The Lost Apothecary is an excellent debut and a fascinating story that tells story about women and how history can change you.
It’s a fascinating mix of past and present, of fascinating and complex women.
Even if some part of the story requires a bit of suspension of belief as I suppose it’s a bit hard to research long lost historical facts in a short time it’s a gripping, poignant and highly entertaining story that kept me hooked.
The book is well researched and was fascinated by the parts featuring Nella, the apothecary who sells poison to desperate woman. Catherine grew on me as I read about her changes and how she get back her life listening to herself and trying to do what she really wants.
The author is a talented storyteller and she delivers a story that kept me hooked and turning pages as fast as I could.
It’s her first book and I hope we will read soon other story as fascinating as this one.
I strongly recommend it.
Many thanks to Park Row for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Lost Apothecary is an historical fiction with a dual timeline set in 1791 London and the present day. Both of these timelines deal with secrets and the agency of women. Both story arcs are born out of betrayal. The pain from one betrayal leads one woman to turn her apothecary into a means for other women to free themselves of the men in their lives. Whether it be their husband or employer Nella serves up doses of poison to kill them but make it look like they died of natural causes. Caroline's betrayal brings her to England alone seeking clarity about her marriage.

The two timelines cross paths when Caroline goes mudlarking and finds a vial with the apothecary's logo etched on it. This peaks her interest enough that she begins researching the lost apothecary and the series of murders that were linked to it. I loved how Penner brought the two storylines together and especially how she managed to have these dual timelines reach a crescendo at the same time.

The Lost Apothecary emphasizes how women are erased from history. Both main characters strive to defy this convention. Nella ensures that the names of every woman who visits her shop are recorded while Caroline works diligently to uncover their voices.

<b><blockquote>Words of Wisdom from The Lost Apothecary</blockquote></b>
1. We can use our relationships with others to hide things from ourselves. In Caroline's case once she got married she put her aspirations aside and followed her husband.
2. We can be happy but not necessarily fulfilled. In loving someone else do not lose who are or forget your dreams.

This debut from Sarah Penner is off the charts! Historical fiction is typically not on my list, but I felt so drawn to this cover and once I started reading, I couldn’t break away.

I love the way that the story is told in different points in time. The level of development of each character was amazing. Nella is so interesting and I appreciate where her heart was. She wanted to help women and live up to the legacy her mother started. Eliza was a surprise, but a welcome one, as I’m sure Nella would agree. I had trouble putting this book down.

Five out of five stars. Move this to the top of your TBR lists! You can thank me later.

Thank you to Park Row Books and Netgalley for an e-arc of this novel.

This book is unbelievably stunning. #thelostapothecary by @sarah_penner_author is a masterpiece. Thank you so much to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to @kccpr for putting this on my radar!

If you're looking for a book to start and finish in one sitting this is it! Carefully and well developed characters bring together a dueling timeline and multiple POVs.

Nella has been betrayed, once in love and now a victim of loss and deceit. She is the front of her Apothecary, once used for healing... now a old grain barrel receives letter from women requesting... certain potions, "betrayal was why I began to dispense poisons."

Eliza befriends Netta after delivering a letter to Nella for her mistress. Intrigued in what Nella does, Eliza converses with Nella, wanting to become her apprentice.

Caroline is present day. Exploring London on an anniversary trip alone, after her husband's affair comes to light, she stumbled upon a mudlarking group. After finding a vial with the carving of a bear, Caroline is now on a journey to discover where and what the history if the vial is. Piecing together the life of Nella and her Apothecary from 200 years previous.

A story of healing, forgiveness, friendship, and poisons! Add this one to your TBR now

I loved this fabulous debut novel! I found it to be very compelling and could hardly put it down. It is a clever and unusual plot and interesting characters in both of the time lines. I love how she wove the past and present together. Lots of good twists and turns and the ending—-wow!

Not time travel, but time slip. When American Caroline goes to London alone after she discovers her husband is having an affair, she is feeling sad and frustrated. She gave up her love of studying ordinary people in history. She gave up her dream of graduate studies at Cambridge because she got married. On a whim, she joins a mudlark tour on the Thames and discovers an old bottle. The discovery sends her to the British library where she embarks on a quest to discover its history. Not only does she find an astonishing history, she makes a new librarian friend who helps her in research. It turns out that the bottle came from a female apothecary’s shop in the 1790’s. Transitioning from the present to the 18th century, it is also the story of an English woman who dispenses poison to help women who have been wronged. Along with the history its also the story of Caroline’s discoveries of what she needs to be fulfilled. This is a great “escape” book. It is easy to get drawn into the story, and once you are halfway through, it turns into a “read past my bedtime book.” While the research part moves too quickly for reality, stories that involve history, libraries and books are tops on my list to help me get away from my reality for a little while.

There aren't many places that cater to women's needs in 1791 London, except for one, but you have to know how to find it. In a dark back alley hidden from view lies an apothecary shop whose customer's come seeking very specific help. Nella was once a respected healer, but after enduring hardships and betrayals, started using her knowledge for a darker means. Instead of goods for healing, Nella sells well-disguised poisons to the desperate women who come to her door seeking a way to rid themselves of the men in their lives. When one of her customers turns out to be an inquisitive twelve-year-old named Eliza, it sets off a chain reaction that will cost one of them their lives.

Meanwhile, in the present-day, Caroline is spending her anniversary trip to London alone after discovering her husband's infidelity. In a moment of spontaneity, she decides to join a group mudlarking along the Thames. Here she discovers a tiny glass vial which the historian in her just can't help but investigate. As she digs into this mysterious vial, she uncovers an unsolved case of apothecary murders that took place hundreds of years ago. Caroline is completely fascinated and will do whatever it takes to get to the bottom of this mystery, but after her discovery catches some unwanted attention, she'll have to decide if the past is better left buried.

The premise of this sounded right up my alley, and I did enjoy it just not as much as I was hoping to. I thought the historical elements were absorbing, and I liked following Nella and learning about what drove her to such a dark place that she'd turn to making poisons for people. She and Eliza's chapters were my favorites to read from just because I found their points of view a lot more interesting than Caroline's. I didn't think Caroline was a bad character, I just wasn't as keen on her storyline. I think most of that disconnect had to do with the fact that I found her investigation to be way too convenient. Her basically solving a cold case from the 1700s in a matter of days just didn't seem realistic to me. Aside from that, I did still like this and would recommend it if you're a fan of historical fiction with a dash of mystery.

What a debut from Sarah Penner! The Lost Apothecary is a then-and-now story, and I'll admit that I liked the then parts a bit better than the now. That's not to say I didn't like Caroline's story, but the events in 1791 kept me glued to the pages. The characters are interesting, and they pulled me into their lives from the very beginning. The premise is intriguing, and the story is dark and mysterious. It does require a good deal of suspension of disbelief, but I expected that, and it's great for a bit of escapism - something that is much needed in these crazy times. From the fabulous cover to the fascinating storyline, this one is a brilliant debut and Sarah Penner is definitely one to watch.

Thanks to the fine folks at Park Row Books/Harper Collins this was a combination listen and read book. I've done this a couple times, its great for getting a real sense of the voices through the audio and curling up on the couch for a read rounds it off nicely.

Debut author, Sarah Penner has written this dual time period story told through 3 different narratives, two in the past and one present day. Naturally I was drawn to the past for its mystery and history. I loved listening to Nella tell her story on the audio, the narrator had a dark edgy tone that had me visualising probably more then what was written - does that make sense? Definitely the audio for the past worked nicely.

The present day story was interesting enough, mud larking was a new term for me and now I want to go to England and mud lark, searching for lost treasures. It was an interesting thread, I liked Caroline's drive and watching her transition but it was the past that keep me reading.

The Lost Apothecary is a story of herbs, while usually to heal this time it's the opposite. Getting to know Nella through her past answered the question of why she does what she does. The friendship with Eliza and ramifications turned this into a story of survival with some suspense and sacrifice.

A solid debut that I highly recommend.

Both the audio and ebook were provided by publisher (via Netgalley) in exchange
for an honest review.

The Lost Apothecary will appeal to the readers who like historical fiction and enjoy solving old mysteries. In this book we follow two different timelines. The first one follows Nella, a rogue apothecary who owns a hidden shop in London and dispenses poisons to women who wish to do away with their husbands, brothers, or other men in their lives. The second timeline is set in present-day London. Caroline travels to the UK from Ohio on what was supposed to be her tenth wedding anniversary trip with husband. However, just a few days before the trip, she discovered that her husband had had an affair and she thus boarded the plane alone.

While in London, Caroline goes on a mud-larking tour - looking for objects in the riverbed of Thames hoping to find something interesting from the bygone days. She discovers a small glass container that looks like it could have been an apothecary vial. And thus her journey to unraveling Nella's story begins.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Some aspects of the story I thought were a bit far-fetched. After all, piecing together a story that occurred 200 years prior is no easy fit. Yet, Caroline is able to find the shop and newspaper articles dated back to the time and mentioning the pertinent events in a matter of days.

However, if you can suspend your disbelief and just go with the story, you are in for a treat. At its core it's a story of self-discovery, of following your dreams and getting back to what you used to love, but somehow let life get in the way. As I get older, I too tend to think a lot about my career choices and sometimes wonder if a different choice would have led me somewhere else.

4 out 5 stars. I hope Sarah Penner keeps writing more books. This was her debut novel and I would gladly pick up her next book.

An e-ARC was provide by NetGalley.com

Since I read almost exclusively YA, it's been a few months since I picked up an adult read. Since I love historical fiction and am always down for a feminist read, I was immediately intrigued when I heard of THE LOST APOTHECARY. The story alternates between present day London and late eighteenth century London, with three main characters who tell the tale: Caroline in the present, and apothecary Nella and her 12-year-old client turned friend, Eliza, in the past.

Nella's mother, who taught her everything she knows, was a traditional apothecary, with one caveat: her store was exclusively for women. She built a safe space for women to find cures and tinctures and medicines for the things that ailed them, without having to go to a male apothecary who either may not understand their woes or may judge them for their decisions. However, when Nella's mother died, she was thrown into profound grief and found herself taken advantage of by a handsome, charming man, whose deceit led her to turn the apothecary shop into a place that doled out justice for women in the form of poisons. She even kept a register of what she sold, to whom, and for whom the poison was intended:

"For many of these women," Nella whispered, "this may be the only place they will be remembered. It is a promise I made to my mother, to preserve the existence of these women whose names would otherwise be erased from history. The world is not kind to us... There are few places for a woman to leave an indelible mark." . . . "But this register preserves them--their names, their memories, their worth."

In the present day, meanwhile, Caroline has traveled to London on what was supposed to be her tenth wedding anniversary; she is alone, however, having just recently found out that her husband had cheated on her. On her first day, she goes "mudlarking" by the River Thames and comes upon a small glass vial marked only with a crude etching of a bear. This leads her to a quest to discover what she can about the vial and where it came from, resulting in her finding Nella's hidden shop and even the register of all the women clients.

There are thrills to be had and mysteries to explore throughout the story, and I raced through it pretty quickly. I was so fascinated with the idea of an apothecary who sold poisons to women so they could achieve some measure of justice for themselves in a time in which justice for women was elusive. We also follow along with Caroline's growth as she unravels this mystery, her realization that she should not suppress her own desires and interests and passions to make another person happy. There was a twist at the end of the book that I definitely wasn't expecting, and I almost wonder if perhaps there will be a follow-up, but either way THE LOST APOTHECARY is a great story of women's empowerment and seizing justice for oneself. I highly recommend this to any fan of historical fiction and/or feminist tales!

Rating: 4 stars!

**Disclosure: I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher for purposes of this tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review of the book.

Sarah Penner’s debut novel The Lost Apothecary is an intriguing dual time-line narrative of three women. Nella lives in 18th century London, with its horse-drawn carriages and cobblestone streets. It’s a time when women have little power over their lives and often find themselves in intolerable, abusive marriages so, in a secret space behind her regular drugstores, Nella concocts special potions which she sells to women to poison their oppressors. Into her shop one day comes Eliza Fanning, a precocious 12-year-old sent by her mistress to obtain the means to murder her adulterous husband. Through a series of mis-adventures, Eliza winds up becoming a quasi-companion and assistant to Nella, who is increasingly unwell, and their relationship forms a strong through-line in the book.
Penner’s third protagonist is Caroline, visiting London in the present on what was to have been her 10th wedding anniversary before she caught her husband cheating and decided to take travel alone. While on a mudlarking expedition near the Thames, she discovers an old apothecary vial and on a lark, decides to spend time researching its unusual markings. This leads her to a new friend, Gaynor, who works at the British Library and eventually to an abandoned property where she discovers the ruins of Nella’s long-buried shop and her journal detailing her clients and their purchases.
Like many dual time-line novels, one story often outshines the other. For me, the tale of Nella and Eliza proved vastly more compelling than the modern-day narrative, so I felt a bit disappointed whenever the focus left the streets of old London to describe Caroline’s growing dissatisfaction with her life’s direction and her amateur pursuit of the mystery of the secret apothecary. Her research into historical records never quite captured me as much as the older tale but I did appreciate her growth through the book and the life decisions she made in the last chapters.
With its themes of female power and agency, paired with an interesting mystery and historical underpinnings, this would be a great read for book clubs. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advance eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an intriguing story, very well told. I enjoyed the three different points of view and the way they were woven together to gradually paint a picture of what happened. The only reason it wasn't a five-star read for me was that in the present-day thread there were a number of things that didn't quite ring true to me. However, that's a small quibble, and I'll definitely recommend the story to customers at the bookstore where I work.

Dual timeline historical fiction with fascinating premise that is not well delivered. In this tale, the apothecary provides poisons only for women who wish to dispatch their tormenting male-of-choice in old England where women have no rights. It’s a fascinating idea and worth a great book or two. I hoped for some witchy-business or at least a sisterhood of referrals. Instead, there is a 12 year old customer with her own curious needs and frankly, she just isn’t terribly interesting. Our current day heroine, while engaging, just isn’t surprising. This is a fast moving tale that just lacks the atmosphere and drama I had hoped would permeate its story. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Well written book, the author Sarah Penner paints a beautiful picture with her words. The reader is taken into the world that the author has created. It is a page turner because you want to see how the two worlds will collide. I would recommend this to teens and adults.

The Lost Apothecary is a book as beautiful on the inside as it is on the out. It’s a debut novel from author to watch, Sarah Penner. Weaving past and present, this is the story of a successful back alley apothecary and the woman in present day who stumbles upon her once existence.

In 1791 London we meet Nella, an apothecary once known for curing ailments who has discretely switched to concocting potions of a more sinister nature. Although she keeps her practice fairly secret, women looking for revenge know how to seek out Nella’s services. One rule Nella abides by is she only services women looking to punish the men in their lives, never the other way around.

One day a young girl named Eliza comes in on a mission, but becomes engrossed with Nella’s work. She wishes to learn from Nella, but she remains torn. Nella doesn’t want to bring the young girl into her world, not only risking tainting her, but possibly compromising her practice in the process. On the other hand, Nella finds herself drawn to Eliza as she was never able to have children of her own.

At the same time, we follow a woman named Caroline in present day who had been slated to come to London on her tenth wedding anniversary. But right before the trip, life changes course. Alone and far away from home, Caroline falls into a mystery that connects her to apothecaries of the past, and most importantly, the truth behind Nella and Eliza’s story.

One thing I loved about The Lost Apothecary is that while it wouldn’t be the typical read I’d be drawn to, I loved watching the whole story come together. It’s also a hard to define read as it’s a mix of many genres- touching upon women’s fiction, historical fiction and mystery, just to name a few. If anything, this story reminded me it’s good to get out of your reading comfort zone every once in while and experience something fresh and different.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins, and author Sarah Penner for this gorgeous debut which comes out on March 2nd!

I loved reading about Caroline, Nella and Eliza. These are three strong women. I enjoyed how the story went from the past to the present. I loved learning about the many ways that plants can be used to make poisons. This was fascinating. It is sad that so many women felt the need to murder. This story shows how each of these women grows as the time goes on. I always enjoy reading about the late 1700’s. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin fir a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

The Lost Apothecary is a novel about women finding their place, filling their empty space, and moving at their own pace. The book operates in a then/now fashion, where we meet both Nella and Caroline. Nella is an 18th century healer-turned-killer apothecary, who has been operating in the shadows for years. The day little Eliza Fanning, a 12 year old girl with a less than saintly master, comes into Nella's shop, is the beginning of the end. Then we have present day Caroline - history buff with a job she's never loved and an unfaithful husband. Caroline has come alone to London, on the trip that was meant to celebrate her 10 year wedding anniversary. When she finds a tiny blue bottle in the mud and muck on the shores of the Thames, Caroline is inexplicably drawn to the mystery of this deadly apothecary shop from more than 200 years ago.

I loved delving deep into the motivations of both Nella and Caroline, and seeing the parallels between these two women, born hundreds of years apart. I was riveted to the story of this secret hidey-hole where death was brewed each day. Watching the relationship between Nella and Eliza develop gave a gravity to the past portions of the book, that might otherwise have been missing. I also understood present day Caroline's near desperation to uncover the truth of the bear etched bottle. History is safe, these events are over and done, the people all long dead. Caroline initially just wants to take her mind off her unsatisfying life, but she grows steadily into her own skin, during her quest for the truth. The Lost Apothecary is a love letter to empowerment, and an ode to women everywhere. You'll turn the last page and find yourself wanting more. Thank you to Harlequin/Park Row and Netgalley for the advance copy.

I think this is one of those situations where my expectations were so high for this book and they just weren't met. The story goes between the past and present. Caroline, in the present, travels to London to get away from her cheating husband and finds a small blue bottle while mudlarking. Intrigued, she starts to do research to figure out where the bottle is from and then into the mysterious apothecary. The past follows Nella, the apothecary, and Eliza, a twelve year old girl who approaches Nella for help. I think I really just wanted this book to be darker and to have more individual stories about the women who come to the shop. A lot of the story follows Eliza and I was honestly bored with her. Even just following Nella's journey into becoming an apothecary and going down the path she did would have been more interesting to me. I just wanted more than I got.

My only single complaint about this title had not to do with the content, but rather, the length of the book or perhaps just the speed I read it – by the final chapter, I wanted more! It was immersive and easy to read without any confusion switching between the dual timeline.

I was struck by the author’s artistry as she created a likeable villain, so to speak, while illuminating a crafty tale of women scorned (hell hath no fury, and all that…) The ignorance (of the naïve, uneducated variety) often seen on subjects we take for granted was spotlighted and necessary to the tale. While the present-day scenario happens all too often, I wasn’t entirely sure how the two stories would intertwine beyond Caroline’s curiosity. I enjoyed how Penner adeptly designed two entirely different worlds and brought them together. The Last Apothecary was a beguiling work of historical fiction that moved quickly and broke my heart.

My thanks to the wonderful team at Harlequin for sharing this title with me in advance. Read & reviewed as part of the publisher's Blog Tour.