As the author behind the bestselling Twilight vampire romance series which became essential reading for millions of tweens and teenagers and sparked box office gold dust, Stephenie Meyer needs no introduction.
But for anyone wondering whether that alchemy would translate into a mainstream thriller for adults, her novel The Chemist comfortably passes the litmus test.
The central female character is a fiercely independent and highly intelligent medic who worked for a clandestine US government agency using her molecular chemical know-how to interrogate enemies of the state.
Now on the run from those same authorities, her survival depends on never trusting anyone. Sparks fly when circumstances force her to team up with a gentle school teacher and CIA spy to tackle one last job.
Gutsy and full-on from page one, this is a rip-roaring thriller in the best tradition, but its real charm lies in Meyer’s engaging key characters.
