The Chemist Series

The Chemist blends chameleon-like into everyday life. He is charming, intelligent, and a sociopath. His liquid sedative allows him to kidnap any victim he chooses, day or night, leaving no trace or clues behind.   Lt. Cale Van Waring heads the Special Crimes Unit for the Green Bay PD. Three female victims have already vanished, with one headless body recovered from Lake Michigan. There are no suspects, no crime scene, and no witnesses. Theories range from cults to witchcraft covens to serial killers. Yet, with no viable clues, the investigators grasp at any leads as they hunt for a killer who leaves no trace—one  intent on committing a string of "perfect crimes."   Now a new victim has gone missing. City leaders are frustrated, the police brass angry, and Cale's fiancé issues him relationship ultimatums. Following a spotty trail, can Cale and his partners hunt down an invisible killer before he strikes again? Or does the Chemist have a more sinister plot in mind?

The serial kidnapper known as "the Chemist" is incarcerated and awaiting trial. Yet, to Lt. Cale Van Waring, the case is far from over.   Two female victims remain missing, and a tip points to international human traffickers as Cale's only lead. The trafficking ring, however, is based in Central Europe. Stressing matters further, Cale learns that his fiancée, Maggie Jeffers, is pregnant—likely by the man who kidnapped and raped her—the Chemist. Surprise twists occur as the abductor (Tobias Crenshaw) plots his release from legal custody.   Having promised the victim's families that he'd continue searching for their missing daughters, Cale embarks on a weeklong odyssey to Europe. Set up by his FBI contacts, he is assisted by three hardcore mercenaries. Cale's search takes him down dark alleys in Rome, Brussels, and the steamy jungles of Liberia. Assassins, sadists, perverts, and even a voodoo witch doctor—all connected with a human trafficking ring—will stop at nothing to thwart Cale's search for his missing victims.   "I love mysteries, intrigue and forensic science. This book has it all. It's not a short book, but I still couldn't put it down. I live near Green Bay, one location in the book which makes it extra fun, but this has no bearing on the exciting story. You will be hooked!" - Jeanne M.   "I am not a writer and I usually don't comment on these reviews but I have to say it is so refreshing to read a thriller with a new twist. This book is very creative and the detail that Janson writes makes you feel like you are in the story, I couldn't put it down." - Sezqt12   "I read this book in 2009 for our book club and again last week because our book club will be discussing books 2 and 3 of the trilogy next month. I thought it was just as great the second time as the first. It is a must read for anyone who likes suspense and a really great mystery." - Charly

Having survived multiple attempts on his life in Italy and Belgium, Lt. Cale Van Waring gains solid intel on where his hometown kidnapped victims have been sold. He and his mercenary team lay siege to a wealthy Middle Eastern prince's lavish Belgium estate—filled with armed guards, sadists, perverts, and various other international deviants.   A massive battle ensues as Cale's team attempts a risky rescue operation to free the last of his remaining kidnapped victims. The Belgian national guard joins the fray, and Cale and his comrades barely escape with their lives.   With the final battle over, Cale and the rescued female (Leslie) fly exhaustedly back to Wisconsin, his promise to her family kept. Little does he know that the evil awaiting him at his home is far more sinister than the deadly assassins he's already encountered.   Reviews from online bookstores: "Absolutely captivated by this book! Wrapping it all together from The Chemist and Trail of Evil in a brilliant page turner was no easy task! But Mancheski did it. Mask of Bone has outstanding internal character dialogue and is heart pounding exciting. I couldn't get enough or read it fast enough! I want to know what happens to Detective Van Waring and Maggie next! GREAT read!! This trilogy is highly recommended!"   "Outstanding!"   "Great thriller! You should read the whole "The Chemist Trilogy". What a winner! Each book in the trilogy is a page turner."   5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Conclusion to a Riveting Thriller "In this third act of the trilogy, this story evolved into a crime thriller in a way I didn't see coming from the beginning of this journey, and it's every bit as tense and exciting as you could possibly want it to be. Where as the first book was heavier on the procedural side of the law (mixed with horror elements), and the second delved deep into the darkness of this hunt, the third dwells more in a supernatural realm between religion and voodoo, with a detour in the perverse world of human trafficking (and pony-girl shows). It's a dark, daring book that will keep you hooked to the last word, that is, if you can stomach it. All in all, this is a fantastic conclusion to a harrowing tale, and I can't wait for the next Van Waring volume."

Suspended detective Cale Van Waring receives a phone call from an ex-con. The man reveals that he possesses half of a groundbreaking opioid formula that will conquer the world's pain relief market. With cartels aware of the formula, the man requests that Cale do the pick-up in his place.   The courier lies dead in a midnight warehouse when Cale arrives, with his part of the formula missing. A sinister cat-and-mouse game ensues, pointing Cale toward a rural drug operation hidden amid northern Wisconsin's scenic farms and forests.   Mexican cartels and deadly rural hitmen also pursue the chemical formula, understanding it is worth billions on the world market. The major hurdle to the narcotics dealers remains the pesky Green Bay detective Cale Van Waring.   A miracle saves Cale from drowning in the deep bay, deposited there by drug thugs. Continuing his pursuit, a pair of final death battles for possessing a formula transpires. During the final fray, the drug formula guaranteed to turn its possessor into the world's newest billionaire cannot be located.   Reviewers say: "The well-written and fast-paced plot flowed smoothly. I had to keep turning the pages to figure out who did what and why."    "I encountered witch doctors, voodoo, the dark web, child abduction, human trafficking, murder, illegal drugs, mystery, crime, suspense, and romance in this exciting book. Janson Mancheski did a fantastic job putting all of these different aspects in a storyline that pulled me in during the first few pages. The character development was outstanding, and I could visualize each of them. The drawings of the formula for the new drug made the story feel more realistic."    "I couldn't put it down. Some predictability- still well done and some twists. It is rare that I gasp out loud while reading and this book got me a couple of times!"

Janson Mancheski surprised the 2010 crime writing field by winning the prestigious Sharp Writ Book Awards with his novel The Chemist. Since then, "The Chemist Series" books have entertained fans of action, suspense, and twisty crime thrillers. In his new collection of short stories, Janson presents ten entertaining episodes centered around violence, survival, and death—flavored by the numerous times he's barely escaped his own demise. The Mystery of Choctaw Ridge solves the riddle of what happened in the 1960s mega-hit song "Ode to Billie Joe." She's Something Else, The Decoy, and About The Girls focus on innocent victims' fight for survival. Driving Highway 41, Tenderfoot, and Death by Hoe reveal how close to death we all are. Mighty Al and God's Daughter depict supernatural mysteries, and Murdered by Big Giant unmasks a well-known publishing corporation's ability to bully, suppress, and censure writers they deem devious and controversial.   Caution: These tales are not for the faint of heart.

The Chemist Series – Greatest Hits is a compilation of some of the most interesting, frightening scenes and episodes from Janson Mancheski's first 3 books of The Chemist Series: The Chemist (2009), Trail of Evil (2011) and Mask of Bone (2012). In this book, Janson Mancheski gives a breakdown of the story progression, highlighting characters and episodes in movie review fashion without giving away any spoilers. The author is aided by two cutting-edge fiction editors who interject their own commentary on the various episodes. At the conclusion, all three give summations and commentary on how the series arrived at this point, several stand-out characters, and where the series is likely going . . . much in the fashion of directors and writers discussing the production of a TV movie series. This book is a standalone but can be enjoyed along with the Chemist Series.

This boxset contains all 4 ebooks from the Chemist series.   The Chemist The Chemist blends chameleon-like into everyday life. He is charming, intelligent, and a sociopath. His liquid sedative allows him to kidnap any victim he chooses, day or night, leaving no trace or clues behind. Lt. Cale Van Waring heads the Special Crimes Unit for the Green Bay PD. Three female victims have already vanished, with one headless body recovered from Lake Michigan. There are no suspects, no crime scene, and no witnesses. Theories range from cults to witchcraft covens to serial killers. Yet, with no viable clues, the investigators grasp at any leads. Can Cale and his partners hunt down an invisible killer before he strikes again?    Trail of Evil The serial kidnapper known as "the Chemist" is incarcerated and awaiting trial. Yet, to Lt. Cale Van Waring, the case is far from over. Two female victims remain missing, and a tip points to international human traffickers as Cale's only lead.  Stressing matters further, Cale learns that his fiancée, Maggie Jeffers, is pregnant—likely by the man who kidnapped and raped her—the Chemist. Surprise twists occur as the abductor (Tobias Crenshaw) plots his release from legal custody. Cale embarks on a weeklong odyssey to Europe. Set up by his FBI contacts, he is assisted by three hardcore mercenaries in Rome, Brussels, and the steamy jungles of Liberia. Assassins, sadists, perverts, and even a voodoo witch doctor—all connected with a human trafficking ring—will stop at nothing to thwart Cale's search for his missing victims.   Mask of Bone Having survived multiple attempts on his life in Italy and Belgium, Lt. Cale Van Waring gains solid intel on where his hometown kidnapped victims have been sold. He and his mercenary team lay siege to a wealthy Middle Eastern prince's lavish Belgium estate—filled with armed guards, sadists, perverts, and various other international deviants. A massive battle ensues as Cale's team attempts a risky rescue operation to free the last of his remaining kidnapped victims.   Drowning a Ghost Suspended detective Cale Van Waring receives a phone call from an ex-con. The man reveals that he possesses half of a groundbreaking opioid formula that will conquer the world's pain relief market. With cartels aware of the formula, the man requests that Cale do the pick-up in his place. The courier lies dead in a midnight warehouse when Cale arrives, with his part of the formula missing. A sinister cat-and-mouse game ensues, pointing Cale toward a rural drug operation hidden amid northern Wisconsin's scenic farms and forests. Mexican cartels and deadly rural hitmen also pursue the chemical formula, understanding it is worth billions on the world market. The major hurdle to the narcotics dealers remains the pesky Green Bay detective Cale Van Waring. A miracle saves Cale from drowning in the deep bay, deposited there by drug thugs. Continuing his pursuit, a pair of final death battles for possessing a formula transpires. During the final fray, the drug formula guaranteed to turn its possessor into the world's newest billionaire cannot be located.      Reviewers say:   "I couldn't put it down. It is rare that I gasp out loud while reading and this book got me a couple of times!" - Jan P.   "Outstanding!" - DMC   "This book is very creative and the detail that Janson writes makes you feel like you are in the story." - Suzqt12