kateriehl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
I loved everything about this book. It was magical and mysterious, and I loved the tie-in to mudlarking! It felt unique and niche
mackenzie_kirwin's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
lindzieh's review
4.0
Interesting take on a 200 year gap. I enjoyed the storyline and the writer’s use of back and forth of timelines. She connected ‘mudlarking’ with a person’s history that would never have had a story told in history books.
A woman, Nella, who sells tinctures turns to poisoning men after being used by a lover who was married. She meets a 12 year old girl,Eliza, who helps. The both get entangled in a poisoning gone wrong. Fast forward to present day. Caroline needs time away from her husband. She finds a tiny vial that leads her to find where it came from. The story becomes intertwined from there.
A woman, Nella, who sells tinctures turns to poisoning men after being used by a lover who was married. She meets a 12 year old girl,Eliza, who helps. The both get entangled in a poisoning gone wrong. Fast forward to present day. Caroline needs time away from her husband. She finds a tiny vial that leads her to find where it came from. The story becomes intertwined from there.
jmdreisb's review against another edition
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
emmachristine27's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
This was a decent read! The themes where different than what I have read before so it was nice. I liked the combination of the historic and present story time lines.
This was a decent read! The themes where different than what I have read before so it was nice. I liked the combination of the historic and present story time lines.
hollyberk's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
jenmat1197's review
4.0
This is the story of Nella, Eliza, and Caroline. In 1791, Nella is running an underground apothecary that sells remedies, but lately - poisons. Women find her by word of mouth asking to "fix" problems they might be having with their husbands or significant others. Eliza is a 12 year old girl that comes to the shop one day on behalf of her mistress, and finds that she wants to stay and help Nella with her shop. But a mistak young Eliza makes puts the shop in jeporday.
In present day London, Caroline has escaped for a getaway. Leaving a failing marriage behind, she stumbles across a glass bottle with a bear on it while doing a hunt with a tour group. This sends her on a path that connects that past Apothecary -and the unsolved murders associated with it - and changes her course forever.
This was a pretty good book. I read it quickly because I was curious to see where it was going and how the two timelines came together. It is an easy read and a well written novel. I will admit that I was more invested in the timeline of Nell and Eliza than Caroline's, but it didn't distract from the story. I just find the historical plot much richer.
Great find. Glad I read this one. Highly recommend!
In present day London, Caroline has escaped for a getaway. Leaving a failing marriage behind, she stumbles across a glass bottle with a bear on it while doing a hunt with a tour group. This sends her on a path that connects that past Apothecary -and the unsolved murders associated with it - and changes her course forever.
This was a pretty good book. I read it quickly because I was curious to see where it was going and how the two timelines came together. It is an easy read and a well written novel. I will admit that I was more invested in the timeline of Nell and Eliza than Caroline's, but it didn't distract from the story. I just find the historical plot much richer.
Great find. Glad I read this one. Highly recommend!
carlys_currently_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
j3ssjon3s's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
atelmari's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0