If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

Diamonds from the Darkside

by Edward Michel-Bird

215 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #02-0305; ISBN 1-55369-492-9; US$20.50, C$23.20, EUR17.00, £12.00

Ex-cons newly released come looking for there share of the loot resulting from a huge diamond theft. They find the nest empty. The cache is held by an unwitting tourist. A new murder sheds new light on an old crime.

Read more!

about the book      about the author      sample excerpts or Table of Contents      catalogue info

About the Book A new murder sheds new light on an old crime - a huge diamond robbery. But the loot was never found. The ex-cons, newly released from prison, rush in to claim their share. They find the nest is empty. An innocent tourist harbours the cache of diamonds, but is totally unaware of it! Chief Inspector Spencer solves the murder, but to his frustration the whereabouts of the diamonds remain an enigma... Until the seemingly "innocent" tourist vanishes into the shadowy enclaves of Europe's black market in precious stones - hoping to emerge wealthy and unchallenged!

---

About the Author After the author completed his B.A. at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C. he went to Paris to complete his education and lived there for ten years. He was awarded a Canada Council Grant and earned his Doctorate at the Sorbonne. As a student he held the post of English assistant and taught in the high-schools of Paris for three years. Later he was appointed Professor for three years at the Ecole des Traducteurs et Interpretes under the aegis of the University of Paris. Then, after his marriage, he returned to U.B.C., Vancouver, Canada, to accept an appointment in the Department of French. He has published a number of articles, three textbooks, co-authored a fourth with his wife, and three novels, Shadows on the Seine: Paris 1952, Diamonds from the Dark Side, and Echoes From the Past. Other Voices, Other Climes (A collection of Ten Unique Stories) is also available. The author now resides in West Vancouver, B.C.

---

Sample Excerpt - From Chapter One

.... Manchester Hotel: The next morning at 9:00 I found Chief Inspector Spencer and Sergeant Willis waiting for me in the lobby.

"I trust, Mr. Edgeworth you weren't disturbed last night?" began the Chief Inspector in his formal British manner. I shook my head, "Not at all."

"Well," he continued, "We have just interviewed Sebastian Redford in the hospital. His real name is William Hurd."

"In hospital!" I gasped. "Didn't he make a clever escape?"

"He did indeed. But the cronies who helped him escape were waiting for him outside. They forced him into a car and took him to an abandoned farmhouse. They beat and tortured and left him there for dead. None of them, I imagine, knew the countryside well enough to dispose of the body. Also, the neighbours, alerted by barking dogs, no doubt scared them into a hasty retreat."

"So they beat him to death?"

"No, fortunately for us, he didn't die. His condition is grave, perhaps hopeless would be a better term."

"Horrible! But why? Did they get what they wanted?"

The Inspector smiled grimly, "I don't think so. With us, however, Mr. Hurd co-operated. He was lucid for a short period. He gave us the names of his attackers."

He paused before going on. "There seemed to be a fourth person involved, perhaps a woman. Yet Sebastian was unwilling or unable to give us any specifics. However, these details and others will help when I contact Scotland Yard today."

"Possibly a woman, you say. What about the male nurse?"

"I won't bore you with my speculations," he concluded, "but I feel this is an old crime that has come home to roost."

"So we're talking murder and mayhem from the past?"

He nodded. "And also, if my theory is right, it concerns the theft of diamonds worth about three million pounds. Yet no one today seems interested in them - except this gang."

"But surely," I began. The Inspector smiled and cut me off. "Twelve years ago a mint was spent on lawyers. The Insurance company paid up. The diamond agent in South Africa was paid off. So who cares about the actual diamonds."

The Inspector seemed to enjoy my look of utter surprise.

"Before we leave," said Detective Sergeant Willis, Sebastian would like you to know he meant no harm when he attacked you. He panicked when someone phoned to say, "Relax and enjoy. We are coming to get you." He felt he'd be safer in jail, and you provided that opportunity."

"He played his part too well. What about the room mix-up?"

"Oh, yes," said the Inspector, "there was a booking error that passed unnoticed until you arrived on the 25th. What we can't explain is how Sebastian knew about the vacancy - without inside help."

We followed the Chief Inspector out. He pushed open the door and ran into Marsha Trenton: "Good morning, Chief Inspector," she said sweetly....

He did not wait for her reply but brushed passed her, followed by Detective Willis also showed his displeasure. Suddenly she turned on me her eyebrows arched in anger.

"What's the matter with you people?"

"For Heaven's sake, Marsha! Why are you standing at this door in an area clearly marked PRIVATE?"...

---

Catalogue Information

---