Fiona Erskine

Engineer. Writer. Swimmer.

The Chemical Reaction book cover

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.
The Chemical Reaction book cover

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

The Chemical Reaction original cover



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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