Chemistry

by Damien Wilkins

The Webb family seems genetically disposed toward medicine. Penny, abused wife, neglectful mother and firebrand elder sister, is a doctor. Don, the middle child, runs a small-town pharmacy. And Jamie, the youngest son, has been self-medicating with heroin for longer than seems physically possible. When Jamie decides to move back after a twenty-year absence, he sets off a reaction in this dysfunctional family which has disastrous consequences. As the plot spins into sexual blackmail and violence, Wilkins explores the nature of chemical dependency and the powerful, often sinister ties that bind families and small-town neighbors together.

Genres: Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Damien Wilkins writes fiction, and he has published short stories, novels, and poetry. His writing has been described as ‘exuberant and evocative, subtle and exact, aware of its own artifice yet relishing the idiosyncrasies and possibilities of language’. Wilkins has had books published in New Zealand, the USA and the UK, and he has won and been nominated for a range of prizes and awards. He also edited the award-winning anthology, Great Sporting Moments: The best of Sport magazine 1988-2004 published in 2005.