Chemical Code by Fiona Erskine

Racing towards the dark heart of Brazil, explosives expert Jaq Silver has one goal - vengeance. When her enemies take what she treasures most, she resolves to make them pay. Unsure who to trust, alert to hidden agendas, Jaq is hunting solo. As summer temperatures rise, the web of danger and corruption tightens around her. What is in the mysterious box, Jaq has inherited from her grandmother? Can Jaq be sure she is chasing down the right target? And who is pursuing her?

An exhilarating tour around Brazil from the gold mines of Goiás to the glorious beaches of Rio, THE CHEMICAL CODE combines non-stop explosive action and Bond-style villainy with the scientific know-how that makes the Chemical Detective series so unique.

About the author

FIONA ERSKINE is a professional engineer based in Teesside, although her work has taken her around the globe. As a female engineer, she has often been the lone representative of her gender in board meetings, cargo ships and night-time factories, and her fiction offers a fascinating insight into this traditionally male world. She is the author of The Chemical Detective, The Chemical Reaction and The Chemical Cocktail, all published by Point Blank. The Chemical Detective was shortlisted for the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award and The Chemical Reaction was shortlisted for the Staunch Prize in 2020.

Review

‘Chemical Code’ was a thrilling romp across Brazil, it was fast paced, multi layered and educational! I always feel as if I learn a lot of stuff whenever I read a Jaq Silver book, especially as I know nothing about chemistry! This is the follow-up to the story that began in ‘Chemical Cocktail’ and I was so excited to pick it up and find out what happened to Jaq Silver! It did not disappoint and I devoured it in a day! I would recommend reading the previous book in the series as it does set up this book and it is a direct continuation. However, you could read this as a standalone as Fiona does provide a lot of background information and recaps!

Jaq Silver is a woman with a mission. She wants vengeance. Her enemies have taken what matters most to her and now she has nothing to lose and she is going to make them pay. But a series of betrayals has Jaq questioning who she can trust so she decides to complete this mission on her own. People are still chasing down that mysterious box and Jaq becomes embroiled in a series of events that have far-reaching results. Will she reach her target before her pursuers reach her…

I love Jaq Silver and we see a different side to her in this book. Ravaged by grief she becomes a woman determined to get her revenge by any means possible. She really is a kick-ass protagonist and I would want her on my side any day of the week. This series is really unique for two reasons - having the main character as a woman in a male-dominated industry and also having engineering and chemistry as the main focus in these books. But then this reflects the author who is a woman working in a STEM industry and it gives authenticity to her books and the narrative. The amount of science that is packed into this book is incredible and I loved learning as I was reading!

This is a fast-paced tome and the tension was off the charts. The timeline jumps around but focuses on the three months after the end of ‘Chemical Cocktail’ and this really worked as I felt it keeps the reader attentive and allowed the author to lead us on a merry jig! It definitely allowed the tension to build right up to the final page!

I can't wait for the next book! Let me know if you pick this book up as I thoroughly recommend it!