New York – Long-time industry editor Rob Bates has published a third book in his jewellery mystery series.
The novel, “Slay It With A Diamond,” is the latest addition to Bates’ “Diamond District Mystery Series,” which follows journalist-turned-amateur sleuth Mimi Rosen.
In the new book, Mimi returns, along with other characters from the first two books, A Murder is Forever and Murder is Not a Girl’s Best Friend, in an all-new mystery set in New York City’s 47th Street Diamond District.
In Slay It With A Diamond, Mimi’s father, New York diamond dealer Max Rosen, buys a famous gemstone that is said to be cursed. He doesn’t believe in curses until the wife of the jeweller who sold him the stone turns up dead.
“My books are all about different aspects of the diamond industry, and this one is about luxury and the mindset behind it,” says Bates.
“It started with the idea that people believe a gemstone is cursed, but they would scoff if you talked about a cursed paper towel. That’s because people perceive gems as special and full of meaning. And that got me thinking about why people are so attracted to diamonds and other luxury items, and what psychological needs they fulfil.
The story, with its Succession-style intrigue, sees Mimi and her policeman boyfriend drawn into the dark history of the jeweller’s powerful family. Their investigation leads them to an opulent mansion, long-buried scandals, a bitter family feud and surprising evidence that the curse may be real.
“I researched a lot of world-famous jewellery names and almost all of them ended up with some sort of dispute between the heirs,” says Bates. “The stories were generally very sad and unique, but I did find some commonalities between them that helped to inform the story.”
