The Lost Apothecary
Penner’s debut weaves an enthralling tale of a modern woman whose discovery of a centuries-old serial killer helps her come to terms with the upheaval in her own life. Caroline, an American, arrives alone in London for what was supposed to be an anniversary trip with a husband she recently learned has been unfaithful. For solace, Caroline turns to an activity she once loved: unearthing the histories of long-forgotten people. An episode of mudlarking in the riverbed of the Thames leads Caroline to a small glass vial with a mysterious marking and then to the British Library where, by steps, she pieces together the shocking history of the apothecary killer.
In London, 1791, Nella is troubled by her latest customer: smart, inquisitive Eliza Fanning, 12, seeking a poison to kill an employer who is making unwanted advances. For twenty years, spurred by a heart-breaking betrayal, Nella has devoted her skills to helping women remedy household aches and free them from male cruelty. But Nella has the feeling that her deeds are about to catch up with her, and when her next customer, the arrogant Lady Clarence, insists that Nella break her rule and sell her a poison that will harm another woman, Nella proves to be right.
Caroline’s discovery has repercussions she couldn’t have imagined, and the suspense that builds as Nella, Eliza, and Caroline’s stories begin to overlap draws the reader in as surely as the well-paced, musical prose. The unexpected twists are as much a delight as the haunted atmosphere; Nella and Eliza live in a vaguely magical world, where female community and knowledge of the elements are sources of power, and Caroline learns to draw on these resources to renew her own strength. A completely absorbing story of the power of secrets and finding one’s way.
