The Lost Apothecary

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Book Review:



Recommendation – definitely worth a read, particularly if you
love history, conflicted female leads… and murder.

 

It is always a pleasure to run across a stunning debut. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is just that – an incredible first effort. Part introspection, part mystery, part heart-pounding tension, this tale digs up the ugly secrets of murder for hire in eighteenth-century London. Simultaneously chronicling the unravelling lives of three heroines, two from the past and one from the present, Penner introduces us to a long-lost shop of poisons, the women who bought and sold revenge there, and the amateur historian who rediscovers it and herself as well.

Be forewarned, this is not a horror story. It is actually quite beautiful and heart wrenching, written with surprising grace and empathy while steadfastly avoiding tired serial killer cliches and predictable outcomes. My only criticism is that while Penner flips between three different points of view from two different time periods, her voice doesn’t really change to reflect it. Although irritating, this certainly did not keep me from enjoying the novel immensely.

If you like compassion with your crime, multiple points of view, and a story that keeps you guessing right until the end, this book is for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! If you’ve read it already, let me know what you thought in the comments section.

 

Author – Sarah Penner
Publishing – Park Row Books, 2021
Genre – Historical Fiction
Pages – 301

 

Mr. Wedel

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