‘The Chemical Cocktail’ by Fiona Erskine

Published by Point Blank,
2 June 2022.
ISBN: 978-0-86154033-4 (PB)

 Book three in the Jaq de Silver series.

Jaq de Silva’s relationship with her mother had always been difficult. In recent years her mother, who had dementia, had been looked after by nuns in a Portugese convent. When her mother dies Jaq is sent a strongbox. Inside are things from a family history that crosses continents and assets that other people desperately want. It puts the people around her in danger. The box also contains evidence that her mother deceived her in the worst possible way. 

The story starts in the volatile and dangerous Brazilian countryside where a break-in leads to kidnap, and a ransom demand Jaq will do anything to meet. Chapters skip around with the backstory of the previous twelve months intertwined with the current action and the need for speed if Jaq it to meet the ransom demands.

While the book works perfectly well as a standalone novel, it’s worth reading them in order as characters pop up in each and quite honestly if you like action packed thrillers, you’d be missing out doing otherwise. Jaq de Silva is a ballsy character, an engineer and explosives expert who enjoys dangerous sports. She is flawed and in this book the reader gets to understand some of the reasons why. 

A highly recommended read if you like action heroes or strong female characters. The action is fast paced and there are a great cast of characters. It will be interesting to see how the next book follows on.
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Reviewer: Christine Hammacott

Fiona Erskine was born in Edinburgh, and grew up playing guitar, riding motorbikes and jumping into cold water. After studying Chemical Engineering at University, she leaned to weld, cast and machine with apprentices in Paisley. She is now based in Teesside and travels internationally as a professional engineer. An engineer by day, writer by night. Her debut novel The Chemical Detective, the first in a series, was published in April 2019. Her new book is The Chemical Cocktail published 2 June 2022.

 https://thechemicaldetective.blog/

Christine Hammacott lives near Southampton and runs her own design consultancy. She started her career working in publishing as a book designer and now creates covers for indie-authors. She writes page-turning fiction that deals with the psychological effects of crime. To read a review of her debut novel The Taste of Ash click on the title.

website: www.christinehammacott.com
twitter: /ChrisHammacott
Facebook: /christinehammacott.author