The Russian Pink
A Novel
-
-
4.5 • 2 Ratings
-
-
- $24.99
-
- $24.99
Publisher Description
An explosive debut featuring renowned diamond expert caught in a web of deception and malice while trying to uncover the secrets behind the most expensive diamond in the world.
When "The Russian Pink"—a stunningly large rose-hued diamond—makes a surprise appearance around the neck of Honey Li, the wife of surging presidential candidate Harry Nash, Alex Turner, an investigator for the Treasury Department’s diamond division and former C.I.A. agent, finds himself spiraling down a seemingly endless rabbit hole. A diamond like that always carries secrets, but the web of mystery behind "The Pink" is more complex than Alex could ever image.
Starting with the trail of damage from botched sting operation, Alex wavers between legal and illegal tactics, friends, family, and foes to find out why a mysterious Russian double agent betrayed him and the diamond ended up on a potential path to the White House. For wherever the Russian Pink goes, secrecy, deception, and death surely follow.
With echos of both John Le Carre and Jason Matthews, The Russian Pink is a stylish and fresh page-turner that catapults the reader into the world of blood diamond trading, a world that Matthew Hart, the author of the critically acclaimed Diamond, navigates with authoritative authenticity and wit.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Journalist Hart (Diamond) makes his fiction debut with an intriguing if convoluted spy thriller that explores the deadly side of the international diamond trade. Alex Turner, a former CIA officer turned Department of Treasury agent, doesn't know whom to trust when an investigation lands him in the middle of a conspiracy involving a billionaire U.S. presidential candidate, a consortium of Russian oligarchs, and a mysterious 464-carat diamond known as the Russian Pink, which turns up around the neck of the presidential candidate's wife. Alex joins forces with an opportunistic Russian double agent to hunt down the gem's source, which takes them from Europe's semilegitimate diamond markets to Africa's blood diamond mines. Hart's view of the diamond trade rings true, but his picture of the inner workings of national-level intelligence and law enforcement lacks the same depth. The plethora of characters slows the action, and he tends to tell rather than show, with many of the major plot beats explained after the fact. The original premise and assured prose suggest he's capable of doing better next time.
Customer Reviews
Pink on the inside
3.5 stars
Author
America journalist specialising in gold and diamonds. Contributing editor of the New York trade journal Rapaport Diamond Report. Diamond: the History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair (2001) was translated into six languages and made into a miniseries. Gold: the Race for the World’s Most Seductive Metal (2013) was adapted into a National Geographic TV special. He's also been published in Vanity Fair, The Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal, The Times of London, yada yada. This is his first novel.
In brief
The titular large pink hued diamond is "discovered" in a river in Angola by a dodgy character then on-sold through a series of increasingly dodgy characters (some of the Russian oligarchs: hence the title) until it appears around the neck of the beautiful and mysterious mixed race spouse of the favoured Democratic party candidate in the upcoming US Presidential election. Unsurprisingly, the Republican incumbent is keen to derail him. A dogged Treasury agent with a somewhat dodgy background of his own in the diamond trade is on the case, along with a cast of hundreds if not thousands. Stuff happens, twists and turns aplenty unfold, and many people die before resolution is achieved.
Writing
Crisp prose, fast-paced, intricately if derivative plotting, informative regarding the international diamond trade, and to a less extent the stock market. I thought the author tried a little too hard with his ending, but that might be just me. It's his first try at fiction after all.
Bottom line
Above average thriller that entertains
Wickedly clever
The Russian Pink drew me into its world of diamonds, dirt, money and raw human nature. From the first page I was leaning in, falling for Alex and Slav Lily and generally staying up way too late as the pages turned into chapters turning. I vote for Leo to play Alex when this book gets made into a movie. Please tell me there’s a sequel?