Advanced
Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.
Title details for The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner - Wait list

The Lost Apothecary

A Novel

by Sarah Penner
Lorna Bennett
Audiobook (Includes supplementary content)
0 of 8 copies available
Place a hold Listen to a sample Listen to a sample
0 of 8 copies available
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER — OVER A MILLION COPIES SOLD!
"A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!" —Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code
A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to the Lost Apothecary...
Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary's fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.
Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary's in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.
With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.
Don't miss THE AMALFI CURSE! Sarah's next spellbinding book to unearth a centuries-old curse, powerful witchcraft, and perilous love on the high seas. Coming April 2025.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    March 2, 2021

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781488210761
      • File size: 296680 KB
      • Duration: 10:18:04

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Narrators Lorna Bennett, Lauren Anthony, and Lauren Irwin enhance this historical mystery with their performances. Set in both 1791 and present-day London, the story involves three women: Nella, an apothecary scorned by a man; Eliza, who is unaware of lurking danger; and Caroline, who is celebrating a milestone anniversary alone. An object found on a mudlarking tour ties the timelines together. The strong trio of narrators highlight the characteristics of the women they portray. Bennett's granular timbre captures Nella's tender heart, which is hidden behind her bitter, calculating demeanor. Irwin's cadence and lilt highlight Eliza's na�vet� and pertness. As she portrays Caroline, Anthony's deliberate pacing and tone illuminate her continual preoccupation with her own thoughts. S.K.G. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
    • Publisher's Weekly

      January 4, 2021
      In Penner’s faltering debut, a contemporary American woman uncovers a clue to a series of unsolved murders in 18th-century London. After Caroline Parcewell learns her husband, James, is having an affair, she flies alone from Ohio to London on what was meant to be their anniversary trip. There, she finds a glass vial in the Thames. Her research on the bear etched on the bottle turns up newspaper articles about the suicide of a woman known as the London “Apothecary Killer” in 1791, and leads her to the site of the woman’s shop. Penner switches from Caroline’s sleuthing to the story of the apothecary, Nella Clavinger, who gave poison to women to use on men who wronged them in various ways. Back in the present, Caroline contends with James showing up and getting accidentally poisoned after trying to win her back. Penner’s story starts strong but peters out as the engaging premise gets muddled in convenient plot turns, though the author does a good job of making two disparate stories into eventual foils for one another. This has a few things going for it, but in the end it fails to cast a spell. Agent: Stefanie Lieberman, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

    • Booklist

      March 1, 2021
      In the late eighteenth century, Nella owns an apothecary specializing in remedies for women, with a brisk side business in poisons. Her latest customer is Eliza, a servant girl charged with procuring poison for her mistress. Nella's dreams of motherhood were destroyed by a callous young man, and Eliza is curious about the intricacies of Nella's business. The two form a tenuous bond that quickly strengthens when Nella's livelihood is threatened. In the present day, Caroline's romantic anniversary trip to London becomes a solo sojourn because of her husband's infidelity. Determined to make the best of the situation, Caroline joins a mudlarking expedition and finds a mysterious bottle in the river. Her investigation into the bottle's provenance unravels the long-hidden mystery of Nella's apothecary, while also reminding Caroline of her pre-marriage dreams. Penner finds clever parallels between Nella and Caroline, and avoids the pitfall of one storyline outshining the other--all three women have compelling tales, and while Nella's business may not be on the up-and-up, her motives are understandable. Readers who enjoy Katherine Howe and Susanna Kearsley will be drawn to this promising, fast-paced debut.

      COPYRIGHT(2021) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

Loading