by Sarah Penner
When historical fiction and contemporary mystery combine what sort of concoction will it yield? Will this story of betrayals past and present be just what the doctor apothecary ordered? Or leave us ill? Let’s find out.
Read if you like: historical fiction, women in history, historical mystery, dark secrets, dual timelines, women finding their own power.
In 1790s London, Nella owns a hidden apothecary known only to women who seeks her out by word of mouth. She sells cures for what ails them, but also cures for the oppression in their lives. Cures that are fatal to the men and their cruelty. When young Eliza comes to her shop Nella feels something is amiss. Little does she know that the string of events Eliza begins will lead them and Nella’s legacy into danger.
In present day, Caroline finds herself in a predicament she could never imagine. After her husband’s unfaithfulness comes to light; her tenth anniversary trip becomes a solo soul-searching exercise. One where she uncovers not only the reasons behind her own unhappiness but also an artifact that might be the key to unlock a piece of women’s history. She uses her history background to begin the search that changes her life forever.
I’ve seen this book floating around ‘best’ lists and the cover alone intrigued me but with mystery, women’s history, and poison in the mix I figured I would jump in. While I enjoyed the book, I didn’t love it. The writing was a bit perfunctory with Caroline and in the present-day timeline. I didn’t feel the same with the past narrative. Where with Nella and Eliza you get the typical repressed and suppressed dialogue that comes with the lack of candor in the eighteenth century, as expected. The pacing wasn’t also went as expected. We get to a turning point in one time and switch back to the other. The ending was quite sensational if not a bit rushed. And I honestly found myself wishing I had enjoyed the book and characters more as a whole.
Caroline is as basic and boring as her life had become. I wanted her to have the same vibrancy on the page as her past counterparts but it just never seemed to get there for me. Nella is a complex character contemplates her life as she finds herself in a place she never wanted and wouldn’t wish on anyone else – while also remaining resolute to help women with her own drastic measures. Poor Eliza did a lot of the heavy lifting moving the plot forward. Without her and her missive, the story wouldn’t have happened. And without her youthful hope, the ending would have been drastically different.
Overall, it was an interesting read that appealed to my interest in both history and mystery. I did like the focus on showcasing women’s history and lack of documentation and therefore erasure of women. I feel like this theme could have been woven in more frequently and might have filled in some of the gaps and disconnects I felt while reading. It is a story of women’s stories, and that alone makes it worth reading.
Comments