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Jaqueline Silver Adventures #4
The Chemical Code
Amid the heat of Brazil, explosives expert Jaq Silver has one goal – vengeance. When her enemies take what she treasures most, she will do anything to make them pay. But a series of betrayals leave Jaq unsure of those she can trust, and she realises she’ll need to complete the mission solo. And as everyone hunts down the same mysterious box, Jaq becomes increasingly embroiled in a web of far-reaching consequences. It seems there’s a hidden agenda, but can Jaq be sure she is chasing down the right target? And who is pursuing her?
430 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 29, 2023
3 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 8, 2023
Chemical Code is a novel that starts much as it intends to carry on. An apparent routine visit, to speak to the owner a factory that produces ethanol from sugar cane, proves nothing of the kind for Dr Jaq Silver. She is captured in the car park by three men. An attempted escape leads to a fight, escape followed by a discharge of toxic gas, entertainingly gruesome death and an all-out chase that sees Jaq train surfing. All of that in the first 10 pages. Phew. If that doesn’t grab thriller fans, I’m not sure what will.
From here the storyline follows two time periods, the first-person reflections of Jaq and one following multiple characters covering the events six weeks earlier until the two combine. There’s rather a lot to take in and digest with a broad cast of characters who are helpfully listed in the front of the book. Many of these have appeared in the earlier novels of the series so will be familiar to existing readers, new readers shouldn’t be put off though as it is very accessible as a starting point.
Jaq Silver is the principal character, but she does take a back seat for large portions of the storyline as we follow the exploits of Trainee Federal Police Agent Graҫa Neves. She is much maligned and very much bottom of the Agency food chain, and we meet her with instructions to not let a Harley Davidson motorcycle out of her sight.
The pacing is rapid, with action scenes regularly interspaced. Much of the storyline follows a pattern of hunter and hunted, with these flipping in some cases, some develop into chases, others into set piece scenarios, ambushes, that don’t always go to plan.
Jaq Silver is a magnificent creation, a strong woman working in a hostile male dominated environment. A chemical engineer with a natural aptitude for explosives and an eye for attractive athletic men, she’s full on in everything she does, and big bangs ensue. Courageous to the point of recklessness and determined to the point of obsession, her strengths can prove to be weaknesses after all. This woman ends up in hot water more often than the average Japanese snow monkey, but still manages to come out smelling of roses. Her brilliant analytical mind and cool head prove to be her saviours, but what if one day she reads the runes wrong. As she discovers you need all the facts to make the right decisions, she is not perfect.
Graҫa is a great foil as the maligned trainee who eventually proves her worth. It is through her and her observations that the reader gets the flavour of Brazil, the one away from the affluent beachfront, the hard-working people away from the barrios. The scenes with her grandmother enjoying a simple family meal and company are quite touching. Whereas, the destruction, corruption and paramilitary control is only too real.
Jaq’s enemies are a delicious combination of the mad, bad and dangerous to know. Ex boss Frank has taken corporate greed to the level of becoming a sociopath albeit a high functioning one, Colonel Cub who is head of RIMPO (the paramilitary protectors of the miners) is straight of Bond Villain central casting and deserved a novel of his own. Vicious and nasty with little regard for life, but totally believable in some of the lawless states.
For such a big country Brazil is probably underrepresented in crime fiction, but here the author has managed to create a broad vivid picture of a vast, ecologically important, and unique country. Jaq journeys into the heartland by train and jeep, visits shanty towns and mine works that scar the landscape. Mining is a dangerous and dirty job in highly regulated western nations, here we get a sense of life for the illegal unregulated garimpeiros miners. Deprived men working in unimaginable conditions, desperate for a life changing find but likely to get an early grave. In the research notes at the back of the book there is reference to a photographic exhibition that proved the inspiration which I recommend accessing (link here), awe inspiring whilst at the same time chilling to the core.
What makes Fiona Erskine’s writing a real tour de force is the ability to write a real kick-ass thriller that contains technical information, hammering home serious points, that the reader absorbs almost subliminally. There is no posturing or lecturing it’s never boring or dumbed down . In the Chemical Code we get a precis of the dangers of mining, the damage it does to the landscape, flora, fauna and man.
Chemical Code is a fabulously intelligent thriller that flips the usual dynamic, with a feisty chemical engineer as heroine and a serious message at its core. This combination of imparting scientific knowledge with arch villainy is surely unique and very entertaining.
From here the storyline follows two time periods, the first-person reflections of Jaq and one following multiple characters covering the events six weeks earlier until the two combine. There’s rather a lot to take in and digest with a broad cast of characters who are helpfully listed in the front of the book. Many of these have appeared in the earlier novels of the series so will be familiar to existing readers, new readers shouldn’t be put off though as it is very accessible as a starting point.
Jaq Silver is the principal character, but she does take a back seat for large portions of the storyline as we follow the exploits of Trainee Federal Police Agent Graҫa Neves. She is much maligned and very much bottom of the Agency food chain, and we meet her with instructions to not let a Harley Davidson motorcycle out of her sight.
The pacing is rapid, with action scenes regularly interspaced. Much of the storyline follows a pattern of hunter and hunted, with these flipping in some cases, some develop into chases, others into set piece scenarios, ambushes, that don’t always go to plan.
Jaq Silver is a magnificent creation, a strong woman working in a hostile male dominated environment. A chemical engineer with a natural aptitude for explosives and an eye for attractive athletic men, she’s full on in everything she does, and big bangs ensue. Courageous to the point of recklessness and determined to the point of obsession, her strengths can prove to be weaknesses after all. This woman ends up in hot water more often than the average Japanese snow monkey, but still manages to come out smelling of roses. Her brilliant analytical mind and cool head prove to be her saviours, but what if one day she reads the runes wrong. As she discovers you need all the facts to make the right decisions, she is not perfect.
Graҫa is a great foil as the maligned trainee who eventually proves her worth. It is through her and her observations that the reader gets the flavour of Brazil, the one away from the affluent beachfront, the hard-working people away from the barrios. The scenes with her grandmother enjoying a simple family meal and company are quite touching. Whereas, the destruction, corruption and paramilitary control is only too real.
Jaq’s enemies are a delicious combination of the mad, bad and dangerous to know. Ex boss Frank has taken corporate greed to the level of becoming a sociopath albeit a high functioning one, Colonel Cub who is head of RIMPO (the paramilitary protectors of the miners) is straight of Bond Villain central casting and deserved a novel of his own. Vicious and nasty with little regard for life, but totally believable in some of the lawless states.
For such a big country Brazil is probably underrepresented in crime fiction, but here the author has managed to create a broad vivid picture of a vast, ecologically important, and unique country. Jaq journeys into the heartland by train and jeep, visits shanty towns and mine works that scar the landscape. Mining is a dangerous and dirty job in highly regulated western nations, here we get a sense of life for the illegal unregulated garimpeiros miners. Deprived men working in unimaginable conditions, desperate for a life changing find but likely to get an early grave. In the research notes at the back of the book there is reference to a photographic exhibition that proved the inspiration which I recommend accessing (link here), awe inspiring whilst at the same time chilling to the core.
What makes Fiona Erskine’s writing a real tour de force is the ability to write a real kick-ass thriller that contains technical information, hammering home serious points, that the reader absorbs almost subliminally. There is no posturing or lecturing it’s never boring or dumbed down . In the Chemical Code we get a precis of the dangers of mining, the damage it does to the landscape, flora, fauna and man.
Chemical Code is a fabulously intelligent thriller that flips the usual dynamic, with a feisty chemical engineer as heroine and a serious message at its core. This combination of imparting scientific knowledge with arch villainy is surely unique and very entertaining.
July 7, 2023
‘Chemical Code’ was a thrilling romp across Brazil, it was fast paced, multi layered and educational! I always feel as if I learn a lot of stuff whenever I read a Jaq Silver book, especially as I know nothing about chemistry! This is the follow-up to the story that began in ‘Chemical Cocktail’ and I was so excited to pick it up and find out what happened to Jaq Silver! It did not disappoint and I devoured it in a day! I would recommend reading the previous book in the series as it does set up this book and it is a direct continuation. However, you could read this as a standalone as Fiona does provide a lot of background information and recaps!
Jaq Silver is a woman with a mission. She wants vengeance. Her enemies have taken what matters most to her and now she has nothing to lose and she is going to make them pay. But a series of betrayals has Jaq questioning who she can trust so she decides to complete this mission on her own. People are still chasing down that mysterious box and Jaq becomes embroiled in a series of events that have far-reaching results. Will she reach her target before her pursuers reach her…
I love Jaq Silver and we see a different side to her in this book. Ravaged by grief she becomes a woman determined to get her revenge by any means possible. She really is a kick-ass protagonist and I would want her on my side any day of the week. This series is really unique for two reasons - having the main character as a woman in a male-dominated industry and also having engineering and chemistry as the main focus in these books. But then this reflects the author who is a woman working in a STEM industry and it gives authenticity to her books and the narrative. The amount of science that is packed into this book is incredible and I loved learning as I was reading!
This is a fast-paced tome and the tension was off the charts. The timeline jumps around but focuses on the three months after the end of ‘Chemical Cocktail’ and this really worked as I felt it keeps the reader attentive and allowed the author to lead us on a merry jig! It definitely allowed the tension to build right up to the final page!
I can't wait for the next book! Let me know if you pick this book up as I thoroughly recommend it!
Jaq Silver is a woman with a mission. She wants vengeance. Her enemies have taken what matters most to her and now she has nothing to lose and she is going to make them pay. But a series of betrayals has Jaq questioning who she can trust so she decides to complete this mission on her own. People are still chasing down that mysterious box and Jaq becomes embroiled in a series of events that have far-reaching results. Will she reach her target before her pursuers reach her…
I love Jaq Silver and we see a different side to her in this book. Ravaged by grief she becomes a woman determined to get her revenge by any means possible. She really is a kick-ass protagonist and I would want her on my side any day of the week. This series is really unique for two reasons - having the main character as a woman in a male-dominated industry and also having engineering and chemistry as the main focus in these books. But then this reflects the author who is a woman working in a STEM industry and it gives authenticity to her books and the narrative. The amount of science that is packed into this book is incredible and I loved learning as I was reading!
This is a fast-paced tome and the tension was off the charts. The timeline jumps around but focuses on the three months after the end of ‘Chemical Cocktail’ and this really worked as I felt it keeps the reader attentive and allowed the author to lead us on a merry jig! It definitely allowed the tension to build right up to the final page!
I can't wait for the next book! Let me know if you pick this book up as I thoroughly recommend it!
July 6, 2023
The synopsis for this book gives very little away so this does make my review sound a little bizarre, as I won't give much away either!
This is the 4th book in the series and I have read the 3rd one so I kind of know a bit about Jaq Silver and what happened prior to this book. If you are coming into this series at this point you may take a little while to get into it as there are several characters to get your head around such as the previous storyline and the present one, it is worth sticking with it though as it is action-packed.
Jaq Silver is in the ocean, not for pleasure. She has been let down and is feeling distraught. She doesn't know who she can trust and to be honest I didn't either! Set in Brazil and in the Amazon rainforest this story is about Jaq and her story to discover the truth and also to get revenge. It is also a story bout how mining is robbing the land of its plants, trees and animals and leaving small populations very sick.
Jaq is a character who once she has decided on a course of action is steadfast, relentless and also prone to getting into the odd scrap. There are mentions of previous scrapes that she has been involved in in the past. I should mention she has a chemical background and this gives her certain advantages when it comes to getting one over her enemies.
This is a personal story and one that brings in several characters, I did lose track a couple of times but not for very long, it was more down to me reading a bit too fast at times. The characters are a mix of educated, celebrity, military and just down and out ruthless. A cracking mix to keep your attention.
If you are a fan of fast-paced stories that have complex storylines then this is a series and book you should have a look at, a mix of conspiracy, greed, climate change, mystery, crime and thrills throughout. Great read and one I would definitely recommend.
This is the 4th book in the series and I have read the 3rd one so I kind of know a bit about Jaq Silver and what happened prior to this book. If you are coming into this series at this point you may take a little while to get into it as there are several characters to get your head around such as the previous storyline and the present one, it is worth sticking with it though as it is action-packed.
Jaq Silver is in the ocean, not for pleasure. She has been let down and is feeling distraught. She doesn't know who she can trust and to be honest I didn't either! Set in Brazil and in the Amazon rainforest this story is about Jaq and her story to discover the truth and also to get revenge. It is also a story bout how mining is robbing the land of its plants, trees and animals and leaving small populations very sick.
Jaq is a character who once she has decided on a course of action is steadfast, relentless and also prone to getting into the odd scrap. There are mentions of previous scrapes that she has been involved in in the past. I should mention she has a chemical background and this gives her certain advantages when it comes to getting one over her enemies.
This is a personal story and one that brings in several characters, I did lose track a couple of times but not for very long, it was more down to me reading a bit too fast at times. The characters are a mix of educated, celebrity, military and just down and out ruthless. A cracking mix to keep your attention.
If you are a fan of fast-paced stories that have complex storylines then this is a series and book you should have a look at, a mix of conspiracy, greed, climate change, mystery, crime and thrills throughout. Great read and one I would definitely recommend.
July 1, 2023
This is actually book 4 of the Jaq Silver Thriller series and the first that I've read. I discovered that I had book 3 on my shelves, but am yet to read this one.
Having read the blurb for book 3 (and some reviews) it sounds as though there are lots of similarities - same setting and some of the same characters - and although this book worked well as a standalone read, I do feel that I may have missed out on some of the finer plot details and definitely some of the character development that would have made this read an even better experience.
I really loved Jaq as our main character! I'm no expert, but am pretty sure that this is an unusual career for a woman so it was brilliant to see her strong in her field and getting our STEM women out there to a wider audience.
She was totally relatable and although working in a field unknown to me, she came across as believable and with imperfections that made her completely human.
I found that there was a fair bit of technical detail in the book - but I didn't get bogged down by this and it flowed well within the storyline.
The writing style was fast-paced and I, at times, found myself reading on a few chapters just so that I could satisfy my need to know more.
Overall a really good read and I will definitely be going back to the book on my shelf and getting it read. But I may be tempted to grab the first books in the series first to catch up with Jaq's story and see how this develops more over the series as a whole.
Having read the blurb for book 3 (and some reviews) it sounds as though there are lots of similarities - same setting and some of the same characters - and although this book worked well as a standalone read, I do feel that I may have missed out on some of the finer plot details and definitely some of the character development that would have made this read an even better experience.
I really loved Jaq as our main character! I'm no expert, but am pretty sure that this is an unusual career for a woman so it was brilliant to see her strong in her field and getting our STEM women out there to a wider audience.
She was totally relatable and although working in a field unknown to me, she came across as believable and with imperfections that made her completely human.
I found that there was a fair bit of technical detail in the book - but I didn't get bogged down by this and it flowed well within the storyline.
The writing style was fast-paced and I, at times, found myself reading on a few chapters just so that I could satisfy my need to know more.
Overall a really good read and I will definitely be going back to the book on my shelf and getting it read. But I may be tempted to grab the first books in the series first to catch up with Jaq's story and see how this develops more over the series as a whole.
June 30, 2023
Loved being thrown back into Jaq's world! Full of adventure, suspense and heart quickening moments! A motorbike of relevance to certain people, a tv show, a safety deposit box that looks empty but is booby trapped, this book has it all going on! Love the chemical element to these books, some of the chapters mention certain chemicals, their symbol and what they make/what they are worth. Very interesting!
Very good read and cannot wait to read more!
Thank you again Fiona for bringing me more Jaq Silver!
Very good read and cannot wait to read more!
Thank you again Fiona for bringing me more Jaq Silver!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 26, 2023
Latin American politics mixed with mining conglomerates, rebels and adventurers. A difficult to read and follow story as it frequently switches into first-person narrative without identifying the narrator. The writing style is suitably literate but it is hard to figure out where the story is going or the purpose of the book. A book I was glad to finish and get on to something more enjoyable.
July 12, 2023
Great book
August 23, 2025
Read this out of series order, but still enjoyed it. lots of jumping between different character perspectives and a combination of chemical fact with character fiction
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews