Amazon Reviews for The Apothecary’s Daughter

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, from start to finish it made me want to keep reading, much to the upset of my husband who I ignored for three days!
With the author’s style of writing I was dragged back to 17th Century London, each page conjuring up a wonderful mix of sights sounds and smells. You can feel the emotion coursing through the pages as the story unfolds.
Susannah and the rest of the characters including William and peg, can’t help but engage you.
I love reading a book by a first time author. There is nothing quite like the thrill that you have found the `next big thing’ and with Charlotte Betts I am fairly certain that I have.

It might seem odd that a “trekkie geek” is reviewing a Historical novel, but it turns out good writing is good writing and a good story is a good story irrespective of genre!
This is a beautifully written novel, with 17th Century London so well constructed that it isn’t just a backdrop against which the players play, but an integral part of the story.
I found myself caught up in the injustices heaped upon the lead character, enraged by the unfairness of it all. I was was delighted by the conclusion which feels very “right” without feeling contrived.
This an excellent début novel from Charlotte Betts and I expect to see many more great things from her in the future.

I enjoy reading historical novels (one can learn so much while enjoying a bit of fantasy at the same time), and this is as good as it gets.
Absolutely loved the story, and I am looking forward to Ms Betts’ next novel.

To write about something so outside our experience as the great Plague of London and to succeed in capturing its horror and menace is a truly remarkable feat. For that is the background against which this story, of a woman who seeks recognition of her professional skills in a male dominated world, is set. Full of colourful characters and intriguing subplots and very well researched, this is an excellent debut novel by Charlotte Betts.

This is a lovely debut novel from Ms Betts, crammed with historical depth and believable characters. Susannah is an intelligent woman determined to break away from the restraints of society, but unable to challenge the misguided men in her life. For lovers of historical detail in their fiction, this is a must read. My mum loved it too.

Wow! Please tell me this isn’t the only book this author has written.
My wife passed The Apothecary’s Daughter to me after she had read it. I didn’t expect to enjoy it. Terms like ‘new writer’ and ‘romantic novelist’ fired all my misguided millsandboonesque preconceptions.
Well Reader, I was wrong.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Couldn’t put it down. And there’s the problem. Because I wanted to keep turning the pages, but I didn’t want it to finish. Its all very well finding a new writer that you really enjoy, but what you really want is to find that he/she has written another ten, fifteen, twenty books. Already written, published and available in paperback, just waiting to be read.
I have no doubt that Charlotte Betts will one day have her name on those little shelf-edge labels that bookshops use to identify their collections of popular writers. But that’s no good to me – I’m getting on a bit. I want to read more NOW!

One of the best historical fictions I’ve read in a long time – this reminded me very much of Tracey Chevalier. The Apothecary’s Daughter is evocative, sensual and very well researched. I couldn’t put it down! The central character – Susannah – is well-drawn and very easy to empathise with. Other favourite characters include Arabella, the wicked step-mother, and the roguish Henry.
Set against the backdrop of the plague and great fire of London, the author reconstructs this turbulent time in London’s history with skill and precision, coupled with wonderful writing.
I can recommend this very highly and will wait with eager anticipation for Charlotte Betts’ next novel!