Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Historical Fiction
Publisher: Park Row
Page Length: 269 pages
Format: Book of the Month Hardback
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mr. Darcy‘s Rating: “You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.”
A Chasing Mr. Darcy Review
I was super excited about this book when I saw it as a choice on Book of the Month, and while I enjoyed it, I also have really torn feelings about the book as a whole.
Here’s a plot synopsis from Amazon: 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.
This book has two timelines represented, a historical timeline and a present day timeline. I really enjoyed the present day timeline. Caroline was an interesting character with an engaging personality, a curiosity, and an intelligence that I thought was captured nicely. Her curiosity is what drove her to solve the mystery of the lost apothecary shop, and the heartbreak she endured that sent her to England in the first place was completely relatable. I could identify with Caroline on many levels, and I was really drawn to her character. In some parts, I wished the entire book could have focused on Caroline.
The historical timeline was mostly about the apothecary Nella, and I found this timeline a bit boring. I trudged through these chapters, but honestly, I wanted to skim over most of the historical details because the characters in the historical section were so dull. I also did not care for the ending for the historical characters, and that made me dislike this section even more. Ultimately, my preference for the contemporary storyline drove my rating for this book because that section was really well done.
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