THE WATER DIAMOND

In Wilson’s thriller, one in a series, a stolen bracelet triggers the hunt for another piece of jewelry that’s been missing for nearly a century.

When a thief makes off with the famous Water Diamond, an insurance company calls in Taylor Hunter. The “diamond detective,” who prefers to go by her surname, arrives at the crime scene with her trusty mini-dachshund, Glimmer. The thief also killed a security guard in a hit-and-run, hence the presence of Hunter’s perpetually smirking ex-husband, Chad Rosas, a Phoenix homicide detective. It’s the bracelet that Hunter focuses on, part of a legendary duette—two diamond bracelets that connect to form a necklace. The bracelets had belonged to twin sisters, one of whom died in an alleged boating accident and whose bracelet has been missing since 1929. Hunter digs into the bracelets’ complicated history with assistance from her own jewelry-savvy twin sister, Hope. Tracking down someone who’s already committed a murder, however, is all sorts of dangerous. Wilson’s labyrinthine mystery is chock-full of technical jargon (a provided glossary helps considerably) and an ever-increasing cast of allies and suspects. Some of the clues Hunter uncovers get lost in the mix, but the cast shines, especially the returning characters, like Hunter’s potential romantic interest, an FBI agent; her and Hope’s father, a wanted jewel thief; and Glimmer, who has a nose for diamonds and the growling protectiveness of a German shepherd. Hunter herself is an engaging protagonist who’s bright and capable but never reckless (though she faces danger head-on). She’s also quite witty, delightfully delivering the novel’s razor-sharp dialogue: “Heights and I had a deal—I didn’t acknowledge them, and they didn’t get inside my head.” This sophomore series installment ends with a clear direction for the next entry.

A taut mystery distinguished by its panache and its charming characters.