The Kingpin

Idris Khan #2

by A.A. Dhand

Pre-order the new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Chemist!'Outstanding' Lee Child on A. A. Dhand

‘Dhand is a fearless writer’ Sunday Times

* * * *

Two brothers. One empire. A city ready to fall.

‘We can do what no one’s ever done before. We can become gods in a game built for the devil.’

Idris Khan is no longer the man he used to be. How can he be? Murder changes people – and it has changed him. Once a respected pharmacist, Idris now walks a fine line between survival and destruction. He craves something normal in a world gone to hell – but then Zidane, his estranged brother, walks through the door. Freshly released from prison, Zidane’s presence is radioactive. Truths are laid bare. New alliances are formed. And Zidane has an offer for Idris that could blow his whole world he wants them to take over the entire drug trafficking network in Leeds and Bradford, and rule together.

Now, Idris has a choice to make. Leave Leeds forever, or become the very thing he’s always feared … The Kingpin.

****

Praise for A. A.

‘Terrific … dispensing thrills and tension from start to finish’ Trevor Wood, author of The Man on the Street

‘With an authentic voice, relentless tension and high-octane action, this will have you hooked’ CRIME MONTHLY

‘Adrenaline-filled, dark and propulsive, this fresh thriller will keep you turning the pages’ PLATINUM

'Genuinely gripping' The Times

A. A. Dhand's book 'The Chemist' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2025-05-26.

468 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 2, 2026

About the author

A.A. Dhand was raised in Bradford and spent his youth observing the city from behind the counter of a small convenience store. After qualifying as a pharmacist, he worked in London and travelled extensively before returning to Bradford to start his own business and begin writing. The history, diversity and darkness of the city have inspired his Harry Virdee novels.

Reviews

[The Pastel Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was worried this wouldn’t be as good as The Chemist (first in the series) but OMG I had absolutely nothing to worry about.

This book is nearly 500 pages and I raced through it as if it were half that length. Gripping, intense, anxiety inducing and SO BLOODY CLEVER! I really hope AA Dhand is going to write a third book because honestly this series is outstanding.

No notes, absolute perfection 👏🏻

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+
Pacts made with devils.
Pharmacist Idris Khan is a changed man since his involvement in murder (in The Chemist) and now he just needs to survive, taking each day as it comes. However, DCI Brian Pitchford has him over a barrel and his price for silence is high. As if Idris’s life isn’t complicated enough, his brother Zidane is unexpectedly released from prison and he has one heck of a proposal for Idris. Can the pair take control from the drug kingpins of Leeds and Bradford and offer a safer product? Idris is between a rock and a hard place, work with Zidane or leave Leeds forever.

This picks up where The Chemist left off, advancing the timeline by a few months. It’s a bit messy at the start as the author sheds light for readers new to the series but then it gets into its stride and hits the streets (probably The Mews) running at full tilt.

The Mews is like Gotham City and just as crazy dangerous and AA Dhand does a brilliant job of conveying the chaos of the place which is run by brutal Kingpin Mawt Hosseini. Idris has one huge challenge but he is a very smart guy, using his knowledge of chemistry and turning it against his enemies. In other words, he’s a bit like Bruce Wayne/Batman fighting the evil and his super power is science. He’s very torn, he’s troubled, not really understanding who he is any more and his confliction and dual identity is conveyed well. He is likeable despite doing wrong to do good. All the characters are portrayed well and many tread the dark side of life.

It’s fast paced and reads like an exciting action movie, with many twists and turns along the way. It’s jet black, audacious and violence is inevitable against the kingpins. Deception piles on deception, escalating to an explosive finale. I don’t think I’ll be visiting that particular restaurant that serves the spicy chicken any time soon and I’ll keep on the right side of my pharmacist!

Overall, this is another very good series from the talented AA Dhand, though I think on balance I prefer the brilliant Bradford based Virdee novels. I look forward to the next instalment of the chemist/pharmacist and maybe the best is yet to come as I reckon this one maybe especially explosive given the cliffhanger ending.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HQ for the much appreciated copy in return for an honest review.

[Katie Booth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this after meeting A.A Dhand and hearing him talk about this book! It immediately went on my July TBR and I did opt for audio after he recommended it! I was not expecting this to get as dark as it did but I bloody loved that about it! It was so fast paced, easy to follow and generally a tense, on the edge of your seat read. The only thing for me was it did get a little too long, but that is definitely a personal preference! This series is definitely evolving well, I am definitely excited to see where the next book goes, I feel it is only going to get darker!

[Liz Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book, The Chemist back to saving Leeds, caring for those society ignores, good vs evil. Look forward to the next instalment - there’s still evil to resolve and people to rescue.

[Lynsey Spedding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! Possibly more than The Chemist! Hoping it’s been left open for book 3!

[Sarah Empson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chemist was my book of 2025 so I was a little worried that this book would not live up to my expectations. Reader fear not, this book was on a par with The Chemist. It was once again the perfect thriller.
It was so good to be back with Idris. He is an incredible main character as he is in essence just an ordinary bloke who has been caught up in an impossible situation. He is quiet and intelligent but will do anything he can to protect the people he loves. You can understand how he has got caught up in every situation and almost rationalise why he does the things he does. It worries me a little how much I still like him and forgive him for every situation he has been caught up in 😂
This book should come with a trigger warning that you will never be able to eat a Nando’s in the same way again 😅
I don’t want to give too many spoilers so I will just say that this is an action packed ride that you will not be able to put down.
Bring on book 3 immediately!!

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I LOVED the first book in this series - The Chemist - and have been looking forward to the sequel ever since.

I admit, it's been a hot minute (I don't know if I've used that in the right context but that's what the kids told me so I'm using it) since I read The Chemist, and with the hundreds of books I read The Chemist, and with the hundreds of books I read. I can't remember them all. So whilst I could recall the general plot, I had forgotten specifics and was worried I'd be a bit lost. But Dhand has done it well. He's dropped little reminders to us without regurgitating the entire story. And you're swept up immediately and any worry about not keeping up is long gone.

I really liked Idris. I'm not necessarily sure we're meant to, he's a bit of a grey area morally. But I can't help it. I feel for him and I just want him to be able to go about his life without all this palaver.

I'm a 300-350 page length kind of reader, and so at almost 500 pages, that was always going to be a struggle for me. Or so I thought. I zoomed through it like it was half the length. There are slower parts and faster parts, but it never feels a slog or overwhelming, which is impressive. It could have been shorted, made some scenes a bit more concise, but there's nothing wrong with it as it is, and somehow I still managed to read it in less than 24 hours as it was such good storytelling.

It's complex and complicated and you can't afford your attention to drift off. You need your wits about you to follow the different strands coming off the story. There are a lot of characters, lots of subplots, and yeah, you have to keep up because if you miss one bit then you'll be lost.

I mean, it's not an easy book to read topic wise. It's harsh and vulgar and scary and raw and explicit. You have to go through a lot of that, which can be hard at times, and yet it still works. It still feels real - even if we wish these kind of things weren't.

I loved The Chemist and I didn't know how he'd follow it, especially as I didn't think it 100% warranted a sequel, but now I've read this, it's obvious it needed a sequel, and this is so good. I am fairly confident there will be at least a third installment. It ends well but there's still some unanswered questions.

The plot is interesting, the storytelling masterful, the characters human and well-rounded, the peril, the fear, the thrills, the emotion - it's all there and don't very well. Dhand's other books will definitely be going on my wishlist.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second in the series featuring Pharmacist Idris Khan who we first met in The Chemist. Now, initially when I first read that book, I didn't get on with it. But I revisited it in AudioBook and had a much better time, so much so, that as soon as I saw this sequel available, I pounced on it!
In this book, we catch up with Idris just after the events of The Chemist, which I actually believe you really NEED to read first as basically the story just continues on, trilogy like rather than series... I'd also not read reviews for this book in you haven't already read that one, as you'll inevitably read spoilers...
So.. Idris is now a murderer. But there's reasons and circumstances... if you could ever justify it, he could! A veritable moral grey area! But the stakes are high now that his antics are known to DCI Brian Pitchford who has his own agenda for Idris to follow - under blackmail duress - culminating in assisting him to end his life once done. This is not a spoiler - it's how the previous book ended! But Idris still has his own fires to fight as, after removing the bad guys from the Mews, new bosses have inevitably moved in. But there is light and it comes in the rather unexpected form of Idris' estranged and incarcerated brother Zidane and his surprise release from prison...
And so begins more of the same as you got from The Chemist, with all the usual suspects returning, obviously we have Rebecca, but other characters who played a minor role in book one blossom herein, Amy for example.
And again, like for book one, we also have Idris finding some really great ways to dispatch the bad guys without trace. I do often wonder why there are not more Pharmacist serial killers... But yeah, the author obviously knows his stuff and, outwith poetic licence, it's all a bit scary!
To someone like me, who doesn't come from this world, when taken as a whole, it all comes across as being a bit on the spectacular side but not as you are reading it, if that makes sense. Gangland killing, guns and drugs and double crossing all feature in excess. But, at its heart, it is full of people trying to do their best and hope. And high octane thrills and brutal violence. Delightfully and deliciously so!
And another cliffhangery ending... which I am getting more used to.. and resigned to... and will probably have forgotten by the time book three is ready. But at the moment, I'm totally gagging to find out what happens next...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idris drags himself through another day at his pharmacy, but is changed by past events. He is surprised when his brother Zidane steps through the doors, freshly released from prison. Zidane has an offer for Idris, one that may blow his whole world apart and he now has a choice to make. Leave Leeds forever or become the very thing he has always feared.

The Chemist was the first book I read by this author but ended up one of my top reads of the previous year. Ever since finishing it, I have been excited to get my hands on another instalment, with The Kingpin being one of my most anticipated reads. And wow, this did not disappoint! As with The Chemist, this was a dark, intense, fast paced read - I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough. The action started straight away and never dropped, not once was there a dull moment. What I especially love about this series is the exploration around medications and chemistry and how this is used to vindicate and gain an advantage. Especially enjoying the uniqueness of this and finding it clever and compelling.

This was the second book in the series and although it could work as a standalone, I would urge everyone to read the previous book first to really understand the characters and back stories. I often find that characters from prequels fade in my mind before I get the chance to read the next one, taking a while to remember them fully. Not with the characters in this series! Straight away I could fully reconnect with them and remember their backgrounds and personas, with all being very strongly portrayed. I love Idris as a main character, despite his flaws, as he feels authentic, original and interesting and I find myself rooting for him. I am hoping I get to catch up with the characters again sooner rather than later!

The author does a fantastic job at describing the brutality and grittiness of the estate and the violence and despair that radiate from it and past encounters. This has rapidly become a favourite series of mine and one that I have already been recommending to all, even those who don’t usually enjoy this genre as much (it will soon change your mind). Easily another solid 5 stars and one of the top books of the year again - I already need another! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

[GemsLiteraryGems · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the events of The Chemist, Idris Khan has gone from being the respected local pharmacist who supplies methadone to hundreds of Leeds addicts to a murderer with a determined police officer on his trail. We return to The Mews, a collection of high-rise flats in Leeds' red-light district of Beeston, where Idris used his chemistry expertise in the first book to eliminate the local kingpin and a family of high-profile drug dealers.

This time, terminally ill DCI Brian Pitchford has evidence linking Idris to those murders and uses it to force him into hunting down the men responsible for his son's death. If Idris refuses, Pitchford will hand the evidence to his colleagues. With a new, even more ruthless kingpin now controlling The Mews and his brother Zidane freshly released from prison, Idris must use every ounce of his intelligence and ingenuity to stay alive, and perhaps even seize control of Leeds' criminal underworld himself.

As with The Chemist, I really enjoyed recognising many of the locations across Leeds and Bradford, which adds an extra layer of authenticity to an already gripping, action-packed story. Throughout most of the novel, you know Idris is going to have to kill some truly dangerous people, but unlike the first book, he's no longer reluctant. Instead, he embraces the person he needs to become to survive: a brilliant murderer who carefully disguises his killings as accidents.

The story is even darker this time around, and The Chemist already had some fairly dark sections. Idris is willing to torture people for information, and the moral lines continue to blur as the stakes rise. The ending clearly sets up a third instalment, and if this book is anything to go by, even darker times lie ahead. My only real criticism is that some information is repeated, particularly the backstory of Idris and Rebecca, which is explained more than once. It's a minor issue in an otherwise fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining thriller though.

Much like A. A. Dhand's Virdee series, I think these books would translate brilliantly to television. I'm already looking forward to a third book, where it seems we'll see the battle for control of Leeds and Idris taking on the last two names on Pitchford's hit list.

4.5/5 rounded up

[HisBookHerBook · Rating 5 out of 5]

HisBook Review 🔵

𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐩 𝟗 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐩𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.
𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐝𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭, 𝐡𝐞’𝐬 𝐥𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥.

Let’s just get this out of the way, I absolutely LOVED 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵 when I read it last year. I raved on about it that much HerBook read it straight after I finished. And she loved it too!

I’m pleased to say that The Kingpin is just as good, if not better than its predecessor.

Our main character Idris is a good man. But as the saying goes, sometimes good men do bad things. The tragic events of his past that led him to commit shocking acts in 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵 are coming back to haunt him. But here, in 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐩𝐢𝐧, he’s honing his craft.
He’s smart, determined and at times, downright ruthless. But, he’s also incredibly easy to like.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐩𝐢𝐧 is a nail-biting thriller that exists perpetually on a knife edge. As events around him seem to be spiralling beyond his control, Idris fights like a pharmaceutical Heracles battling the Hydra.
Flowing from scene to scene seamlessly thanks to A.A. Dhand’s captivating - and ever so immersive and descriptive writing - 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐩𝐢𝐧 is impossible to put down.

I saw an interview with A.A. Dhand where he said his inspiration for 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘵 came from wanting to write a book which was like Dexter meets Breaking Bad. That comparison couldn’t be more accurate. A.A. Dhand nails the blend of morality and escalating chaos.

𝐒𝐮𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲, 𝐈 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐩𝐢𝐧. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐲, 𝐠𝐫𝐢𝐦𝐲, 𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐮𝐧𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘺𝘯 at HQ 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Idris Khan series. I've read the first book, The Chemist and really enjoyed it so was keen to read this one. Idris is a community pharmacist dispensing methadone to his local community. He began as fairly mild mannered but has turned into this demon pharmacist who uses his knowledge of medicines to protect himself and the more vulnerable in the community. In this book Idris is still working in the pharmacy, but there is a new kingpin in charge of The Mews estate, a notorious estate where he prescribes the methadone. He is also being pursued by a detective from the local police force to help him find who was responsible for his son's death.

This isn't my usual type of read. It's feels very "gangland" and it's quite violent. However, I really like Idris and find it so clever how he uses his knowledge of medicines and chemistry to serve justice to the criminals in the area. For me, the storyline took a bit of building initially, setting the scene and introducing us to the characters. However, once it took off I flew through the pages and struggled to put the book down! It took me on a scary journey through the most deprived and dangerous areas of Leeds, where prostitution and drugs are a common theme. It is a little gruesome at times with some of the killings, but it's brilliant writing and the way Idris works out how chemicals and medicines work together is genius! You can certainly tell that the author has worked in this field!

The book is fast paced, thrilling and will hold you on the edge of your seat. There are lots of twists and it is a great addition to this series. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book. Would recommend.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great follow up to “The Chemist” which I suggest you read first as it is a clever and compelling book which sets out the background of Idris and Rebecca who are the lead characters in “The Kingpin”
Idris is a pharmacist who runs a chemist near the notorious Mews, a violent estate in Bradford where he provides methadone for the addicts and medicines for all the residents. He has committed some serious crimes in order to save Rebecca as well as himself, he has killed some evil men using his skills as a chemist but he is now being blackmailed by a dying policeman who wants vengeance on some equally awful villains and he is using Idris as his hitman! Complicated?!!
Throw into this mix an evil drug lord that is making many lives a misery and a newly released criminal- Idris’s drug dealing and murderous brother and this book turns into an explosive and fast paced thriller which is difficult to put down.
Idris is a great character, flawed, committing murder but supposedly for the right reasons- the men deserve to die- but it takes its toll. He just wants to disappear with Rebecca but first he has to have the money and it’s only his skills as a chemist and his innate intelligence that can help him.
The last page of the book left me wanting more and I could tell that another one would be on the way soon!
I really liked how Idris used his knowledge of “Chemistry” to get out of trouble- it was clear that the book had been written by someone who knew a lot about the subject! All the “kills” were ingenious and as the victims were all so unsavoury the reader feels little sorrow at their demise.
Definitely a five star read for me.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Idris Khan #2

Two brothers. One empire. A city ready to fall.

Idris Khan is no longer the man he used to be. How can he be? Murder changes people - and it has changed him. Once a respected pharmacist, Idris now walks a fine line between survival and destruction. He craves something normal in a world gone to hell - but then Zidane, his estranged brother, walks through the door. Freshly released from prison, Zidane's presence is radioactive. Truths are laid bare. New alliances are formed. And Zidane has an offer for Idris that could blow his while world, he wants them to take over the entire drug trafficking network in Leeds and Bradford, and rule together.

With just under 500 pages, this book will keep you turning the pages. I'm a huge fan of the author, and I've read all of his books, and this book is my favourite - so far. When I read The Chemist, I knew he had another winner, but The Kingpin is even better. You can't help but like Idris and root for him in everything he does - good or bad. But his brother, Zidane, I definitely wasn't keen on. This is a complex but well-written story that has a couple of subplots. I liked the information that was given on how some medication will react if taken alongside some pills/sprays. This is a compelling read with a mixed bunch of characters. It's also brutal, gritty and violent.

Published 2nd July 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #AADhand for my ARC of #TheKingpin in exchange for an honest review.

[McBreakneck · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chemist was one of my favourite books of last year, Idris Khan the community minded pharmacist forced to take extreme measures to protect himself and those close to him. If you haven’t read The Chemist then read it now - not only is it a brilliant book but you really need to catch up on the story so far to get the best out of The Kingpin.

Idris returns in The Kingpin, his brother Zidane has just been released from prison with a plan to take over the Leeds drugs trade. Idris has his own worries, with The Mews, the notorious estate where he supplies prescription methadone to addicts. There’s also an aging DCI taking a close interest in Idris’s previous deeds.

The Kingpin is simply brilliant. Idris is an intelligent man in a world of violence, control and cruelty. He longs to escape but the past and the pasts of those close to him are coming back to haunt him.

If you read The Chemist you already know, if you’ve read the Virdee series you already know. A. A. Dhand is writing the sharpest inner-city crime thrillers of the era - all informed by a deep personal knowledge and understanding of the cities portrayed. This is as good as it gets.

The Kingpin is stunning, superb. Relentless tension, ever-increasing pressure, frequently violent with some unique execution methods. Another book of the year and I can’t wait for book three.

Definitely recommend, a must read.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Stories

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kingpin is the second book in the Idris Khan series by A. A. Dhand. I really enjoyed ‘The Chemist’ so, I was really looking forward to reading the next instalment.
Idris is back as the chemist dispensing medicine to the residents of the local notorious estate called the Mews in Bradford and providing methadone to the local drug addicts on the estate. He has done things he hasn’t been proud off to keep himself and his wife safe. The local police has asked him to help find the killers responsible who killed his son.
At the same time his brother, a drug lord Zidane has just been released from Prison and has asked Idris to help to take control of the cities drug underworld.
This is another fast-paced dark gritty thriller by A. A. Dhand. It’s not only about revenge but also family and loyalty to his brother. I love the character of Idris how he used his knowledge of the chemist to get out of some sticky situations. You can tell that the author has experience in this field. But by forced to help others he is turning into someone that he is trying to protect others from.
This is a great read that had me reading to the small hours of the morning and I could really picture this on screen. I hope there is more to come of this series I think it is different but a fantastic read especially towards the end. 5 stars from me.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just read the best book of the year so far and there aren't enough stars, superlatives or accolades to do it justice.
​This second instalment of the Idris Khan series is nothing short of absolute creative genius.
We find Idris recovering from the events of book one, still fiercely protecting his inner-city estate and struggling to manage his pharmacy at The Mews.
When his brother Zidane returns from prison, everything changes, and an idea is born.
But Idris still has threats hanging over him, he still has promises to keep. This debt plunges him into complex moral dilemmas that threaten to completely destroy him.
​Driven by a fierce determination and a relentless dedication to his community, Idris is forced to navigate murky grey areas where right and wrong completely blur.
A.A. Dhand’s storytelling pulls you directly into the grit and poverty of an estate ruled by the most despicable criminals. A building sense of dread heightens with every single chapter as fragile loyalties stretch and dangerous boundaries shatter.
​It is desperate, raw, and like nothing else. I'm desperately hoping there will be another instalment and if there is I will be first in the queue.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and HQ for the ARC. This is my own opinion.

[Lucy Brighton · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kingpin is a gripping and fast-paced sequel to The Chemist, following pharmacist Idris Khan as he becomes increasingly entangled in the violent criminal underworld of Leeds. Torn between loyalty, survival, and justice, Idris uses his expert knowledge of chemistry to outwit ruthless drug kingpins, making for a distinctive and compelling protagonist.
While the opening takes time to re-establish the story and characters, the narrative quickly gains momentum, delivering an action-packed thriller filled with tension, twists, and an explosive conclusion. AA Dhand vividly portrays the dangerous world of The Mews, balancing gritty realism with compelling character development. Although the novel contains graphic violence and dark themes, its intelligent plotting and inventive use of pharmaceutical science make it a standout crime thriller and a strong addition to the Idris Khan series. Highly recommended.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Idris Khan series and packing just as much as a punch as book 1.

After finishing The Chemist, I was so excited to get my hands on this one. The King Pin was dark, it was fast paced and full of all the drama and tension that book 1 treated us to. I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough.

It’s such a clever concept, Idris, being the brilliant pharmacist that he is and manipulating medications in order to work for himself and what he must do to survive.

The author has done such a brilliant job at describing the dark nitty gritty world of Idris in which is actually so realistic in the world we live in today.

I loved it, really looking forward to seeing what is next from this Author, I have a feeling this isn’t the last we hear from Idris.

Thank you to HQ & NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jessica Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - The follow up to The Chemist and this is still an incredibly good book (Roll on book 3!) but there's a couple of inconsistencies in the storyline, they're minor really but the name of Idris & Rebecca's son has changed in this book, The Chemist says that his name was Ethan but in this one he's referred to as Aadam. Also one of the deaths in the first book, turns out to be not a death as that characters outcome is mentioned in this book and he's actually still alive (albeit not in a good state).
Minor points and I probably noticed this as I've read the books back to back (they're that good, I had to!), it didn't spoil my time with the book, but it did make me think, wait up, that's not right with those two points.
I still will 100% read a 3rd installment as it's definitely not over yet.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

The easiest 5 star this year! Please hurry and publish the next one!!!!
Literally could not put this down- every opportunity I had to read, I took it!
Thought the first book was awesome but this next one, wow!
Immediately immersed you back into the gritty lives of Idris and co. So pleased to see old characters again and the build of new ones was fantastic.
If you could see the imagery built in my head from the great writing, it would be the best film!!!
Well done on another book that will be no doubt, be in the top 10 for the year!
If you haven’t read The Chemist- do so and then indulge in the next layer of drama that unfolds within The Kingpin. Fantastic!!!
Thanks to Netgalley, AA Dhand and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review. So happy I got to read this!!

[Jo-anne Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Idris is no longer the mild-mannered local pharmacist, now he is a killer. In thrall to a policeman who is holding evidence over him, Idris is committed to destroying the men who killed a group of addicts. His brother is newly out of prison and between them they plan to overthrow the gangsters who control the drugs trade in the local estate. From billionaires to drugs barons, all Idris has to rely on is chemistry.
Dhand certainly knows how to write an engrossing and fast-paced thriller. I love the fact that this is set in parts of Leeds that are really recognisable. It is a little too far-fetched at times but the pharmacological knowledge is spot on and used as a tool to set this novel apart from others.

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Kingpin was a five star read for me. A.A. Dhand writes crime fiction with real grit and authenticity, and I was completely drawn into Idris Khan’s world from the first page.

Idris’s estranged brother returns with a plan to take control of the gangster underworld of Leeds and Bradford. Now Idris is forced to choose between family loyalty and survival.

The pace is fast, the stakes are high and the setting feels incredibly vivid. Leeds and Bradford are brought to life in a way that makes them feel as important as the characters themselves.

Dark, addictive and impossible to put down, this is another outstanding crime thriller from A.A. Dhand.

With thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Louise Ridout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an arc of this in exchange for my honest views.

I was really looking forward to this after loving The Chemist, and whilst it was still really good, it didn’t quite match the chemist for me. There were plenty of drama and action, but I felt the pace was slightly slower in this with a lot of repetitive storylines which bored me a little. I also thought the twist at the end was quite obvious early on and I was hoping for something different. I enjoyed it but sadly not as much as the first!

[Emma Hugentobler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is how sequels should be done.

The Chemist was god tier for me. So I was super excited when I saw The Kingpin was being released.

I was also apprehensive as it had been a while since I had read book one and I have read many books since. However, A.A. Dhand did an amazing job, in smoothly reminding us of key elements from the Chemist to allow a easy transition.


This book brings a lot suspense and tension. It touches some dark subjects but written so well that I went through many emotions along the journey.


This is another masterpiece and will join my six stars collection.

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say?! This is the follow up to The Chemist. I don't have a bad word to say!
The characters are all fabulously created. All so lifelike and flawed too. The stoyline is packed full of action, drama, tension and grit!
I was gripped from page one, in fact I had just finished The Chemist and could bot wait to pick The Kingpin up! I can see these books as another TV series like Virdee, and I would definitely watch it!
I just hope A.A.Dhand decides to write another book with these characters.

[John Atkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a retired Pharmacist,who studied at Bradford University 76-79,I really enjoyed this fictional tale of The Chemist and this sequel(The Kingpin)The author has interweaved,very cleverly his experiences,as a Pharmacist, into a murder thriller especially his experiences supporting methadone clients,something I was also involved with over my 30 year career.Well done AA Dhand,a very enjoyable read from a different perspective.
JohnA author of "A Patient Pharmacist"

[Maddison Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always worry when reading a sequel that it won’t be as good as the first, but honestly I needn’t have. This was absolutely equally as good as The Chemist. If I could give both books 6 stars I absolutely would. Gritty, so incredibly clever and emotional. I really hope Dhand continues this series because I am HOOKED!

Thank you to NetGalley & HQ for the ARC in return for my honest review.

[Sam Seaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read, continuing on from The Chemist. A long and engrossing book with a very twisty, clever concept. As a fan of gritty crime novels this was right up my street and I absolutely loved it! Highly recommended.

[Liz Mistry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series featuring pharmacist Idris Khan and set in and around Leeds
What a stunning sequel this is. Filled with dark Gothamesque vibes, high stakes and loads of emotion. This was a read in two sittings sort of novel and I loved it!