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The Chemical Cocktail

An FT Best Summer Book of 2022

Published by Point Blank
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

About The Book

An FT Best Summer Book of 2022

Jaq Silver is back with a bang in this high-octane third novel in the series

When Jaq’s mother dies, she is handed a poisoned chalice. Amid conspiracies and corruption, Jaq travels from Portugal to Brazil to get to the bottom of her family mystery. But she is not the only one with an interest in her unusual inheritance. Racing against the clock as threats to her life increase on all sides, Jaq must use her scientific know-how to save what matters most.

About The Author

Fiona Erskine is a professional engineer based in Teesside, although her work has taken her around the world. As a female engineer, she has often been the lone representative of her gender in board meetings, cargo ships and night-time factories, and her fiction offers a fascinating insight into this traditionally male world. She is the author of The Chemical Detective and The Chemical Reaction. The Chemical Detective was shortlisted for the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award. Her second thriller in the Jaq Silver series, The Chemical Reaction, was shortlisted for the Staunch Prize.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Point Blank (May 5, 2022)
  • Length: 352 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780861540341

Raves and Reviews

Fast-paced, roller-coaster ride… The action-packed storyline, just the right side of bonkers, roams from Lisbon to England to the steamy depths of the Brazilian jungle as Erskine lets her imagination rip to great effect.’

– Financial Times, best summer books of 2022

‘Fiona Erskine has written another splendidly energetic thriller… Packed with fascinating science, thrills, shocks and relationships both touching and horrible, this is a terrific read.’

– Literary Review

The pace rapidly accelerates in Fiona Erskine’s The Chemical Cocktail[Erskine] writes with flair and confidence, whether describing a heart-of-darkness journey downriver into the Brazilian jungle or the quiet of Lisbon’s British cemetery.’

– Financial Times

‘High-speed, gripping and fun.’

– Nick Smith, Engineering & Technology

Praise for the series:

‘Action, intrigue and a stonkingly modern heroine. It's a blast.’ Sunday Times Crime Club

‘Intricate, seductive and thrilling. Erskine’s writing glows with wit and danger.’ Ross Armstrong, author of The Watcher

‘A highly recommended read if you like action heroes or strong female characters. The action is fast paced… It will be interesting to see how the next book follows on.’

– Mystery People

'With a real gift for storytelling, Erskine delivers an endgame that’s definitely not what you were anticipating… our heroine Jaq is refreshingly female in a male dominated world… The Chemical Cocktail is an action-packed adventure perfect for any thriller-lover ready for a modern heroine to blow their socks off.’

– The Bay

‘Excellent… not only captivating and well written, but also extremely informative. Chemical engineering mingled with mystery and adventure. It’s a blast!’

– Raffaella Ocone, CEng FIChemE, The Chemical Engineer magazine

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More books from this author: Fiona Erskine