The Lost Apothecary is the debut novel by Sarah Penner, published in 2021.
I was instantly intrigued by this book. Not only does it have a gorgeous front cover, it also promised to combine a good mystery with historical fiction. All the things I love!
The Lost Apothecary was shortlisted for the HWA Debut Crown Award and was a New York Times bestseller.
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Plot
Nella, an experienced apothecarist in the 18th century, specialises in crafting poisons for desperate women. However, Nella’s life takes a turn when a young girl named Eliza seeks her help.
The narrative also shifts to the present, where history enthusiast Caroline is on vacation in London, delving into research about the mysterious apothecary and becoming entangled in a story that transcends centuries.
The Lost Apothecary Book Review
I had high expectations for The Lost Apothecary and was drawn in by its premise of a Georgian female serial killer seeking justice for mistreated women. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the execution fell short.
The novel lacked the mystery I anticipated, as due to the dual timeline, we the reader found out what had happened before the main character. It felt repetitive in places where events unfolded in one chapter only for Caroline to discover them in the next. It almost felt like the author was over-explaining the plot which diminished the suspense and flow for me.
One aspect that stood out was the lack of a strong sense of place. Despite being set in London, there were numerous Americanisms scattered throughout the text. While I understand the main character, Caroline, is American, it seemed unrealistic for Londoners to use terms like “sneakers” or “trash”.
The characters of Eliza and Nella were well-crafted and engaging, but unfortunately I couldn’t connect with Caroline. Her portrayal came across as whiny and self-indulgent, impacting my overall enjoyment of the story.
Overall I was just really disappointed with this book, especially considering how interesting the premise was. Perhaps it would have worked better without the dual timeline and a dual narrative following Nella and Eliza would have sufficed.
What to read next
For books with a similar theme to The Lost Apothecary I’d suggest trying Triflers Need Not Apply by Camilla Bruce and How to Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie.