Diamonds of Death
‘as delightful as the first book.’ - The Stories of Chantel DacostaThe second Lady Alkmene Callender MysteryA family of secrets…After hearing about the vicious murder of her relation, Lord Winters, Lady Alkmene is intrigued to find out that the cat burglar found standing over his body, the safebox emptied of jewels, might not be the murderer after all…Reporter Jake Dubois believes an innocent man has been imprisoned and turns to Lady Alkmene to assist him in uncovering the truth and finding the real killer – who might just be one of Winters’ own family.This mystery will test Lady Alkmene to the limit. As she and Jake delve into family secrets, Lady Alkmene isn’t sure who she can trust or who is telling the truth. And even the connection between them might not be enough to save Lady Alkmene from becoming the next victim in search of the diamonds of death…Don’t miss the next Lady Alkmene Mystery1. A Proposal to Die For2. Diamonds of Death3. Deadly Treasures4. A Fatal Masquerade
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A family of secretsâ¦
After hearing about the vicious murder of her relation, Lord Winters, Lady Alkmene is intrigued to find out that the cat burglar found standing over his body, the safe emptied of jewels, might not be the murderer after allâ¦
Reporter Jake Dubois believes an innocent man has been imprisoned and turns to Lady Alkmene to assist him in uncovering the truth and finding the real killer â who might just be one of Wintersâ own family.
This mystery will test Lady Alkmene to the limit. As she and Jake delve into family secrets, Lady Alkmene isnât sure who she can trust or who is telling the truth. And even the connection between them might not be enough to save Lady Alkmene from becoming the next murdered victim in search of the diamonds of deathâ¦
A Lady Alkmene Callender Mystery series
A Proposal to Die For
Diamonds of Death
Deadly Treasures
Diamonds of Death
Vivian Conroy
HQ
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2016
Copyright © Vivian Conroy 2016
Vivian Conroy asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authorâs imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.
E-book Edition © October 2016 ISBN: 9780008205171
Version date: 2018-06-27
VIVIAN CONROY
discovered Agatha Christie at thirteen and quickly devoured all the Poirot and Miss Marple stories. Over time Lord Peter Wimsey and Brother Cadfael joined her favourite sleuths. Even more fun than reading was thinking up her own fog-filled alleys, missing heirs and priceless artefacts. So Vivian created feisty Lady Alkmene and enigmatic reporter Jake Dubois sleuthing in 1920sâ London and the countryside, first appearing in A Proposal to Die For. For the latest on #LadyAlkmene, with a dash of dogs and chocolate, follow Vivian on Twitter via @VivWrites
Thanks to all editors, agents and authors who share insights into the writing and publishing process.
A special thanks to my editor Victoria Oundjian for her enthusiasm for Lady Alkmeneâs adventures
and to the design team for the lovely cover.
Writing mysteries set in the 1920s, Iâm grateful for all online information â think dress, transportation, etiquette and much more â to ensure an authentic period feel. Still, Lady Alkmeneâs world remains fictional, including street addresses, establishments, country houses and even entire villages of my invention.
Contents
It was madness to do this on a night with a full moon.
But then you had to be a little mad to do this work to begin with.
The man, all dressed in black, looked up the manorâs forbidding facade, his eyes slowly travelling over every ledge, protrusion and other irregularity that could offer a hold to his nimble hands and feet. He had studied the facade before, was familiar with its possibilities, but he always liked to take a moment and plan the route ahead, see it in his mind as clearly as he could.
Although there was always the issue of time and the danger of discovery, he liked to be thorough. He had learned early on in his career that rushing in only led to trouble.
And trouble was the last thing he needed on this all-important night.
From the trees in the distance an eerie call resounded, sending a shiver up his spine. It was only an owl, but as a city person he thoroughly disliked animals and the risk they posed in his profession. Once, climbing a front in the city, a pigeon had popped out of a hole, almost making him lose his footing and fall, backwards, ten feet down on the unforgiving pavement. That could have been the end of his career. Of his freedom even â as he would have been discovered for what he was and taken into custody.
But he had survived the pigeonâs surprise attack, and tonight heâd survive whatever was waiting for him on his ascent. It could be bats, or it might even be a guard dog as soon as he stepped through the window. But he was prepared for anything. The loot lured him like it had a scent that he could detect on the air. Already he saw the precious stones, reflecting the light with their carefully honed facets, glittering as if there was fire inside of them. For all of his life he had followed the call of the stones, and the most desirable ones were calling for him tonight. Up there.
