The Apothecary's House

by Adrian Mathews

When an old woman storms into the Rijks Museum demanding the return of her painting, archivist Ruth Braams cannot quell her curiosity. Ruth delves into the history of the piece and discovers a picture with a disturbing wartime provenance.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Historical, Art, Amazon

534 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger warnings: Discussions of the Holocaust.

It took me approximately forever to get through this book. I don't know what it was about it, but I just never QUITE got into the story...

Essentially, it's about a young woman in Amsterdam who's an art historian and works on repatriating paintings that were looted from Jewish families by the Nazis. She comes into contact with a woman who's trying to get back a very specific painting, and then she starts getting death threats.

So part of it is her trying to work out how the painting was actually done, because it has an unnatural level of detail for an eighteenth century painting. And part of it is her is trying to find evidence proving that this woman's family are the rightful owners. And part of it is her trying to work out who's threatening her.

The last...75ish pages were compelling. The rest of it draaaaaaaagged. It could have been probably 50-100 pages shorter than it was and still covered all the bases.

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book which is hard to define. There was plenty of information, although at times perhaps too much. The reader is given an insight into the lengths Nazi Germany went to just to hide these stolen art works from the Allied forces. Also the process survivors have to go through to reclaim such works. The description of Amsterdam was spot on, but at times read like a travel guide. None of the characters really endeared themselves to me, with maybe Lydia being the exception.
Overall the book was a bit too long winded, and pedestrian. The expected plot twists never really happened. It was well written, but in my opinion would have been improved by being slightly condensed.

[Rebecca Clarke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took forever to get into this book. I was able to read the last quarter in one run I guess, because that is where all the pieces started to come together.
Still not sure if I'm satisfied or not. Given the length probably less so.

[Ed Kay · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find it difficult to say exactly what the problem is with this book. The writing is fine; nothing extraordinary, but I've read worse (Dan Brown, Crichton, Grisham, even Lee Child has his moments). There was a plot: art mystery, Nazis, mysterious messages from a sinister stranger.

But the characters... I just didn't care. I was so bored... FOR 700 PAGES. A page turner this wasn't - and even if it was I would still have been at it a week, just developing RSI.

On and on they wittered and waffled and nothing happened. At least when nothing happens in Dickens the writing is worth wasting time over.

When things happened, they seemed to... do so... without... any URGENCY. Even the EXCITING bits were dull.

There just wasn't enough here to support such a tome. Wittled down a good 70% it might have been OK, we could have done without the weird unnecessary backstory that hinted at character without actually developing any...

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Afraid I gave up on this one after 300 of 700 pages. Loved the descriptions of Amsterdam but characterisation was unconvincing and plot, though initially engaging, took way too long to go anywhere.

[Szeee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Három és fél. A sztori nem igazán hozott lázba, de Amszterdam hangulatát elég jól hozta.

[Ana Rodrigues · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tinha tudo para ser perfeito, passado em Amesterdão e relacionado com 2º GG, mas não me convenceu.
Achei bastante cansativo...

[Ingrida Lisauskiene · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aprašymas žadėjo intrigą, bet gavau keistą, Amsterdamo žiemos, drėgmės, marichuanos dūmų persmelktą chaotišką istoriją, kurioje autorius didžiavosi žiniomis apie meną, pažėrė daug menininkų pavardžių ir paveikslų pavadinimų, sukūrė keistą sąmokslo teoriją. O gal tiesiog laikas buvo netinkamas skaityti šią knygą? Nežinau, bet antrą kartą nebandysiu.

[Nadia Batista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Já há algum tempo que tinha este livro debaixo de olho. Uma vez mais, estamos perante uma história que pisca o olho aos tempos da Segunda Guerra Mundial, e isso por si só serviu para me conquistar. Depois, os pequenos pormenores como ser passada em Amesterdão, as dúvidas levantadas pelo quadro e todo o mistério obscuro à sua volta, convenceram-me que A Casa do Boticário era uma boa aposta. Felizmente, cumpriu o que me prometeu!

Adrian Mathews consegue algo que poucos escritores, a meu ver, conseguem; aliás, de repente, só me consigo recordar de duas escritoras que o façam, Juliet Marillier e Michelle Lovric. Estou-me a referir à adaptação do leitor ao ambiente do livro. A forma como Adrian descreve Amesterdão, com os seus canais, o seu frio, o seu nevoeiro, é extremamente real, e damos por nós com a sensação de que também estamos lá, também fazemos parte do imaginário da obra. Ficamos com a impressão de que conhecemos as ruas que o autor descreve, que já vimos as casas e lugares que o autor menciona, tudo por causa da sua mestria na descrição e projecção do mundo imaginário para o real. Posso dizer que é uma viagem por Amesterdão - embora não exclusivamente - maravilhosa.
A trama, em si, está muito bem pensada. Se bem que A Casa do Boticário não pode ser lido de ânimo leve (há passagens um pouco mais complicadas de absorver, pois há um elevado nível de informação importante), uma vez mais a mestria da escrita de Adrian consegue embrenhar-nos de tal modo que essa informação não nos distrai nem nos cansa, mantendo a agradabilidade do livro.

“«Já têm aquecimento na administração?», perguntou uma das bibliotecárias, enquanto Myles preenchia a requisição.
«Temos», respondeu Ruth. «Mas ainda estamos à espera de que os nossos cérebros descongelem.»
A rapariga levou a requisição e Myles sentou-se na grande mesa de carvalho. Ruth tentou pendurar-se num radiador, aquecendo as mãos e as nádegas ao ponto do desconforto físico.
«Então, é aí que tens o cérebro?», comentou Myles.
Em resposta, ela ergueu o dedo médio.”

Para além do envolvimento do leitor no ambiente descrito, Adrian consegue criar personagens deliciosas e diferentes. E sempre com sentido de humor. A personagem principal, Ruth, é extremamente bem trabalhada, assim como quem está por trás de todo o esquema, que eu só descobri mesmo nas páginas finais. Desconfiei de muitas personagens, mas nunca esperei que fosse aquela a que estava a maquinar tudo. É um final excelente, numa narrativa em que o mistério e o bom humor, assim como um pouco de drama e mesmo a sensação iminente da morte, andam juntos.
O autor usa várias expressões estrangeiras, ora em holandês, ora em alemão, ora em francês... decisão que o tradutor respeitou, não traduzindo as expressões. E normalmente eu opôr-me-ia a tal; mas o encanto e o impacto deste livro em mim foram tão fortes que, sinceramente, nem me importei.

Aconselho A Casa do Boticário a toda a gente. Não posso afirmar que só serve para quem gosta de thrillers, pois tem uma carga emocional grande, nem que serve só para quem gosta de dramas e romances, pois tem uma sombra de mistério que chega a todo o lado. Basicamente, é um livro a ler, por todos!

http://eu-e-o-bam.blogspot.pt/2013/10...

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Amsterdam, the story involves 'a looted painting, a secret code, a deadly pursuit....'. The 17th century painting which exerts such a hold over the two principal protagonists, a young art researcher Ruth, and Lydia, an extremely elderly claimant of the picture, turns out to have a value beyond its qualities as a somewhat mediocre painting, and so a racy mystery story unfolds.

Lydia is not the only one to want the painting. We time-travel from 17th century Amsterdam, through the Nazi-occupied town, to the modern city as the plot develops. Often complicated, sometimes baffling, the plot was less important to me than the evocations of Amsterdam itself in its various guises. I enjoyed the descriptions of the city and those who lived there and contributed to the story: Ruth and Lydia in particular, but also some of the 'bit parts' - Ruth's colleague Myles, her father, even the cat, Principessa. The plotting at the end of the story seems somewhat sensationalist and rushed, but I was happy to keep reading for the pleasure of continuing to get to know Amsterdam itself. The book was in any case, quite a page-turner.

[Michael Bully · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot has some excellent aspects to it. Combining the themes of stolen Nazi war art with alchemy, the lives of art history curators, a stalker who sends cryptic messages, and a realistic portrayal of contemporary Amsterdam. With some unexpected twists with a red herring or two. But the novel is far too long and the huge chunks of letters written by an 18th century Dutch artist slowed the tale right down, and reduced the tension. The dialogue between the ( heterosexual and single) female character and her gay best friend , who has a boyfriend hidden away at home, was just excruciating in places. Nearly abandoned the novel at times, but glad I got to the end. Could have been so much better .

[Ashley Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, It is a kind of detective story based around Nazi art shenanigans during 2nd World War. A young women in the government department dealing with returning Art to its rightful owners, becomes involved with an old women, who is making a claim on a painting. Unfortunately there is more to it than she realized initially. Various strange happenings occur, getting gradually worst. But no more spoilers. Have a read :) Its good it is.

[sheofseidhr · Rating 1 out of 5]

Quite astonished that the author managed to write 710 pages for this novel when nothing really happens at all. The writing was okay; it isn't bad, not particularly good either. And sure, there was a discernible plot which had the potential to be engrossing considering the subject matter/setting he had chosen. But instead, it was a total snooze fest. Took me a month to finish because it was slow and utterly boring. Will not bother to re-read as I could use that time to pick up worthier books.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

the setting is very interesting as i learned what happened during the nazi occupation of amsterdam and what happened to the half jewish families and their possessions. apart from that, i didnt get too interested in the story until the last 150 pages (out of 700 pages!). i kept falling asleep after a few pages every night!

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to suspend reading this book for a while. It just is too wordy and wanders way too much. I am working way too hard to enjoy the plot line. May or may not pick it back up at a later date. Only made it 200 pages out of the 700.

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good, i gave it to a friend...and now wish i had it back on my book shelves. A mystery with a good plot.

[FRAN · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have persevered with many books hoping, and often finding that they improve and ultimately become a satisfying read. This I'm sorry to say was not one of those books. I really tried but was unable to continue past about 40%, mainly because of the unconvincing characterisation and internal monologue of the main character. She just did not seem or sound like a young Dutch woman to me (just one example - I know she is meant to be cultured but "shipshape and bristol-fashion" comes more from a retired British naval type for me, and even that would be a cliche). I am less able to comment on her gay work colleague but he seemed very one-dimensional at best, as did the other characters in the portion I read. Gripping plot is less important to me than believable characters, but the plot also seemed meandering and poorly focussed. Much of what I read seemed to aim at displaying the author's knowledge of the geography and customs of life in Amsterdam, which seemed accurate but too laboured to mesh well into the story. Im not sure that radical editing for length would turn this book around for me. Its a shame because the summary of the storyline sounded interesting....

[Karen Bartlett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another one that didn't really live up to it's promises. Lots of expectations here with promises of missing artworks and links to Nazi Germany, deadly pursuits and secret codes, all set in Amsterdam, with a "cast of sharply realized characters'.... I'm still waiting...
Although a great premise, this just lacked oomph for me.. the storyline felt a little disjointed and the characters one-dimensional and flat.
Perhaps I missed some clues along the way, or didn't quite grasp the intricacies of the plot, but I was disappointed with this one, a genre that I would usually really enjoy.
A lot of effort for 700 pages...

[Janet Preece · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of this book with reference to the first photograph, centuries before photography was thought to be invented and the mystery around its creator generations later, could have made a gripping historical / contemporary mystery. However, I felt the book tried too hard to be 'deep' and philosophical and ended up being a bit rambling in places,with descriptions of thoughts and feelings of the main character, Ruth, off topic. All the characters lacked substance and the storyline weaved and.wandersd itself around Amsterdam without purpose. A bit disappointed in the end.

[LJ Duncan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this book as it was based on an interesting idea and I liked the main female characters.
However, I felt uncomfortable continuing to read it after he twice referred to a minor black character as “the black”. He also unnecessarily mentioned the blackness of a female character on a number of occasions.
If I had not been on holiday I may have given up on the book for this reason, but I didn’t have a large selection with me.
My partner then started the book but gave up quickly, as she thought it was just badly written.

[Dave Kavanagh · Rating 1 out of 5]

Life is to short for novels that raise questions that they simply fail to answer. This is one of the few books I have ever abandoned half way through. The characters are poorly portrayed, the plot lines are convoluted and the wandering, the wandering, the wandering. In the 247 pages of this book I read I can only say that the descriptions of Amsterdam where accurate.

My advice, avoid it and find something worthy of your valuable reading time.

[Julien Thiery · Rating 3 out of 5]

La trame de fond est intéressante et originale. Mais pour construire l'intrigue, le le scénario s'égare dans de trop nombreuses "sous-histoires" tantôt romance dramatique, puis historique, puis les descriptions détaillées de la ville etc... Un mélange de style qui apporte un peu de lourdeur, et au final, le scénario de base qui pourrait être très bon se retrouve tiré en longueur et noyé dans des détails inutiles. Dommage

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Adrian Mathews. I was pleasantly surprised. The book was captivating. It gave some insight into the functioning of the waterways and places of interest in Amsterdam. There was some interesting history behind the hoarding of valuable art pieces by the Nazis. The background to the apothecaries of old was fascinating. I enjoyed the chemical aspects that were covered. I found it to be a very enjoyable and well written historical novel.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

It never takes me this long to read a book. I liked the story, and having recently been to Amsterdam again, it was nice to relate to places I’d been. But she took a long time to tell the story. To me, the whole Maarten thread was unnecessary. Even Jo-Jo didn’t bring much to the story. It was long and drawn out and wrapped up in a rush.

[Vittoria Lutje · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the descriptions of life in Amsterdam, but the book was far too long , and the story which started so well, fizzled out in too many details and too many irrelevant characters. Also, none of the characters was particularly likeable and so at the end I didn't care much what happened to them.

[Angela Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actively disliked the main character. Story dragged in places, only to flip quickly to hasty conclusions later in the book. Worst, the writing was so full of stereotyping (indiscriminately spanning gender, age, race, nationality and profession) that it made me uncomfortable. There’s some good writing here and I think the book was mostly let down by the lack of strong, ruthless editing.

[Allyson Halls · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable

I was so looking forward to reading this, the beginning held my attention… a painting in question of it’s true ownership, but midway it slumped and it was all I could do to speed read through the letters of an ancestor. There was a twist to the ending which I didn’t expect, so whilst it was an enjoyable read it wasn’t gripping.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you plan to visit Amsterdam, this is a fun mystery to get you in the mood.

I love mysteries, love reading translations and enjoy insight into foreign cities. This novel satisfied all those.

I can recommend this.

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining who-dunnit that mixes art and alchemy, the past and the present, about a picture with a mysterious past and provenance. My favourite city, Amsterdam, is the back drop for this story and the author captures its character and mood quite well.

[Janellyn51 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this.. I liked Ruth and Myles. I thought all the stuff about the process of getting things taken by the Nazi's was interesting but not necessarily in the true owners interest. It was a bit long, but I've never been to Amsterdam