The Lost Apothecary: A Captivating Historical Mystery Unveiling Secrets of Poison, Revenge, and Female Empowerment―Don't Miss Sarah Penner's Newest Spell-Binding Book, The Amalfi Curse

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"A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!" --Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code

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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Published Feb 22, 2022

352 pages

Average rating: 7.17

2,429 RATINGS

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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *The Lost Apothecary* is a captivating, fast-paced historical mystery praised for its engaging dual timelines and unique female perspectiv...

Ginac
Jan 07, 2026
3.6- star review
rttsmurphy
Jan 05, 2026
9/10 stars
Well-written story that takes the reader between two time frames effortlessly. The ending definitely makes you wonder what really happened.
Zya The Book Dragon
Jul 23, 2025
3/10 stars
The correlation between modern day and the 1700s is interesting. But I felt like this one drug on. It didnt hold my attention very well.
Oree
Jun 25, 2025
8/10 stars
I enjoyed this book. I listened to it as an audiobook. I like when books tell two different stories that are related in some way and as the books progress the stories come together at the end. This book was about Nella, an herbalist, who dispensed poisons for women in 1700s because of something tragic that happened to her when she was younger. A 12-year-old girl enters her shop to buy poison for her mistress and ends up harming Nella's business with a single act. In the present day, Caroline is in London for her 10th year wedding anniversary when she discovers a blue vial with a bear etched on it. This vial is the same one that Nella used for her tinctures back in the 1700s and Caroline starts investigating the origin behind the vial while dealing with her marriage.

I think the book was medium paced, dark and emotional. I would give it 4/5 stars because the author tied both stories together really well. I didn't like what Caroline did with the vial at the end of the book though.
kylie_fitz
May 26, 2025
6/10 stars
3.5 ⭐️

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