About the Book:
A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.
One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.
In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.
My Review:
“The world is not kinds to us…There are few places for a woman to leave an indelible mark.”
Completely captivating! This book has a very unique plot as well as wonderful character development and intrigue. I really enjoyed the audiobook and the different narrators. A big plus for me was the accompanying PDF containing a map of London as well as recipes!
Two of the three points of view are set in the past and one is in the present. Each heroine is unique, and each of them are very strong characters. The historical aspect of the story is fascinating and the details about London are exquisite! There is a touch of fantasy but it is must more of a historical fiction story.
Nella, Eliza and Caroline are all smart, unusual characters, and their lives and stories are woven together seamlessly. I highly recommend the audiobook and am astounding that this is the author’s debut novel!
“How had I only just learned that happiness and fulfillment were entirely distinct things?”
