Fiona Erskine

Engineer. Writer. Swimmer.

Book cover showing lone woman at Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with paraglider in background

Financial Times Best Summer Book

The Chemical Cocktail

Jaq Silver spicy engineering thriller Book #3

Jaq Silver travels from Portugal to Brazil, amid conspiracies and corruption, to get to the bottom of her family mystery. She is not the only one with an interest in her unusual inheritance. Racing against the clock as the threats to her life increase on all sides, Jaq must use her scientific know-how to save what matters most.

Book cover showing lone woman at Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with paraglider in background

Series: Jaq Silver Thrillers

Formats available: Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

First published: 05/05/22

Reviews for The Chemical Cocktail

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

Literary Review

‘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.’

‘[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

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

The Chemical Engineer

‘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




Sunny southern sojourn with friends and family and a stonkingly good book. London looking stunning!


In Houston for the day job, I went back to visit my old house and primary school from when my dad had a sabbatical at Rice University. Fleming park is much smaller than I remember but the fire ants are still there! Highlight was a full Tex-Mex with Theresa and Bhopal expert Kenneth Bloch - plans afoot for a new book.


I swam 24km in 5 days. Hard work?

Try tuna canning, salt drying or sulphur mining...

https://fionaerskine.substack.com/p/sulphur-and-salt


Goodbye #egadiislands and thank you @swimtrek for an amazing week - 24 kilometres with wonderful guides, fellow swimmers and multicoloured fishes!


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


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/


On my way to Harrogate today

https://open.substack.com/pub/fionaerskine/p/harrogate

Say hello if you'll be there


Follow me on Instagram

We're looking forward to being part of Carolyn's tour for 'Ravenglass'! Carolyn will be with us @hull_libraries (Central and online), 11th February 📚

Fantastic to hear @Ofmooseandmen features on @BBCBooks - such a great publisher and @RonanHession1 is one of my favourite authors and a great interviewee. (Ghost Mountain fell in the bath - sorry!)

Saturday 10 January 2026. ⁦@TonyKent_Writes⁩ will be in ⁦@wstonesdurham⁩ FREE event. See you there! #RevengeOfOdessa

I have news!
Stellar thanks to @SFcrowsnest for a stirring introduction - to #TheLye and to #agentjarrold for his immense courage. Watch this space…

Novelist Carolyn Kirby discusses the apparently radical shift in men’s fashions during the late 18th century and the invention of the ‘masculine’ style that still dominates menswear. https://historiamag.com/invent-masculine-fashion/ via @HistoriaHWA

I have news. Exciting news...
https://fionaerskine.com/news-item/exciting-news/

Have you had a look at the brilliant Ravenglass by Carolyn Kirby yet?

Following a gender fluid character making their way in 1700s Whitehaven, this emotional and beautifully written globe trotting adventure is available with 25% off this Christmas!
https://share.google/AvrhJUHaVtFa9TVnK

Happiness is a train journey with a seat and a good book #lner #thesaltoracle

Excellent post - thank you @GalleyBeggars @GonzaloCGarcia

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