The Chemical Detective

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review


Tired of all your thrillers starring the same slice of male Wonderbread? Look no further. MC Jacqueline Silver is not your average MC. As a chemical engineer working for a Slovenia science company, Jaq orchestrates controlled explosions around the ski slopes to prevent fatal avalanches. Fiercely independent, confident, intelligent and something if a loner, Jaq is a breath of mountain fresh air that just blows you through the entire book. When a shipment of explosive materials appears to be more than a little dicey, Jaq's enquiring mind and devotion to due dilligence set of a chain of events that will see her on the run and fighting for her life. From Slovenia to Teeside, from Chernobyl to Crimea, The Chemical Detective is a race against time using every bit of Jaq's competence and ingenuity.

It will come as no surprise to anyine who knows me when I say I'm a bit of a science nerd. I love chemistry and this book communicates the utter fascination the subject holds for me but presents it in a way that makes it accessible to all. Erskune somehow walks the invisibly fine line of being clear to the layman but not dumbing the science down for those in her audience in the know. But don't be fooled into thinking this reads like a textbook. It doesn't . There's plenty of action, twists and turns - at times it's incredibly stressful but in the best possible way. I don't say this lightly but it would make a great film. And I don't just mean 'here is a book I would like to see a film adaptation of'. I mean this would translate well to screen IMO. Reading it often felt like watching a film. It's incredibly fast paced without ever losing sense.

Jaq is a great character. Perhaps an unwitting action hero but all other action heroes can go home from here on out. It's great to see a female lead who's this dynamic and physically competent yet still a fully rounded character. James Bond, Jack Reacher and Jason Borne wish they were this cool.

All in all this was an epic read. I'd love to see more of Jaq's adventures in the future. Highly recommended to all thriller fans. I've already recommended to the library service that they buy copies because I can think of a list of my regulars who'll want to read it.