Book Club , Events

Book Club – “The Lost Apothecary”

18751 Hogaboom Lane
St. Mary's City , 20686

13 May 2026

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2:00pm - 3:30pm

icford@smcm.edu

Book Club, Events

Book Club – “The Lost Apothecary”

18751 Hogaboom Lane
St. Mary's City , 20686

13 May 2026

2:00pm - 3:30pm

Overview

2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | HSMC Visitor Center Auditorium

A Farthing’s for Your Thoughts book club is a monthly gathering hosted by Iris Ford, Ph.D. Each month the book club is invited to read a book of their choosing, then join Iris for a lively discussion that offers analysis and deepens understanding of the book and each other. The book club selections range from fiction to non-fiction, classics to new releases, reflecting the diverse reading habits of the group.

Listen in and join the conversation around author Sarah Penner’s book, The Lost Apothecary.

Summary:

A forgotten history. A secret network of women. A legacy of poison and revenge. Welcome to the Lost Apothecary…

Hidden in the depths of eighteenth-century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women across the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nella who sells well-disguised poisons to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary’s fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious twelve-year-old, makes a fatal mistake, sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries.

Meanwhile in present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London two hundred years ago, her life collides with the apothecary’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.

With crackling suspense, unforgettable characters and searing insight, The Lost Apothecary is a subversive and intoxicating debut novel of secrets, vengeance and the remarkable ways women can save each other despite the barrier of time.

The book club is free and open to the public

INFO: icford@smcm.edu