Blood Diamonds

Ben Kamal and Danielle Barnea #5

by Jon Land

The West African country of Sierra Leone has long been known as a diamond-rich area. With civil war ripping the heart out of the country, all aspects of life there are unstable. Worst of all, guerrilla rebels, in their lust for the resource-rich land, have sunk to depravity and terrorism to evict people from the country.

It's into this maelstrom of political and emotional turmoil that Ben and Danielle must go. The leader of the rebels, a fanatical and charismatic woman known only as the Dragon, is not content with ravaging her own country. She plans a final coup that will perfect her power and topple Western governments-unless Ben and Danielle can stop her in time.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Middle East, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

384 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Jon Land is an American author of thriller novels and a screenwriter. He graduated from Brown University in 1979 Phi Beta Kappa and Magna cum Laude. He often bases his novels and scripts on extensive travel and research as well as a twenty-five year career in martial arts. He is an associate member of the US Special Forces and is an emeritus board member the International Thriller Writers. John currently lives in Providence, Rhode Island.

Reviews

[Hermien · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tense and intriguing Ben Kamal and Daniella Barnea investigation.

[Robert Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished 08/07/2012. Danielle Barnea and Ben Kamal once again become involved in international affairs by strange and far reaching circumstances. Diamonds from Sierra Leone are being used to finance a rebel group trying to over- throw the government. The arms & a genetically altered aphid are coming from Russia and the former USSR weapons are on sale by the Russian Mafia. Also involved is an Al Queda sheik from Syria and the whole affair ends up on the Mississippi in the US.

[Shirley A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice turn about

Fast paced action involving international interests working with Russian underworld in the Middle East, Africa, and the US. Nice turn about Danielle reveals to Matuba. Same two main characters readers have learned to love in previous books in the series.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner. I could not put it down. An intelligent weaving of many tales and intertwining of histories with a happy ending.

[Avalon Newell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good action and a couple of surprise twists. Found several typo errors that should be. No plans to read more books by this author

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this series

[Heather B Blair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recently met a refugee from Sierra leone, so I was interested in reading this book. It is fiction and not at all what I expected. That sadi, if you like action packed thrillers, this is a decent one, along the lines of Robert Ludlum. It is not really about Sierra , but does give you little idea of what has gone on there. I think I will a different book to learn about Sierra leone. This book has some language, and of course violence.

[Paula Howard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Diamonds find Ben and Danielle fighting against a group that is purchasing Blood Diamonds with the intent to fund war against Israel and the U.S.

The weapon of choice is 'black death' which has the ability to kill large numbers of people quickly.

The books leaves us hanging as to what choices Ben and Danielle will make regarding each other and where to live.

[Ed Schmidt]

While Danielle is following a courier of blood diamonds from Sierra Leone to Israel, Ben is arresting a Russian delivering arms to Palestine. Soon it is learned that the cases are connected, leading Ben and Danielle all over the world chasing down leads. They discover a Black Death that a rebel leader in Sierra Leone is about to deliver to the USA. The race is on to stop it.

[Karlene Elliott-mclean · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive knowledge of the diamond trade underground and the civil war knowledge in Sierre Leone was very detailed. A good book. In the end though I would have love to know what kind of illness the Dragon had.

[Alice · Rating 2 out of 5]

Action/suspense just isn't my genre.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ben & Danielle #6

[Jody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read....finished about three days ago. Constant action that keeps you guessing until the last page. Love this series by Mr. Land.

[Paul Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine story,lots of action,good plots,very entertaining :-).

[Scott Breslove · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn't too bad. It was a little hard to get into the characters, but that is possibly because I started the series in the middle? Pretty entertaining, but nothing that stood out.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing. I recommend this book to anyone who likes action novels.