The Chemist

· HarperCollins UK
4.5
4 reviews
Ebook
432
Pages
Eligible
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About this ebook

*The Sunday Times top ten bestseller* *A Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month* Get hooked on this year’s most addictive thriller Is revenge the most lethal dose of all?

‘Without a doubt the best crime thriller I’ve read this year ... A story of loyalties and desperation. A brilliant read’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A. A. Dhand is masterful within the gangland genre. He grabs the reader’s attention from the start, and we remain gripped to the end' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘The Chemist is absolutely compelling, inventive and original ... Simply brilliant. State of the art British Crime fiction. Read it as soon as you can!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

* * * *

Local pharmacist and pillar of the community, Idris Khan, spends his days doling out methadone to the hundreds of addicts in his care. They trust Idris with their secrets, and so he knows more than his mild manner suggests. So when his childhood sweetheart, Rebecca, doesn't turn up for her daily methadone dose, Idris is worried. Worried enough to go looking for her in the most deprived area of Leeds, alone.

The mess Idris finds catapults him into the middle of a turf war between the two most powerful drug cartels in Yorkshire. Now, he must use every bit of intelligence and cunning he has to keep those he loves safe.

Because a war is on the way. And when Idris goes after his enemies, they won't see him coming.

* * * *

Praise for A. A. Dhand:

‘Dark, daring and utterly propulsive ... blurs the lines between hero and villain’ Kia Abdullah, author of Those People Next Door

‘Terrific ... dispensing thrills and tension from start to finish’ Trevor Wood, author of The Man on the Street

‘Gritty, dark, and visceral ... If I read a better book in the next year, it's probably because I've read this one twice’ Neil Lancaster, author of Dead Man’s Grave

Ratings and reviews

4.5
4 reviews
Sharon Trew
May 28, 2025
a really good read...while i had a good idea of the ending it did not stop the thrill of the ride...will we hear more from the Chemist?
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Brian Hutching
October 3, 2025
It's a page turner but plot driven.
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About the author

A. A. Dhand is the author of five previous novels, and has been shortlisted for the CWA Steel Dagger Award. His DI Harry Virdee novels are currently being adapted for TV by the BBC. He was raised in Bradford and spent his youth observing the city from behind the counter of a small convenience store. After qualifying as a pharmacist, he worked in London and travelled extensively before returning to Bradford to start his own business and begin writing. The history, diversity and darkness of the city have inspired all his novels.

As a pharmacist, A. A. Dhand was surrounded by drugs, dealers, and incredible stories of maverick drug-deals, which on one hand blew his mind in their ingenuity, and on the other sickened him with how easily they preyed on the most vulnerable. His experiences inspired the writing of The Chemist.

For more information about A. A. Dhand and his books, follow him on X @aadhand, and on Instagram @aa_dhand.

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