Fiona Erskine

Engineer. Writer. Swimmer.

Book cover with female engineer holding Geiger Counter

She blows things up to keep people safe

The Chemical Detective

Jaq Silver spicy engineering thriller Book #1

Dr Jaq Silver. Skier, scientist, international jet-setter, explosives expert. She blows things up to keep people safe. 

Working on avalanche control in Slovenia, Jaq stumbles across a problem with a consignment of explosives. After raising a complaint with the supplier, a multinational chemical company, her evidence disappears and she is framed for murder. Jaq must find the key to the mystery.

But can she uncover the truth before her time runs out?

Book cover with female engineer holding Geiger Counter

Series: Jaq Silver Thrillers

Formats available: Hardback, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

First published: 04/04/19

Reviews for The Chemical Detective

‘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 exciting.’

Literary Review

An audacious, female-led thriller which took the disposable women of the James Bond franchise and flipped the concept entirely on its head

Chemistry World Book Club

‘Action, intrigue and a stonkingly modern heroine. It’s a blast.’

Sunday Times Crime Club

‘Just the right blend of suspense and tension… I recommend this original and compelling debut novel for fans of mysteries and thrillers, as well as for those looking for a credible female protagonist in a genre dominated by male superheroes. Already, I am looking forward to reading the next instalment in this series.’

Forbes

‘Imagine the love child of Jack Reacher and Nancy Drew…a delicious cocktail of dating and detonations. Call it Mills and Boom.’

London Evening Standard



Other Editions

The Chemical Detective - North America e-book

The Chemical Detective - North America Hardback



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


Lovely to chat to the reading family from #Tynemouth via #Hartlepool at @forumbookscorbridge #Bowmans


First time I’ve signed a book for a dog - and what a beauty she is! @lady_penelopepitstop @forumbookscorbridge


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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! 👇

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:

Don’t miss bookclub tomorrow at 10am followed by a signing at 11am with @cmacwritescrime #Durham #events

Really looking forward to chatting with the brilliant @MichaelHWood at Newcastle Waterstones next week. Hope to see some of you there!

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