“The Lost Apothecary” by Sarah Penner

Title: The Lost Apothecary
Author: Sarah Penner
Publisher: Park Row Books
Year: 2021
Genre(s): historical fiction, contemporary
Part of a Series: No
Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Time book club selection

Summary: Heartbroken after discovering her husband’s infidelity, Caroline takes their planned anniversary trip to London on her own. When she finds a little vial with a tiny bear etched it, her old love of history is rekindled. She works to find the story behind the vial and discovers one buried for almost three centuries. In the 18th century, Nella uses her training as an apothecary to help women dispatch the men in their lives who have wrong them. When little Eliza comes to her door asking for a poison on behalf of her mistress, it sets off a series of events that will change everyone’s lives – including Caroline’s.

“The Night She Disappeared” by Lisa Jewell

Title: The Night She Disappeared
Author: Lisa Jewell
Publisher: Atria Books
Year: 2021
Genre(s): thriller, mystery
Part of a Series: No

Rating: 

Why I read it: Once Upon a Book Club pick

Summary: One night, young lovers Tallulah and Zach go out for a nice evening away from their young son. But when they fail to come home the next morning, Tallulah’s mother Kim begins to frantically search for the two. She finds out that they spent time with some local teens their age, including the mysterious Scarlett Jacques, whose wealthy family owns the ominous manor house called Dark Place. Scarlett and her friends insist Tallulah and Zach left the night before and don’t know what happened to them. Everyone believes Tallulah and Zach ran away from the pressures of being young parents and would return in good time. Kim believes otherwise but is stuck waiting and hoping she will find her daughter.

The following year, Sophie moves into a local boarding school with her boyfriend, the new headmaster. She ends up drawn to Tallulah and Zach’s disappearance when a mysterious sign appears that says “Dig Here.” What she finds reignites the case and could reveal the truth about Tallulah, Zach, Scarlet and what happened that fateful night.