Women’s Relationships

The novel The Lost Apothecary celebrates the beauty and loyalty of relationships between women. Gaynor risks her job and reputation when she defends Caroline against a murder suspicion. Eliza, meanwhile, is willing to risk her life to keep Nella from being arrested. Finally, Nella tries to honor her mother’s memory and legacy by helping women.

Caroline is in disbelief when Gaynor tells the police officers she can confirm all of Caroline’s research. While Caroline had gone to Gaynor with some of the questions she had about the vial and the apothecary from which they believed it came, she had not shared all of her research with Gaynor. She expects Gaynor to be suspicious of her, just like the officers are when they see her questions about poisons and the capacity of natural substances to be deadly. When Gaynor defends Caroline, Caroline is...