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The Lost Apothecary

Written by: Sarah Penner
Narrated by: Lorna Bennett, Lauren Anthony, Lauren Irwin
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Publisher's Summary

Instant New York Times Best Seller

Named Most Anticipated of 2021 by Newsweek, Good Housekeeping, Hello! magazine, Oprah.com, Bustle, Popsugar, Betches, Sweet July, and GoodReads!

March 2021 Indie Next Pick and Number One LibraryReads Pick

"A bold, edgy, accomplished debut!" (Kate Quinn, New York Times best-selling author of The Alice Network)

A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to The Lost Apothecary....

Hidden in the depths of 18th-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 12-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 200 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.

©2021 Sarah Penner (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about The Lost Apothecary

Average Customer Ratings
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  • 4 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and hard to take breaks! :)

Really fun story of herstory! Intergenerational mystery, murderous intrigue, and women's health issues that shape lives. Great performance. Love her Nella.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable!

Really enjoyed this listen. The performance kept me entertained and the story line was interesting. Would definitely recommend for an easy listen!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

History, past and present.

Taking the lives of three major characters and alternating their chapters makes the book interesting for me. I’m not too history-conscious, but this story drew me in. Connecting the present with the past worked well for me.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

good

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting and I liked how it went back in time and to present day. The story was an interesting concept.I didn't like the narration for Nella,way too dramatic and over the top.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping tale set in Victorian London

I adored this book and the blend of history, female-driven narrative, set in grimy Victorian London. The performance was also 5 stars.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story

I read it during break time at work and some of my colleagues listened to parts of them. Loved the story… and the 3 narrators were also amazing.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Surprisingly Disappointed

I was very excited for this, I had heard many great things about it.

However, right from the beginning, I was frustrated with the repetition and with at times also felt long winded.

the plot was fantastic and what drew me in.

I was also quite upset with how the last few chapters went. I really wanted to hear from Eliza after the bridge and was not impressed that Caroline finished Elizas story

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Unusual story

This is not my usual type of story but I enjoyed it very much. The narrators were fantastic. I didn’t much enjoy Caroline’s character because she seemed too childlike and weak to be able to solve any mystery of such depth as this novel had. Perhaps it would have better if the history and relationship between Nella and Elisa had been the only storyline.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

review the lost apothecary

The quality of Nell's recording fluctuated. Disliked the performer reading for Caoline's bad British accents.
Enjoyed the story!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good Ladies' Romp

Part of the story takes place at the turn-of-the-century; part in modern day. There's no doubt where each reader is which! The old English is wonderfully dramatic, though at times I had difficulty with the accent. Very entertaining with a bit of a twist at the end.

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