The Pharmacist

by Rachelle Atalla
The Pharmacist cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Technical:
  • ID: 543
  • Added: 2025-09-18
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9781529342123
  • Publisher: Hachette UK
  • Published: 2022-05-12
  • Formats: 2
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

Set in a dystopian future, The Pharmacist explores life inside a bunker designed to protect a small group of survivors from a devastated outside world. Wolfe, the bunker’s pharmacist, dispenses medicine while under the watchful eye of an increasingly erratic leader whose demands threaten her safety. The novel vividly captures the oppressive atmosphere of confinement and the precarious balance of power within this underground community. Rachelle Atalla’s debut novel is a gripping, character-driven thriller that delves into themes of abused power, moral confusion, and survival. Praised for its original voice and richly realized world, it reflects on the redemptive possibilities of compassion and resistance amid desperation. The Pharmacist is both a speculative literary work and a powerful commentary on contemporary broken times, making it an essential and thought-provoking read.

Reviews
Waterstones · 2025-09-18
excellent 5.00

This book is an excellent and absorbing read that is hard to put down, with vividly drawn characters and a gripping storyline.

The reviewer was completely engrossed by this book, finishing it in just three sessions because they couldn't put it down. They praise the vividly drawn characters and the gripping storyline, which makes the book a highly recommended read. The reviewer also mentions that the book's ability to keep them engaged throughout is a testament to its quality.

Quick quotes

    I loved this book and found it an excellent and absorbing read.

    I ended up finishing it in three sessions as I just couldn't put it down.

    Highly recommended for its vivid characters and gripping storyline.

Sifa Elizabeth Reads · 2022-05-20
gripping 4.00

The slow build of unease and tension is well executed, making it easy to see why readers would enjoy this book. The atmosphere of something being amiss is effectively created.

The reviewer highlights the skillful construction of tension and unease throughout the book, which keeps readers engaged and wondering what will happen next. They appreciate the way the story slowly reveals its mysteries, creating a gripping atmosphere. The reviewer also mentions that the book's ability to make readers feel the growing sense of something being wrong is particularly well done, making it a compelling read.

Quick quotes

    I can see exactly why others would love this book – the slow build of unease that things are wrong, but not what, is well done and the ...

    The atmosphere of something being amiss is effectively created.

    The slow build of tension and mystery keeps readers engaged throughout.

Shit Book Reviews · 2022-05-13
disappointing 2.50

The post-apocalyptic setting and the characters' descent into madness are intriguing, but the story feels unresolved with too many loose ends.

The reviewer finds the post-apocalyptic setting and the psychological deterioration of the characters intriguing. However, they feel that the story leaves too many questions unanswered and ends abruptly, which detracts from the overall experience. The reviewer appreciates the unique premise but wishes more resolution had been provided for the characters and their fates.

Quick quotes

    This is a post-apocalyptic story about the residents of a bunker slowly losing their minds with too many loose ends for my liking.

    The unique premise is intriguing, but the story feels unresolved.

    The characters' descent into madness is well portrayed, but the ending leaves too many questions unanswered.

Appears in Lists