The Lost Apothecary Collector's Edition: A Novel Hardcover – 7 Jan. 2025

I read this for my bookclub and found it a compelling read. Written between the present day and the 1700s, this book tells the tale of a female apothecary who helps women resolve problems in their life by using natural ingredients as poisons.This is a different and unique kind of crime thriller in terms of its storyline, but is written in what is becoming the standard format for all crime novelists at the current time: switching chapters between characters written in first person. It creates a fast pace and keeps the reader reading forward as they are left on cliff hangers.This story follows an American woman who comes to London on what should have been an anniversary trip with her husband, but after discovering his infidelity she travels alone and rediscovers herself. As her life is unravelling, she unravels the story of a female apothecary back in the 1700s after discovering an object on the banks of the Thames.Having not been able to go to my hometown, London, for the last two years due to the pandemic, it was nice to revisit some of the area, which was near when I used to work, and see it in my mind's eye again. I enjoyed the character development as it flicked back and forth and eventually crossing over as each step was told in the past and discovered in the present day. I loved the idea that there could still be derelict and hidden buildings in London that contained secrets to be revealed.For a fast paced read that will pique your curiousity and keep you reading, I definitely recommend it.

Initially I disliked this book, to the extent I was almost trying to find fault with it. But it grew on me as I read, and I ended up looking on it favourably. The narrative is split between three women. In 18th century London, Nella is an apothecary who secretly provides poisons to women in order to dispatch inconvenient menfolk. Eliza is a child servant who purchases one of Nella's products on behalf of her mistress. Meanwhile in the 21st century, Caroline is an American tourist with marital problems and an interest in history, who finds an artefact which triggers her to investigate Nella's story.I made an assumption based on the first few chapters about how the story was going to turn out, and was irritated in advance by it being predictable. This turned out to be a wrong assumption - it didn't go that way and was more original than my first thoughts had anticipated. These assumptions were mostly based on the story set in the modern era. Certainly the modern storyline is weaker than the historical one, and suffers by being set in comparison with it. But both threads develop into stories that are both interesting and very gripping.The characters are interesting, with Eliza being the most likeable. I found Caroline irritating, and felt that way throughout the book, although I did also come to like her enough to care about her fate. Part of this stems from my personal dislike of stories focussing on people's relationship difficulties - the only thing more tedious than stories about people falling in love are those about people falling out of it. I also felt Caroline's storyline all seemed a bit fast and a bit too easy. One thing I did like was the detail about how the research was done, as historical research isn't something I know about, and I enjoyed that insight.If you enjoy historical novels - particularly those with a bit of drama and excitement - I would definitely recommend this book. It's readable and once you get over the weaker start, is compelling and emotionally engaging. I'd read another by the author.

I liked how the story was a mix between the 18th century and modern day. A gripping story, very enjoyable.

I loved this book.I loved the 2 running timelines, and the story that it wound.I wished it could have gone on longer!Really good read.

I found this a really riveting read and such an original idea. Usually, when there are women working with plants and herbs in historical fiction, they are creating medicinal remedies and often are accused of witchcraft. Nella was working with very powerful ingredients but with a very different aim. Her talents had fatal consequences and I was so intrigued to find out why she shifted from remedies to help women’s ailments to those with a deadly outcome. Young Eliza seemed quite wise for her years and perhaps a little blasé at what she became inveigled in but I suppose that children in those times grew up faster and took on adult responsibilities at a much younger age.In the present day, poor Caroline is hurting and angry at a betrayal and spending what should have been a tenth wedding anniversary trip to London alone. A chance discovery when mud-larking piques her interest and sets her on an investigative trail which I found really gripping. I loved the way that the past and present almost seemed to touch and that there were similarities in both. There were a few moments in the present day where I had my heart in my mouth!One thing I enjoyed, although it almost seems wrong to say this, is that Nella was determined there would be a record of the women who came to her for help. As we all know, history often erases that which relates to women and by recording the women’s names, Nella was acknowledging them and their reasons for coming to her. I couldn’t help but think that this was also potentially dangerous both for Nella and her clients, leaving a written trail of what had happened.I did enjoy the historical aspect of the story more than the modern day part but could see why the author chose to have a dual timeline. This was a great mix of history, mystery and danger. I really enjoyed finding out about the poisons and how they were prepared and used. I wondered if there really were apothecaries carrying out the same kind of work as Nella and how many people were their victims? If they all were as methodical and careful as Nella, no-one would ever suspect!This is an atmospheric and engrossing historical tale of murder, betrayal and morality with the latter also featuring in the modern day part of the book. The Lost Apothecary is a thoroughly enjoyable story bringing together the past and the present.