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West 47th
In the heart of New York City is a solid block of buying, selling, haggling, and handshakes over million-dollar deals. West 47th Street is the diamond district. And whenever a big jewel heist is pulled off anywhere, the men and women on the street know about it - fast.
Now the word is out about a robbery in New Jersey that left a rich Iranian dead, his adulterous wife fighting for her life, and six million dollars worth of hot goods ready to hit the market. That's where Mitch Laughton comes in.
A former Madison Avenue jeweler, Mitch Laughton makes a lucrative but highly dangerous he recovers stolen insured jewelry. He's married to Maddie, a lustful, gorgeous, wealthy woman, who despite being blind plays flamenco guitar in the nude and lavishes luxuries on him. The last thing Mitch needs is more excitement in his life. Then he takes on the case of the Iranian jewel heist... and is caught in a violent spiral of deceit.
In pursuit of the missing swag, Mitch must confront two vicious though very different mobsters, a disillusioned cop, a half-mad fence, and informants of all shades. Yet it's only when Mitch makes a remarkable recovery of the missing merchandise itself that he finds the truth. Still out there is a pair of inscribed emeralds worth twenty-five million dollars to the finder. More than enough to turn honest men into liars, thieves into killers, and Mitch and Maddie into a couple who must run - and fight - for their lives.
Now the word is out about a robbery in New Jersey that left a rich Iranian dead, his adulterous wife fighting for her life, and six million dollars worth of hot goods ready to hit the market. That's where Mitch Laughton comes in.
A former Madison Avenue jeweler, Mitch Laughton makes a lucrative but highly dangerous he recovers stolen insured jewelry. He's married to Maddie, a lustful, gorgeous, wealthy woman, who despite being blind plays flamenco guitar in the nude and lavishes luxuries on him. The last thing Mitch needs is more excitement in his life. Then he takes on the case of the Iranian jewel heist... and is caught in a violent spiral of deceit.
In pursuit of the missing swag, Mitch must confront two vicious though very different mobsters, a disillusioned cop, a half-mad fence, and informants of all shades. Yet it's only when Mitch makes a remarkable recovery of the missing merchandise itself that he finds the truth. Still out there is a pair of inscribed emeralds worth twenty-five million dollars to the finder. More than enough to turn honest men into liars, thieves into killers, and Mitch and Maddie into a couple who must run - and fight - for their lives.
390 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1996
24 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Gerald A. Browne
18 books16 followersGerald Austin Browne (born 1924, in Connecticut, USA) is an American author and editor.
Browne was raised in Litchfield County, Connecticut. He attended the University of New Mexico, The Sorbonne and Columbia University, where he won several literary awards. His first novel, It's All Zoo, was written while he was living in Paris and working as a fashion photographer. His bestselling novels include 11 Harrowhouse, Green Ice, 19 Purchase Street, Stone 588, and Hot Siberian, several of which have been made into films. He lives in New York with his wife, Merle, a model and actress, as well as the co-author of a novel entitled The Ravishers.
Browne was raised in Litchfield County, Connecticut. He attended the University of New Mexico, The Sorbonne and Columbia University, where he won several literary awards. His first novel, It's All Zoo, was written while he was living in Paris and working as a fashion photographer. His bestselling novels include 11 Harrowhouse, Green Ice, 19 Purchase Street, Stone 588, and Hot Siberian, several of which have been made into films. He lives in New York with his wife, Merle, a model and actress, as well as the co-author of a novel entitled The Ravishers.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 18, 2016
Freelance jewelry insurance investigator hunts for stolen Iranian gems with the help of his rich blind wife.
August 13, 2019
Once I discovered this author, I read nearly everything of his that I could lay my hands on. This was another gem-packed thriller.
His books will get your heart racing as the protagonist does the nearly impossible barely escaping with his life and the jewels.
Having read it oh-so-long-ago, the details are a bit fuzzy at this point so I picked up a copy from a Friends of the Huron Public Library only to discover I read it before. While I may re-read it some time in the future, for now, this review is as good as it gets. (Approximate date read...may be off by a year or so, but based on the time frame and recall of where I was working at the time).
His books will get your heart racing as the protagonist does the nearly impossible barely escaping with his life and the jewels.
Having read it oh-so-long-ago, the details are a bit fuzzy at this point so I picked up a copy from a Friends of the Huron Public Library only to discover I read it before. While I may re-read it some time in the future, for now, this review is as good as it gets. (Approximate date read...may be off by a year or so, but based on the time frame and recall of where I was working at the time).
September 27, 2020
This book was a little different than others I've read, but since I really liked Green Ice, I was interested on how the author would write this story. It is a story of a man involved with recovering "swag" (stolen jewels) for the % of the recovery, and well-known by the two mob bosses at each end of West 47th in New York. What I loved more than anything was how much in love he was with his blind excentric rich wife, and how their relationship was intertwined with this story. The risk of dealing with dangerous people put them in some tough situations. I like reading Gerald Browne and wil...
April 16, 2024
Gerald Brown at his BEST!
This is my favorite G. Brown, and I have read many. The characters are somewhat realistic, exciting, and quirky. The picture one gets of the NYC diamond business is eye opening to say the least. Description of the stones…I want to see in person. The tale is told with good timing, a page turner for sure, and care is taken at the end to resolve carefully, not in a big rush, that leaves the reader satisfied!
This is my favorite G. Brown, and I have read many. The characters are somewhat realistic, exciting, and quirky. The picture one gets of the NYC diamond business is eye opening to say the least. Description of the stones…I want to see in person. The tale is told with good timing, a page turner for sure, and care is taken at the end to resolve carefully, not in a big rush, that leaves the reader satisfied!
August 5, 2020
I can't decide to rate this as a "so-so" novel or a "very good" novel.
I'd have to say the twists and turns at the ending made up for some of the many long-winded, uninteresting pages between the covers.
That being said, I liked it but wouldn't read it again.
I'd have to say the twists and turns at the ending made up for some of the many long-winded, uninteresting pages between the covers.
That being said, I liked it but wouldn't read it again.
April 19, 2021
Okay book
September 2, 2025
So good! I read Stone 588 years ago and so I hunted down more by this author.
August 16, 2008
2 out of 4 Stars
Mitch Laughton recovers stolen jewels for the jewel district in NY, based around W. 47th St. He is married to Maddie, rich and blind. In trying to recover the Kalili jewels, he crosses an old time mob guy, Riccio, who tries to kill them. They set a trap at Maddie's Uncle Straw's estate. A rival mob boss, Visconti, secretly helps Mitch and Maddie. Everyone is after the 25 million dollar reward Iran is offering for the 2 emeralds - Mitch and Maddie recover them but lose them to the Iranian. Maddie tries to secretly give Mitch the 25 million - he knows, but will he let on?
Mitch Laughton recovers stolen jewels for the jewel district in NY, based around W. 47th St. He is married to Maddie, rich and blind. In trying to recover the Kalili jewels, he crosses an old time mob guy, Riccio, who tries to kill them. They set a trap at Maddie's Uncle Straw's estate. A rival mob boss, Visconti, secretly helps Mitch and Maddie. Everyone is after the 25 million dollar reward Iran is offering for the 2 emeralds - Mitch and Maddie recover them but lose them to the Iranian. Maddie tries to secretly give Mitch the 25 million - he knows, but will he let on?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2014
I didn't expect to enjoy this slightly seedy thriller so much! It's about jewel thievery and recovery and the mafia. Fun yet challenging proofing with lots of foreign terms. I highly recommend the audio version- the narrator does like a hundred voices in excellent NYC accents.
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August 8, 2013Read 5/97
October 15, 2016
It was okay if you're into gems and the mob.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews