In this
addictive and spectacularly imagined debut, a female apothecary secretly
dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged
them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision
course
Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.
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.
One
cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a
hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a
respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker
purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill
to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out
to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected
friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s
world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in
her register.
In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline
Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the
discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary
vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to
realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that
haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search,
Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’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 exploration of women rebelling against
a man’s world, the destructive force of revenge and the remarkable ways
that women can save each other despite the barrier of time.
Reviews
"Dark, clever, and wickedly fun, The Lost Apothecary is a true page-turner. Sarah Penner has given us a puzzle box of women's lives, betrayal, power, and history. It's a book that slyly asks what any of us deserve and if, sometimes, that might not be a little poison." —Erika Swyler, bestselling author of The Book of Speculation
“Filled with fascinating historical detail... With gathering intensity, author Sarah Penner builds toward a heart-pounding, satisfying conclusion. A skilled, captivating debut that celebrates the strength of women across the centuries.” —Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names
"Penner's debut had me completely under its spell. The women of The Lost Apothecary, separated by centuries, seek both revenge and truth in this powerful story. Riveting and utterly original." —Fiona Davis, bestselling author of The Dollhouse
"Sarah Penner kept me guessing until the last page of this addictive, atmospheric novel… Meticulously researched, The Lost Apothecary is both a cure for idleness and a recipe for intrigue. Prepare to be consumed by this carefully plotted, propulsive debut." —Amy Meyerson, bestselling author of The Bookshop of Yesterdays
"An intoxicating debut, The Lost Apothecary is a riveting tale of poisons and potions and dark deeds in the name of survival.” —Heather Webb, bestselling co-author of Meet Me in Monaco
Sarah Penner
Sarah Penner is the debut author of The Lost Apothecary, to be translated in eleven languages worldwide. She works full-time in finance and is a member of the Historical Novel Society and the Women's Fiction Writers Association. She and her husband live in St. Petersburg, Florida, with their miniature dachshund, Zoe. To learn more, visit slpenner.com.
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