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.

Wonderful book about a tiny blue vial that changed the fate of a woman in Ohio. But what really got my attention was a lost apothecary dispensing poison to kill off deceitful men.

This is a book about crossroads in life. About "abandoning secrets and pain in favor of embracing the truth."

Two story lines play out perfectly against each other. In currently day you'll meet Caroline running from her husband's adultery, looking for who she was meant to be and running full force into a mystery centuries old. And it all started with finding a blue vial in the muddy London river banks.

This plays against the story of Nella, the apothecary owner and Eliza, her young apprentice. In the 1700s dispensing poison to offer women better lives and happiness was their business. As Caroline searches for answers behind the mysterious vial, we learn of the past. A secret apothecary, desperate women, heart break, and the ignorance and power of youth. But what Caroline finds is her own freedom and the honest truth that she is important and her dreams are valid.

We don't have to kill off a man who betrays us. Sometimes the issue is something more than physical. Sometimes if we don't follow our passions, they eat us up and transform into apathy, resentment and longing.
In the 1700's these women used the lost apothecary to gain control, Caroline used her lost strength... And found herself.
Enjoy the historical intrigue, watching her desire take flight and the dark streets of London. And stick around for the list of the apothecary's poisons and some tasty recipes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin-Trade Publishing for the eARC of The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner.
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical fiction story that also included a taste of mystery. The dual timelines worked well, as I cheered for both main characters to find their peace and purpose. I think many women can relate with these characters as they are trying to navigate love and life, without losing their sense of self. I also enjoyed the "apothecary" aspect of the story because of its fascinating and deadly nature. What a skill to weld for good and/or bad (especially as those lines blur and become murky)!

At first I wasn’t sure if this would be the book for me, but as soon as I started reading it I was absolutely hooked PHEW! This book is told in two storylines, one that takes place in the late 1700’s and follows an apothecary killer, and the other that takes place in present time that follows a woman who is soul searching in London. I loved both storylines, which isn’t often the case. The last 30% of the book is so fast paced that I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend

I was engrossed in this novel of betrayal, revenge, and historical secrets. After her husband’s betrayal, Caroline finds herself taking their planned tenth anniversary trip to London alone. When she finds a mysterious blue bottle in the Thames, she uncovers a story of a long-lost apothecary who served women seeking revenge on men who had wronged them. Exploring the traces of the story awakens Caroline’s long-buried desire to be a historian. Interwoven into Caroline’s journey is the story of Nella, the 19th-century apothecary, and Eliza, the 12-year-old girl who befriends her. The story is fun to read, but also touches on darker truths, like the historical erasure of women’s stories.

Full review will be posted with book tour through the publisher closer to the publication date in March.

THIS WAS EVERYTHING AND MORE oh my god... oh my god what a story. Feminist historical fiction with sprinkles of magic and overflowing with mystery is my new favorite genre, lol.

*I received an advanced reader's copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. The following opinions are purely my own. IN is set to be published on 5/18/2021. This review does NOT contain spoilers.*

Summary: We follow two separate timelines and three POVs in this book. Nella and Eliza we follow in 1791 London; Nella runs an Apothecary that sells poison to women intending to kill men that have wronged them, and 12-year-old servant girl Eliza meets Nella when she comes to the shop in search of poison to kill her lady's husband (at her lady's request). In the present day, we follow Caroline on her would-be 10 year wedding anniversary vacation to London-- only her husband does not go with her (the reason is revealed to you very early on in the story). Caroline ditches the touristy itinerary she made with her husband in favor of unearthing clues to solve the mysterious "apothecary murders" from 200 years prior.

Themes: Wow, I loved everything this story highlights. This is a historical fiction at its heart, but centers around women (and "nobody" women, at that, who are unlikely to be otherwise remembered). Throughout the story there are multiple discussions of menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriage, infidelity, and mentions of assault. There are also mentions/moments of suicidal ideation. The women in this story each grapple with one or more of the above, and Sarah Penner gives each of them the time and pages needed to fully explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences, which are NEVER invalidated and always circle back to empowering each of the women to make her own choices and decisions in her processing, healing, grief, and growth.

Story and Characters: All three of our leading ladies are unique, charming, and flawed. Each of them have their own secrets, motivations, and stakes in their timeline, creating a web of mystery as they begin to connect, and then unravel as Caroline tries to connect the dots centuries later in the midst of her own life drama. I was left wanting more more MORE when the book ended because of how deeply I fell in love with these three women; yet, I know this book was the exact perfect length. The story was told in just the perfect amount of words. I never felt like I was "forcing" myself to pick up this book, I truly could not put it down and was constantly reaching for it. Also, I can tell the lengths Penner went to in researching this as the setting, apothecary, ingredients, and details seemed to leap off the page. The level of intricacy to some of the apothecary business left me amazed and totally immersed in Nella's wares. Caroline's determination to solve the puzzle leads to meet interesting people and venture into strange places, but all of it feels natural in the moment because of what we're told about Caroline's personality.

Nuts and Bolts: Nothing but praise in this department (assuming minor typos will be fixed before pub day). The writing style is fast-paced but never claustrophobic. The pacing is that exact ideal combo of high-stakes mysterious intrigue and white space for emotional development. I absolutely loved the ending, for all three of the POVs. The things that were said explicitly and the things that were left implied or up for interpretation.

Overall: A very unique read but a very, very good one! I have nothing but respect for these characters and this story. I loved the ties and the timeline between all three POVs, allowing the reader to peer into three distinct phases of the life of a woman (child, young woman, old and wise).

Such a clever story! As soon as she found the bottle while digging in the mud, I knew I needed to finish the book to see where it went and I was not disappointed. It was easy to imagine the dark apothecary with the hidden door. I really enjoyed this book and how descriptive the author was.

Thank you NetGalley, Park Row and Sarah Penner for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.
Fascinating, engrossing and addictive are just a few of the words that describe ‘The Lost Apothecary’.
London, 1791. Tucked in a cobblestoned alley sits an apothecary where Nella creates poisonous mixtures for women seeking revenge on men who have mistreated them. Her latest client isn’t who or what she expected. Eliza is twelve years old and very precocious. With Eliza acting as her assistant, Nella’s life changes with a series of unexpected events that jeopardizes Nella and her clientele.
Present day London. Caroline is shaken from the discovery of her husbands infidelity. Spending her tenth anniversary alone she ventures along a riverbank with a group of mudlarkers and discovers an old apothecary vial. Priding herself as an aspiring historian, she begins researching at the British Library and believes that she has found a link between the vial and the unsolved apothecary murders.
The connection of storylines and well written characters keeps the reader intrigued and makes this is a highly recommended read and a perfect novel for group book discussions.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

Set in two timelines, 1791 Nella, Eliza and current day Caroline, their stories run remarkably side-by-side with centuries between them.

An okay read, I did enjoy the older timeline with its descriptions of London life and its dangers.

3☆