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The Diamond Seekers
When a courier for the powerful crime family descended from Niccolo Machiavelli realizes he's being followed by a rival family assassin, he takes a detour through the English countryside to shake his pursuer. He manages to hide his precious cargo a fortune in blood diamonds from Sierra Leone before his pursuer collides with an English family on a holiday drive.
The courier drowns in a swollen river; the mother and son die in the crash. The father is emotionally devastated, and retires in despair from his MI5 cipher career.
Five years later, the head of the Machiavelli crime family, Alberto Lorente, is still in pursuit of his missing diamonds and is ready to launch an ambitious scheme to recover them. What follows is a twisted trail of murder, kidnapping and layers upon layers of subterfuge.
The British Security Services are seriously compromised, but no one knows how or by whom. And suddenly, our former MI5 cipher expert is on everyone s shopping list.
The courier drowns in a swollen river; the mother and son die in the crash. The father is emotionally devastated, and retires in despair from his MI5 cipher career.
Five years later, the head of the Machiavelli crime family, Alberto Lorente, is still in pursuit of his missing diamonds and is ready to launch an ambitious scheme to recover them. What follows is a twisted trail of murder, kidnapping and layers upon layers of subterfuge.
The British Security Services are seriously compromised, but no one knows how or by whom. And suddenly, our former MI5 cipher expert is on everyone s shopping list.
224 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2012
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 24, 2015
Five years ago, M15 operator, Phillip Madden’s life became a painful hell from which he has never fully recovered. In a spilt second he lost his family when a mob courier, carrying a shipment of blood diamonds for one of the most powerful families around barreled into his family’s car. Now retired and fumbling through life, a shocking phone call leads him to question either his sanity or the truth of the events that terrible day. Is it a trap to snare him in case he knows where the missing diamonds are?
The Machiavelli don wants his diamonds, and will do anything to get them back, including killing anyone who gets in his way. Hang on to your passports and your spy kit, as Jack Everett and David Coles take us on a twisted tale of kidnapping, deceit, betrayal and murder in The Diamond Seekers where who can be trusted is in question and who has the diamonds is the million dollar question. Why are all guns pointed at the bullseye on Phillip’s back? Can he outrun, outwit and outlast evil long enough to find the answers to this mystery?
If you enjoy the grit and tension of the lawless vs the law, the intrigue of solving a mystery that has cost lives both physically and emotionally, and, THE CHASE, Jack Everett and David Coles have joined their creative genius and come up with a dark British thriller that will keep you glued to every page, visualizing each scene and ready to run with our hero at a moment’s notice. These two talented voices in the literary world have blended together seamlessly and pulled off edge-of-your-seat reading that is more twisted than a Gordian knot.
I received this copy from Jack Everett in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: December 9, 2013 (eBook)August 29, 2012 (paperback)
Publisher: Barking Rain Press
ISBN-10: 1935460447
ISBN-13: 978-1935460442
Genre: Mystery | Suspense | Thriller
Print Length: 226 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
The Machiavelli don wants his diamonds, and will do anything to get them back, including killing anyone who gets in his way. Hang on to your passports and your spy kit, as Jack Everett and David Coles take us on a twisted tale of kidnapping, deceit, betrayal and murder in The Diamond Seekers where who can be trusted is in question and who has the diamonds is the million dollar question. Why are all guns pointed at the bullseye on Phillip’s back? Can he outrun, outwit and outlast evil long enough to find the answers to this mystery?
If you enjoy the grit and tension of the lawless vs the law, the intrigue of solving a mystery that has cost lives both physically and emotionally, and, THE CHASE, Jack Everett and David Coles have joined their creative genius and come up with a dark British thriller that will keep you glued to every page, visualizing each scene and ready to run with our hero at a moment’s notice. These two talented voices in the literary world have blended together seamlessly and pulled off edge-of-your-seat reading that is more twisted than a Gordian knot.
I received this copy from Jack Everett in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: December 9, 2013 (eBook)August 29, 2012 (paperback)
Publisher: Barking Rain Press
ISBN-10: 1935460447
ISBN-13: 978-1935460442
Genre: Mystery | Suspense | Thriller
Print Length: 226 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
November 25, 2012
I was sent a free copy of this from Jack Everett and I really enjoyed it. Philip Madden is a likeable character with a difficult past he's trying to move on from, until Carl Fletcher calls him claiming to be his son. There is a good mix of characters in this book and many twists including an end which, for me, wasn't at all expected. It kept me intrigued all the way through and I'm more than happy to recommend.
September 4, 2012
Murder, Masons, Mystery, and International Intrigue
Coles and Everett didn't leave anything out in their latest murder mystery novel, The Diamond Seekers. The story begins when a figure from the protagonist's past contacts him out of the blue. Phillip Madden, the protagonist and former MI5 code breaker is suddenly thrust back into his past, a past he'd have preferred to leave behind. After numerous twists and turns that raise a long list of questions about who done it and why, the authors provide a satisfying conclusion that answers them all, but not before building up to an exciting climax.
If you enjoy mystery and a clever story told through well-crafted dialog played out by a memorable cast of characters, you'll enjoy the Diamond Seekers. There is room for more and I hope Coles and Everett hook us into a sequel that picks up where Diamond Seekers left off.
Coles and Everett didn't leave anything out in their latest murder mystery novel, The Diamond Seekers. The story begins when a figure from the protagonist's past contacts him out of the blue. Phillip Madden, the protagonist and former MI5 code breaker is suddenly thrust back into his past, a past he'd have preferred to leave behind. After numerous twists and turns that raise a long list of questions about who done it and why, the authors provide a satisfying conclusion that answers them all, but not before building up to an exciting climax.
If you enjoy mystery and a clever story told through well-crafted dialog played out by a memorable cast of characters, you'll enjoy the Diamond Seekers. There is room for more and I hope Coles and Everett hook us into a sequel that picks up where Diamond Seekers left off.
December 21, 2012
Phillip Madden was a top cipher expert and MI5 agent when his life was changed forever: during a family drive amid the tranquility of the English countryside his wife and son were killed in a tragic collision. Reeling from the loss, Phillip terminated his career as an agent and hid himself away in the reclusive country. Five years later, when Phillip is contacted by a man claiming to be his illegitimate and secret firstborn son, events are set into motion that will take him on an adventure he never expected. The crash that caused his wife and son’s deaths, presumed to have been an accident, is revealed to be connected with the death of a courier for the prominent Lorente crime family. Before he died, the courier had hidden a stash of blood diamonds. As a last and most unaware connection to the location of the blood diamonds, Phillip finds himself in the crosshairs of both the powerful Alberto Lorente and his ruthless Eastern European rival. Relying on his skills and a few remaining friends within MI5, Phillip enlists the aide of his Austrian friend Rudi, his newly discovered son Carl, and Rudi’s beautiful sister Astrid. But staying one step ahead of his captors proves difficult when his friends and foes come in all manner of disguises.
The writing team of Jack Everett and David Coles handle the explosive story of The Diamond Seekers with aplomb, moving through numerous developments and crafting imaginative characters with ease. The story’s layers of unpredictable drama beguile its reader as the hunt for the diamonds evolves to span England, Austria, Italy, and even Russia. Along the way every culture is uniquely captured through its characters, from the determined and resourceful Englishman Phillip to his Austrian ally Rudi, and most notably in the Italian mafia lord, Alberto Lorente. Bordering on the obsessed, Alberto models his life and work after his famed ancestor, Niccolo Machiavelli. The darkness surrounding his character leaps off the page and lends one of many fascinating threads to the masterfully detailed story Coles and Everett have created.
While a majority of the novel’s plot lends itself to the thriller genre with its taught mystery, romance also plays a part in the story through the burgeoning relationship between Phillip and Astrid. The theme of family also sees a tribute through Phillip’s connection with his son, Carl. Each unique story and their subsequent emotional journeys are all illustrated with color and charm throughout the novel. The many elements in The Diamond Seekers come together effortlessly to create a novel of terrific suspense and richness. The mystery in the book was what grabbed me the most; the way Coles and Everett applied contemporary styling to classic suspense gives the book a truly unique place in the world of mysteries. Its tone felt at once as timeless as an Ian Fleming novel while the setting maintained a fast-paced and contemporary energy. As a result, The Diamond Seekers is a book that will captivate its reader with page-turning suspense, entertain them with its cast of lively characters, and leave them satisfied with a thoroughly engrossing story.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on December 21, 2012 at LiteraryInklings.com. I received a copy of the book for the purpose of review.)
The writing team of Jack Everett and David Coles handle the explosive story of The Diamond Seekers with aplomb, moving through numerous developments and crafting imaginative characters with ease. The story’s layers of unpredictable drama beguile its reader as the hunt for the diamonds evolves to span England, Austria, Italy, and even Russia. Along the way every culture is uniquely captured through its characters, from the determined and resourceful Englishman Phillip to his Austrian ally Rudi, and most notably in the Italian mafia lord, Alberto Lorente. Bordering on the obsessed, Alberto models his life and work after his famed ancestor, Niccolo Machiavelli. The darkness surrounding his character leaps off the page and lends one of many fascinating threads to the masterfully detailed story Coles and Everett have created.
While a majority of the novel’s plot lends itself to the thriller genre with its taught mystery, romance also plays a part in the story through the burgeoning relationship between Phillip and Astrid. The theme of family also sees a tribute through Phillip’s connection with his son, Carl. Each unique story and their subsequent emotional journeys are all illustrated with color and charm throughout the novel. The many elements in The Diamond Seekers come together effortlessly to create a novel of terrific suspense and richness. The mystery in the book was what grabbed me the most; the way Coles and Everett applied contemporary styling to classic suspense gives the book a truly unique place in the world of mysteries. Its tone felt at once as timeless as an Ian Fleming novel while the setting maintained a fast-paced and contemporary energy. As a result, The Diamond Seekers is a book that will captivate its reader with page-turning suspense, entertain them with its cast of lively characters, and leave them satisfied with a thoroughly engrossing story.
(Review © Casee Marie, originally published on December 21, 2012 at LiteraryInklings.com. I received a copy of the book for the purpose of review.)
September 6, 2012
There seems to be a universal fascination with secret service agents, note the popularity of James Bond and Jason Bourne for example. Our hero in this book, Philip Madden worked in the cipher department at MI5, as did his wife Tracey. When his wife and son, Joshua, are killed in the car accident, Madden is forcibly retired and retreats to the countryside where he spends most of his days gardening and trying to get over the loss of his wife and child. But once working for the security services, you never really retire. Was the car crash really an accident? And if not, who was the target, Philip or his wife?
After a strange phone call from a man claiming to be his illegitimate son, an attempt is made on his life, and his friend is murdered, as the sniper mistook him for Philip. He goes on the run to Austria to a friend he knew from university. Someone has kidnapped his alleged son, Carl, and the kidnapper's want something from Philip. But what? Philip hasn't escaped the danger, he's brought it with him to his friends. Philip is being chased by various departments, MI5, MI6, Interpol, different sets of villains and he is not sure who to trust.
This was a roller coaster ride taking you from the English countryside, to Italy, to Austria and through quite a bit of Europe as Philip does his best to evade whoever is chasing him. The chapters are short and well-paced, leading you onto the next one and you just have to keep reading. Philip is a sympathetic character and you are immersed in his emotions, from his grief at losing his family to his determination to catch the culprits, single-handed if need be.
I enjoyed the book and I couldn't tell it was written by two people, it gelled so well.
However, there were a few niggles which took me out of the story. Philip Madden is the epitome of an Englishman, yet we had some lines from his point of view, where he stopped at a gas station instead of a petrol station. English people would rarely call it a gas station. He also mentioned majors at university. No, again that would be a US term. British people study a subject, such as English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics etc. It wouldn't be called a 'major', you would just call it by the subject. "I'm studying Chemistry" for example, or sometimes "I'm reading Chemistry" depending on the university. There is no major because you usually study one subject, and don't minor in anything. Some universities allow you to do a joint degree, Physics and Chemistry, for example, and both would be a full degree, not one of them being a minor.
Don't get me wrong, the book is a well-told tale with interesting and expertly drawn characters. Even the villains have depth, that is sometimes lacking in thrillers, but not here. Each character has their place in the overall arc, but it's really Philip Madden who you get to know the most and want to see him succeed. A very interesting read. The book has a bit of everything: adventure, action and even a bit of romance.
After a strange phone call from a man claiming to be his illegitimate son, an attempt is made on his life, and his friend is murdered, as the sniper mistook him for Philip. He goes on the run to Austria to a friend he knew from university. Someone has kidnapped his alleged son, Carl, and the kidnapper's want something from Philip. But what? Philip hasn't escaped the danger, he's brought it with him to his friends. Philip is being chased by various departments, MI5, MI6, Interpol, different sets of villains and he is not sure who to trust.
This was a roller coaster ride taking you from the English countryside, to Italy, to Austria and through quite a bit of Europe as Philip does his best to evade whoever is chasing him. The chapters are short and well-paced, leading you onto the next one and you just have to keep reading. Philip is a sympathetic character and you are immersed in his emotions, from his grief at losing his family to his determination to catch the culprits, single-handed if need be.
I enjoyed the book and I couldn't tell it was written by two people, it gelled so well.
However, there were a few niggles which took me out of the story. Philip Madden is the epitome of an Englishman, yet we had some lines from his point of view, where he stopped at a gas station instead of a petrol station. English people would rarely call it a gas station. He also mentioned majors at university. No, again that would be a US term. British people study a subject, such as English, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics etc. It wouldn't be called a 'major', you would just call it by the subject. "I'm studying Chemistry" for example, or sometimes "I'm reading Chemistry" depending on the university. There is no major because you usually study one subject, and don't minor in anything. Some universities allow you to do a joint degree, Physics and Chemistry, for example, and both would be a full degree, not one of them being a minor.
Don't get me wrong, the book is a well-told tale with interesting and expertly drawn characters. Even the villains have depth, that is sometimes lacking in thrillers, but not here. Each character has their place in the overall arc, but it's really Philip Madden who you get to know the most and want to see him succeed. A very interesting read. The book has a bit of everything: adventure, action and even a bit of romance.
September 24, 2012
“The Diamond Seekers” by Jack Everett and David Coles
Philip Madden, only five short years ago, was thin, dark hair, pleasant smile, laid-back, and charming. Now: serious, dull, intense, no color whatsoever. He even has the gray streaks he tries desperately to ignore. His life has been anything but calm and serene for quite a while. Beginning with a deadly car crash.
One day, Madden receives a call from a man identifying himself as Carl Fletcher and claiming to be his son. But how is it possible? The two men make plans to meet, however Carl never shows. Not really buying Fletcher’s claim, curiosity gets the better of Madden, and he calls a former associate of his, Brian Marley, who still works for the same Security Service Madden once worked for.
After his search, Marley gets a call from Deputy Director Hamler to come into his office where another S.S. man, John Jenkins joins them. Offering nothing on Fletcher, Hamler does comment on ‘The Prince,’ a case Madden had been working on five years ago when he was involved in ‘that car accident.’ Alberto Lorente, a.k.a. the Prince may be sick, but he still rules his entire “family” without hesitation.
Marley’s instructed to watch over Madden and was shot at as soon as he got to Madden’s door. Nice greeting, huh? Both men are unscathed physically and hunker down for the night. The following morning, through a case of mistaken identity, Marley is shot—so much for being a body guard of sorts—leaving Madden to run for his life to a friend of his named Rudi in Austria. Now the fun really begins.
What’s the real deal behind the shooting? Who is the Prince and is he involved with Phillip’s troubles? What does Deputy Director Hamler know, if anything? Is Carl real and if so, where is he? Who can really be trusted? The questions mount and the mystery deepens with every page and I loved every word! This is my first Everett/Coles tale, but I dare say…not my last. Their writing is exquisite and fascinating. If you need a good book to curl up with, read “The Diamond Seekers.” You won’t regret a second!
Reviewed by Terri Ann Armstrong, author of “How to Plant a Body”
Philip Madden, only five short years ago, was thin, dark hair, pleasant smile, laid-back, and charming. Now: serious, dull, intense, no color whatsoever. He even has the gray streaks he tries desperately to ignore. His life has been anything but calm and serene for quite a while. Beginning with a deadly car crash.
One day, Madden receives a call from a man identifying himself as Carl Fletcher and claiming to be his son. But how is it possible? The two men make plans to meet, however Carl never shows. Not really buying Fletcher’s claim, curiosity gets the better of Madden, and he calls a former associate of his, Brian Marley, who still works for the same Security Service Madden once worked for.
After his search, Marley gets a call from Deputy Director Hamler to come into his office where another S.S. man, John Jenkins joins them. Offering nothing on Fletcher, Hamler does comment on ‘The Prince,’ a case Madden had been working on five years ago when he was involved in ‘that car accident.’ Alberto Lorente, a.k.a. the Prince may be sick, but he still rules his entire “family” without hesitation.
Marley’s instructed to watch over Madden and was shot at as soon as he got to Madden’s door. Nice greeting, huh? Both men are unscathed physically and hunker down for the night. The following morning, through a case of mistaken identity, Marley is shot—so much for being a body guard of sorts—leaving Madden to run for his life to a friend of his named Rudi in Austria. Now the fun really begins.
What’s the real deal behind the shooting? Who is the Prince and is he involved with Phillip’s troubles? What does Deputy Director Hamler know, if anything? Is Carl real and if so, where is he? Who can really be trusted? The questions mount and the mystery deepens with every page and I loved every word! This is my first Everett/Coles tale, but I dare say…not my last. Their writing is exquisite and fascinating. If you need a good book to curl up with, read “The Diamond Seekers.” You won’t regret a second!
Reviewed by Terri Ann Armstrong, author of “How to Plant a Body”
September 29, 2013
When reading this crime (fiction) I was impressed by the story’s evolution. The prologue is dedicated to Enrique, courier of blood diamonds, and his follower. The characters are realistic and believable with all their flaws. The story is subtly written, making it difficult to put the book away.
Philip Madden, former MI5 cipher expert needs help. A man claiming to be his son does not show up at the scheduled meeting point. He is nearly shot at his house. He is told to get to a safe location and travels to Austria. Austria also proves to be dangerous for him, Back in England, Philip Madden, Carl Fletcher, Rudi and Astrid Pitzl find themselves repeatedly in dangerous situations. Is it just one of the Italian Prince’s men after them or – are there more of his associates involved?
The characters are realistic and believable with all their flaws. The plot-lines are very elaborate. The story is truly compelling, making it difficult to put the book away.
The authors David Coles (http://www.davidbcoles.co.uk/) and Jack Everett (http://www.jackleverett.me.uk/) have been writing together for many years and are the best of friends.
Congrats, David and Jack! Reading The Diamond Seekers means time well spent. :-)
A must read for all crime fans.
I am looking forward to reading further books by David Coles and Jack Everett.
Philip Madden, former MI5 cipher expert needs help. A man claiming to be his son does not show up at the scheduled meeting point. He is nearly shot at his house. He is told to get to a safe location and travels to Austria. Austria also proves to be dangerous for him, Back in England, Philip Madden, Carl Fletcher, Rudi and Astrid Pitzl find themselves repeatedly in dangerous situations. Is it just one of the Italian Prince’s men after them or – are there more of his associates involved?
The characters are realistic and believable with all their flaws. The plot-lines are very elaborate. The story is truly compelling, making it difficult to put the book away.
The authors David Coles (http://www.davidbcoles.co.uk/) and Jack Everett (http://www.jackleverett.me.uk/) have been writing together for many years and are the best of friends.
Congrats, David and Jack! Reading The Diamond Seekers means time well spent. :-)
A must read for all crime fans.
I am looking forward to reading further books by David Coles and Jack Everett.
May 4, 2015
*I was gifted this book in return for an honest review.*
When a courier for the powerful crime family descended from Niccolo Machiavelli realizes he's being followed by a rival family assassin, he takes a detour through the English countryside to shake his pursuer. He manages to hide his precious cargo a fortune in blood diamonds from Sierra Leone before his pursuer collides with an English family on a holiday drive.The courier drowns in a swollen river; the mother and son die in the crash. The father is emotionally devastated, and retires in despair from his MI5 cipher career.Five years later, the head of the Machiavelli crime family, Alberto Lorente, is still in pursuit of his missing diamonds and is ready to launch an ambitious scheme to recover them. What follows is a twisted trail of murder, kidnapping and layers upon layers of subterfuge. (Taken from the description). This book was well-written, with characters that are believable and intriguing. Jack Everett and David Coles write as one, creating scenes that are palpable and real-they draw you into the story. If you are looking for an intriguing story that is unpredictable, give this one a try!
When a courier for the powerful crime family descended from Niccolo Machiavelli realizes he's being followed by a rival family assassin, he takes a detour through the English countryside to shake his pursuer. He manages to hide his precious cargo a fortune in blood diamonds from Sierra Leone before his pursuer collides with an English family on a holiday drive.The courier drowns in a swollen river; the mother and son die in the crash. The father is emotionally devastated, and retires in despair from his MI5 cipher career.Five years later, the head of the Machiavelli crime family, Alberto Lorente, is still in pursuit of his missing diamonds and is ready to launch an ambitious scheme to recover them. What follows is a twisted trail of murder, kidnapping and layers upon layers of subterfuge. (Taken from the description). This book was well-written, with characters that are believable and intriguing. Jack Everett and David Coles write as one, creating scenes that are palpable and real-they draw you into the story. If you are looking for an intriguing story that is unpredictable, give this one a try!
September 9, 2012
Five years ago, Phillip Madden, MI5 cryptographer, and his wife and son were involved in a car crash which only Phillip survived.
Move to the present and Madden is now retired and living in Yorkshire tending his garden. When he gets a phone call from someone claiming to be a son he never new he had his previous life catches up with him again.
This is a good, fast paced, twisty-turney spy novel that keeps you guessing right up to the end.
What really impressed me with this novel is that no-one is clear-cut good or bad, all just various shades of grey. The good guys are good but not saintly. Il Principe, the villain of the piece, is nasty but the people around him in his little "kingdom" are all treat well.
It is not always clear who is on which side and I often found myself not trusting anyone and expecting twists that sometimes came and sometimes didn't.
This is the first book I have read by Coles and Everett but it will not be the last.
Move to the present and Madden is now retired and living in Yorkshire tending his garden. When he gets a phone call from someone claiming to be a son he never new he had his previous life catches up with him again.
This is a good, fast paced, twisty-turney spy novel that keeps you guessing right up to the end.
What really impressed me with this novel is that no-one is clear-cut good or bad, all just various shades of grey. The good guys are good but not saintly. Il Principe, the villain of the piece, is nasty but the people around him in his little "kingdom" are all treat well.
It is not always clear who is on which side and I often found myself not trusting anyone and expecting twists that sometimes came and sometimes didn't.
This is the first book I have read by Coles and Everett but it will not be the last.
September 15, 2012
I'm grateful to Jack Everett for offering to share his book with fellow readers/authors. I thought the book was so suspenseful that I read it every spare moment I had. The last night, I wouldn't go to sleep until I finished it. I just had to know what happened. I wasn't disappointed...I didn't see the end coming.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews