Slay It With a Diamond

by Rob Bates

Would you buy a "cursed" diamond?

 

New York diamond dealer Max Rosen would. He doesn't believe in curses. But that was before the wife of the famous jeweler who sold him a supposedly "cursed" gem ended up dead.

 

Soon, Max's daughter-journalist-turned-amateur-sleuth Mimi Rosen-and her policeman boyfriend are drawn into the dark history of the jeweler's powerful family. The trail leads Mimi to their opulent mansion, where she uncovers long-buried scandals, a bitter family feud, plus surprising evidence the curse is real-and might kill her next.

 

Fun and fast-paced, and filled with heart and humor, SLAY IT WITH A DIAMOND not only puts the diamond and jewelry industry under the microscope, but tackles the age-old question of why sparkly objects enchant us so.

 

258 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2023

About the author

Rob Bates has written about the diamond industry for 30 years. He is currently the news director of JCK, the leading publication in the jewelry industry. He has won 12 editorial awards for his work.

His first novel in the Diamond District Mystery Series, A Murder is Forever, was published by Camel Press in October 2020. It was called a “sprightly debut” by Publishers Weekly, which said that “readers will look forward to Mimi’s further adventures.”

The second novel, Murder is Not a Girl’s Best Friend, was published by Camel Press in February 2022. Booklist said it offers “not only an engaging sleuth with an amusingly snarky sense of humor but also a cleverly constructed plot rich with fascinating tidbits about the diamond trade.”

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Slay It With a Diamond is the third book in The Diamond District Mystery Series. Even though this is the third book in the series you could easily read it as a standalone. I am coming in from the wrong end and didn’t realise it until the end so will have to go back and start with the first book.
It is a fun cosy mystery set in the heart of New York City’s Diamond District. Rob gives us an entertaining story which showcases his flawless knowledge and understanding of such a world.
Our journalist turned detective, well detective might be a stretch, amateur sleuth is a better description, finds herself smack dab in the middle of the dark and dangers cutthroat underworld of diamonds, curses, the rich and powerful, feuds, lies and secrets.
Mimi is an interesting character and I’m not really sure how to take her she is a mess really. She is naïve and jumps headfirst before thinking, thank God for her boyfriend is all I can say. I had mixed feeling about her at times and some of the other interesting and eclectic characters.
There is mystery, tension, suspense, sass, wit and humour that I found myself laughing at times and shaking my head at others.
It is a well-paced story that kept me guessing with enough twists and turns to keep the pages turning.
Overall, this is a fun and entertaining and informative tale.
I look forward to seeing what Rob brings next to the table.

[Lorralei Hoerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Fun, fast paced cozy mystery that was very enjoyable. Slay it with a Diamond is Book 3 in the Diamond District Mysteries and this is the first book I picked up from this author and series and I will be definitely will have to circle back and read the other books. I love to curl up to a good cozy mystery with murder, mafia, secrets, lies and a diamond.

Mimi Rosen works for her father's business in the diamond industry, even though she would love to find some work as a freelance journalist, her passion. When a chance encounter of a precious diamond comes in, at first Max Rosen, Mimi's dad is a bit hesitant. With this diamond, it opens up secrets and murder....will Mimi sleuth out the truth...

Definitely read and find out!! Very good story and very enjoyable.

[Jayme Raffauf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I have not read the prior two books in the Diamond District Mystery Series, I had no trouble understanding the characters and their dynamics. This was a fun read that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved the various family dynamics and Mimi is a super relatable lead character. I mean, who doesn’t love a book about a cursed diamond?! Slay It With a Diamond is a fun mystery book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series and more books from Rob Bates.

[Harlequin Books]

Mystery & Detective
Miniseries
The Diamond District Mystery Series

[Kirsten Berkebile · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by Rob Bates. I couldn’t put it down at all, I actually read the book in one day. There is a lot going on throughout the story, there is love, death, confessions, and of course diamonds. We all know that Diamonds are a girl’s best friend at least what we are told growing up. However, in the diamond in this story is not meant to be anyone’s best friend. Mimi finds herself under attack once her and her family purchase the “cursed diamond” from the wife of a famous jeweler who is found murdered. Can Mimi find out who murdered her friend without getting hurt herself? Read to find out and to see what happens to the diamond at the end.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Slay It With A Diamond is the third book in The Diamond District Mystery Series by Rob Bates. This is an intriguing cozy mystery with crime and investigation, drama, a snapshot of the diamond/jewellery industry, secrets, scandal, revelations, humour, witty banter, sassiness, danger, tension, suspense, and surprising developments.
I hadn’t realised that this was the third instalment when I dived in- but luckily, even though it is well into the series, it can be read as a standalone. Having said that though, I am intrigued by what might have happened in the previous books, so I will definitely be going back and explore the other two books before continuing on with any new instalments.
I did enjoy the story, although it did get a little wordy in places, but thankfully that didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the mystery. Mimi took some getting used to, as she really annoyed me to begin with, which made it hard to connect with her- but I eventually found my groove as I got to know her better. The characters are well developed individuals with their own unique quirks and flaws, which gave the story an added element of interest and believability.
I also appreciated the glossary of Yiddish/Hebrew/ and Diamond Industry terms provided at the back of the book- it also added interest, as well as making things easier to ‘understand’.
The series (so far) contains:
-A Murder Is Forever (Book #1)
-Murder Is Not A Girl’s Best Friend (Book #2)
-Slay It With A Diamond (Book #3)
Looking forward to more from Mr. Bates.
Happy Reading…

Thank you, Rob Bates!

[Kerry carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in The Diamond District Mystery Series. This is a cosy mystery filled with twists and turns that will keep you guessing from beginning to end.
I read this book without realising it was the 3rd one however it didn't take away my enjoyment of the story. These books can be read as a standalone however I will be going back to read the first too books in the series.
This is a story based in the world of diamonds, from buying them to selling them and every part in-between. It was a really unique story as I knew little about the process before.
Imparticular we are following 1 diamond that is supposedly cursed but is there such as thing as a cursed diamond?

When the seller of the "cursed" Diamond is found dead the our main character and amateur sleth decides to investigate. Was the diamond really cursed? What will happen to the person who now had possession of the diamond now? Will they suffer the same fate?

This is a story full of twists and turns, secrets and lies, cursed diamonds and a question everyone wants an answer to, who does the diamond belong to? And does it really hold a curse.
Mimi is determined to find out and get to the bottom of the mystery even if it could put her own safety in danger.

I love Mysteries and this was fast paced and engaging. I loved how determined Mimi was to get to the truth and how that determination kept pushing her forwards. Overall it was a really enjoyable mystery.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author and not my usual cup of tea, but it was interesting and sprinkled with a few twists and kept the action moving to keep my interest.

Mimi isn’t where she thought she would or wants to be. Mimi had a short lived career as a journalist and when that ended she wound up working for her father in his diamond store. She is in a long-term relationship with Michael, but she is not sure where that is headed because after a year together, she has yet to meet his daughter or his mother.

When Mimi reaches out to an old friend about a writing job, the friend, Rosalyn, asks about meeting with Mimi’s dad to sell a diamond. The diamond is a rare black diamond that is supposedly cursed. When the diamond causes problems for a different friend of Mimi’s, she feels the need to investigate the history of the diamond to prove that it is not cursed. Through this process, Mimi also finds out what happened to Rosalyn.

Mimi puts her life, her father’s business, her relationship with Michael and her freedom at risk to solve this mystery. With all the twists and suspects along the way, a solution is found!!

The book was a good way to spend a rainy afternoon.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and engaging cozy mystery which kept me hooked throughout. Having not realised it was part of a series I happily read it as a standalone story, however as I enjoyed this story I will be reading the previous books in the series. Max Rosen is a diamond dealer in New York and when he’s offered a ‘cursed’ diamond he buys it as he does not believe in curses. That is until the wife of the famous jeweller who sold him the ‘cursed’ gem ends up dead. Max’s daughter Mimi, a journalist and amateur sleuth decides to investigate along with her policeman boyfriend. The couple are soon drawn into the jewellers powerful family’s rather dark history, which includes bitter family feuds and long buried scandals. Mimi ends up at the family’s opulent mansion where she is rather surprised to find evidence that not only is the curse real but that it might kill her next. This was a fast paced story with an intriguing storyline and quirky characters which kept me happily turning the pages. It was a fun and at times humorous read, and the mystery element kept me guessing as the plot was full of twists and turns. An entertaining read.

[Tausha Treadway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slay It With a Diamond (Diamond District Mystery Book 3) by Rob Bates. This is my first read by this author but it won't be my last. It's the 3rd book in the Diamond District series but can be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed it. Its a fast paced mystery that will have you flipping pages until you finish. Its the story of Max Rosen a diamond dealer in New York when he is offered to purchase a cursed diamond he buys it because he doesn't believe in curses. When the wife of the jeweler who sole him the diamond ends up dead he has second thoughts about curses. Mimi is Max's daughter and she's an investigative journalist so she decides to investigate the death of the dealers wife. What she finds is a dangerous world of diamond dealings that is as cutthroat as it gets! Will Mimi come out of this investigation alive? She tends to be really impulsive and the danger she is dealing with is not to be handled lightly. Such a good fast paced mystery.

[Heather Knalls · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mimi is a journalist at heart but left the business to come back and work for her fathers diamond company. Rosalyn was a friend that Mimi met while working at a PR firm back in the day. She is now married into a very influential family the Lowery’s. They own one of the biggest name diamond businesses in the area. Rosalyn has called up Mimi to set up the sale of a diamond, but Mimi doesn’t feel comfortable with it due to who Rosalyn’s husband is and what he does. Rosalyn has come to sell the Heartbrooch, which is an intricate golden brooch with an almost perfect black diamond as its center. After selling said diamond to Mimi and her father Rosalyn is found murdered. Now everyone is saying the brooch belongs to them and Mimi and her father no longer know what to do with this cursed diamond brooch. Will Mimi find out what happened to Rosalyn or will she find herself in more trouble than she already is?

[Maikalani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slay it with a diamond peaked my interest because of the murder mystery. It was a bit hard to fall along with the transitions of characters speaking in first person versus third. The mystery was a good one but the ending became overwhelming with its information. An entire chapter or 2 dedicated to a couple that weren’t the main.
I enjoyed the female characters quirkiness and her love for solving mysteries, being a good daughter, and striving to become something great.

The last few chapters of the book could be considered an epilogue there really wasn’t much warrant to them other than providing insight to what happens to the non main characters and to the main character. Wrapping up a few ends to something mentioned at the beginning of the chapter.

Overall the mystery was great, I could do without the considerably detailed ending of their life after the mystery’s been solved however I’m sure some will enjoy that.

[Kiana Corley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read that keeps you wanting to know more. This book has a well-developed plot that makes you want to find out what is going to happen next.

This book follows the story of a cursed diamond. Mimi Rosen is a young journalist and enjoys sleuthing to find out the truth behind things. After her father purchases this cursed diamond and her mother ends up dead this kicks her sleuthing into high gear. Her sleuthing leads her to find out more about the jeweler who sold the diamond and the history of their family.

What happens when something seems too unreal to be true? Do curses really exist or did something else happen? What other secrets lie behind a powerful family in the diamond industry? Is the curse real or just a way to get people interested in this diamond?

Read this book to find out what Mimi and her boyfriend are able to find out.

[Tara Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slay It With A Diamond is Book Three in The Diamond District Mystery Series. It is a cozy mystery with drama, suspense, action, danger, secrets, lies, humor, and witty banter. The story is set in New York City’s Diamond District and centers around the character of Mimi who is an amateur sleuth. Mimi used to be a journalist and loves a good mystery that she can delve into. As she digs into the mystery behind a cursed diamond she uncovers long-buried secrets, family feuds, and scandals that put her life in danger. A great read that takes Mimi into the cutthroat world of diamonds and how sinister it can be. The characters are quirky, and Mimi is someone that can be simultaneously smart and somewhat naive. Her boyfriend seems to help her remain focused and grounded. An entertaining read with twists and turns that will compel you to read to the end.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max Rosen does not believe in curses so when he's offered a "cursed" diamond, he goes through with the transaction to acquire a rare black diamond. Max's daughter, Mimi, is an amateur sleuth who starts investigating the lore behind the diamond. She comes across several different versions of the story that she is able to filter out.

This was a good book that held my attention throughout. The characters are well-developed and the story is easy to follow. There is mystery and intrigue, along with a small bit of romance, although that's almost as complicated as the mystery.

This book is a part of a series but can be read as a standalone. There are mentions to previous cases involving Mimi but I don't feel that missing the backstory affected this one.

[Smutty~ Vibes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slay it with a diamond is the third book in this series. Although I was late to this series, so I did not read the first two books, but I was still able to follow this book with no issues. I plan on going back and catching up, also this is the first book that I have read by this author. Slay it with a diamond is a fast-paced cozy mystery read. I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed reading about Max who stole a cursed diamond and follow along with his daughter Mimi Rosen Durning this journey of life. Honestly if it wasn't for work I would of had this book done a lot faster. I look forward to reading more books by this author and i highly recommend this book be added to your TBR list. Thank you to this author for a great series.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book three of the Diamond District Mystery Series, this book focuses on the mystery of a supposedly cursed diamond. Mimi, the main character and sleuthing journalist, works with her diamond dealer father, and her fiancé cop to solve a murder left in the wake of the diamond. I started reading this series with this book, which can easily be read as a stand-alone, though I now have the first two books on my to-be-read list after reading this adventure. Though the beginning did start slower than I'd like typically, the approach did work for this book - especially seeing as this is the first of the series I've had the pleasure to read. I enjoyed the build-up of the story and the character interactions and dynamics the author showcased.

[Paloma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mimi is jealous of her college friend Roz, she has it all: the career, the husband, and of course the money. After careful consideration and the motivation from her boyfriend Mimi sends a text to Roz, to see if she may have a freelance job for her in her magazine. Roz let her know that she may have something but first Mimi must help her to get her hands off 2 pieces of jewelry, since Mimi's father is into the diamond business this task should be easy. Oh but life is anything but easy, and those pieces of precious stones and metal will be the beginning of a mysterious adventure to Mimi and her inner circle.

This fast paced story is full of tension and action, you won't be able to put it down until the very end.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slay It With a Diamond by Rob Bates is the third book of the Diamond District Mystery Series. This is my first time reading a story by this author. This was a very intriguing read for me. After reading the synopsis I just had to give it a try, like i had to find out of if the diamond was really cursed of if it was just a series of coincidences that led them to believe it was( i'm not gonna spoil it for you lol you gotta read it 😂). I gotta say I really enjoyed it so much so I'm gonna go back to read the previous ones. This murder mystery with the journalist that doesn't stop no matter what, will give such an intense ride with so many twists and turns that you won't see coming. I highly recommend you read this and I look forward to reading the rest 🥰

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slay it with a Diamond
By: Rob Bates

This is the third book in the Diamond District Mystery Series, however, it is the first that I read. I will start out by saying that this book definitely functions as a standalone, I was not at all confused by what was going on in this story even though I hadn’t read the previous. This was such an interesting story and I was very interested to continue reading to find out if the diamond was truly cursed. This is a fantastic mystery that definitely delivers on twists and turns. The main character journalist was a nice addition. Mimi was a fantastically well developed character. I definitely recommend this story if you enjoy a good mystery that keeps you guessing!

[Kerry Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a well written mystery story filled with suspense and intrigue. Somehow, I think this is my first book involving a mystery about diamonds and I fully enjoyed every moment of it. This is the third book in the series but can be read as a standalone. It is easy to become invested in what is happening and I found myself swept up by the mystery that needed to be solved.
The characters were all good to read about and added to the overall story. I struggled a few times to fully connect with Mimi, but as the story went one I warmed to her and enjoyed her role in the book. This is a great book and I will be going back to read the others.

[La Toya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slay It With a Diamond by Rob Bates is the third book in the Diamond District Mystery series. Although this book is part of a series it is able to read as a stand-alone. Mimi Rosen is working in her father’s jewelry store when a former friend contacts her to sell a ‘cursed diamond”. Though Mimi and her father Max don’t want to believe the diamond they just acquired is cursed, things start to happen that make it seem that it may very well be. This was a good cozy mystery. The plot is well-written and keeps you engaged. The main character is relatable. There is humor and wit and some good surprises. I really liked reading Max and Mimi’s interactions. This book is good for mystery fans.

[Brandy L Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. I learned more about diamonds than I would have in any jewelry store. Bates knowledge of the diamond trade is well woven through this entertaining novel. There is a glossary of Yiddish/Hebrew words and diamond Industry terms provided at the back of the book, which is a great help for the reader. The plot begins with the sale of a supposed cursed black diamond. We are then put in the dangers of the diamond world, curses, the rich and powerful, family feuds, lies, and secrets. I knew there would be trouble as soon as Mimi talked about African Diamonds! You'll enjoy this cozy mystery too!

[Shelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story pulled me right in. Mimi gets pulled into a mystery when her friend, Roz, sells a "cursed" diamond to her dad, Max. I couldn't help but be pulled in by the "human spam" telling Mimi about the men following Roz that then followed Mimi, etc. It was like a domino chain falling over. The mystery started and you couldn't stop. You had to follow it to the end. Thankfully, Michael was there to help her because she was way in over her head at times. I came into the series here at book three and I will be going back to book one. You can read as a stand alone. The characters are awesome. They are totally relatable. The story is very engaging. It's a fun cozy as you solve the mystery.

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read this book I did not realise it was the third book in a series. It really reads very well as a stand alone.
Mimi is a bussing journalist and amaetur sleuth that sees herself as a detective, she does come across a little ditzy but quite lovable and she is definitely full of enthusiasm especially in this case with the ‘cursed black diamond’
The story itself keeps you entertained and the characters develop as the story unfolds. It is not my usual genre to read but I found it quite enthralling, and the need to know what happens keeps you reading.
Certainly an author I will be looking at reading more from.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for shiny things and murder so when I had an opportunity to read about diamonds and murder…sign me up! This is book 3 in the series and while you don't necessarily need to read the other 2, I think it would help. I liked the idea of the plot being a hybrid learn about diamonds/murder mystery and it was done well...but there were parts that were very slow for me and just really kind of overdone. The beginning was hard for me to get into, but once I did, it was able to keep my interest. I also felt that there was a lot of time spent on characters that weren't necessarily integral to the plot and that slowed the book down as well. I liked it...it was a fine read.

[Shannen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an enjoyable and cozy mystery! I accidentally picked this book up instead of starting with the first in the series, but it was still entertaining. I will definitely be picking up the previous books as well since this one turned out to be a diamond in the rough. It took a bit for me to find the rhythm of the story, but once I did there was just no putting it down. Mimi was a character I could relate to well and was invested in her very quickly. This was my first book by this author, and it is far from the last. I recommend picking this one up if you are interested in cozy mysteries with plenty of twists and turns!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure what I was expecting with reading this book, but I enjoyed it a lot. This was the first book I've read from this author. I hadn't realized it was part of a series, but now that I know, I plan to read the rest. This was such a fun mystery, full of twists that I didn't see coming. Mimi is determined to solve this mystery no matter what. The author, Rob Bates, really knows his stuff about the diamond industry, and I found this book to be quite interesting. And I really wanted to find out if the diamond was really cursed or not! Now that I know, I suggest you read it to find out the answer, too!

[Michelle Dutch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming Mimi Rosen is stuck in a job with her father in the diamond district when a friend from her past arrives with a black diamond of questionable heritage. Her friend is murdered, and it becomes a question of friendship and memory as she delves into the convoluted history of the rock and the rich family who claims it. Through some tough threats and the love and humor from her father and his lawyer, and her cop boyfriend, Mimi spends a whirlwind of days seeking answers she never expected and an experience of a lifetime. All's well that ends well when Mimi masterfully rounds up the suspects and reveals all. Sweet read.

[Ash Bash · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a true crime lover, and I listen to some pretty awesome podcasts about crime, that lead you down the path of mystery.  I was so excited to get deep into this book and read a work of fiction that is crime related.  Loved reading this book so much and I need to find the time to catch up on book's 1 and 2!  I originally forgot that this is a stand alone book! I was so easily able to follow the story and this is book number 3 which is quite amazing.  I love that i was able to get lost in the mystery, and though at times I wanted to solve it, I was STILL wrong!