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The Serial Chemist: A Novel
Emile and his brother Cecil live a calm, predictable adult existence. Everything is orderly and without disruption. Suddenly, it isn’t.
With the death of their mother and the loss of her guiding wisdom, Emile finds it increasingly more difficult to keep the promise he made to her moments before she died to keep his brother safe.
In their most challenging of cases to date, Detectives Rosie Young and partner Vince Mendez embark on a race against time to stop one of San Antonio’s most cunning murderers, a villain with a particular talent to strike and kill but leave only pristine crime scenes in his wake.
With the help of clinical psychologist Dr. Chris Parker, Rosie and Vince journey into the mind of a serial killer to understand exactly what type of monster roams their city targeting dads of small boys.
The question both detectives and Dr. Parker must answer is what emotional baggage creates a deranged mind that suddenly transitions to cunning killer and eludes the best of police forensics.
Scant crime scene evidence and a mounting body count spur Rosie and Vince to use every tool at their disposal to pursue the perpetrator before he kills again.
With the death of their mother and the loss of her guiding wisdom, Emile finds it increasingly more difficult to keep the promise he made to her moments before she died to keep his brother safe.
In their most challenging of cases to date, Detectives Rosie Young and partner Vince Mendez embark on a race against time to stop one of San Antonio’s most cunning murderers, a villain with a particular talent to strike and kill but leave only pristine crime scenes in his wake.
With the help of clinical psychologist Dr. Chris Parker, Rosie and Vince journey into the mind of a serial killer to understand exactly what type of monster roams their city targeting dads of small boys.
The question both detectives and Dr. Parker must answer is what emotional baggage creates a deranged mind that suddenly transitions to cunning killer and eludes the best of police forensics.
Scant crime scene evidence and a mounting body count spur Rosie and Vince to use every tool at their disposal to pursue the perpetrator before he kills again.
355 pages, Paperback
Published August 30, 2020
About the author
James J. Murray
17 books63 followersJames has experience in both pharmaceutical manufacturing and clinical patient management. Medications and their impact on a patient’s quality of life has been his expertise. His secret passion of murder and mayhem, however, is a whole other matter. An obsession with reading murder mysteries and thrillers left him longing to weave such tales of his own. Drawing on past clinical expertise as a pharmacist and an infatuation with the lethal effects of drugs, James creates short stories and novels that will have you looking over your shoulder and suspicious of anything in your medicine cabinet.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 28, 2024
Detectives Rosie and Vince investigate a spate of rather horrific murders where all the victims die after unwillingly digesting acid and it all appears to be one person. This book reminds me of the old Columbo series where as the viewer we thought we knew who the killer was and we had to watch how the great detective deduces who it is. This is very similar but there are still a couple of twists up the author’s sleeve that will still keep you guessing. As the father of an autistic son I found the dynamic between Emile and his brother Cecil fascinating and intriguing as it’s rare to find that in a book. And also even though I am happily married and thankfully not a single father I found the whole premise of the murderer’s motive rather scary. The level of detail and research that went into police procedures was commendable as well. I rather enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading more in the series.
December 20, 2025
A brilliant crime story!
The Serial Chemist is the 2nd book in this series, and another case for detectives Rosie Young and Vince Mendez to solve. On the hunt for a serial killer, who is targeting a certain type, killing them in an extremely horrific way (I won’t give it away), they rope in Dr Chris Parker, a psychologist, to help.
This clever story gripped me throughout, even though it revealed the killer at the beginning; the amazing interaction between the detectives and the race to catch the killer kept me turning the pages. The dialogue was real. The insight into corrosive acids and profiling really stands strong in this story. There are lots of twists and turns, which kept me on my toes, and I loved the courtroom drama, which I found quite emotional at the end of the story. Again, this is a testament to the author’s writing ability. Well done, Mr Murray.
A brilliant psychological crime novel that I loved and can highly recommend!
The Serial Chemist is the 2nd book in this series, and another case for detectives Rosie Young and Vince Mendez to solve. On the hunt for a serial killer, who is targeting a certain type, killing them in an extremely horrific way (I won’t give it away), they rope in Dr Chris Parker, a psychologist, to help.
This clever story gripped me throughout, even though it revealed the killer at the beginning; the amazing interaction between the detectives and the race to catch the killer kept me turning the pages. The dialogue was real. The insight into corrosive acids and profiling really stands strong in this story. There are lots of twists and turns, which kept me on my toes, and I loved the courtroom drama, which I found quite emotional at the end of the story. Again, this is a testament to the author’s writing ability. Well done, Mr Murray.
A brilliant psychological crime novel that I loved and can highly recommend!
January 31, 2026
good book
This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and bk 2 in the series, however that did not detract from the story. The story including the gruesome nature kept me intrigued from the start. The mix of the serial killers psychology and the science with which he kills, is well thought out and believable. The story flows and keeps you interested. A well written book. And one I would recommend for this genre.
This is the first book I’ve read from this author, and bk 2 in the series, however that did not detract from the story. The story including the gruesome nature kept me intrigued from the start. The mix of the serial killers psychology and the science with which he kills, is well thought out and believable. The story flows and keeps you interested. A well written book. And one I would recommend for this genre.
November 25, 2024
This book gives us a great blend of psychological profiling, scientific know-how, detective work and mystery. The writing is sharp and engaging and brings readers into a world where chemistry becomes a vicious (and viscous) deadly weapon, I loved reading about the administration technique. Mixing Emile’s knowledge of chemicals and his warped mind made for an unusual twist on the serial killer genre. Technical detail was skilfully woven into the narrative and it enhanced the story's authenticity without overwhelming the reader. I loved the additional layer that elevated it from the usual.
This is a book of multi-layered storytelling, sublime description and well-developed characters. What makes it super-rich is the entangled relationship between Emile and his damaged brother Cecil. We had a great juxtaposition of tenderness and psychopathy. The tension builds well, leading to a string of murders requiring a profiler to be brought in to help solve the case. She jumps to the exact motive for the murders without any evidence to support her theory, but the balance of intricate plotting and vividly accessible prose make this tie-in okay. It’s a thought-provoking and suspenseful read, perfect for people who enjoy some scientific intrigue with their psychopaths. I really enjoyed it.
This is a book of multi-layered storytelling, sublime description and well-developed characters. What makes it super-rich is the entangled relationship between Emile and his damaged brother Cecil. We had a great juxtaposition of tenderness and psychopathy. The tension builds well, leading to a string of murders requiring a profiler to be brought in to help solve the case. She jumps to the exact motive for the murders without any evidence to support her theory, but the balance of intricate plotting and vividly accessible prose make this tie-in okay. It’s a thought-provoking and suspenseful read, perfect for people who enjoy some scientific intrigue with their psychopaths. I really enjoyed it.
July 11, 2022
An Outstanding Psychological Thriller!
WOW, what an amazing read, what a book! I was hooked from chapter one; I simply could not stop reading. The story was so brilliant and clever and kept me entertained and engaged from those very first pages until the very last. The acid murders and sophistication of the character Emile made the book so easy to pick up and get right into without any boring preamble whatsoever on the way.
I was fascinated by the sophistication and subtlety of the murderer, and how he managed to evade capture and confuse the detectives, and everyone else involved in the investigation process. I took a keen interest in psychologically analyzing Emile’s persona and traumatic past and enjoyed the way in which the psychologist connected the dots to come up with his psychological profile.
This must be one of the most interesting crime novels I have ever read. I totally recommend this book as there’s lots of crime, action, murder, twists and thrills.
WOW, what an amazing read, what a book! I was hooked from chapter one; I simply could not stop reading. The story was so brilliant and clever and kept me entertained and engaged from those very first pages until the very last. The acid murders and sophistication of the character Emile made the book so easy to pick up and get right into without any boring preamble whatsoever on the way.
I was fascinated by the sophistication and subtlety of the murderer, and how he managed to evade capture and confuse the detectives, and everyone else involved in the investigation process. I took a keen interest in psychologically analyzing Emile’s persona and traumatic past and enjoyed the way in which the psychologist connected the dots to come up with his psychological profile.
This must be one of the most interesting crime novels I have ever read. I totally recommend this book as there’s lots of crime, action, murder, twists and thrills.
April 23, 2024
Detectives Rosie and Vince team up in San Antonio, Texas for a murder case where victims have swallowed a corrosive liquid causing a gruesome death. As more victims are discovered having died the same way, they discover the similarities between the victims and they have a very complicated case of a serial killer on their hands. With very limited clues and leads, this is going to be heavy.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in San Antonio, Emile Richards, the owner of a gardening equipment business, goes about his daily life protecting his mentally challenged brother Cecil who gets panic attacks every time he sees a parent and child having a heated argument.
The paths of the Richards brothers and the two detectives will inevitably cross to bring this fantastic tale with plenty of twists and turns which will make you keep reading. This crime story is very well researched, very interesting and I would recommend it to anyone. I really enjoyed this book.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in San Antonio, Emile Richards, the owner of a gardening equipment business, goes about his daily life protecting his mentally challenged brother Cecil who gets panic attacks every time he sees a parent and child having a heated argument.
The paths of the Richards brothers and the two detectives will inevitably cross to bring this fantastic tale with plenty of twists and turns which will make you keep reading. This crime story is very well researched, very interesting and I would recommend it to anyone. I really enjoyed this book.
August 14, 2025
Riveting page-turner
I thoroughly enjoyed this police procedural thriller. Like the first book in the series, the serial killer has a unique modus operandi, made convincingly horrific by the author’s knowledge of his subject. I loved the ingenuity and originality of the plot, and found the perp’s psychological profile truly fascinating. Unlike the detectives on the case, the reader knows the killer’s identity, which gives the story real tension and suspense when the lack of evidence and clues thwarts the investigation. Yet, as the police hone in, a plot twist occurs that I didn’t see coming! This revelation puts another interesting spin on the perp’s psychosis, and it’s obvious the author has done his homework on personality disorders. Detectives Rosie Young and Vince Mendez continue to make a winning team, and I’m looking forward to discovering how they evolve as the series continues. Luckily, so far, there’s a third book to read! Highly recommended.
I thoroughly enjoyed this police procedural thriller. Like the first book in the series, the serial killer has a unique modus operandi, made convincingly horrific by the author’s knowledge of his subject. I loved the ingenuity and originality of the plot, and found the perp’s psychological profile truly fascinating. Unlike the detectives on the case, the reader knows the killer’s identity, which gives the story real tension and suspense when the lack of evidence and clues thwarts the investigation. Yet, as the police hone in, a plot twist occurs that I didn’t see coming! This revelation puts another interesting spin on the perp’s psychosis, and it’s obvious the author has done his homework on personality disorders. Detectives Rosie Young and Vince Mendez continue to make a winning team, and I’m looking forward to discovering how they evolve as the series continues. Luckily, so far, there’s a third book to read! Highly recommended.
January 16, 2022
Gripping thriller!
Detective Rosie Young and partner Vince Mendez are investigating an ingested, acid attack murder of a man, where a child may be the only witness. Simarlarities from a previous week's murder are of high interest but there is no evidence left behind to link the two. Three murders with compelling resemblances are needed to class as 'serial killings' !
This is a fantastic criminal thriller with plenty of suprises, especially the gigantic twist towards the end. This creative plot has obviously been well researched by this talented author to make it so realistic. The case is far from easy for the detectives and things definitely don't go their way, it's an uphill battle. It gave great insight into the complex procedures of the police, lawyers and criminal profilers. Really enjoyed, strongly recommend.
Detective Rosie Young and partner Vince Mendez are investigating an ingested, acid attack murder of a man, where a child may be the only witness. Simarlarities from a previous week's murder are of high interest but there is no evidence left behind to link the two. Three murders with compelling resemblances are needed to class as 'serial killings' !
This is a fantastic criminal thriller with plenty of suprises, especially the gigantic twist towards the end. This creative plot has obviously been well researched by this talented author to make it so realistic. The case is far from easy for the detectives and things definitely don't go their way, it's an uphill battle. It gave great insight into the complex procedures of the police, lawyers and criminal profilers. Really enjoyed, strongly recommend.
March 13, 2026
The Serial Chemist, by James Murray.
Having thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book in the series, I was looking forward to
reading the second instalment, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The story progresses at pace with the main characters, Detectives Rosie Young and her partner Vince Mendez at the helm.
A well-written, captivating crime/medical drama is sure to appeal to enthusiasts of this genre. The author, James Murray, had obviously carried out meticulous research on the subject making, The Serial Chemist, both intriguing and unique in its content.
An enjoyable, unpredictable story to the last twisty pages in the book.
A compelling thriller.
Recommended.
Having thoroughly enjoyed reading the first book in the series, I was looking forward to
reading the second instalment, and I wasn’t disappointed.
The story progresses at pace with the main characters, Detectives Rosie Young and her partner Vince Mendez at the helm.
A well-written, captivating crime/medical drama is sure to appeal to enthusiasts of this genre. The author, James Murray, had obviously carried out meticulous research on the subject making, The Serial Chemist, both intriguing and unique in its content.
An enjoyable, unpredictable story to the last twisty pages in the book.
A compelling thriller.
Recommended.
June 20, 2022
A novel approach to murder!
Being a fan of crime novels, when I saw this, I snagged it quickly. And it didn't disappoint. The level of research that has gone into this psychological thriller is obvious; police procedures, psychology and chemical usage make for a decent read. The obstacles that the detectives have to overcome were realistic, and the clever twist in the tale was not one that I saw coming. If you're a fan of murder and protagonists facing difficult odds, then you will enjoy this. A good read.
Being a fan of crime novels, when I saw this, I snagged it quickly. And it didn't disappoint. The level of research that has gone into this psychological thriller is obvious; police procedures, psychology and chemical usage make for a decent read. The obstacles that the detectives have to overcome were realistic, and the clever twist in the tale was not one that I saw coming. If you're a fan of murder and protagonists facing difficult odds, then you will enjoy this. A good read.
April 20, 2024
Who loves a mystery?
In "The Serial Chemist" Jim Murray has written a chilling mystery.
The chemist isn’t…. Well, how could he be? His kill method is creepy, horrifying, more terrifying than Hannibal Lecter’s.
Who could think of …………….. while you are still alive to feel. Ewwww.
Rosie Young and her partner Vince Mendez are well and truly baffled. Why are the targets fathers with young sons? Do they have the right guy? Will the killings stop? Lives and careers are on the line.
Who is this monster?
In "The Serial Chemist" Jim Murray has written a chilling mystery.
The chemist isn’t…. Well, how could he be? His kill method is creepy, horrifying, more terrifying than Hannibal Lecter’s.
Who could think of …………….. while you are still alive to feel. Ewwww.
Rosie Young and her partner Vince Mendez are well and truly baffled. Why are the targets fathers with young sons? Do they have the right guy? Will the killings stop? Lives and careers are on the line.
Who is this monster?
September 3, 2024
Exceptional!
This story had me hooked from the first chapter. Exceptional storytelling throughout. The author has obviously researched his subject matter before embarking on such a complex storyline. By allowing the reader to understand the very complex emotional and mental health problems that the killer endured due to his awful childhood experiences, along with caring for his brain damaged brother, I was left feeling nothing but empathy for this sad and damaged individual. The ending was brilliantly done. Highest recommendations!
This story had me hooked from the first chapter. Exceptional storytelling throughout. The author has obviously researched his subject matter before embarking on such a complex storyline. By allowing the reader to understand the very complex emotional and mental health problems that the killer endured due to his awful childhood experiences, along with caring for his brain damaged brother, I was left feeling nothing but empathy for this sad and damaged individual. The ending was brilliantly done. Highest recommendations!
September 30, 2023
Another Great Ready By This Author! I really enjoyed how he wove his tale! The research and background information was impeccable, and I found it interesting and maddening all at the same time to learn how the justice system works in a 'Not Guilty' plea by 'Reason of Insanity'. It's a sad realization about the thought processes of the defense attorney's, psychiatrists, and the total disregard for the victims and their families.
April 9, 2024
Gripping Thriller
Captivating psychological thriller that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. With a believable story, well-developed characters, and a suspenseful plot. The hunt for the killer is gripping, even though their identity is revealed early on. The psychological aspect adds intrigue. Readers will find themselves constantly second-guessing the motives and actions of each character, never knowing who to trust.
Captivating psychological thriller that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. With a believable story, well-developed characters, and a suspenseful plot. The hunt for the killer is gripping, even though their identity is revealed early on. The psychological aspect adds intrigue. Readers will find themselves constantly second-guessing the motives and actions of each character, never knowing who to trust.
October 26, 2024
San Antonio detectives Rosie and Vince are assigned to a rash of murders that leave no clues. Like none. As good as ME, Becky is at detecting the smallest trace of evidence, this killer is almost ghost-like.
When they finally get a break, the DNA leads them on a wild goose chase that only the most determined investigators can keep from going stone cold.
The author weaves together a complicated thriller with a rather surprising outcome.
When they finally get a break, the DNA leads them on a wild goose chase that only the most determined investigators can keep from going stone cold.
The author weaves together a complicated thriller with a rather surprising outcome.
January 26, 2023
Well Done!
The author did a great job with this book. The story was believable, the characters were well developed, and it was suspenseful. I was impressed by the level of detail, although I would have been satisfied if some of the murders had less description. Nonetheless, it was a great read, and highly recommended.
The author did a great job with this book. The story was believable, the characters were well developed, and it was suspenseful. I was impressed by the level of detail, although I would have been satisfied if some of the murders had less description. Nonetheless, it was a great read, and highly recommended.
January 21, 2026
I enjoyed reading The Serial Chemist by James Murray. It’s an engaging murder mystery filled with many twists and turns which keeps the reader engaged. The author does a great good developing his characters and focuses equally on the killer and the police who are chasing them. The concept of the murders is intriguing and well researched.
I highly recommend reading this novel.
I highly recommend reading this novel.
September 25, 2022
‘Serial Chemist’ is a psychological thriller that keeps the reader engaged from the very beginning as we try to unravel the mystery with the detectives.
It’s one of those reads where you think you know what’s going on, when in fact you don’t, and just when you think the story is done – it’s not.
It’s one of those reads where you think you know what’s going on, when in fact you don’t, and just when you think the story is done – it’s not.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews