The Lucifer Cut
Published on 15. August 2024
Book
Hardback
288 pages
978-1-63936-674-3 (ISBN)
Description
A heart-pounding ride through the perilous world of the modern gem trade, by the acclaimed author of Diamond.
When a New York diamond dealer and his wife are found dead in a chilling assassination, and a mysterious gem-the Lucifer Cut-goes missing, U.S. Treasury agent Alex Turner and his lover, the billionaire Russian diamond thief known as Slav Lily, are thrust into a web of global intrigue. Uncertain they can even trust each other, the two find themselves on the trail of a secret so lethal it threatens not only the world diamond trade but the national security of the United States.
In a fiction first, diamond expert Matthew Hart tears the curtain from the secretive world of lab-grown diamonds, where master "chefs" create astonishing gems in the 8,000-degree furnaces of their reactors. Finally one of them makes what no one thought possible-a fake so perfect not even experts can unmask it. But as Alex and Lily soon discover, its allure is even more profound than its beauty as a jewel, and the stone ignites a murderous race from New York to London and finally to Cape Town, as a deadly enemy tries to beat them to the diamond.
With knife-sharp dialogue and lacerating irony, Alex and Lily navigate an ever-shifting underworld and the storms of their own desire as they rush to unravel the enigma of the Lucifer Cut and the treacheries of the human heart.
When a New York diamond dealer and his wife are found dead in a chilling assassination, and a mysterious gem-the Lucifer Cut-goes missing, U.S. Treasury agent Alex Turner and his lover, the billionaire Russian diamond thief known as Slav Lily, are thrust into a web of global intrigue. Uncertain they can even trust each other, the two find themselves on the trail of a secret so lethal it threatens not only the world diamond trade but the national security of the United States.
In a fiction first, diamond expert Matthew Hart tears the curtain from the secretive world of lab-grown diamonds, where master "chefs" create astonishing gems in the 8,000-degree furnaces of their reactors. Finally one of them makes what no one thought possible-a fake so perfect not even experts can unmask it. But as Alex and Lily soon discover, its allure is even more profound than its beauty as a jewel, and the stone ignites a murderous race from New York to London and finally to Cape Town, as a deadly enemy tries to beat them to the diamond.
With knife-sharp dialogue and lacerating irony, Alex and Lily navigate an ever-shifting underworld and the storms of their own desire as they rush to unravel the enigma of the Lucifer Cut and the treacheries of the human heart.
Reviews / Votes
"In Hart's exhilarating third adventure for U.S. Treasury agent Alex Turner, the former jewel thief goes on a globe-trotting quest to keep a powerful counterfeiting technology out of foreign hands. Hart puts the pedal to the metal and doesn't let up. This is perfect poolside reading." -- <B><I>Publishers Weekly</I></B> "The story is exciting and suspenseful, and Hart knows his stuff, having spent years writing about the diamond trade. This tale has a ring of truth about it that you just can't fake. Recommend it to everyone who enjoys a good, fast-paced thriller and, especially, to readers who admire gem-based thrillers." -- <B><I>Booklist</I></B> Praise for the novels of Matthew Hart"A witty, high-octane international thriller with a plot as multifaceted as a Rubik's cube." * <I>The Star Tribune</I> * "A crackerjack, gem of a thriller. A shot of adrenaline. Fast-paced, expertly-written with an insider's knowledge-not just of diamonds, but much, much more-that elevates the book to another level. Honestly, this one is hard to put down. Damn near flawless." * Christopher Reich, <I>New York Times</I> bestselling author * "Hart writes passionately about diamonds and the people who chase them, but he also has a strong handle on the personal dynamics and obsessions that drive this mysterious world." * Dwyer Murphy, <I>CrimeReads</I> * "Already an authority on the ways blood diamonds are formed, bought, and sold, Matthew Hart's expertise shines in this thriller. An exhilarating read, The Russian Pink has more facets than even the world's biggest diamond." * Mitch Silver, author of <I>The Apollo Deception</I> and <I>The Bookworm</I> * "A deft, fast-paced thriller that shines its light on a fascinating and dangerous world few of us know about: diamonds and how they get from dinosaur days to glistening around beautiful necks and promised fingers. Matthew Hart creates a saga that hurtles through mind-snapping twists at breakneck speed, with killers, con men, cops, and billionaires, all seeking to control a giant, ultra-rare pink diamond. If you want to know the real story that such treasures tell, this is the novel for you." * James Grady, <I>New York Times</I> bestselling author of <I>Six Days of the Condor</I> * "A diamond is no one's best friend in this fast-paced novel filled with greed, violence, and politics. Hart writes with skill, wit, and evident knowledge about the diamond industry. Top-quality storytelling." * <I>Kirkus Review,</I> starred review * "A rare gem, punning aside, this will enthrall fans for Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne, and leave them hoping for more Alex Turner." * <I>Booklist</I>, starred review * "Studded with facts about black market diamond trading, this fictional thriller has adrenaline rushes, villainous plotters, and glamorous gems galore."
* <I>The Christian Science Monitor</I> *
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 230 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
431 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-63936-674-3 (9781639366743)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Matthew Hart has written about diamonds for Vanity Fair, the Atlantic, and the Times of London. His award-winning Diamond: The History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair was translated into six languages and made into a four-hour dramatic miniseries. He was a contributing editor of the leading New York diamond-trade publication, Rapaport Diamond Report. Matthew has traveled from the Arctic to Angola in pursuit of diamond stories. His first two thrillers, The Russian Pink and Ice Angel, are also available from Pegasus Crime. He lives in New York City.