By: Sarah Penner
“The glass object – delicate and yet still intact, somewhat like myself – was proof that I could be brave, adventurous, and do hard things on my own.”
In 1791, Nella owns a hidden apothecary shop. While she didn’t start off this way, she now sold poisons to women to free themselves of the men in their lives that had wronged them. A new customer arrives and it’s a 12 year old little girl. Strangely, these two form a friendship, which sets into motion a string of events that could expose Nella and those women she helped. Present day, Caroline was supposed to go to London on her 10th anniversary. Learning that her husband cheated on her, she went on the trip alone. After meeting some people, she goes mudlarking with them and found a vial with a bear on it. She starts to research this vial and with the help of a friend, Caroline’s life has now run into Nella and Eliza.
This is not the type of book that I normally read. Yes, it is a mystery, but I’m not used to reading historical fiction mysteries. When the book started I didn’t know if I was going to like it. Well, I wound up really enjoying this book! The plot line of Nella and Eliza was very intriguing. I felt like this isn’t a plot like that I have read before. I wanted to keep reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen to them. No spoilers here, but the ending was FANTASTIC!!! I also really enjoyed Caroline going through her investigation/research into the vial that she found, and piecing things together.
I loved the quiet irony that Caroline found the vial. Caroline who just recently learned that her husband was cheating on her found the vial of the apothecary who helped women rid themselves of the men that did them wrong. Only, Caroline didn’t go to an apothecary to get a poison to kill her husband. The finding of the vial and the ensuing investigation/research made her realize what she wanted for herself, what was important to her. And as the book says, being happy doesn’t mean that you’re fulfilled. Caroline finding the vial made her stronger and braver then she had been.
To learn that this was Penner’s debut novel makes me want to read more of her books!
So if you haven’t read this yet, I do highly recommend it!
Publish Date: March 2, 2021
Find the book here.
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