Bad Chemistry

by Gary Krist

Former Chicago police officer Kate Baker searches for her missing husband--a suspected international drug trafficker, murderer, and experimental drug user--and becomes entangled with a troubled teenage computer hacker

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

356 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Gary Krist is the author of four previous narrative nonfiction books: The White Cascade, City of Scoundrels, Empire of Sin, and The Mirage Factory. He has also written three novels and two short story collections. A widely published journalist and book reviewer, Krist has been the recipient of the Stephen Crane Award, the Sue Kaufman Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a Lowell Thomas gold medal for travel journalism, a fiction fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, and a Public Scholar grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. His newest book--Trespassers at the Golden Gate: A True Account of Love, Murder, and Madness in Gilded-Age San Francisco--will be published in March of 2025.

Reviews

[Dianna Shimizu · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good, fast thriller with characters you get involved with, but one of the worst endings I've ever read.

[Nathalie Zavala · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced murder mystery. Interesting main character and plot. The ending could have been better. Didn’t care for the relationship between Kate and Evan. Found it odd.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really didn't like it but at times it was ok. I really can even go into why I didn't like. It would take to long. It was lame from after the husband disappeared.

[Cindy Keiser · Rating 2 out of 5]

Saw this book in the library, flipped to a random page, and the exact color, make, and model of the car I drive was mentioned so I decided to read it. Anyway this book sucked lol. The first third was interesting but the rest was too slow and also weird in some parts, and not weird in a deliberate artistic choice, but like, in an odd way. I liked the Silence of the Lambs vibe at times. Rip Evan you would have loved 4chan.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promising start, disappointing finish.

[Ruthie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast easy read.

[Bob Box · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read in 1998. A provocative thriller about about smart drugs and computer crime.

[Callie]

not for me

[Ann G. Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engrossing mystery-thriller. I had to suspend disbelief a bit, but I clearly didn't mind since I found it hard to put the book down.

Note: I know the author. I feel that this didn't affect my judgment, though, since if I don't care for a book I don't finish it, no matter who wrote it, and I certainly don't read it all at once - I only do that with books I truly enjoy.

[Rossana Snee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book. A well written suspense. I enjoyed it. The only thing I didn't really understand is why the author chose he ending he did. I didn't care for it and it didn't make sense. Other than that, it's obvious that Krist is a wonderful author.

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder mystery, not bad.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad, kind of an in-the-airport type thriller paperback book.

[Wes Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this while taking a break from 'The Story of Edgar Sawtelle.' Fast-paced, good writing. Never heard of Gary Krist before, but I expect to read more of his work.

[Pat Bostwick]

1998

[Tfalcone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smart mystery about a missing husband involved in a designer drug scheme.

[Galen Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay…interesting portions of the plot, but somewhat far-fetched and not ultimately a worthwhile read.

[Dannielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a library sale and it seemed interesting. It was not bad. It was not great. The wife intrigued me and I wanted to read more about her.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. Interesting twists. A bit unbelievable, but I found it worth the read.