Two new Fiona Erskine ‘Chemical’ thrillers bought by Point Blank

Jenny Parrott, Publishing Director of Point Blank, has acquired UK/Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) in two new thrillers by Fiona Erskine, continuing to follow explosives expert Jacqueline Silver, the heroine of The Chemical Detective and The Chemical Reaction. Parrott acquired rights from Juliet Mushens at Mushens Entertainment.

The Chemical Cocktail, the first in the new two-book deal, will see Jaq Silver in Brazil, dealing with more chemical conspiracies and corruption, whilst also haunted by events in her past. It will publish in May 2022 with book four to follow in 2023.

Jenny Parrott, publishing director of Point Blank, the literary crime imprint of Oneworld, said, “This is a thoroughly engaging, lively series that really packs a punch, and I love Jaq Silver's energy, skill with explosives and ability to calculate fantastical mathematical odds while putting right all the wrongs. Jaq is exactly the sort of woman you want in your corner - resourceful, clever, brave, funny - and always ready to give as good as she gets... which is just as well as there are a lot of bad guys determined to stop Jaq. Fiona brings Jaq to life fantastically on the page, and she has a real knack with upping the ante from book to book.”

Fiona Erskine said, “I’m over the moon with the news. I had always planned at least 4 books in the series and can’t wait to share the new adventures of my intrepid engineering alter-ego.”

Fiona Erskine is a professional engineer based in Teesside, although her work has taken her around the word. As a female engineer, she has been often the lone representative of her gender in board meetings, cargo ships and night-time factories, and her fiction offers a fascinating insight into this traditionally male world. She is the author of The Chemical Detective and The Chemical Reaction. Her debut was shortlisted for the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel award 2020. Her second novel was shortlisted for the Staunch prize.