One of my favorite reads of 2021 and one I continually recommend. Great tale told in a duel timeline alternating between 1791 and the present day centering around an apothecary that connects two women and multiple murders. Great narration which really brought the story to life..

One of my favorite reads of 2021, The Lost Apothecary is a fabulous dual timeline taking us back and forth between 1791 and the present day and the apothecary that connects two women and multiple murders.

The Lost Apothecary
by Sarah Penner (Goodreads Author)
Colleen Chi-Girl's review given on GR on Apr 03, 2021
5 BIG HEARTFELT STARS *****
Bookshelves: 2021, audio, crime-mysteries, england, feminism, reese-bkclub, women-centered; FAVES

This is a stunning novel about strong women set in England, where the time periods alternate from the late 1790’s to present day. The former time highlights the life of a woman apothecary who vows never to use her remedies and tinctures to hurt, but only to help, other women. She doesn’t have that same sense of morality when it comes to certain men who are guilty of their horrific behavior toward women, like their wives or mistresses.

Present day features a charismatic and interesting young woman, Caroline Parcewell. She has been married 10 years and was ready to go on an anniversary trip to London, but finds out her husband has a secret he’s been hiding. Ticked off and heartbroken, Caroline heads to London and takes the trip alone.

Caroline is someone most of us would love to have as a friend....clever, brave, fun, and intelligent. And as she learns and grows, and tries to figure out her life and which path to take, she discovers a new friend and maybe a new career. Oh, do I want a new career like her’s.

Awesome! So well done, so beautiful, and memorable.

Note: I didn't realize until Sept 2023 that I had received an ARC audiobook for this - I was new to NetGalley and a new job and recently discovered a category on NG that shows archived but not downloaded books. UGH! So I am thanking the talented and brilliant author, the awesome narrators: Lorna Bennett; Lauren Anthony; Lauren Irwin, NetGalley and of course the publisher, Harlequin Audio....albeit belatedly.

"The Lost Apothecary" is an absolute gem of a novel that seamlessly weaves together past and present, mystery and intrigue, and the resilience of women across centuries. Sarah Penner's storytelling is nothing short of enchanting, and the narrators Lorna Bennett, Lauren Anthony, and Lauren Irwin bring the tale to life in a mesmerizing way.

Set in the hidden corners of eighteenth-century London, the secret apothecary shop is a captivating backdrop for a story that unveils a network of women seeking justice against oppressive men. The intricate threads of the narrative connect the apothecary's fate to present-day London, where Caroline Parcewell's journey takes a thrilling turn as she uncovers the unsolved apothecary murders.

Penner's ability to create an atmosphere of suspense is masterful, keeping the reader spellbound as the secrets of the past and the present unfold. The characters, from the mysterious apothecary Nella to the determined historian Caroline, are richly developed and evoke deep empathy.

"The Lost Apothecary" is a celebration of the strength and resilience of women, highlighting their ability to support each other across time. The themes of secrets, revenge, and the ties that bind us are expertly explored, leaving a profound impact.

This novel is a true masterpiece that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page. It's a testament to Sarah Penner's skill as a storyteller and a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction, mystery, and stories of empowerment. Prepare to be transported, enthralled, and ultimately moved by the unforgettable journey that "The Lost Apothecary" offers.

I wanted to like this more than I did. I love historical and multiple POV and intertwined stories but this one always felt hard to keep up with and I questioned putting it down several times

In the back of a dark London alley lies a hidden apothecary shop. This apothecary is as unique as the unusual clients that it services. Spoken of only in hushed whispers by the women of London, it's sole purpose is to provide well disguised poisons to women desperate enough to use against the men who oppress them.

Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

This novel is comprised of duel timelines. In the past, we follow Nella as she secretly dispenses poisons to liberate the women from their tormentors. In present day London, we meet Caroline. Caroline is a historian who stumbles across an old apothecary bottle. She seeks to find its origin and unwittingly stumbles upon answers to the unsolved Apothecary murders that have plagued London for nearly two centuries. We have a third narrator as well, Eliza, whose actions ultimately are the catalyst for the events that will connect these women across the centuries.

The lost apothecary is categorized as historical fiction, which is a genre I don't typically dabble in. However, it quickly grabbed my attention with its stunning cover art. I am beyond pleased that I gave this book a shot because it's beautifully written and quite an interesting story. I am amazed that this is a debut novel, and I am eager to see what Penner will bring us next.

I did listen to The Lost Apothecary as an audiobook. The story has three separate narrators, which I personally loved. I think all three women did a phenomenal job bringing each character to life.

As always, thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review

A beautifully written debut! While it took me some time to get into the book, I was pleasantly surprised by the world building and characters. I enjoyed the dual timelines and am looking forward to reading more from Penner

A split story: half in the present, half in the past. I enjoyed the past part very much. The historical tidbits about apothecaries, etc., was quite interesting.

A dual timeline novel set in London in the present day and late 1700s. I enjoyed the investigation of the glass vile that the present day heroine discovers while mudlarking in the Thames River and the dark history that unfolds from it. While I appreciated the authors skill in crafting two storylines, I always enjoyed being in the 1700s more than the present.

I sadly was unable to finish this book because I struggled so much to connect to the story, characters, and kept putting this down. I was extremely disinterested in all content and tried this in ebook and audio but had to officially DNF it.

I loved this book! I fell in love with the characters so quickly, and felt like I was engaged through the whole novel - something that is often not the case for me as I use audiobooks for background noise. The relationship building between Nella and Eliza was bittersweet and heartwarming, outlining the importance of strong women in a time period where they were often overlooked. Caroline's modern-day experiences really helped me feel connected to the experiences, and reminded me of how deep stories can be behind even the smallest, most mundane objects.

Loved the audio of this book as the narration was excellent. Very well written and bridged nicely between the past and present storyline. Thank you to NetGalley for the arc.

What an absolutely delightful book this was. Alternating between 1791 and present day this story is woven around an old apothecary named Nella and her apprentice Liza and Caroline. These women live in different times but their lives will intersect in different ways. I can’t wait for more from this author!

The audiobook is well-narrated. I did not prefer the story. It was very slow moving. Still, the narrator tried her best. It was well-performed. If I had the chance to read or listen to it again, I would prefer the audiobook because it was more enjoyable.

I did not finish this book, I was very excited for this book but I could not get into the story and I did not care about the characters as much as I hoped I would. When you have dual timelines usually one is more interesting than the other but I did not care for either one.

The Lost Apothecary is a fascinating dual timeline novel about a group of women we don't often learn about. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters and the story had wonderful pacing. I listened to the audiobook. The narrators were wonderful and kept me intrigued in the story. It reminded me a little of The Dictionary of Lost Words in terms of the historical London setting and feeling. I really enjoyed this dive back into history with a dash of fantasy.

Thank you Harper Audio and NetGalley for providing this audiobook ARC.

This book was good, but I didn't enjoy Caroline's portion of the story, especially her ending. The historical portions of this book I really enjoyed though and I wish the author would have just focused on that story and left Caroline out of this book.

Absolutely loved this book. It was amazing. The right amount mystery and intensity to keep you coming back.

The concept was interesting but the overall finished product was a little lacklustre in my opinion I found it hard to finish and was a little bored by the end

I loved this book and the audiobook really added to the experience! This was one of my 2021 favorites and my vote for the Book of the Month - Book of the Year!