READ THIS: Crystal Death by Charles Kipps
This Read This book review is sponsored by BB Jewels, one of our favorite jewelers! Check out this necklace: http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/10/rock-your-body-with-bb-jewels-of.html & BB Jewels is on Shop with Peachy: http://www.whomyouknow.com/p/shop-with-peachy.html
You know we loved Hell's Kitchen Homicide:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2010/12/read-this-hells-kitchen-homicide-by.html
So much so in fact, Charles Kipps became a Mover and Shaker:
http://www.whomyouknow.com/2011/01/movers-and-shakers-charles-kipps-author.html
We at Whom You Know were thrilled to join Conor Bard again in his life of high crime action, as the protagonist of course, and initially we really missed his partner Ralph who has since retired. Ralph, quite the character that he is complete with mug shots in his wallet, does show his face before the story is complete (beginning on page 123) so we were not disappointed; like Conor Peachy also love love loves her mentors and does not like to see them disappear. Rosita, Conor’s new partner in solving crime, is one tough cookie and you’ll like her too especially since she actually cleans her desk.
Conor is still killing us with his vodka choices – he’s still a fan of Ketel One and even succumbs to Grey Goose but we have high hopes that in future works by Charles Kipps that Conor Bard will be drinking Star by Charles Ferri. We did love how at the end debt service was mentioned, oh how we love that term from our bond structuring days, and also we love pointillism and studied that in art class in college.
Although we loved Hell’s Kitchen Homicide, we think perhaps we enjoy the topic of Crystal Death even more as diamonds are a peachy’s best friend you know…we love almost all kinds of diamonds, actually we’ve never seen one we didn’t like, and we learned quite a lot about the industry in this gripping escapade. Who knew that 90% of the world’s diamonds pass through the 47th street block between 5th and 6th ? And also, there are 2,500 companies working on them there…
We hesitate to say too much about the plot because we don’t want to ruin it for you, but what we will say is that this book should come with a warning: “Do not begin at bedtime or you run the risk of staying up all night reading it.” Obviously what we’re trying to say (for those of you that went to Notre Dame and the like) is that Crystal Death is the page-turner that Hell’s Kitchen Homicide is, and as the sophomore in the series it bears none of the burdens of being a standard sequel of lesser authors: it is a winner in its own right.
Conor we can’t wait to see what you do next!
Whom You Know highly recommends Crystal Death.
Next time you drink The Peachy Deegan remember to say gezuar, which is Cheers in Albanian! (Phonetically: Guh zoo are)
***
Award-winning writer Charles Kipps, who penned Cop Without a Badge --- the tell-all featured on The Real Housewives of New Jersey -- returns with his second mystery featuring Conor Bard, the forty-three year old detective from midtown Manhattan’s 18th precinct who doesn’t always play by the rules.
CRYSTAL DEATH (Scribner; September 2010; $26.00 hardcover) opens with Conor Bard on stage, playing guitar at a dive bar on Manhattan’s West Side where he hopes to be discovered. Conor’s performance is cut short when he’s called to investigate the death of Zivah Gavish, a beautiful Israeli diamond dealer who was found murdered in her luxury loft. According to the loutish South African Police Inspector Hendrik Kruger, who mysteriously found his way onto the crime scene, an extremely rare red diamond has been stolen from the premises.
The search for the missing gem and Zivah’s killer takes Conor deep into the Diamond District, where he begins to learn the intricacies of cutting and trading precious stones. He is ably assisted by his new partner, Rosita Rubio, a
witty thirty something with a black belt and a killer body who, despite using her sexuality as a weapon, just wants to be treated like one of the guys.
The more Conor and Rosita learn about the case, the more complicated things become. The list of suspects seems never-ending. There’s the anxious Stanley Silberman, Zivah’s infatuated business associate who was supposed to escort her to a black-tie dinner that night of her murder and whose fingerprints are found in her loft. The smooth-talking diamond-cutter Arun Punjabi is also connected to the crime scene as a result of his bidi-smoking habit. And what about the unpredictable rogue Kruger, who points the finger at Wouter Marwala, a notorious South African smuggler and drug dealer? Is Kruger cooperating with the NYPD or is he simply feeding them misinformation to serve his own ends? Add to the mix a billionaire gem collector from Abu Dhabi, an ultra-wealthy playboy boyfriend, and an intoxicating foreign beauty with whom Conor is quickly smitten. Meanwhile, Alan Woodcliff, the hottest rocker to come out of the Jersey shore since Bruce Springsteen, takes an interest in Conor’s musical career.
Will Conor finally catch his big break as a recording artist? Will Conor and Rosita be able to find Zivah’s killer and the priceless red diamond before the chief of detectives calls in the major case squad?
CRYSTAL DEATH is the perfect mix of heart-stopping action, compelling characters, and New York City landmarks. As the former-NYPD Commissioner and LAPD Chief William J. Bratton says, “It's real life, real drama - real good!"
Further Praise for CRYSTAL DEATH:
“Crystal Death proves that Charles Kipps is a master of the crime genre. This unique combination of characters and international intrigue is sure to be one of the best mystery novels of the year.”–Professor Brian Gestring, Cedar Crest College Forensic Science Program; Former Supervisory Criminalist, New York City Medical Examiner’s Office
“Crystal Death was great, just great. Moving and fast paced. Raw and subtle. I could not put it down. I felt I was part of the story not just observing.”–Mark Rossini, former FBI agent
"I’ve worked cases in the Diamond District and know the evidence can send you in many directions. Following Detective Conor Bard as he finds himself in the middle of a bizarre gem trade murder proves to be a fascinating read, a real page turner. Conor Bard is -- as NYPD detectives are known to be -- truly one of the Greatest Detectives In The World."–Detective Gerard McCarthy, NYPD (Ret.) Formerly of Midtown North Pct. and Special Victims Squad
Praise for HELL’S KITCHEN HOMICIDE:
“Charles Kipps brings something fresh to the police procedural. Hell’s Kitchen Homicide is a sled ride through the black snow of New York City crime, with great characters and hot action. And Kipps knows what he’s talking about.”--Stuart Woods, bestselling author of Lucid Intervals
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Charles Kipps is a screenwriter, producer, and author. The recipient of an Emmy, a Peabody, and an Edgar Award, his film credits include the independent film Frame of Mind and his television credits include Exiled: A Law & Order Movie, Little Bill, Fatherhood, The Cosby Mysteries, Columbo, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. His first Conor Bard Mystery, Hells Kitchen Homicide (Scribner 2009) is available now from Pocket books.
TITLE: CRYSTAL DEATH: A Conor Bard Mystery ***Available from Pocket Books: HELLS KITCHEN AUTHOR: Charles Kipps HOMICIDE: A Conor Bard Mystery by Charles Kipps
PUBLICATION DATE: September 14, 2010 PUBLICATION DATE: September 28, 2010
ISBN: 9781439139950 ISBN: 9781439139943
PRICE: $26.00 hardcover PRICE: $7.99 mass market paperback
Also available in an e-book format. (ISBN: 9781439141168)
ABOUT SCRIBNER
Scribner is an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., part of the CBS Corporation. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic and multi-media formats. Its divisions include the Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing Group, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.
