Diamond Dust

No, I have not been reading Peter Diamond books in order. Finally...I found this book to be available as library loan and got to read of the murder of his first wife. It was a lot about detecting and police procedure and less about Bath. And to think this murder was a result of his wife wanting to organize a 50th birthday party for her husband. It turns out to be a complex series of events.

Probably more a 3 1/2 stars, but I'll give it the whole 4. Peter Diamond is a very human detective...never more so than in Diamond Dust. Fully dimensional characters, juicy plotting, emotionally wrenching. Murder. Betrayal. Tension. Diamond Dust has it all.

What a shocking start <i>Diamond Dust</i> has! I wondered if the rest of the book would be worth reading, although I shouldn't have worried. Mr. Lovesey managed to keep Diamond his crusty, disagreeable self, while still showing how devastated Diamond was by the permanent blow he suffered. There was a smorgasbord of red herring suspects, including Diamond as the prime suspect! This leaves him appalled, grieving, and determined to bring his beloved Steph’s killer to justice...

Detective Inspector Peter Diamond of the Bath CID is turning fifty and his wife is planning a surprise party for him. Peter has recently solved a crime of murder and after watching the man sentenced for life, he is assaulted on the courthouse steps by the convicted man's girlfriend who scratches his face with her long nails and then starts hitting him causing him to fall down. As she continues pummeling him, he realizes he is being watched and does not retaliate for fear someone will snap a picture. Then when he reports to the CID, his Assistant Chief Constable tells him he is transferring him to Bristol to form part of an organized task force. Although he is disappointed, he rushes to a murder scene and discovers the victim is his wife Stephanie. One would think this would surely end his streak of bad luck, but next he is being investigated for her murder. He swears to find her killer even though he is barred from the case and partners up with a cop from a previous precinct. When another wife of a policeman is found murdered with two shots to the head like his wife, he realizes he is facing major crimes to solve. Peter Lovesey is among the top of crime novelists and his intricate plots and witty dialogue make him irresistible to readers of this genre.

I think this one was the best in the series so far with its multiple twists and turns. A shocking event occurs early in the book, something totally unexpected. Thereafter Diamond hunts for the perpetrator overcoming a number of obstacles. There is a wonderful subplot as well, involving a jewel heist. I found the story enjoyable from start to finish. Added bonuses in this series is an education in British slang and much about the history of Bath.

<b>REVIEW OF AUDIOBOOK; OCTOBER 24, 2018<br />Narrator: Steve Hodson</b><br /><br />I don't like it when authors kill off their protagonist's spouse so I'm taking away a star, or this would be 4 stars. I guess it's better than killing a protagonist's dog...<br /><br />Other than it being Stephanie who was offed, this was a good installment.<br />

My first introduction to DI Peter Diamond and the writer. Thoroughly enjoyed the experience and will be searching more of this series. Well paced thriller,hard to predict plot outcomes and cleverly weaves characters. A perfect crime book.

One of the best detective stories in recent times. Lovesey threads several story lines so expertly you really have no clue where the thing is going until almost the very end; characters are very credible.

What a good read. Tragedy strikes Peter Diamond when his wife, Stephanie, is found shot dead in the park. The questions soon start mounting and when Peter is prevented from leading the investigation he becomes increasingly frustrated over the lack of progress being made. He starts his own parallel enquiries and finds himself drawn to his old life in the Met and into the investigation of another murder in the south. Superintendent Diamond is an old school man but somehow manages to keep his head above water despite his attitude towards his superiors. He remains, however, much liked by the other officers. As the web closes around the guilty party there are endless red herrings and twists that make it a tremendous read. Must make 4.5 stars.

Murder strikes too close to home for Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond, and he is determined to know why, no matter what it takes. A well written, suspenseful read with numerous twists, but for me, there was an essential improbability in the eventual, surprising solution. <br />