Sarah Penner's The Lost Apothecary will make you want to take a solo jaunt to England (or wherever your fondness lies) and go on an adventure discovering ancient history.
Caroline goes on her anniversary trip to London alone, while her cheating husband stays behind in America. On a whim, she joins up with a group of "mudlarkers" looking for treasure in the Thames. When Caroline uncovers a light blue apothecary vial with a bear imprinted on it, it awakens the long-dormant historian inside herself.
While Caroline tries to uncover the unknown history of the apothecary's vial, the reader gets to know who the apothecary actually was through chapters that go back in time to 1791. This apothecary dispensed remedies, but remedies that would help women get rid of the men who had wronged them. The more Caroline uncovers about the apothecary, the more the past gets tangled up in her present.
This book was so good that I read it in about a day. I just couldn't get put it down! I loved discovering the apothecary's story and couldn't wait to find out more. I loved the juxtaposition between the apothecary writing down the names of the women who came to her in her register so that at least somewhere, their names would be recorded. However, the apothecary's name goes unknown. So much that's ripe for discussion if you're looking for a good book club recommendation.
The Lost Apothecary is published by Park Row and is on bookstore shelves now. I received a free e-ARC in exchange for this review.
Comments
Post a Comment