Fiona Erskine

Engineer. Writer. Swimmer.

News & events

At last…

Posted on September 18, 2025 in Jaq Silver

Three months after I recovered my rights from Oneworld, I’m delighted to confirm that the Jaq Silver quartet is now available again in full – in ebook and print (under the Snickered Mole Imprint) and audiobook (renewed with WF Howes).

Thanks to the super talented Mark Swann at kid-ethic I have some beautiful new covers.

…with some tremendous cover quotes.

The Chemical Detective

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPECSAVERS DEBUT CRIME NOVEL AWARD, 2020

While working on avalanche control, Jaq Silver stumbles across a problem batch of explosives. After raising a complaint, her evidence disappears. She is warned, threatened, accused of professional incompetence and attacked.  Arrested on a murder charge, she escapes from police custody and races from the Julian Alps of Slovenia to the ghostly ruins of Chernobyl. Can she uncover the truth before her time runs out?

Just the right blend of suspense and tensionForbes
Glows with wit and dangerRoss Armstrong
Fiona Erskine is an engineer and in Jaq Silver, who shares her profession, she has created a wonderful antidote to all the resentful, floppy victims of much domestic noir…Her adventures are eye-popping and excitingLiterary Review
An audacious, female-led thriller which took the disposable women of the James Bond franchise and flipped the concept entirely on its headChemistry World

The Chemical Reaction

SHORTLISTED FOR THE STAUNCH PRIZE

Dr Jaqueline Silver reluctantly accepts a contract in China, but the factory she was sent to visit vanishes overnight along with a former student. Jaq makes a road trip from the Shaolin Temple – home of Kung Fu – to the rare earth mines of Jiangxi. She outwits corrupt police and duplicitous industrialists, only to come face to face with death near the Banqiao hydroelectric dam.

No one else writes with the knowledge and bio of Erskine – Literary Review

Never a dull moment, this is a whip-smart, action packed, intriguing read. Highly recommended. –
Mystery People

Unique and entertaining…just the right blend of suspense and mystery, explosions and gorgeous male strippers, theft of multi-million dollar artworks and five-star dining… – Forbes

The Chemical Cocktail

A FINANCIAL TIMES BEST SUMMER BOOK

When her mother dies, Jaq Silver inherits an old strong-box packed with secrets. Traveling from Portugal to Brazil, Jaq discovers she is not the only one with an interest in the family legacy. Racing against the clock, with threats to her life increasing on all sides, Jaq must use her scientific know-how to save what matters most.

A fast-paced roller-coaster ride. Erskine writes with flair and confidence – Adam LeBor, Financial Times
An action-packed adventure perfect for any thriller-lover ready for a modern heroine to blow their socks off – Tegan Smith, Bay Magazine
A splendidly energetic thriller…a terrific read – NJ Cooper, Literary Review

The Chemical Code

Freight train surfing across Brazil, Jaq Silver has a single mission—vengeance. When her enemies take what she treasures most, she will do anything to make them pay. But can Jaq be sure she is chasing down the right target? And who is pursuing Jaq?

007-style action and exotic locations – a goldmine of a thriller – Nick Smith, E&T Magazine

Phenomenal world-building. Totally original plot. Fascinating and insightful social commentary. Love. Sex. Punch-ups. There’s nothing not to like – Emma Christie

A page-turning rollercoaster. Intelligent and exciting –  Jude O’Reilly

Action, danger and exotic locations – Financial Times

Let me know what you think!

 

 


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


What makes the perfect handbag and how much is it worth?

https://fionaerskine.substack.com/p/the-perfect-handbag


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


Such a treat to interview #TerryDeary about his first adult crime book #ActuallyImAMurderer (it’s great!) at @backofthebeyondbooks


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


More canine readers in @forumbookscorbridge #winter #losingcontrol


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Oh @adrianmckinty - where have you been all my life? Loving Sean Duffy’s adventures read by Gerard Doyle

Huge thank you to every person and bookshop that's ordered Ravenglass and made it stonking success so far 😍

This gripping and powerful tale of gender-fluid Kit/Stella traversing the world in the 1700s is very relevant in today's climate!

Order here: https://share.google/i6inpiZ7vDgHK3mMh

Delighted to celebrate International Week of Happiness at Work with a 99p deal in UK. Jaq Silver has found the perfect job in Brazil. Or has she?

The Chemical Cocktail (Jaq Silver Thriller) eBook : Erskine, Fiona: : Kindle Store https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chemical-Cocktail-Silver-Thrillers-Book-ebook/dp/B0FG8X59MT

The Chemical Cocktail goes right back to Jaq’s childhood and can be read first - only £0.99

Trust me, you won’t regret reading this. Exquisite prose and a rollicking, propulsive, deeply moving story. @novelcarolyn is a fearless writer who wears her deep research so lightly that you are instantly immersed into the booming north of the 1720s

Trust me, you won’t regret reading this. Exquisite prose and a rollicking, propulsive, deeply moving story. @novelcarolyn is a fearless writer who wears her deep research so lightly that you are instantly immersed into the booming north of the 1720s
Northodox Press 📖 @northodoxpress

🚨PUBLICATION DAY🚨

Ravenglass is available everywhere now! A tender and powerful tale of a gender fluid character trying to make their way in the 1700s, we can't recommend this incredible adventure novel enough 🏳️‍🌈

Order yours here: https://share.google/bfWyYAWWNBHLr9rB6

I was today years old when I learned I’ve been eating my favourite biscuits all wrong

Chocolate digestives: How do you eat them? Choc side up or down? - CBBC Newsround https://www.bbc.com/newsround/articles/cvg7lnp19n0o

Ravenglass by @novelcarolyn is the most beautifully written exploration of how we once lived and worked and lived and loved and fought in the north. A cracking good read, I cannot recommend it strongly enough - a complete breath of fresh air.

Ravenglass  by @novelcarolyn is the most beautifully written exploration of how we once lived and worked and lived and loved and fought in the north. A cracking good read, I cannot recommend it strongly enough - a complete breath of fresh air.
Northodox Press 📖 @northodoxpress

🚨RELEASE WEEK🚨

One of the biggest and most ambitious Northodox books to date is out this Thursday!

Join Kit Ravenglass on his seafaring journey in this swashbuckling, gender fluid, historical fiction novel!

It is incredible 😍

Preorder now: https://share.google/9lT4pFxkL9DOMypUR

🚨RELEASE WEEK🚨

One of the biggest and most ambitious Northodox books to date is out this Thursday!

Join Kit Ravenglass on his seafaring journey in this swashbuckling, gender fluid, historical fiction novel!

It is incredible 😍

Preorder now: https://share.google/9lT4pFxkL9DOMypUR

Big and lusty! Spot on. #Ravenglass is my book of the year so far.
I'm so looking forward to talking with @novelcarolyn this week on her northern tour!
Who is coming along ?

Big and lusty! Spot on. #Ravenglass is my book of the year so far.
I'm so looking forward to talking with @novelcarolyn  this week on her northern tour!
Who is coming along ?
Carolyn Kirby @novelcarolyn

6 days till #RavenglassNovel goes live and the first press review is a "big and lusty" 9/10!!! 🤩😁Thank you @peterboroughtel 😍

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