The Chemist

Former government interrogator Alex has gone by many names in the 3 years she's been surviving on the run by dint of chemical know-how, obsessive planning, paranoia, and solitude; a trap laid by her former employers takes her life on a very unexpected turn, and she's suddenly part of a group of secretive survivors that includes dogs, an ex-CIA agent, a high-end escort, and the man who just might be the love of her life--if she can figure out what it actually means to be in love. (Though reviews are inherently subjective, I prefer to provide some organization to my opinions through the use of a personal rubric. The following notes may contain spoilers.) Plot and Setting: 4.9 -- Plot is engaging from start to finish. Has many unique elements, no major holes, and a sense of focus. Setting is clear and believable. Timeline is consistent, though a bit hard to follow. This is an action-packed, tension-driven story, with humor and romance and genius dogs thrown in to balance out the darker aspects. Incredibly detailed plots and plans, involving tons of clever spy tricks and deadly science, as well as a strong emotional story arc. A little of everything, sewn beautifully together. I loved it. I also appreciated Alex's inner commentary on how it seemed like more time had passed than actually had, because that's definitely the truth. I would've liked a little more clarity on the time passing front, but it does seem to be decently consistent throughout. Characters: 5 -- Relatable, realistic, interesting, dynamic characters. Even minor characters have depth, as do the relationships between characters. Lots of very unique, fascinating characters. Even the dogs have great personalities, and the close look Alex takes into the lives of the 'bad guys' she targets lends depth and realism to those characters, too. It was fun seeing the main characters grow and change over the course of the very few weeks the book covers, as Alex adjusts to caring about and trusting other people, Daniel deals with a reality so very foreign to all he's known before, Val shows her softer side, and Kevin changes his opinion about Alex. As strange as their situations are, these characters seem very real and believable in all they do. Mechanics and Writing: 5 -- Few, if any, typos, punctuation issues, or word errors. Intelligent use of POV. Skillful writing that adds to the story. Actually no typos, and great writing. POV is all 3rd-person Alex (or Juliana, Casey, Jesse, Charlie, Ellis, etc, etc, etc). I loved how her name kept changing in the narration to match her changing aliases, especially in the beginning. It wasn't as confusing as it sounds like it should have been. I only had to stop and think about who it was talking about once or twice (Jesse and Juliana threw me a bit, for some reason, but the other names all somehow felt like her). Redeeming Value: 3.5 -- Incidental uplifting themes or lessons. Drugs, alcohol, violence, etc, are a significant element of the story. No explicit sex scenes. Vague moral guidelines for behavior. Torture, poisoning, and black-ops violence is definitely a big feature here, though our band of heroes is placed on the lighter gray end of that dark spectrum: they limit their killing, etc, to soldiers, agents, and the big bosses who essentially put the hits out on them. Sort of a "just war" idea. One of the bosses, while dying, compliments Alex on not hurting the innocent, saying she has not lost her soul. So while it's not nearly as dark as it could be, we definitely have morally shaky ground there. Not to mention some (implied/off-screen) unmarried sex. Personal Enjoyment: 5 -- I loved it. It made me feel in all the best ways, and leaves me content and satisfied. One I'll definitely read again.

This was an interesting and fast moving book! Juliana kidnaps Daniel and doesn't expect his reaction to her. When Daniel's brother tries to rescue him things get really interesting. These three have to work together to figure out who is after them. When Kevin, Daniel's brother, and Juliana start talking and finally figure out that this has been in play for years. This was an interesting action and suspense book!

I almost had to stop reading this book… almost. The first 4 1/2-5 chapters are dull, dull, dull. They were full of explanation upon explanation upon explanation of what Juliana/Alex is doing and why, showing her complete paranoia of the government, which is of course understandable, yet dull to read (it honestly read like textbook). Then there were the explanations of things that had happened in Juliana/Alex's past, without actually explaining what it is Juliana/Alex used to do for the government, and why they wanted her dead. That part annoyed me the most. All these explanations of booby traps, and what happened three years ago, but no clue what it was she did. Juliana/Alex is armed to the teeth with biological weapons on her person (rings, earrings, belt with syringes), but there is no explanation as to how she knows this stuff. But, I told myself to keep reading. I told myself to at least get to 20% before I gave up. And… I’m glad I kept going. Once Juliana/Alex had Daniel things started to get exciting, and the reader finally got more information about what she did for the government, and how she knows everything she’s been talking about up until then. Once things started to fall into place for the characters, and the trio got together, things really started happening. It was interesting to watch them work together, especially with Alex and Kevin’s expertise. They planned and implemented, and got what they wanted done, done. Of course, there are bumps along the way, but it can’t be an easy road to travel, right? But, when things go wrong, they just plan again, working out something different to get to their goals. I loved the epilogue that told the reader how the trio had settled into their new lives. I was smiling as I read it, knowing it was perfect for them, and that they were truly “normal” now. And I have to add… I absolutely love the inclusion of the dogs. Their training is amazing. They are loyal, so well trained, and life savers. Einstein definitely lives up to his name. I do wonder though… can dogs actually do all that? If so, I’d love to see it in person. All of this said, while this was a slow start, the book quickly got rolling and had a great finish. Great writing, and a well written story.

This is a spoiler free review except for a few mundane details. I think whether you like this book or not depends upon your expectations. Most of the readers seem to have read the Twilight books. If you have, than you know Stephanie Meyer’s strengths and weaknesses. Let’s examine character. You’re not going to find character development. About 80% to 95 percent of what we know about two main characters characters boils down to “They are extremely talented and and knowledgeable at their jobs.” The main female character is equivalent to Edward. Very deadly. Good at heart. Talented. Only drinks the blood of the bad guys. Hasn’t had any major deep romance previously. Hides her true self from others. Hasn’t had sex in a very long time, if ever. What we learn about the main male character comed down to “he is very nice.” School teacher. Coaches a sports team. Has an ex-wife. There’s nothing even memorable about his appearance. Wait, he’s tall. There you go. The main male character is the equivalent of Bella, obsessed romantically with a deadly killer that not only COULD murder him, but has ALREADY caused him excruciating pain, and I’m not talking about a skinned knee. No, he doesn’t mind that bad beginning the least, just like Bella didn’t give a thought to Edward’s obsession with drinking her blood. But he so drastically underwritten you don’t really care. Go ahead Edward, drink his blood. I can’t stand the blandness. In a sea of 50 flavors of ice cream, he is vanilla. The third main character, who disappears for very large chunks of the book, is actually better written than the leading male character. His main character trait (other than he is great at his job, which I have already mentioned) is that he adores dogs and is good at training them. In fact, he is so good that one of them seems to understand every word of the English language. Good thing the characters aren’t speaking French. He likes his family. Doesn’t think much of the main character’s profession. There you go. This character is Jacob. A protector who will kill the enemy if he has to. Likes large furry things. Very strong. Dark hair, but short. But most of all, has muscles. Lots and lots of muscles. His relationship with the main female character (our Edward) even proceeds just like the Twilight characters of Jacob and Leah. The more things change, the more they are the same. Now let’s talk about the plot. Skim the first 26 pages. It reads like an excruciatingly detailed manual about how to evade hired killers and safely prepare for a meeting for one of those potential hired killers. She is very talented at both. Damn talented. This Edward is good. That is all you will learn. I have died for these literary sins and saved you from 25 pages that are so boring I threw the book 5 feet away in disgust. I still can’t believe I picked it back up again. See, I need to read an actual physical book when the light from my smart phone starts to burn my eyes. After those pages, it kept me entertained. I wanted a book that I didn’t want to put down, mostly, and that is Stephanie Meyers amazing talent. Really, don’t criticize anybody too much when they can come up with a product that millions and millions of people want to buy. I really didn’t have any problem with the plot, even though I have no experience with their environment. Or their profession, maybe I should say. Except that at the climax it becomes exceedingly unbelievable. The main female character, Edward, manages to find two people at a busy tourist attraction (at least 1000 people) that is large enough to take hours to walk around. The search takes about as long as it does to find your kid roaming around in a small grocery store. No. A minor character suddenly turns out to be exquisitely talented at a certain essential profession you will find in movie lots, television studios and the theater. I won’t go on here, because it’s Stephanie Meyer, and you have already proved you can hold a willing disbelief when it comes to vampires and werewolves (shapeshifters). But this is Stephanie Meyer. Willing disbelief is part of the fun. Let’s focus instead on what is truly unbelievable and Stephanie Meyer book: her willingness to let a male and female character have sex. Several times. Of course, they’re in their 30s. But they’re unmarried! Of course, it takes a long time for the characters to get to this point, more than it would in real life. And after some heavy kissing, the male character gallantly apologizes for having manhandled the female character. He doesn’t want her to think he’s in this relationship for the sex. Of course, the main female POV character is still chaste in thought. Of course there is no description beyond kissing and lying down. A man takes off his shirt. But this is Stephanie Meyer, and of course you don’t care. They did the dirty deed and they’re not married, and that’s a real departure for Meyer, who is a Mormon. But your average female-oriented magazine has more sex in it then this book. Stephanie’s morality also comes into play when she indicates that a character is swearing, which she calls a “creative composition of words.” This book may be for adults, but she is faint at heart and a Mormon. She may not even know what those words are, so you really can’t fault her. So there you go. Edward, Bella, and Jacob in a different setting, except with a zillion more deaths than the Twilight series, if you count meals and snacks. Some reviewers have been turned off by violent detailed descriptions, but really, if you liked a book in which a few dozen tourists are lured to a cave where vampires drink their blood when they’re still mostly alive, you really shouldn’t complain. It’s Stephanie Meyer!

Great book. Strong intelligent heroine, moral dilemmas, , compassionate, strong ( but not macho) love interest, smart dogs, great plot. Have read it twice and also listened to it on audiobook( and will do so in the future). No gratuitous sex scenes, which some are unhappy about. But I enjoy love without graphic sex scenes. I am not a prude but just get bored with explicit writing which does not add to the plot at all. Usually skip over these in other books. Wish she would write others with these characters in a series, or other non fantasy books. Great writer.

I'll be the first to admit that spy thrillers aren't a genre I've had a lot of experience with, so my opinion might not be overly valid for those with experience in this area. I'm sure those people will be able to pick at problems and plotholes, etc, etc, that were probably invisible to my eyes. However, I like a good story, and I liked this one. The first 10% of the book was a bit hard to get through. The protagonist was travelling by herself and extremely paranoid, so there was a lot of extensive explanations for all sorts of booby traps she set up to keep herself safe. There were a couple of areas where I thought a minor conversation could have been written to 'show' more but it was clear they weren't overly important to the story, so I could understand why they were passed over as quickly as possible. However, it made the beginning a difficult one. I contemplated giving up but the knowledge that I have always enjoyed Ms Meyer's other books persuaded me to keep going. The moment my reading brain became fully engaged arrived at 12% with the introduction of Daniel. An instantly likeable character, what was going to happen to him was predictable, and because of the nature of the story, not pretty at first. Although I must confess, as much as I liked Daniel, at times he seemed a bit too good to be true. And ***spoiler alert*** [the way he forgave Alex so quickly seemed a trifle unrealistic until I realised the very valid point that he himself confessed - that he had more of a reason to feel betrayed by his brother than he did by a woman who didn't know him. I could understand, then, why the anger he should have felt for her might have been redirected. However, his recovery from this trauma still seemed unrealistically swift.] That aside, the rest of the book was entertaining. I've read - or tried to read - a lot of books lately, but most haven't held my attention enough to even enable me to finish them. This one did. I kept wanting to know what happened, even thought some of that journey was gruesome at times. The body count wasn't huge but there were certainly some deaths and a lot of descriptions about killing and how to avoid being killed. So, while it isn't my genre of choice, I still enjoyed both the story and the characters and will probably continue thinking about these characters for a while yet.

The Chemist was definitely a departure from Stephenie Meyers’s past books which have all been fantasy: The Twilight Saga and its extra books such as Midnight Sun, Life and Death, and The Short second Life of Bree Tanner; and The Host. This book was written in a more professional hand, showing that Stephenie Meyer had been working not just on the stories themselves but on her actual writing technique which I find admirable since she’s already sold millions of copies of her books and become a household name with the way she wrote before. Unlike many, I actually enjoyed the first part of the book as we get to know the main character and her way of doing things. Some things were obvious. For instance it was obvious that Daniel Beach was going to be shot straight through where his heart would be since he had already told Alex that he and his brother were Mirror Twins and his organs were on the wrong side. That was a big tip off, but it didn’t make the book any less exciting or interesting since there’s no indication of how or when this was going to occur. It was a fun book to read and while some have been offended by the idea that the American Government is being portrayed as breaking the law this way, this is fiction and not the only fiction in which similar scenarios occur; look at the movie “RED,” starring Bruce Willis and a whole bunch of other major stars, that’s based, according to the credits, on a comic book. Stephanie Meyers’s story is, of course, very different and I do enjoy the different methods Alex has for killing people. It’s rather fun and inventive. Overall the book was a lot of fun and I liked the main characters, they were good characters and very well fleshed out. As to the lack of descriptive sex scenes and swearing that some have objected to and flat out made fun of Stephenie Meyer for sticking to the morals and values she believes in as a Mormon, I think don’t think that makes her faint of heart. I think it shows a lot of strength to stick to her beliefs, no matter what others are used to and criticize her for, and after all she’s still managed to sell millions of copies of her books. Writing that way in this day and age takes strength and to succeed at it is rather remarkable. I’m impressed by her determination to stick to what she believes in. In my opinion Stephenie Meyer managed to write a very good book that was engaging and enjoyable to read. And good for her for sticking to her core beliefs and still being a successful writer.

I personally love Stephenie Meyer. Her ability to create a story completely different from anything she has previously wrote makes me seek out her new releases and her unique writing keeps me hooked. This book is action packed , believable, intriguing, mysterious, intense. The writing is tale tale Stephenie Meyer. Alex was a part of a secret group. A special kind of interrogator, put together and funded by the government to effectively get the information needed. Some people are smarter then they are given credit for. Hooked up with a veteran in the field. Warned and prepared for the governments plans for people that know too much Alex is on the run and undercover. This attempt to end her is different and although prepared for anything this one levers her drained of her resources and her health and has added a few liabilities she has always tried so hard not to have. But the bad guys have no idea what the poison lady and her new allies can rain on them Awesome characters awesome action awesome storyline awesome plot awesome awesome awesome!!!!!! I loved this book never ever slowed or got boring. Non stop page turner. When I had to put it down I thought about it and couldn't wait to get back to it. Definitely recommend to mystery,action, suspense readers and fans of Stephenie Meyer.