5.04.2021

finished reading

 
There were lots of interesting historical pieces in this story.  The characters were stereotypical.  I think the reason I didn't love this book is because of the structure: with a dual narrative from the 1790s and today, it seems like every other historical fiction novel I've read lately has this setup.  And I found it predictable because of that.  Either of the narratives would have kept me reading but twined together it fell flat.  

Having said that--I enjoyed the feminist themes and the exploration of motherhood, womanhood, and the bonds between women.

From the publisher:
A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to The Lost Apothecary…

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.


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