This was one compulsive read that starts immediately with a bang and continues to keep the reader in suspense all the way through.It is fast paced with many unsuspected twists of information given throughout the story. It is set in Leeds and alhough I find that the whole story could never happen it is written with such expertise that I was there with the characters and it was really happening. I loved Idris, the Chemist, his knowledge of the pharmaceutical world and his fantastic thought processes were both amazing This was a great plot, superbly described characters and I can imagine it as a TV series being a big hit. The ending was so unexpected which made me now want a follow up story. A.A.Dhand has demonstrated that he is an author to be followed by all.

Fairly engaging crime fiction set in Leeds within the drug world.

Idris, an anti-hero, is a chemist who takes the law into his own hands.

Tense from beginning to end, it climaxes right at the end in a satisfying conclusion.

The only criticism I really have is that I struggled to distinguish between the characters and couldn't shape the association to Idris Elba.

'The Chemist would make a brilliant film or TV series.

Idris Khan runs a pharmacy which serves a run-down area of Headingley. Most of his clientele are drug addicts who take methadone and Khan makes money from supplying the residents of The Mews, a crime-ridden estate. Idris' ex, Rebecca, works with addicts and prostitutes in Beeston and one night she calls Idris for help. A man is dead and he is the brother of a noted criminal. Now Idris is caught between two warring gang leaders and all he wants to do is save his loved ones.
This is a fast-paced thriller which stretches belief but is definitely written to entertain. Dhand knows how to spin a plot and multi-cultural influences in the industrial heartland of West Yorkshire are his stock in trade. I loved the expertise brought to the plot, only someone with intimate knowledge of pharmacology could make these details seem convincing and it is an adrenaline-packed read.

Idris is a pharmacist in a rough area of Leeds. Part of his job is to dispense the methadone to the addicts on the Mews estate, The estate is ruled with an iron hand by Jahangir Hosseini and no one gets out without his say so.
His slave runner Al-Noor wants out for him and his son. When Jahangir finds out he assaults him in the worse way possible and a chain of events already started by Idris's ex wife starts to gather momentum.
A fast paced read which keeps you guessing until the very end. Read this!

The Chemist is an unputdownable read. It starts at a pace and keeps going at breakneck speed. Idris is the local pharmacist who hands out methadone to the locals living in a gang-run estate in Leeds. Idris finds himself in the middle of a turf war between two organised crime gangs. He is beholden to both with limited options but suddenly his pharmacological knowledge offers some deadly solutions. It is rare that a thriller includes a pharmacist, let alone detailed pharmacology but AA Dhand has created a masterful novel. Great characters and clever writing. Nothing is quite as straightforward as it seems. Don't miss it.

Idris is a quiet and hardworking chemist until his ex wife Rebecca pulls him into the world of rival drug gangs, people trafficking, prostitution and murder.

The whole story is well written and very realistic. All of the characters are realistic and sadly recognisable as people you either know or have seen on the news. A.A Dhand manages to make the reader feel empathetic towards addicts and drug runners.

Idris uses the science behind his work as a pharmacist to try and gain the upper hand in a no win situation.

I throughly enjoyed the story, especially the characters of Idris, Rebecca and Al-Noor, one of Idris’ blue script patients.

I really hope this book continues onto a series as I would love to continue reading about the characters and the setting.

The Chemist by AA Dhand is a masterclass is conflict and tension. Bring on book two. Highly recommend

A excellent read. Idris Khan a pharmacist old love doesn't come for her methadone he's worried about her and tries to find her. There's a drug gang war playing out. A fast paced thriller that keeps you up all night after just one more chapter. A great cast of characters. One of the best books I've read this year. Thanks to HQ and Netgalley for this review ARC.

This was an intense and gripping thriller that had me invested immediately. the lines are definitely blurred in who to trust / who is good but this added to the intensity for me.

I was eager to delve into A.A. Dhand’s latest novel, The Chemist, published today. Known for his Harry Virdee series, Dhand shifts gears in this standalone thriller, offering a raw and unflinching portrayal of Leeds’ darkest corners.

Idris Khan, the novel’s central figure, is a local pharmacist deeply embedded in his community. By day, he dispenses methadone to hundreds of addicts, earning their trust and, inadvertently, their secrets. Khan is kind and empathetic and has earned himself the simple nickname of ‘the Chemist’. When his childhood sweetheart, Rebecca, fails to collect her daily dose, Idris’s concern propels him into action. His search leads him into the heart of Leeds’ most deprived areas, thrusting him into a violent turf war between Yorkshire’s most formidable drug cartels.

Dhand’s firsthand experience as a pharmacist in Leeds lends authenticity to the narrative. His vivid descriptions of the city’s underbelly are not mere fiction but reflections of real-life encounters with overdoses, violence, and systemic neglect. This grounding in reality elevates the novel, making the stakes feel palpably high and the characters’ struggles deeply resonant.

While Dhand’s Harry Virdee series centres on a detective navigating personal and professional challenges in Bradford, The Chemist offers a different perspective. Idris Khan is not a law enforcer but a civilian caught in circumstances beyond his control. This shift allows Dhand to explore themes of community, morality, and survival from a fresh angle, highlighting the complexities of those often overlooked in crime narratives.

Beyond Idris, the novel introduces a cast of characters that enrich the story’s tapestry. The drug cartels, each with their own hierarchies and codes, are depicted with nuance, avoiding caricature. The plot unfolds with relentless momentum, each chapter escalating the tension and deepening the intrigue.

Verdict: The Chemist is a testament to Dhand’s versatility as a writer. By drawing from his own experiences and shifting focus from detective work to the lived realities of those on the periphery of society, he crafts a narrative that’s both thrilling and thought-provoking. If you’re looking for a dark crime thriller that challenges conventions and offers a gritty, immersive experience, The Chemist is not to be missed.

One of the best thrillers I've read in a long while, the Chemist offers something unique.

Idris Khan is a respected local community pharmacist, known locally as 'the Chemist'. Although it isn't factually correct, it's a term that Idris finds quite endearing.

As well as filling prescriptions and providing essential advice, Idris' pharmacy also has the responsibility of looking after the local 'blue scripts'. Those former or current drug addicts who are obtaining a daily dose of legal methadone as an alternative to something far more sinister.

The Pharmacy also supplies to 'the Mews' a run down part of Leeds whose reputation is notorious. It is a dangerous place to which Idris is given unprecedented access in exchange for a 'special' delivery service to the estate.

Not all of the arrangements he has are strictly legal [or moral] but Idris' heart is in the right place, and he knows that his involvement in the Mews is a much safer alternative for most of the residents he is supplying.

When once of Idris' regular blue script patients doesn't appear, he fears for their wellbeing. This particular patient he has a more complex relationship with than most, and he is keen to make sure that they are ok.

His concern leads him to a dark place, worse than he could have imagined, and he finds himself in a situation that he should really not be getting into. He grapples with his conscience and makes a heat of the moment decision that will have devastating consequences for all involved.

I can totally see The Chemist as a hit TV show, which I know would make for a gripping series. This thriller comes highly recommended.

Idris is a pharmacist and pillar of the community, spending his days looking after the addicts under his care in a deprived area in Leeds. Soon however, he finds himself stuck in a nightmare situation, in the middle of a turf war between two of the most powerful drug cartels in the county. He must use his intelligence to keep himself and those he loves safe.

This is my first book by this author and I am now kicking myself as to why I haven’t read any of his others before. The focus of this being around a normal pharmacist getting involved in the criminal world was such a unique spin on the usual crime novels and I found myself fully invested in the story straight away. I found many parts of this story fascinating, especially about the pharmacy industry. I found myself discovering new things and expanding my knowledge in this area. The story remained fast paced and I had to keep reading another chapter, as I found it hard to put the book down.

The characters are all strongly written and I really enjoyed Idris as a main character. I could understand his flaws and dilemmas. The overall storyline is very dark, gritty and uncomfortable at times. I liked that the author did not shy away from this, meaning that the story felt more intense and authentic. The author does a great job at creating suspense and tension, while also making you feel sadness and empathy. flaws and dilemmas. This is the first book I’ve read in a long time that I can see being made into a high octane blockbuster.

I enjoyed that the ending makes it a possibility that there may be more to come for some of the characters. I will be reading straight away if so! An easy 5 stars from me and definitely one of my top reads, if not top, of the year. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

I really enjoy this author's series featuring Harry Virdee and also his stand alone book The Blood Divide, so I was quite excited to get my mitts on this, his latest book. Sadly though, it didn't quite hit the spot for me and, although I did make it to the end, it wasn't all plain sailing and I didn't leave the book feeling as satisfied as I would have liked to be.
In this book we meet and follow Idris Khan who is a pharmacist known on the street as The Chemist. One of his main responsibilities, and how he makes enough to keep from going under, is to dole out scripts of methadone to various addicts. He especially works in the dodgy area called the Mews which is bossed by a nasty piece of work. He is in a current relationship with a GP but also is still very close to his ex-wife and it is whilst doing her a favour that his world pretty much explodes, the aftermath kicking off a rather nasty turf war...
It's all a bit bleak, this book. And brutal, and intriguing. Everything I should want and need from a book to make it a good read. There's a beginning which immediately grabbed me but then, when we went back to several days prior, it all got a bit messy for me and escalated beyond credibility. All the way through I couldn't help feeling that it was written with more than half an eye on the TV adaptation and I feel this diluted it from the written word. If you understand what I am trying to say.
I also didn't really take to Idris as a character. Which in a rather character driven story isn't overly helpful. I can't put my finger on why exactly but I wasn't really ever on his side. He seemed to be so smart and street wise in most things but then made the most stupid mistakes which didn't seem in keeping to his overall character.
The story started off dark and got darker with pretty much no real respite which made the whole thing rather depressing.
All in all, reading some of the other reviews I appear to be in the minority, which is OK. We are not all the same and this one probably wasn't the right book for me. Won't stop me looking out for his next book though as, apart from this blip, I really do love his work.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

LOVED IT, LOVED IT . Due to health issues cannot not but will write a proper review at a later time
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A brilliant standalone from the excellent AA Dhand, who brought us the superb Harry Virdee series. Set in West Yorkshire and drawing on Amit's considerable experience of pharmacology, this is a gripping tale of people trafficking, drug addiction, gang warfare and the seedier side of modern society. The writing is exemplary, the characters well drawn and the story engrossing.

An excellent fast moving thriller set in a cafe where a hostage situation is being played out
I thought mainly believable and emotive and was tense and gave great insight into the main character and what they were going through
An enjoyable read,very well written

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

Idris Khan is caught in a dangerous game of cat and mouse between the two most powerful drug cartels. He delivers medication to The Mews where illegal immigrants, drug users, alcoholics, and ex-cons live. This cleverly-crafted story has a fast-pace,, it's addictive and I could not put it down.

Published 22nd My 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQStories and the author #AADhand for my ARC of #TheChemist in exchange for an honest review.

This book starts with a hostage scene in a Leeds cafe, it's explosive and filled with action. The pace never lets up with this intricately plotted, original, dark and engrossing read. It's twisty and slightly unbelievable at times but a totally addictive and engrossing read! The Chemist is a fascinating lead character, caught between good and bad but very likeable. I devoured it and would recommend to lovers of crime novels. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

What a fantastic book ! So many twists and turns which kept me guessing - I literally had no idea how it was all going to end . Some very complex characters with many surprises - it’s definitely on my favourites list this year !

I’m not sure how I feel about this one. I don’t know if liked it or didn’t. Something just didn’t work for me. I did like the authors writing and the story telling but I just couldn’t connect with it.