"The Lost Apothecary"

by Sarah Penner 

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. 

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.

The author did an amazing job with writing two tales that went back and forth between the late 1700s and the present London, thus leaving the reader hanging from chapter to chapter with a mini cliffhanger that forces the reader to keep going.  While there's a mystery throughout the novel, it's not a "thriller" type of book. 

This is a DROP-IN BOOK CLUB, Village members can come to any meeting.  There are no dues, no requirement to participate. We hope those interested in joining will read the book beforehand and be ready to engage in a lively discussion. Each meeting will be moderated by one of the members.