The Apothecary's Poison (Glass and Steele) Paperback – November 7, 2017

CJ Archer is one of the best authors I’ve read in 58 years. She weaves a mysterious tale like no other author. The characters are well thought out and easy to remember their individual characteristics. I can’t say enough good about her.

I love the characters and the story. I find myself wishing the relationship would grow between Matt and India. I love all the twists and turns. It keeps me guessing.

Another stellar installment in a fascinating series featuring a unique take on magic, interesting characters, intriguing mysteries, and a hint of romance. Highly recommended.

OH. MY. GOD. So many feels right now guys! That ending?! How can you end it on such a cliffhanger and why was I silly enough to not order the next in the series BEFORE I was on the last few chapters?! Rookie mistake...A local doctor has been murdered, poisoned in fact, shortly after Matt and India paid him a visit to inquire about a recent "miracle" that had occurred and was reported on in the local papers. As Matt and India were some of the last people to see Dr. Hale alive, they are suspects in his murder. In an effort to help clear their names, the two embark on their own investigation to find the real killer. As they discover that he was murdered with an elixir infused with magic, the two investigate the apothecary's guild, customers, and business partners alike. Suspects are piling up, and Matt and India find themselves in increasingly dangerous situations as someone tries to get them to back off the investigation. The two must race the clock (quite literally as Matt has yet to locate the mysterious Chronos to fix his life giving watch) and locate the real killer before they are taken in by Scotland Year or worse, murdered by the real killer. Holy geez guys. This series continues to grow and expand in ways that leave me an insane reading machine, tearing through chapters with abandon. The Matt/India relationship is literally KILLING ME. I will seriously spontaneously combust if this next book doesn't have them communicating their feelings. And fracking Miss Glass! Can  you please just give India your blessing already and cut it out with the "you have to marry into society crap"?! You're killin me smalls! They compliment each other so well and their loyalty and devotion to one another is so apparent. Stupid high society London....I enjoy watching these two work cases together and I can see the beginning to a great segue into a career for the two of them together. They are both smart and clever, balancing out each others shortcomings and drawing on each others strengths to make a pretty dynamic duo. As far as the plot, the plethora of suspects kept my wheels turning and there was no lack of action in this book. Our main characters were placed in plenty of heart stopping (some quite literally) situations which left me sweaty and anxious. You know that's some good writing when you feel physical symptoms after an intense scene.I suppose I will now be forced to stalk my mailbox as I anxiously await the delivery of book 4! With that shocking cliff hanger I would suggest just going ahead and buying the next one before you start this one!

I'm in love with this series this book went so fast so much happening I'm loving it the characters are fantastic the action oh it just takes you there I'm on to the next book I enjoyed this 1 so much I hope you do too it's an easy quick fantastic read😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 enjoy

MY RATING SYSTEM5 stars--WOW4 stars--would read again3 stars--was good, won't read again2 stars--read it, but didn't enjoy it1 star--didn't finish, it was so awfulDo I need to read books before this one: yesCliffhanger: yesSUMMARYAfter reading a newspaper article about a miracle resurrection at the hospital, Matt and India are sad to discover the medical magician, Hale, is an apothecary, not a physician. However, Hale has met Chronos, and tells them where Chronos drinks. Then Dr Wiley, who had pronounced the patient dead before Hale resurrected him for a few minutes, and Dr Ritter, the hospital's chief, fire Hale for tarnishing the hospital's image with talk of magic.Matt and India leave a message with the bartender. The next day, Munro comes to question Matt about Hale's murder. He was poisoned, found in his office. Munro doesn't agree to have Matt assist young Detective Brockwell, who's obviously being influenced by Sheriff Payne, so the group decides to do its own investigating. People involved are Mr Barratt, the journalist; Mr Pitt, Dr Hale's business partner; Drs Wiley and Ritter of the hospital; Clark, apothecary guild master, who's friends with Abercrombie; and Mr Oakshot, competing apothecary, also a widower by Hale's hand.EVALUATIONI'm still amazed at Aunt Beatrice, trying to get Matt to marry one of her daughters. I'm showing my American stripes by being frustrated with Aunt Letitia's insisting Matt marry a woman of proper station. Besides the frustration, Matt and India move forward. Plus Charlotte meets Cyclops and he tells her his real name. The romance definitely picks up in this book.So does the action. Violent threats, a friend's death--this story's pacing is faster, making the need to keep reading higher. I got confused with so many suspects, whereas the others I'd solved.We get some background on Cyclops, too. I'm hoping to learn more about Duke and Willie.RECOMMENDATIONThose who've read the previous booksFAVORITE QUOTES"You English are too polite. How do you find out anything about anyone?" "We gossip about them behind their back."One can't possibly be angry when one is eating chocolate or a sweet. That's why confectioners are in demand.POSSIBLE TRIGGERS (SPOILERS)Sex: kissLanguage: .5 F words, 30 Lord's name in vain, 0 S wordsViolence: deaths, kidnappings, gun held to head, blackmail

More magic and touches of romance. Alot of action in this book.more development between Matt and India but leaves you wanting mord.

Oh my goodness. All I wanted from this book was for Matt and India to finally kiss. I’m so happy.Once again readers follow the adventures of Matt, India, Duke, Cyclops, and Willie. Sadly we pay respects to Dr. Hale and Bryce the driver as they have been murdered.Stepping back in time for this story, I’m thrilled to learn more about history. Specifically, the brougham is a carriage, Spode is fine china, a pince-nez is a set of glasses that perch on the nose. and a coach is also called a hack. Hoping I got these things right. I did google them to be sure.We meet a magical doctor, a magical pharmacist or apothecary, and a magical reporter. Will the magical reporter taking an interest in wooing India spark tensions between Matt and India? Let’s hope so.I love that when Matt and India go to the police station to meet with the detective, they are served tea while they wait.While I find these stories are gloriously well-written, I did find one little typo:- “Do you want see him or not?” Should be, “Do you want (to) see him or not?”I must point out a few of my favorite lines in this book:- “oiled mustache wriggled, worm-like, above his lip.” - nice play with w and m words here.- “...pince-nez perched precariously on the tip of his nose.” - nice play on p and n words going on here.- “looking pained”- “I was overwrought”Oh to be able to go back in time and be an observer strolling by on the street to catch a glimpse of the characters of this story. I’m definitely intrigued by the appearance of Chronos at the end of the story. A nice surprise that has me anxious to read Book 4 immediately.Thank you, C.J. Archer, for a page-turner of a series. I’m loving it!

A real good read. A real page turner. I really recommend this series.

I bought The Watchmaker's Daughter not knowing quite what to expect and whether this kind of story would really appeal to me. To my surprise I really enjoyed it and was curious to see how the story continued. After reading the Mapmaker's Apprentice I just had to find out how things would develop. Now, after reading the Apothecary's Poison, I'm well and truly hooked and can't wait to carry on with Book 4, The Magician's Diary!C.J. Archer certainly knows how to keep up the suspense. I'm so glad I started this series.

This review contains some spoilers for the boo. I'll try to stay vague but still , you've been warned.I discovered the series through a free kindle offer for book one. Loved the story, plot and characters. I bought books 2 and 3 after that. Am I glad I didn't buy the whole series! This instalment was very disappointing. Not much growth from the characters, they kept running around in circle. The whole thing could have fit in 4 chapters, being generous. What I really couldn't get past was India not understanding what the chiming of her watch meant, in the press office. What? The thing saved her several times in the last books. Better yet, only a few pages back, coach accident anyone ? But now she stands there like a fool "wishing she knew what it meant" !!?? Please. The whole not trying to experiment with the watch and her powers irked me already but okay, maybe it's kept for later on, a writer has to eat. But this single foolery of not knowing what it meant when we do know, it put me off.It's good to have the big twist of chronos at the end but that's not enough for me to keep buying.

I don't want this series to end. I think that it has received so many 5 star reviews is a good indication of just how entertaining and pleasurable the books are.I love the characters, who are all very strongly developed and the subject of magic is so well handled with it being limited to various professions and never lasting forever, this alone makes it all the more acceptable in a world that has taken against the unexplainable so strongly.I love the mysteries and how they roll out .There's nothing more I can say without repeating what everyone else is saying.More please C.J. Archer