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The Chemist

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The Chemist

By: A. A. Dhand
Narrated by: Adonis Siddique
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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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*The Sunday Times top ten bestseller*

*A Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month*

* Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger CWA award! *

‘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

©2025 A. A. Dhand (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers
Action & Adventure Genre Fiction Medical Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Romantic Suspense Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting War
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Critic reviews

Praise for A. A. Dhand:

‘Outstanding – relentless, multi-layered suspense and real human drama’ Lee Child

‘Timely, and a compulsive page-turner’ Liz Nugent, author of Strange Sally Diamond

'A fireball of an opening chapter and it just gets better and better. A A Dhand is a gifted writer, and you should run, RUN, to buy The Blood Divide.' Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen

'Dhand is a fearless writer' Sunday Times

'Another thrilling page-turner from A. A. Dhand … This might be his best yet' Alex Caan, author of Cut to The Bone

'Intense, gripping and impactful' James Delargy, author of 55 and Vanished

'An adrenaline-filled ride' Ajay Chowdhury, author of The Waiter

'I doubt I'll read a better thriller this year' M. W. Craven, author of The Curator

‘This man knows how to keep me up into the early hours. Relentlessly thrilling!’ Vaseem Khan, author of Midnight at Malabar House

‘Deserves attention for its sheer inventiveness and unbridled energy’ The Times

‘An author to keep an eye on … Dhand is a fearless writer’ Sunday Times

All stars
Most relevant
A real insight of living in areas of poverty with the underlying drug fuelled mafia exist , Great story . Intriguing , real life with many twists and turns keeping you interested all the way. The characters so real . The narration was bang on. A brilliant combination. Have just downloaded another book by this author.

brilliant. A must listen.

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Loved this, gripping from start to finish 10/10. Will be listening to other AA Dhand books!

Captivating storyline

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the saga is gripping. The anti hero is immensely likeable and believable.
it finished on a cliff hanger

chemicals and medication expertise

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I absolutely loved this book — one of the best I’ve read in a long time. The Chemist is a razor-sharp, fast-paced thriller that grabs you from the very first page and doesn’t let go.

A.A. Dhand masterfully blends high-stakes action with emotional depth, introducing us to Idris Khan, a Leeds-based pharmacist whose past won’t stay buried. What makes this novel stand out is how real and grounded everything feels — from the gritty, atmospheric setting to the moral complexity of the characters. Idris is flawed, fascinating, and completely human, which makes following his journey all the more compelling.

This is more than just a crime novel — it’s about identity, community, and the choices that define us. And yet, it’s still a total page-turner. I flew through it in a couple of days, constantly telling myself “just one more chapter.”

If you enjoy thrillers with depth and authenticity, The Chemist is a must-read. I genuinely can’t wait for the sequel.

Fantastic book

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Great story. Not my usual listen but very pleased I chose this book.
Riveting. Love the twisted plot.

Captivating from the beginning

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