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



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!


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Thank you @AniaJeruc for your sensitive and moving #Violetta in La Traviata - not a dry eye in the house and the standing ovation so well deserved!
Amazing production! @goteborgsoperan

Congratulations to Carole Cadwalladr, @carolecadwalla, who together with colleagues first revealed this story.

Off to the printers.

Bluemoose Books - Hebden to Hollywood - 20 years of Independent publishing.

Re-mortgaging the house, Lit prizes, One Book Bookshop, Dukes, Boilers, Les Dawson, Eric the Literary hound, Roast potatoes, Julia Roberts & TV shows.

@thebookseller
@guardian

The perfect book for a wet Keswick day. Thank you #johnlawton for #HammertoFall @GrovePressUK
Next TV slow horses?

Looking forward to this!

https://amzn.eu/d/0fA8SkeF

More than 30 writers set to star in first-ever Hartlepool Author Showcase https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/news/article/334/more-than-30-writers-set-to-star-in-first-ever-hartlepool-author-showcase

Great to see Ravenglass in @Annecdotist's blog post: Page-turning historical fiction from indie publishers with attitude 🤩 🙏🏻
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Special 99p summer cocktail offer
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It’s darker than it looks.
It’s later than you think.
She’s braver than she knows.

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