The Lost Apothecary

Studies of 18th–19th‑century “poison panics” show numerous women tried and sometimes executed for poisoning family members, with conviction rates for women accused of poisoning husbands notably higher than general murder cases. Famous British poisoners like Mary Ann Cotton, Florence Maybrick, and Adelaide Bartlett operated mostly in the Victorian era, a bit later than the novel, but they show how anxieties about domestic poisoning and female agency were very real "I turned to the hearth, which claimed one corner of the room. The pot of water that I had set over the fire a short time ago spewed entrails of steam. “I’ve hot-brewed some leaves,” I said to the girl. I filled two mugs with the brew and set one of them in front of her." the last thing I would ever accept is a tea from this shop

In interviews, Penner talks about her research process and thematic inspirations—women’s lost stories, historical poison culture, London archives—but does not claim any one real apothecary or victim as the model for her characters.

4 shillings 6 pence was a solid chunk of money in 1791 London—around a couple of days’ wages for a laborer—and could cover several days of very basic living costs for one person.

Mudlarking is the practice of searching the muddy banks of rivers, particularly the Thames in London, for valuable or interesting objects. Historically, mudlarks were individuals, often children, who scavenged the riverbanks for items of value during the 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it has evolved into a popular hobby for history enthusiasts and archaeologists alike, with many licensed mudlarks uncovering artifacts that span thousands of years, including Roman coins, medieval pottery, and even prehistoric tools.