I expected to love The Lost Apothecary, and I did. It’s a historical fiction full of mystery, murder, and medicinal herbs. I loved the idea behind it and it was executed perfectly. Let’s talk about it.
Nella runs a secret apothecary to help fellow women’s maladies, including a cheating husband. She will dispense poison as long as it’s never used to harm other women. Unfortunately, Nella’s world crashed when a prominent women threatens to expose Nella. In modern day London, Caroline Parcewell has set out to heal from the shocking news of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial in the river she unearth unimaginable secrets.
My Thoughts on The Lost Apothecary
The Lost Apothecary beat my expectations. I was hooked from the moment I picked it up. I really enjoyed the dual timelines. Caroline’s timeline added a lot of intrigue that Nella’s timeline needed. The author would give us a substantial piece of information in Caroline’s timeline and then she would put the pieces together in Nella’s. That helped keep the pace interesting.
Next, let’s talk about the friendships. The Lost Apothecary was packed full of beautiful new relationships and they grew throughout the story. I especially loved Nella and Eliza’s friendship. Eliza replaced the loss in Nella’s life. Nella was able to guide and teach Eliza. I would have loved to have seen more of that. Caroline, on the other hand, found Gaynor. Caroline hadn’t experienced a loss of friendship, but she has lost herself. Gaynor helped encourage and nurture Caroline’s growth. Both groups of friends were heartwarming and completely necessary for the plot to develop.
I’m so glad that I picked up The Lost Apothecary when I did. It was a breath of fresh air. I needed a quick, intriguing story to help beat a slump. And I mean that ending was completely worth it!
My Rating: 5/5
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