The Lost Apothecary

By: Sarah Penner

Narrated by: Sarah Cullum

Length: 9 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

Newsweek's 2021's Most Highly Anticipated New Books

PopSugar's Most Anticipated Books of 2021

A New York Times top 10 best seller

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.

Hidden in the depths of 18th-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 12-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 10th wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London 200 years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate - and not everyone will survive.

©2021 Sarah Penner (P)2021 W F Howes

Critic reviews

"A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!” (Kate Quinn, New York Times best-selling author of The Alice Network and The Huntress)

“Intriguing.... Readers who enjoy parallel historical/contemporary narratives about women’s lives, such as Claire McMillan’s The Necklace or Liz Trenow’s The Forgotten Seamstress, will enjoy the historical details and mystery in this engrossing tale.” (Library Journal)

“Readers who enjoy Katherine Howe and Susanna Kearsley will be drawn to this promising, fast-paced debut.” (Booklist)

I loved this book, but...

I really enjoyed this book. I loved all the female protagonists. But the husband was just a gaslighting bore. I couldn't tolerate him. I must admit I would have liked a different ending for him. But that being said, I will remember this book fondly and look for other books by this author. The narrator did a great job and added to the story.

I love the accidental interconnectedness of the characters

I loved the story.
The narrators for Caroline and Eliza were not great. Eliza’s narrator was breathy and hard to listen to. It was too sing-songy for me and lacked the change in light and shade I imagine the author was trying to portray with her words.

Caroline was American - but the narrator narrated with a British accent and only brought the “American” accent when there was dialogue; and then not very well. I very much doubt someone “thinks” in another accent as narration is supposed to portray. This damped down the experience for me.