of a special apothecary that caters to women, giving them poisons to use against abusers. When a precocious twelve-year-old is the latest client, an error creates a string of consequences - and murders- that Caroline Parcewell discovers two centuries later. She is an aspiring historian, stumbling across a clue to the apothecary murders. There is a startling tie between her life and the apothecary's, one that can be dangerous.

The Lost Apothecary weaves the POV of Caroline, Nella and Eliza. Caroline is our present day thread, escaping to London after discovering her husband's infidelity right before their planned tenth anniversary trip. She had put her academic aspirations on hold due to his subtle disapproval, and he often pressed the point that it had all been her decision to make. She finds a vial with a bear imprint while mudlarking in London, sparking the need to trace its origins. At the same time, we meet Nella and her young client Eliza, who is eager to make a connection with Nella and learn more about herbs and magic. It's Eliza's mistake that implicates the shop, leading the two to fear authorities, the elite Lady that demanded Nella's services in spite of her misgivings, and the clients recorded in Nella's register.

I was fascinated by this story and the way the different time periods dovetail. I felt for all of them: Caroline was betrayed by someone couching his manipulation in love, and Nella was betrayed by the man she turned to in her grief. Even little Eliza knew that she had a precarious position in the household she served in, especially once her mistress' husband turned his roving eye toward her. Each of these women were able to lean on another woman for support and encouragement, even if Nella discouraged Eliza's help. It was only by receiving that help that they could move forward and make better decisions for their future. It's an engrossing book, one that I had to finish, even if I was running late!

This was such a creative plot! I loved that it was historical fiction, but also had a twist of mystery and an air of magic. I enjoyed the setting, and thought that the author did a good job describing the scenes without being verbose. I've also read several long books lately and I enjoyed the shorter novel that still felt like a complete story. The characters didn't completely draw me in, and I didn't fully connect to any of them. My love for this story definitely came from the plot and the setting. Overall, a wonderful book that I would highly recommend.

The cover of this book really fascinated me and grabbed my attention but the book itself definitely did not disappoint.

Albeit with a slow start, I really loved the plot and admired Caroline, Eliza and Nella and their strong personalities.
The descriptions made me feel like I travelled in time and it was fantastic to go back to an “older” London.

The timelines were easy to follow and there was enough mystery and twists to keep my imagination running wild.

I have to confess that the historical part of the book was my favourite and I loved all the remedies and herbs and I could really tell that Sarah Penner did her “homework” in the subject.

I wish I could have a bit more information or development of the ending but overall I really loved this amazing story.

I was impressed to learn that this was a debut Novel and I can’t wait to read further books by Sarah Penner.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Harlequin and Park Row for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

What an absolute dream this story was, at least one of my personal dreams, to stumble upon an obscure piece of history and mystery. I was absolutely transported with this book to one place in two different time periods and I just want to go back and sit in the apothecary shop and observe, a fly on the wall.

Such a delightful cast with a wide range of characters, from preteen to elderly, everyone had an important part to play and they were all beautifully put together. With a little bit of relatable drama, some historical details, and a lot of imagination, a wonderful story unfolds. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer.

I have always been fascinated by early medicine and pharmacopeia, the use of herbs and plants in healing, so this book was such a treat. Additionally, what a joy it was to find some recipes (minus the poison) for tea and cookies in the back of this book. I can’t wait to try them out.

I received an ARC via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book came to my attention towards the end of 2020 in a list of historical fictions must-reads for 2021. The beautiful cover definitely caught my attention, and once I read the blurb I was hooked. In fact, I text the head librarian of my public library branch to ask her to purchase it!

This book is written from the perspective of 3 women, Caroline, Nella, and Eliza. Caroline is the present day character, in London alone on what was to be her 10th anniversary trip, but infidelity has had a cataclysmic effect on her marriage. Now she is wondering what would have happened if she had pursued her dream of attending Cambridge University and following her passion for history. Aimless, she joins a mudlarking expedition and there discovers a small apothecary bottle. When searching for clues of the origin, she stumbles into a mystery - and murder.

Nella & Eliza are characters from the 1790s. Nella acts as an angel of death, operating an apothecary who dispenses poisons intended to kill the men who harm women. Eliza is only 12, but she, together with her mistress, sets out to kill the master of her house - a terrible leach of a man who preys on servant girls and has Eliza in his sights.

When Nella & Eliza meet, they are thrown together in adventure that will change their fate forever.

As with books with multiple main characters and stories, you are more drawn to one story then another. I found the beginning a bit slow and the ending rushed. I certainly have questions that didn't end up being answered. But after it all, I must say that I enjoyed this book... I stayed up until nearly 4 in the morning to finish it!

I generally really like books with dual timelines and overlapping stories and this book did not disappoint! I thought that both storylines were exciting and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened and how they intersected. I think that I preferred the storyline from the 1700s- it really was a unique story. I liked the way that the author highlighted some of the history of everyday women who were left out of the history of the time. There was a little bit of magic too which I enjoyed- even though the plot was mostly realistic and historical. I liked that both stories had a happy ending!

Sarah Penner's The Lost Apothecary is a treasure. Three strong, interesting women, a dual timeline, and an unusual, fascinating story. Historical fiction striving to preserve the history of wonen. I loved it.

An amazing debut novel! I immediately became immersed in the story.

Set in London England, 1791, Nella, a female apothecary, has been dispensing cures all her life. But after being abused by her husband, she now also dispenses poisons for women to get revenge on the men who have wronged them. “Vengeance is its own medicine.” She has two rules. Eliza, only 12 years old, is enthralled with what she considers magick and eagerly learns all she can from Nella.

Present day - Caroline Parcewell had planned a trip to London to celebrate her 10-year wedding anniversary, but instead finds that her husband has been cheating on her. Having abandoned her dream of becoming a historian, she decides to go to London alone and immerse herself in its history. Her discovery of an old apothecary vial in the muck of the river sets her on the path of researching the unsolved “apothecary murders” over two centuries ago.

Betrayal, grief, and revenge are core to this well plotted story. Some of the women’s stories were heartbreaking. I had to remind myself that in the 1790s women had no legal protection. The main characters were very well developed; I found myself really caring about them. I loved the suspense and was kept guessing as to what would happen to Nella and Eliza. While this is a dual storyline book and multiple (three - Caroline, Nella, and Eliza) narrators, I had absolutely no difficulty keeping the timelines and characters separate as I read.

I will definitely be watching for future releases by this author. If you are a fan of historical fiction and/or thrillers, I highly recommend this book.

I was provided an advance copy of the book by the publisher. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This was a beautifully written story about women helping other women, and womanhood. I’m a big fan of multiple POV’s and dual timelines! It’s hard to pull off, and the author did a really great job in this one.

I was very much invested in Nella’s story from the get-go, and loved how all 3 women’s lives (Caroline, Nella & Eliza) came together. Sure, Caroline’s story and events seemed a bit convenient at times, but it worked well for the story.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read with a small twist! Which I liked!

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is a book that stands apart from the rest. Penner masterfully balances the tales of three women with fast paced adventure, a real life treasure hunt and the stories behind why things are the way they are. Penner was able to bring the reader to a historical time, while also researching in the present, without making the book feel heavy and bogged down by information and facts. The reader was able o fully engage while trying to figure out just how the different stories and new facts fit together in Penner's puzzle.

This historical fiction story follows our present day heroine on a trip to London that she wasn't planning on taking alone. She has recently discovered that her husband has been unfaithful and sets off on their planned vacation on her own. She stumbles upon a mysterious bottle that sets her on a hunt to discover its origin. There is a parallel story that follows the original owner of the bottle, the owner of an apothecary shop that caters to women that need a poison to make men in their lives disappear. I definitely had a high hopes for this story and was somewhat let down.

The historical portion of the story was the most interesting part, which is understandable given that they are poisoning people. There is a young servent that has gotten mixed up in the illegal deeds, and a rich client that wants to use the poison on her husband's mistress instead of her husband. The setup provides most of the action in the story, but I felt that this part was somewhat lacking in the characterization department. Most of the characters felt hollow, a setup to the next part of the action. There was not a lot of depth to any of the characters, which was disappointing with such an intriguing premise and the potential to explore the nature of right and wrong and moral greyness.

I had difficultly connecting to the present day story and it definitely felt like just a narrative framework. The research was laughably easy and convenient. I ultimately did not end up caring for any of the characters in present day. It was a quick read, but ultimately left me disappointed. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book overall. Although I didn't find the modern day storyline particularly compelling--Caroline wasn't a very interesting character, and the "30-something woman trying to find out who she is outside her marriage" story is kind of overdone--the 1791 storyline more than made up for it. Nella and Eliza are fascinating characters, and their story absolutely kept me at the edge of my seat. I would definitely recommend "The Lost Apothecary" to any fan of historical fiction.

A wonderful glimpse into early remedies for women in trouble. A family tradition that had to trade in the shadows, women who were not being heard by their physician found their way into the back streets of London for a answer to their woes. The story opens in secret, a false store front hides an apothecary that trades in death, to spouses, bully boyfriends, a d the carriage trade looking for a way out of an arrangement no longer favorable. The story parallels a life changed by deceit for a young woman no longer happy in her life. As she pieces together the events of the past ,a new future opens a different path.

Read if you like: dual timelines, strong female characters, historical mysteries.
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The book follows two main protagonists. Nella is an apothecary in the past who dispenses poisons to women who are in precarious situations. Then in the present, Caroline goes to London after learning some heartbreaking news, where she discoveries a historical mystery that she tries to unravel. I loved the mystery element of the book and the dual timelines. I enjoy books that unravel the story as we read along with the characters.
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I also liked the conversation of how limited the choices were for women back in the past, and how some turned to poison to free themselves from the men in their lives for various reasons. This also showed how the upper class exploited the working class in society too.
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Overall, I loved this book.
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CW: murder, death, attempted suicide, miscarriage, and infidelity.

This debut did not disappoint. Multiple timelines, intrigue and characters you absolutely adore, this has all the ingredients of the perfect historical fiction story. I’ll be recommending this to friends as it’s something I think most readers would enjoy.

4.5 stars

I both listened and read this book and the narration was done by three different narrators and two of them were pretty good, but the third one, the voice of Nella, had a tendency to grate on me. Thinking back, I think the low, gravelly voice probably fit who she was, but it was kind of annoying at times.

The story was told from three points of view, Nella and Eliza in 1791 and Caroline in present-day London. For me, I was captured by the cover, but I honestly didn't know what to expect. The description doesn't quite get it right, but I guess I would say that it's really how the three women find out who they really are and who they want to be, and Caroline finding one of Nella's bottles in the present-day leads her to discover Nella and Eliza's story.

Personally, I loved the story and couldn't put it down. I liked the twists and turns the story took and the ending was quite satisfying. In the final article that Caroline found about Eliza, I'm wondering about what happened with her husband, but I'll leave it at that to avoid spoilers. I liked the friendship Caroline made developed with Gaynor and similarly, I liked the bond that formed between Nella and Eliza. I thought this was a great debut book for the author and look forward to reading more by her.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is definitely one of my favorite books this year!!! Absolutely loved every word and could barely put it down. I loved all three main characters who turned out to be strong women with heavy loads to bare. My heart broke for Nella and all that life threw her. Eliza, eager to learn the trade of an apothecary shop, but makes a grave mistake that could cost them both, and the women Nella has helped. Fast forward to present day Catherine who leaves her life and cheating husband behind to be alone with the fate of her future and stumbles across an old glass jar that leads her to the apothecary shop from long ago and the secrets it held so tightly. An engrossing, fantastic story.

“History doesn’t record the intricacies of women’s relationships with one another; they’re not to be uncovered.” Sarah Penner’s debut, a historical novel, The Lost Apothecary, reveals traces of the secrets women share. It also indicates that women keep secrets even from the women closest to them. This remarkable debut is a March Indie Next Pick and the #1 LibraryReads Pick for March.

In London in 1791, only women can find their way to the hidden room in Nella Clavinger’s apothecary shop. While Nella’s mother had been an apothecary who sold remedies, after a betrayal, Nella took a different path. She keeps a register of those women who sought her help, potions to kill men in their lives, abusive husbands or fathers or brothers, men who betrayed them. That register is Nella’s way of telling the stories of women whose stories were never told in history books.

Nella has a feeling of uneasiness before twelve-year-old Eliza Fanning shows up. Her mistress sent her there to obtain eggs for the master’s breakfast. Eliza is innocent in so many ways of life, and doesn’t really understand why she herself needs protection. But, she’s fascinated by what she sees as Nella’s magick, although Nella insists it comes from a knowledge of the usage of the earth and its gifts. Nella doesn’t expect the girl to return, but she does.

On a second timeline, Caroline Parcewell is in London on what should have been her tenth anniversary trip with her husband. But, when she learned James was cheating, her best friend told her to take the trip by herself. Angry, defeated, exhausted, Caroline goes mudlarking, hunting for items left behind by the outgoing tide of the Thames. When she finds a small blue vial and wants to know more, she’s sent to the British Library. That small vial sets Caroline on the path of historical research, a path she had set aside for her marriage and the hope of a family.

It’s surprising that Penner’s novel is a debut. It’s skillfully written, and the stories of the three women are entwined, but each voice is easily identified. While Eliza is the device that moves the story along, Nella and Caroline are the more interesting characters. Nella knows she supplies poison to women, but she keeps that register. “The register is important because the names of those women might otherwise be forgotten. It may be the only place their names are recorded.” At the same time as she supplies poison, she knows she’s poisoning herself, and she knows her desire for revenge, and her angry is eating her alive. Then, there’s Caroline, a woman who is only coming to realize that she buried her own needs and desires for the sake of marriage.

The cover of The Lost Apothecary is stunning, and it will catch a reader’s attention. It’s the story of women, though, hidden women with secrets, women who look out for each other, that will remind readers of all the women whose lives have been forgotten.