Books

Fiona Erskine

Phosphate Rocks

A long deceased body is found under a demolition site, encrusted in phosphate rock and surrounded by ten unusual objects. DI Rose Irving from Police Scotland is tasked with solving the mystery. She enlists the help of retired factory foreman, John Gibson.

Who was the victim? How did he die? What is the significance of the ten objects that surround him? And how reliable is the chief witness?

The Chemical Detective

Jaq Silver Blows Things Up to Keep People Safe

Working on avalanche control in Slovenia, Jaq Silver stumbles across a faulty batch of explosives. When her evidence disappears and she is framed for murder, Jaq goes on the run, following a trail of clues all the way to the Chernobyl exclusion zone.

But can she uncover the truth before her time runs out?

The full Jaq Silver series

In Book #2 The Chemical Code Jaq takes a risky consultancy contract in China which leads her to the Banqiao Dam, site of the worst peacetime man-made structural failure in the world.

Portugal and Brazil are the settings for Book #3 The Chemical Cocktail and the story continues in Book #4 The Chemical Code. Suddenly the mystery has become intensely personal for Jaq and the stakes are higher than ever.

Literary Review

‘An original and fascinating combination of memoir and crime novel.’ Literary Review

Engineering and Technology

‘the best mystery novelist ever to have taken up the quill in the name of chemistry.’

Five Star Reader Reviews

‘Fiona Erskine is one of the most original and thoughtful writers of crime and thrillers out there.’ 
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‘A murder mystery that is also part memoir, part chemistry manual, and the unique fusion of styles will educate and entertain crime and literary fiction fans alike.’

‘Brilliant novel, erudite and moving with working class history strongly represented in Leith Docks and environs.’

‘This is not your normal crime fiction read…inventive and refreshing, combining a suspenseful murder mystery with science based fact.’

‘An unexpected gem.’

SHORTLISTED FOR THE SPECSAVERS DEBUT CRIME NOVEL AWARD, 2020

‘Imagine the love child of Jack Reacher and Nancy Drew…a delicious cocktail of dating and detonations. Call it Mills and Boom.’― Evening Standard

‘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

‘Action, intrigue and a stonkingly modern heroine. It’s a blast.’― Sunday Times Crime Club

Five Star Reader Reviews

This gripping debut in the series left me desperate for more.

twists and turns aplenty and a satisfying ending.
I really, really, loved it.

A fast paced, high action thriller. I absolutely loved having a female engineer as a protagonist.

This is a wonderful rollercoaster ride of a book. Jaq Silver is the perfect antidote to the stereotypical male action hero, and the story is a perfect blend of action and intrigue, with a lovely slice of technical know-how on top. Five stars!

Praise for The Jaq Silver Series

‘Jaq is quickly drawn into a vortex of action, danger and exotic locations.’― Financial Times

‘A 21st-century reinterpretation of classic 007-style action, villainy, exotic location and pretzel plotting… a genuine goldmine of a thriller.’― Engineering & Technology

‘This book has it all. Phenomenal world-building. Totally original plot. Fascinating and insightful social commentary. Love. Sex. Punch-ups. There’s nothing not to like. Jaq Silver is undoubtedly the best character I’ve met in years.’– Emma Christie, author of The Silent Daughter

‘A page-turning rollercoaster. Intelligent, exciting, and so much bang for your buck that it’s scary.’– Judith O’Reilly