The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is a spellbinding tale that weaves together the lives of three women across two centuries. In 18th-century London, Nella operates a secret apothecary that dispenses poisons to women seeking liberation from oppressive men, guided by a strict moral code never to harm another woman. Her careful existence is upended when a precocious 12-year-old girl, Eliza, becomes entwined in her dangerous world. In present-day London, Caroline, a historian on the verge of a personal crisis, stumbles upon a mysterious vial that leads her to uncover the apothecary’s dark history. As their stories converge, the novel explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and the enduring power of female solidarity.
