I love Gem stones and was impressed with myself on how much I knew about them. Once again a book that draws you in and lets you live there for a while. ( )

This one is diamonds - I like it. I like both Derek and Grenville - neat how we find out about him without ever really meeting him. It's also interesting how the attacks come from different enemies with different motivations - Derek keeps trying to make sense of them as one thing and it ain't. No father thing - well, sort of between Derek and Grenville, almost a generation between them - and Derek doesn't end up with the girl (extraordinary for a Francis!). Not one of my favorites, but I like it. ( )

In Straight, the hero's much older brother dies unexpectedly, leaving everything to the younger brother and making him the executor of the will. The younger, a steeplechase jockey, suddenly finds himself with a gemstone wholesale business, a mistress, a mystery, and assorted enemies. The young man tries to keep the business going as he learns it, to foil the enemies, to keep his cool with the mistress, and to find the missing diamonds. ( )

Jockey Derek Franklin suddenly inherits his brother's business as a dealer in semi-precious stones, and discovers dangerous secrets. Fascinating background, strong emotional impact, likeable hero. One of my favourites. ( )