Caroline Parcewell is having a pretty terrible tenth wedding anniversary. After finding out about her husband’s infidelity, she makes the choice to go on their pre-planned anniversary trip to London. Having given up her previous dreams of studying in London, she uses the trip to lose herself and ends up stumbling upon a clue about the existence of a long lost apothecary shop. She finds herself in the middle of a mystery involving a woman selling hidden poisons, and the intelligent twelve-year-old who may accidentally end the whole operation.
The Lost Apothecary moves back and forth between eighteenth-century London and present-day London, and also moves between Caroline’s perspective and that of Nella and her accidental assistant. Caroline is such a wonderful and fun character that I simply wanted to see her succeed in all things. Her husband is such an absolutely manipulative piece of trash that I found myself having no pity for a man who clearly blames his own mistakes on others. The mystery is both dark, and fascinating. The Lost Apothecary is such a fun book, and reads smoothly. Quick readers will find themselves devouring this book.
The Lost Apothecary is available March 2, 2021. I expect to see more great things from author Sarah Penner.
