Diamonds & Deception

Karina Cardinal Mystery, Book 3

Fiction - Mystery - Sleuth
291 Pages
Reviewed on 08/04/2019
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite

Diamonds & Deception: Karina Cardinal Mystery, Book 3 is a sleuth mystery novel written by Ellen Butler. Karina was still steaming from what was officially her first big fight with her boyfriend, Mike Finnegan. They had long been friends and getting to the next level, becoming a couple, had seemed so easy and effortless -- that is, until he told her about the extent of the FBI’s investigation into her role in the Harper murder. She felt betrayed and outraged and had stormed out of the restaurant where they had been about to dine. Karina was still doing a burn hours later when her sister, Jilly, called with an invitation to join her and her fellow school teacher and friend, Sadira, at a charity fashion show the next day. When Sadira is mysteriously implicated in a diamond robbery, Jilly promised to have Karina, who was a lawyer, help her out. What seemed to be an open and shut case would turn out to be even more complicated than anyone could have imagined.

Ellen Butler’s Diamonds & Deception is a fast-paced and well-written story featuring Karina Cardinal as the main lobbyist/lawyer character. While this is the third book in the Karina Cardinal Mystery Series, Butler includes sufficient background information for me to enjoy it as a standalone novel. Karina’s occupation as a lobbyist gives an interesting twist to this sleuth mystery series, and her ongoing interactions with Silverthorne Security impart dimension and heft to the story. The plot kept me engaged and focused, and the characters are finely crafted and believable. Diamonds & Deception: Karina Cardinal Mystery, Book 3 is most highly recommended.