Murder is Not A Girl's Best Friend

Diamond District Mystery Series, Book 2

Fiction - Mystery - Murder
256 Pages
Reviewed on 06/02/2022
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    Book Review

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Murder is Not A Girl’s Best Friend: Diamond District Mystery Series, Book 2 is a work of fiction in the murder mystery, crime, and suspense subgenres and serves as the second installment in the series. It is suitable for the general reading audience and was penned by Rob Bates. The book follows journalist Mimi Rosen as she finds herself investigating another mystery after a diamond worth millions of dollars is stolen and people connected with it are murdered. The conspiracy leads Mimi to the diamond fields of Africa and the realization that the gem may be a blood diamond.

This engaging mystery novel is generously peppered with insights into the modern diamond trade that added an interesting new dimension. Rob Bates has a great deal of knowledge about the diamond industry and has utilized every ounce of that specialist knowledge to create a web of intrigue that feels grounded in reality and accurate to real-world issues regarding the trade. The prose is excellent throughout as Mimi Rosen is vividly brought to life, establishing herself as a grounded but exciting character who is leading the investigation. I particularly enjoyed how the author used Mimi to inject a well-refined sense of humor into the story, something that helped to make Murder is Not A Girl’s Best Friend feel like a truly engaging piece of literature with multiple facets that broadened the appeal. A tight, dynamic mystery steeped in real-world experience and led by a delightful protagonist, I recommend this book to all.

Dan Scott

"Murder is Forever," Rob Bates' first mystery novel was an intriguing read with relatable characters and an enticing plot. Yet, creating a murder mystery series with expanded character personalities and realistic dialogue is akin to making a movie sequel that is as good, or better, than the original - extremely hard to pull off.

Well, hats off to Rob Bates for building a captivating bridge from his first novel, and making "Murder is Not a Girl's Best Friend" a stand-alone hit on its own merit.

I especially enjoy how Rob ends his chapters. Each close with a decisive, eye-brow raising style. It's like a "built-in satisfaction button" for the reader - providing a dynamic section close with an intriguing segue to the next chapter.

If you enjoy being enveloped in a slice-of-life murder mystery novel with many unexpected twists and turns, I suggest you get Rob's first, and now his second book, and be sweep up in it all.