Review of Diamond and Pearls

[Faith Mukuva]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Diamond and Pearls" by Julien Ayotte.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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Diamonds and pearls by Julien Ayotte focus is on the life of two characters. Sydney Malone lives a double life. She is a real estate agent by day and a burglar by night. Drew Diamond, a former detective, works with an insurance claims office. He is sent to investigate the theft of heirloom pearls worth $100,000. Sydney and drew meet while Drew is looking for an apartment. They form a relationship, but questions arise when Drew's findings from his investigation lead him back to Sydney…coincidence? Richie has worked for a mafia family since he can remember. He wants a different life. A fresh start. This only makes him a liability to his boss. He moves away to start a clean slate, but his past is unwilling to let go so easily.

I must say the title was what intrigued me about this story. Though it had nothing to do with the actual song as I had hoped, it did bear a meaning. The story is fast-paced, which was significant and impressive considering the numerous storylines involved. The stories were well intertwined, the various plotlines were brought together, and so were the characters. Ayotte made the characters relatable and likeable hence, and I was invested in the ending.

There was not much I did not like about the book except that the dialogues felt a little unrealistic sometimes. I liked the story, but I was not precisely hooked on it. I think the only thing that made me go through to the end was that I felt attached to the characters. Being a crime thriller, it also felt rushed, especially as the writer did not hold the suspense. The questions were being answered too quickly at times, and the plot focused on the past, the characters' backstories.

I rate the book 3 out of 4 stars. No grammatical errors hence well edited. The writing was simple, and the narration was excellent. It's a light read that is worth the time. The book did, however, lack character descriptions. It left a lot for the imagination. The characters are well built. It's a book about second chances and turnovers. It was great to see all characters have a significant ending. It also has a military storyline as two of the characters are widowers of military men.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy crime thrillers. It is not heavy on action and crime, but it's an excellent light read.

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Diamond and Pearls
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