The Chemist

By: Stephenie Meyer

Narrated by: Ellen Archer

Length: 17 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

In this gripping thriller, an ex-agent on the run from her former employers must take one more case to clear her name and save her life.

She used to work for the US government, but very few people ever knew that. An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest secrets of an agency so clandestine it doesn't even have a name. And when they decided she was a liability, they came for her without warning.

Now she rarely stays in the same place or uses the same name for long. They've killed the only other person she trusted, but something she knows still poses a threat. They want her dead, and soon.

When her former handler offers her a way out, she realizes it's her only chance to erase the giant target on her back. But it means taking one last job for her ex-employers. To her horror, the information she acquires only makes her situation more dangerous.

Resolving to meet the threat head-on, she prepares for the toughest fight of her life but finds herself falling for a man who can only complicate her likelihood of survival. As she sees her choices being rapidly whittled down, she must apply her unique talents in ways she never dreamed of.

In this tautly plotted novel, Meyer creates a fierce and fascinating new heroine with a very specialized skill set. And she shows once again why she's one of the world's best-selling authors.

©2016 Stephenie Meyer (P)2016 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Even with Archer's outstanding portrayal of Alex, secondary characters Kevin and Val still steal all their scenes, thanks to Archer's memorable voices. Pack your go bag and enter Meyer's breathless romantic suspense." ( AudioFile)

Too predictable, too sappy!

Is there anything you would change about this book?

The love story was just not believable.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Very predictable ending will make the book just another book

What about Ellen Archer’s performance did you like?

Great tempo. Well changed tones for various characters.

Did The Chemist inspire you to do anything?

No, just an entertaining (but predictable) story

Any additional comments?

The story is laid out with too many "unbelievable" events, hideouts, stashes, that are convenient to the story but just not believable.

Another great book from Stephenie Meyer

I've read all of Stephenie Meyer's works and it's been wonderful to see her talent grow over the years. The Chemist was excellently written with well developed characters and a rivoting plot. I couldn't put it down, listening on Audible while I was working and then reading through the night to finish.

Couldn't stop listening....ever!

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

I liked the plot because it's wasn't your predictable crime - thriller novel.

Which character – as performed by Ellen Archer – was your favorite?

Ellen Archer's voice is purrrfect. I almost forgot I was listening to one person. Well done.!

Any additional comments?

Stephenie Meyer is a great writer that left me on the edge of my seat and laughing the whole time. I just love this type of book!

What could have been

There's a really cool and great female led spy thriller somewhere in this book. This just isn't it. Our heroine Alex is essentially a super wizard. She's got all the skills of a black ops soldier, the knowledge of a brilliant chemist and a solid surgeon all rolled into one. Not to mention her primary job as an interrogator/torturer for an unnamed government group. It's just a bit too much she doesn't have too many flaws other than with interpersonal relationships. Daniel our male lead and love interest is a teacher and has about as much sense as a walnut. It's not a great relationship and the love angle just is absurd. She tortures him and he pines for her like a school girl. It's just silly.
This is a long book, and needlessly long. We hear Alex repeat over and over how she's not a good person and was burned by the government and she needs to run and that Daniel shouldn't be near her etc. It gets old and just drags the story out. You could cut 5 hours out of this book without hurting the story in any way. It would be better for it as well. I had a hard time believing the characters and the story is more of a romance than a thriller. It's fine, but not great.

Ellen Archer's voice work is fine. I don't mind her characters other than Kevin. His voice was grating on me and really took me out of the story.

Overall, The Chemist is unremarkable and it's fine. I don't hate it. A solid edit to trip back the fluff make the story better. The romance was bad and didn't really work, but that's the author's MO.

Not her best story.

i was hoping for a twist at the end. it was very predictable. dragged in some areas.

Finished it in three days and couldn't put it down

Alex - a smart chemist whose skills have been used in the past for some morally dubious acts (involving torture) and working for a CIA-related agency-is on the run from people who want to kill her. They seem to be killers from the agency and have already attempted three times in the three years. She has successfully managed to stay hidden, but one day....
After a slow start, probably overwritten with details that add little to the story, the plot picks up in speed , colour and drama. Other characters -including very smart dogs-come into the picture- and the reader (providing that he does not question how realistic all this is) gets sucked into the story and goes for a pleasant and suspenseful ride through the end.
An entertaining book indeed, particularly if you do not try to assess the credibility of the plot and of the characters. Just enjoy the ride and will have fun !

I am SO glad I gave this book a chance!

Some of the reviews I read were pretty harsh, but I always listen to a sample if the Publisher's Summary sounds interesting and I am glad I went with my gut. For the second time in a row a book has made it out of my car. I found myself listening non-stop. Thank God for shower speakers! Thankfully there is not a lot of torture and covert operations in my everyday life, so I wasn't looking for "realistic", I was looking for an engaging story and this fits the bill. While I often have a book figured out pretty early on, there were enough twists and turns with this one to keep it entertaining to the very end. This is probably my favorite book since The Martian. Definitely recommend.

loved every exciting minute!

great story development. Very good character development. Love the mystery and Intrigue. It's also fun to see a feminine character in a deadly roll. Deadly, yet in a different and interesting way!

Loved it

Slow start but then it just grabbed you and wouldn't let go to the very end.

usually it takes me a week .

usually it takes me a week for a book could not stop listening completed this book in 3 days.