
SHORTLISTED FOR THE STAUNCH PRIZE
The Chemical Reaction
Jaq Silver spicy engineering thriller Book #2
Dr Jaqueline Silver reluctantly accepts a contract in China, but the factory she is due to visit vanishes overnight along with her former student, Dan. After receiving a message in code, Jaq forms an uneasy alliance with a group of athletes daylighting as art thieves. She makes a road trip from the Shaolin Temple – home of Kung Fu – to the rare earth mines of Jiangxi. She outwits corrupt police, duplicitous industrialists, only to come face to face with death near the Banqiao hydroelectric dam, scene of the worst structural failure of the 20th century.
Series: Jaq Silver Thrillers
Formats available: Hardback, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
First published: 16/04/20
Reviews for The Chemical Reaction
The plot is complex, intelligent and carefully developed and features just the right blend of suspense and mystery, explosions and gorgeous male strippers, theft of multi-million dollar artworks and five-star dining in interesting locations…
Forbes
An absolutely fast and furious action adventure story with a stunning female protagonist. Jaq Silver gives Jack Reacher a good run for his money. A rollicking good read.
Staunch Prize Shortlist
‘No one else writes with the knowledge or brio of Erskine.’
Literary Review
‘Never a dull moment, this is a whip-smart, action packed, intriguing read that has the reader rooting for Jaq, a thoroughly modern and engaging warrior… Highly recommended.’
Mystery People
‘The Chemical Reaction – a taut against-the-clock cliffhanging yarn located in China – is every bit as good as its Chernobyl predecessor, with trademark Erskine flourishes augmented by dodgy art auctions and disappearing chemical factories… If you’re looking for a really good thriller that is complex and exciting, get in on the Jaq Silver action now. You won’t be disappointed.’
Swansea Bay magazine
‘The book keeps the reader guessing throughout…and the fast pace of the thriller makes it difficult to put down.’
The Chemical Engineer
Other Editions

Related posts

My visit to Banqiao
Posted on March 7, 2019
Since starting work in China, I have made several attempts to visit the Banqiao Reservoir in Henan Province. My well-intentioned Chinese colleagues always had better suggestions for me: come see …
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I swam 24km in 5 days. Hard work?
Try tuna canning, salt drying or sulphur mining…
https://fionaerskine.substack.com/p/sulphur-and-salt
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Goodbye #egadiislands and thank you @swimtrek for an amazing week – 24 kilometres with wonderful guides, fellow swimmers and multicoloured fishes!
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This week #PhosphateRocks e-book is only £0.99 in UK
Who doesn`t love a story about a demolition gone wrong? @raine_clouds_writes @lesleykellyauthor
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Phosphate-Rocks-Death-Ten-Objects-ebook/dp/B0CTRRXKNY
PS: The audio book narrated by @rain.goblin is pretty special too
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August 8th is the 50th Anniversary of the Banqiao Dam disaster.
I went to visit.
https://fionaerskine.substack.com/p/beware-sleeping-giants
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A quarter of my sales this month were overseas for the very first time!
Massive thanks to all those fine Canadians for topping the list. Say Hi if you see this.
https://fionaerskine.com/
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On my way to Harrogate today
https://open.substack.com/pub/fionaerskine/p/harrogate
Say hello if you`ll be there
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What makes the perfect handbag and how much is it worth?
https://fionaerskine.substack.com/p/the-perfect-handbag
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https://fionaerskine.substack.com/p/i-have-some-news
Goodbye @oneworldpublications and thank you for everything – it was such an honour to be published by you and I loved working with the team.
Now, like #JaqSilver I`m going solo
Big thanks to @kidethic for my beautiful new covers
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Such a treat to interview #TerryDeary about his first adult crime book #ActuallyImAMurderer (it’s great!) at @backofthebeyondbooks
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Happy International Women in Engineering Day!
Thanks to @Chem_Processing for highlighting #TheChemicalDetective!
#INWED2025 #INWED25
https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/voices/women-in-chemistry/podcast/55298245/celebrating-international-women-in-engineering-day
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More canine readers in @forumbookscorbridge #winter #losingcontrol
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Greetings to all my friends at @bloodyscotland! So sorry I won’t be there this year but research takes priority @SwimTrek
First book of my holiday complete. Thank you @erskine_fiona. An entertaining & complex story - easily transporting me from the Maltese sun I’m currently basking in to the cold dark Teeside winter. I look forward to reading more about DI Julie Cadell.
Late to the party but absolutely loving @geowriter #nightclimbing
September treat! In the Blink of an Eye is now only 99p on kindle for September! 👇
Really looking forward to talking to Carolyn about #CoraBurns, #WhenWeFall and most of all her scintillating new novel #Ravenglass.

Soooooo excited for this pre-pub exclusive event in "The most magical little bookshop" @drakebookshop talking to my fave ever author, the brilliant @erskine_fiona 🤩 #StocktononTees Tickets here: https://share.google/xByL2vam4pqgVUKPl
Soooooo excited for this pre-pub exclusive event in "The most magical little bookshop" @drakebookshop talking to my fave ever author, the brilliant @erskine_fiona 🤩 #StocktononTees Tickets here: https://share.google/xByL2vam4pqgVUKPl
One week left to nab WHITE CITY for less than a quid on Kindle.
https://amzn.eu/d/2g1623R
“The best crime novel I've read this year”
— The Times
“Quite breathtaking”
— Daily Mail
“Superb”
— Guardian
And, most importantly, the opinion of the Pinborough Bugle:
Ravenglass is my best read so far this year - pre orders recommended

Bank Holiday Sale!😁 Pre-order Ravenglass and other great #histfic books with 25% off using code SUMMER25 at the checkout https://www.northodox.co.uk/product-page/Ravenglass-paperback
Don’t miss bookclub tomorrow at 10am followed by a signing at 11am with @cmacwritescrime #Durham #events
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Get instant access to the Subscribers Only section of my website with new work pre-publication, private musings and lashings of publishing stories and advice. I’ll update subscribers on new releases and in-person events AND run competitions with great give-aways.