I love it when books connect the past to the present.
This is an interesting tale about women being diabolical in the 1800s and just getting through life in the 2000s.
3 main characters all going through their own "stuff" but each story as compelling as the other.
But where's the "thriller" part? Well, you tell me ...
JOIN OUR BOOK CLUB TO DISCUSS; FREE CODE = POISON
Discussion Questions
Borrowed from the back of the book (Park Row Books, 2021)
- The Lost Apothecary opens with Nella in her shop, preparing to dispense a poison meant to kill a man. Her work is sinister, and much about her character is dark and disturbing. When you first learned that Nella was a murderer, how did you view her? How did your feelings change over the course of the book as more of her past was revealed? Did you believe she would eventually find redemption? In the end, did you see her as a hero, a villain or somewhere in between? Why?
- At the beginning of Caroline's story, she finds the apothecary vial while on a mudlarking tour. Had you heard of mudlarking prior to reading this book? Do you believe that fate or coincidence led to her discovery? Have you ever stumbled on something that you consider to be fate?
- Both Nella and Caroline have been betrayed by men in their lives. In what ways did the two women respond similarly to these betrayals? In what ways did they respond differently? Do you feel that one woman was more emotionally resilient than the other?
- Nella and Eliza form an unlikely friendship early in the story, despite Nella's resistance to having the young girl in her shop a second time. Why do you think Nella eventually softened her heart toward Eliza? What drew the two characters - one at the cusp of womanhood, the other near the end of her life - toward one another? What kind of impact did Eliza have on Nella's character?
- The Lost Apothecary is sprinkled with mentions of magic and several events occur that could be considered either the work of magic or merely good luck. When you learned that Eliza survived after ingesting the Tincture to Reverse Bad Fortune, did you believe it the result of magic, or do you think she was a lucky survivor after jumping into the freezing river?
- When James feels a cold coming on, Caroline points him to the eucalyptus oil in the hotel bathroom but she doesn't tell him it's for topical use only. Later, we learn that he ingested the toxic oil. While reading, did you consider the possibility that Caroline purposely didn't tell him the oil was for topical use only? Do you think that, even subconsciously, this might have been a form of revenge?
- James is a nuanced character. At different junctures in the story, he shows remorse and heartbreak, only to later lie again to his wife. What did you think of their relationship? Did you believe he was truly sorry for his infidelity, or were his apologies to Caroline yet another form of manipulation?
- At the end of the story, when Eliza is an adult with children of her own, she says that Nella still counsels her to "this very day." Do you interpret this as Nella having lived many more year, or is Eliza referring to Nella's spirit? Why do you think the author might have left this purposefully vague?
- Which of the characters - Nella, Eliza, or Caroline - did you find the most compelling or enjoyable to read about? Why?
- THRILLER BOOK CLUB FINAL QUESTION: Who would you cast?
