Glitter of Diamonds
In the sequel to Shaded Light, N. J. Lindquist once again hooks us with deftly-drawn characters, complex story-lines, and thought-provoking issues, served up with her unique mix of tongue-in-cheek humor and gentle compassion.
This time, Lindquist takes readers into the world of major league baseball and its surrounding media. After Stasey Simon, an outspoken sports talk-show host, asks on-air for a volunteer to knock some sense into the home team’s temperamental new pitcher, Manziuk and Ryan hustle to catch a murderer swinging a lethal bat before the case escalates into an international incident.
While keeping the characters and plot in the forefront, Lindquist also manages to explore the intricate, almost symbiotic relationships between the management, players, fans, and media that make Major League Baseball a vital part of the North American culture.
As the crime threatens to escalate into an international incident, Manziuk draws on his own knowledge of baseball while his partner, Jacquie Ryan, tries to understand a game she’s never watched.
Reviews
"In her second mystery after Shaded Light, Lindquist, a master of plotting, seeds her tale with concealed clues and innuendos that keep readers guessing until the very end. Reminiscent of golden age mysteries, her latest will appeal to fans of classic mysteries." Library Journal "
"This is a modern-day whodunit, much in the style of the classic Christie novels. There are plot twists galore and you are guessing to the end. I had to stay up all night to finish it…." Natalie York, Armchair Interviews
"Although this reviewer very seldom watches a baseball game, listens to a talk show sportscaster, or ever reads anything on the sports page of the newspaper, this book was written in such a way that it's possible for someone like myself to enjoy the story…. Glitter of Diamonds is a book worth reading. N. J. Lindquist is fantastic in telling this story with humor, compassion, and commitment." Betty of the Betz Review, Hidden Staircase Mystery Reviews
"Sports fans and readers who like police procedurals will want to read GLITTER OF DIAMONDS where famous baseball players are shown to be ordinary people with the same stress and problems as anyone else. The investigation is fascinating to watch as the police follow the clues and eliminate suspects one by one. N.J. Lindquist is a fine writer who tells an exciting baseball whodunit." MidWest Book Review
"Baseball. There are few things that say lazy, hazy summer days than that sport. But this book is anything but lazy or hazy – and is one hell of a read. A Christie–style mystery, this one does a good job of it…. There are plot twists enough to keep you occupied, and enough other entertaining material to please even the most demanding reader." Mysterical – E Reviewed by Vero Caravette
"The carefully plotted story is neatly integrated into the world of pro sports — the emotions of the fans, the business-dollar-hype of management and agents, plus the media persuasiveness when it comes to the mystery of baseball as part of our cultural fabric. The writing has humour, the story-telling is edged with compassion and the characters are well drawn. The story is baseball, the language is the stress, ego and entertainment of professional sport and the result is an exciting stand-up triple." The Hamilton Spectator
"Lindquist has created a novel that will please both fans of baseball and police procedurals with is wit and originality. There's much to enjoy in this novel as the author brings to light the exciting and often convoluted world of Canadian baseball." NoName Cafe "N.J. Lindquist really shines as an author with the depth and the detail she put into this novel. I used to be an avid baseball fan, and I can tell you she has the baseball scene down pat. She also has invested a lot into making each character realistic… This would be a great book to introduce to a book club as its sports theme would be well received by men as well as women." Tracey's Book Nook
"I admit it. I didn't want to read this book. I'm not a sports fan. I am REALLY not a sports fan. The only sports I ever watch are the Olympics. So, when I picked up this book I didn't know what to expect. Well, I was delighted. It kept me hooked and reading until the very end. A wonderful mystery in the classic Agatha Christie style. Linda Hall, award-winning author and Christy nominee
