The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Genre: Historical Fiction
Keywords: Apothecary, Poison, Adultery
I LOVED THIS BOOK! There is nothing more dangerous than a woman scorned. This is definitely a favorite- get it here.
I listened to this book on audio and was hooked from the very beginning! There are 3 narrators- an apothecary from the 19th century that resorts to helping her fellow wronged women exact revenge on men, her unexpected 12-year-old apprentice, and the woman who discovers the history of the “apothecary killer” in present day.
All 3 women are witty and independent in their own ways. Nella, the old woman who dispenses poisons to her peers, has done so since her own beloved revealed he was already married and hurt her beyond comprehension. She has kept a register of all the women who have passed through her secret wall, receiving deadly concoctions to slip their unsuspecting loved ones. I do wish more happy had occured in Nella’s life; it seems that Eliza, the 12 year old girl that stumbles into the apothecary shop at the behest of her mistress, is the shining light in Nella’s life as we know it to be. Eliza’s bright, curious mind immediately takes to Nella and her shop of horrors. She wishes to apply Nella’s knowledge of tinctures and potions to the struggles of her own adolescent life.
Decades later, Caroline is rediscovering herself in London after being cheated on by her husband. What she finds is a blue apothecary vial, new friends, and the priorities of her life that she had long forgotten. Caroline’s story is relatable for many reasons- for me, it was that we can lose ourselves and our passions in the pursuit of a stable life. She reminds us of the importance of keeping “who we are” intact as we build lives and relationships- and I think Eliza is the perfect embodiment of this idea. She is truly and completely herself, and she changes the course of history.