Summary: Death, Diamonds and Deception (A Gilded Age Mystery Book 5) by Rosemary Simpson
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 . . .
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 . . .(from Amazon).
My review of this Cozy Mystery
When priceless diamonds are stolen socialite Prudence
MacKenzie and colleague ex-Pinkerton investigator Geoffrey Hunter takes on the
case. A series of mysterious deaths take place, which seem connected to the
diamond theft.
Death, Diamonds and Deception is book 5 in A Gilded
Age Mystery series by Rosemary Simpson, published by Kensington
Publishing Corporation. The story is set in New York 1889 as famous
and priceless diamonds are stolen and heiress Prudence MacKenzie and her colleague
ex-Pinkerton investigator Geoffrey Hunter investigate the case.
Main character is
late judge’s daughter Prudence MacKenzie. She is fiercely independent and not
interested in the limitations of marriage. I enjoyed that, and hope such a
woman existed in the Gilded Age.
Supporting character ex-Pinkerton investigator, Geoffrey
Hunter has the nice guy role. I find it amusing how he pretends not to be romantically
interested in Prudence. There is a sweet element of romance between Prudence
and Geoffrey in the more quiet parts of the story, which adds interest to
the story and what the ending might be.
This plot felt reminiscent of others I have read set in gilded
age New York, but it stood out as it offered fascinating extra insight into the
lives of the richest of Gilded Age New York. Historical facts were weaved into
the expertly written story. It felt like I was a fly on the wall while learning
more about diamonds. The story had an amusing, light vibe. I particularly enjoyed
the parts describing the relationship between Prudence and her larger-than-life
Aunt Gillian. Her character added a slightly surprising and unique element
to the story as she did more than chaperone Prudence. Her title, wealth and
formidable presence offered Prudence admission to establishments women would
normally be unwelcome. Aunt Gillian was my favorite character and I thoroughly
enjoyed when she interfered with Prudence’s questioning methods and generally
meddled in her attempt at creating a professional life.
The characters felt real and relatable, particularly the hansom
cab driver Danny Dennis who had insight into living conditions around Five
Points. Descriptions of how life might have been in this part of the city were
my least favorite of this story, but added an excellent dramatic effect.
I loved how loose ends were expertly tied together into
a dramatic ending fit for a movie. This is the first I have read in this series
and it worked perfectly as a standalone. The main characters and the hints to
previous plots made me want to start from the beginning of the series and read
up on the whole thing.
Anyone who enjoys stories set in Gilded Age and historical
fiction is sure to love this one. As will fans of Rosemary Simpson. Similar authors to explore might be Kate Belli
or Alyssa Maxwell.
Thank you to Kensington
Publishing Corporation and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me
the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions expressed are
completely my own.
Conclusion:
This is the entertaining story about a diamond theft in
Gilded Age New York and a series of murders which seems to connect to it, and secrecy
and cover ups within a prominent banker family are revealed. The perfect companion
for an afternoon in front of the fire.
Rating: 5 stars / 5
Main reasons: well crafted plot, great writing and relatable characters, fabulous ending.
Where to by your copy
Book Details
Publication Date : November 24, 2020Print Length : 336 pages
Publisher : Kensington Books (November 24, 2020)
About The Author
Rosemary Simpson’s What the Dead Leave Behind is set in Gilded Age New York where the Great Blizzard of 1888 brings both disaster and independence to her wealthy and unconventional heroine. Lies that Comfort and Betray is the second in the Gilded Age Mystery series, to be followed by Final Portraits. Rosemary is also the author of two stand-alone historical novels, 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. Author's website: http://rosemarysimpsonbooks.com/
