Review of 'The Lost Diamond' by Kathleen McGurl
Review of 'The Lost Diamond' by Kathleen McGurl
Release date: February 27th, 2024
Publisher: HQ Digital
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REVIEW
It is no secret that I am a lover of Kathleen McGurl’s timeslip novels. Her stories speak to me as there are always gems of wisdom tucked in the layers. As a result, I connect deeply with her characters and understand their issues. Their trials put me in tears and their triumphs have me cheering! Her research skills are impeccable along with her ability to use that knowledge to her advantage. I feel fully transported to each setting and time period. And I slip easily into the characters’ shoes which gives me a strong emotional experience. The parallels between past and present are remarkable, along with the transitions between the timelines. They are seamless. I never feel jolted as the two just flow back and forth like the waves on the shore, drawing me deeper into heart of the drama and characters’ lives in both past and present.
First off, in The Lost Diamond, what a Prologue! If that doesn’t get your heart racing, nothing will. It is a brilliant, riveting introduction to the past character (1947) Wilfred Fforbes-Whyte who is basically in a plane over the Alps that is threatening to crash. We learn of the importance of his briefcase and that it is bound up with all that is ‘precious in his life.’ Danger lurks both in the air and on the ground. ‘The case and its contents must reach their destination, otherwise everything he holds dear will be lost.’ We then learn of the diamond he is carrying and the curse that surrounds it. Sadly, he is meeting his end and his last thoughts are of Celia and the fact he is unable to save her now.
The Lost Diamond has an enthralling premise. We wonder: what has led up to this point of the plane crash? The first chapter transports us to Mont Blanc 2023 with Lisa and friend Gaby exploring the slopes. When they come upon an object trapped in the glacier, they see the effects of global warming as its icy edges are melting. After Lisa sees the glint of something metallic, she, along with Gaby, free it from the mountain’s clutches. It is a briefcase. Once opening it, the story behind this man who owned it, begins to unfold slowly. Lisa learns of a plane crash in 1947. And finds the diamond tucked inside, along with other papers and a letter. Her journey begins that leads her to a descendant.
I enjoy stories of finding treasures and this one with its tragic plane crash and a lost diamond captured my interest and heart. There is also a struggle between two cultures. India’s fight for independence from Britain and Celia’s battle to convince her father she wants to stay in the country she loves. She does not want go to England but her father insists. He was born in India and spent a few years at an English boarding school and then Oxford. Oddly he considers England his ‘home.’ He wants Celia to learn the English ways and education but that means she must leave all she cares about behind: including a young man she grew up with who has become more than a friend in her heart.
This story got me thinking a lot and in fact, I read it overnight as I could not stop following the plot and characters until I saw how everything panned out. There is a wonderful sense of mystery surrounding the diamond and whether the curse is real. For every woman in the family ends up dying young. Does this diamond have power or are these things just tragic coincidences? When Lisa Statton and her friend stumble over the diamond on one of their mountain treks, and learns more about this gem that has been stolen by one family from another, she really does not believe the curse that surrounds it. Until something happens to her after meeting Ben, that puts a little doubt in her mind. For he also does not want to believe it but cannot help wonder due to his own losses.
Of course, love is part of the story. There are a couple of beautiful romances that add an extra sparkle to the drama. In the present day we have Lisa and Ben who helped each other unravel the mystery. He has a connection to the gem and struggles with the legend of the curse and how it might affect their relationship—even though he tries not to believe in it. And the past story of Celia and Vijay is quite moving. Their link to the diamond and events that surround it, slowly become known and lead in some interesting directions. Then there is Wilfred’s love for Celia. A father who truly loved his daughter but did not show it. He writes a moving letter to express his feelings that had me in tears.
I enjoyed both threads equally and how the mystery is solved from the past in the present. I won’t give anything away but at the close of the plot, I felt uplifted by the outcome and refreshed in my imagination. It’s an inspiring story of history, mystery and mayhem around an intriguing legend. Two close families at war, caught up in betrayal, manipulation and secrecy. But the final resolution is exciting when the present offers healing for the past and remedy’s an age-old grievance. It left me cheering, happy and satisfied with the result. I loved The Lost Diamond immensely. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to the author and publisher HQ Digital for a review copy.
