The Lost ApothecaryThe Lost Apothecary
What it's about
In 1791 London, Nella runs a hidden apothecary shop that secretly sells poisons to women, to use on the men who have wronged them. In the present day, Caroline, an American who has just discovered her husband's affair, goes to London alone, and while searching for treasures in the mud of the Thames, she finds an old glass vial that leads her to Nella's story.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It's a popular dual-timeline historical mystery.
You'll love it if you liked
The Thirteenth Tale
Fingersmith
PossessionGood to know
There's poisoning and abuse.
By the numbers
- Readers5 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller57 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #396 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #493 of the 555 mysteries and thrillers we rank
- #434 of the 481 new books we rank
- #2566 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Gripping, Moving
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Quick answers
Is The Lost Apothecary worth reading?
Yes. It was a Goodreads Choice finalist. It ranks #2,566 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 57.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Lost Apothecary about?
In 1791 London, Nella runs a hidden apothecary shop that secretly sells poisons to women, to use on the men who have wronged them. In the present day, Caroline, an American who has just discovered her husband's affair, goes to London alone, and while searching for treasures in the mud of the Thames, she finds an old glass vial that leads her to Nella's story.
How long does it take to read The Lost Apothecary?
About 8 hours (320 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Lost Apothecary?
If you liked it, try The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, Fingersmith by Sarah Waters or Possession by A. S. Byatt.