Death, Diamonds, and Deception
Nov 2020 · A Gilded Age Mystery Book 5 · Kensington Books
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About this eBook
For fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age, explore the dark side of the alluring world of America’s 19th century elite in this gripping series of riveting mysteries…
The pursuit of stolen diamonds once belonging to Marie Antionette leads heiress Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter down a twisted maze through Gilded Age New York City from Fifth Avenue to Five Points . . .
DEATH, DIAMONDS, AND DECEPTION
Fall 1889: Lady Rotherton has arrived from London intent on chaperoning her niece Prudence through a New York social season to find a suitable husband. It's certainly not her niece's devilishly handsome partner in Hunter and MacKenzie Investigative Law. Aunt Gillian's eye for eligible suitors is surpassed only by her ability to discern genuine gems from nearly flawless fakes. At the Assembly Ball at Delmonico's, she effortlessly determines that the stones in the spectacular diamond waterfall necklace adorning the neck of the wife of banker William De Vries are fake.
Insisting on absolute discretion to avoid scandal, the banker employs Prudence and Geoffrey to recover the stolen diamonds pried out of their settings—priceless stones acquired by Tiffany, originally purchased for Marie Antoinette. Their search for a possible fence rapidly leads to a dead end: a jeweler brutally killed in his shop during an apparent theft.
The jeweler's murder is only the first in a string of mysterious deaths, as Prudence and Geoffrey pursue their elusive quarry. But the clues keep leading back to duplicity on the part of the De Vries family, who, it turns out, have a great deal to hide . . .
The pursuit of stolen diamonds once belonging to Marie Antionette leads heiress Prudence MacKenzie and ex-Pinkerton Geoffrey Hunter down a twisted maze through Gilded Age New York City from Fifth Avenue to Five Points . . .
DEATH, DIAMONDS, AND DECEPTION
Fall 1889: Lady Rotherton has arrived from London intent on chaperoning her niece Prudence through a New York social season to find a suitable husband. It's certainly not her niece's devilishly handsome partner in Hunter and MacKenzie Investigative Law. Aunt Gillian's eye for eligible suitors is surpassed only by her ability to discern genuine gems from nearly flawless fakes. At the Assembly Ball at Delmonico's, she effortlessly determines that the stones in the spectacular diamond waterfall necklace adorning the neck of the wife of banker William De Vries are fake.
Insisting on absolute discretion to avoid scandal, the banker employs Prudence and Geoffrey to recover the stolen diamonds pried out of their settings—priceless stones acquired by Tiffany, originally purchased for Marie Antoinette. Their search for a possible fence rapidly leads to a dead end: a jeweler brutally killed in his shop during an apparent theft.
The jeweler's murder is only the first in a string of mysterious deaths, as Prudence and Geoffrey pursue their elusive quarry. But the clues keep leading back to duplicity on the part of the De Vries family, who, it turns out, have a great deal to hide . . .
Ratings and reviews
5,0
3 reviews
Janice Tangen
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26 November 2020
1870s, private-investigators, NYC, law-enforcement, friendship, family-dynamics, historical-fiction, historical-places-events, historical-research, historical-setting, prejudice***** 1879 Manhattan, New York. Prudence, the daughter of a judge and independent woman, and Geoffrey, a former Pinkerton man, are Private Investigators (along with their secretary, an ex-NYPD cop, and others) are hired by a wealthy supercilious stock broker whose wife's elaborate Tiffany diamond necklace has been found to have had many of its diamonds replaced with paste. To top it all off, the person who actually discovered the theft was Prudence's visiting aristocratic and bossy aunt from London. The partners have only begun to investigate when the first murder occurs. There are more murders, a resentful NYPD detective, multiple family issues, alcoholic family members (the stuff about the gold cure and Swiss clinic seem well researched), red herrings, plot twists, and some really fascinating characters. I loved it for all that and more! I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
2 people found this review helpful
Jane Ward
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25 October 2020
Death, Diamonds, and Deception by Rosemary Simpson is a Historical Mystery is set in late 19th Century New York. This detective mystery series doesn’t have to be read in order to be enjoyed and each book is very distinctive. I do suggest reading every book because while there is continuity it is not the same story with variations. Ms. Simpson’s latest book has exciting action, priceless jewelry, thieves, mysterious deaths, secrets and thrills to the very end. If there is a moral to this story it could be summed up as ˋˋbe sure your sins will find you out´´ or the old adage ˋˋthey got their just desserts´´. A well woven story that will keep you wondering who did it, why and how it was done? I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
About the author
Rosemary Simpson is the author of the Gilded Age Mystery Series, as well as The Seven Hills of Paradise and Dreams and Shadows. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, International Thriller Writers, and the Historical Novel Society. Educated in France and the United States, she now lives near Tucson, Arizona and can be found online at RosemarySimpsonBooks.com.
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