The Color of Death [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Lowell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lowell, Elizabeth | Publication Date: June 15, 2004

The name Elizabeth Lowell has become synonymous with electrifying fiction that seamlessly combines suspense, intrigue, and passion. And now the phenomenal New York Times bestselling author brilliantly displays her incomparable talents in a story of treachery, greed, conspiracy, and murder that will hold the reader spellbound until the final word.

It is the opportunity of a lifetime for Kate Chandler, the chance to cut seven rare, priceless sapphires and solidify her reputation as a world-class jewel cutter. But something goes horribly, tragically wrong during what should have been a simple transfer of goods. The sapphires vanish without a trace. Missing also is the man Kate trusted to transport the gems: her half brother, Lee, who now, quite possibly, is dead. And suddenly she is on the run, pursued by federal agents who suspect her of being the criminal mastermind of a cunning bait-and-switch scheme.

Special agent Sam Groves is one of the best of the best, an essential member of the FBI's elite crime strike force and the perfect man to lead the hunt, since he could never be scammed by a beautiful confidence woman. But something is troubling about this assignment, because someone else is chasing Kate Chandler as well.

Only Kate suspects the awful truth: She's unwittingly stumbled into a conspiracy of deceit, betrayal, and cold-blooded murder that goes far beyond a simple jewel heist. And a chilling, threatening voice on the telephone only confirms her worst suspicions. Getting Sam Groves, the FBI agent who's her constant shadow, to believe her is a step in the right direction -- but it may be one that's too little too late in a bloody game where terror dictates her every move and the rules are constantly changing. Because the order has already been passed down to a ruthlessly efficient assassin: Kate Chandler must not be allowed to live ...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Kate Chandler is the gem cutter responsible for taking a rough sapphire and creating seven gorgeous stones called the Seven Sins. When they disappear along with the courier, her half-brother, Lee, she is the only one who believes that he didn't steal them. Kate tries to get the FBI and other authorities involved, but they assume that Lee stole the gems and is living the high life abroad, so she investigates on her own, starting at a gem show near her Arizona home. There she awakens the instincts of rogue FBI agent Sam Groves, who is part of a task force trying to stop the rise in gem thefts. He spots Kate palming an exceptional sapphire and intercepts her, but it's a beautiful fake and she ditches him. He tracks her down; Kate decides to trust him, and he, in turn, trusts her, jeopardizing his career to follow his hunch about the thieves in spite of his superiors' objections. Lowell deftly explores the underworld of the gem trade, treating readers to a nail-biting search for killers with an eye for glitter. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

“. . .delicious tale of romantic suspense. . .” (Booklist on Jade Island )

“Elizabeth Lowell’s keen ear for dialogue and intuitive characterizations consistently place her a cut above most writers in this genre.” (Charlotte News & Observer )

“I”ll buy any book with Elizabeth Lowell’s name on it.” (Jayne Ann Krentz )

“Romantic suspense is her true forte.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune )

...a diverting read for thriller fans. (Publishers Weekly )

“. . .a riveting mix of suspense and romance, sure to increase Lowell’s popularity.” (Booklist on Pearl Cove )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1ST edition (June 15, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060504137
• ISBN-13: 978-0060504137
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 2.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #554,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling author Elizabeth Lowell has numerous historical and contemporary novels in print, including her four-book series of suspense novels featuring the unforgettable Donovan family--AMBER BEACH, JADE ISLAND, PEARL COVE and MIDNIGHT IN RUBY BAYOU. Ms. Lowell's current release, DEATH ECHO, is Book 5 in her St. Kilda Consulting series and features twin yachts, international gangsters, and plenty of romantic-suspense. There are more than thirty million Elizabeth Lowell books currently in print. Ms. Lowell lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book, July 3, 2004

By 

M. Colon "mf_colon" (New York City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Color of Death (Hardcover)

I have been a fan of Elizabeth Lowell's for some time now, and I have to say that she has gotten back on track with this book, much better than her last few novels, which I felt were not balanced in the way of combining romance and suspense.

The hero and heroine were much more fleshed out, the secondary characters believable and with their own unique quirks. Lowell has a good sense when it comes to characterization and dialogue that kept the book fast-paced. The mystery was a good one, and even I was a little surprised at the curve ball she threw at the end.

My only quibbles with the book were: one, she needed at least one more chapter to clear up loose ends and explain more at the end. Second, although you see the love grow between the characters, they never explicity say it, which would be nice.

But to all readers out there, be forwarned. Her novels are more suspense based now than romance based. This is a trend anyone can see if they have been reading her last few books. Not that this is a bad thing, I think she has real talent writing in the suspense/mystery genre. But readers expecting a straight romance will be disapppointed. The romance has taken a secondary place to the mystery. The clues to this trend can be seen by the title and the cover art of the book (which I hated.)

But all in all a good read. You see the trademark Lowell style of writing in this book and she is able to combine both suspense and romance into a well written book.

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Just Plain Dull, July 31, 2004

By 

Shanette Taylor (San Francisco Bay Area) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Color of Death (Hardcover)

Ms. Lowell is one of the few authors whose hardcover books I would purchase simply on the strength of her name. The latest book, however, will be the last of hers that I buy in that same manner. (I'll wait 'til the softcover edition comes out, if then). Simply put, this book is just dull. The characters generate very little interest or excitement for the reader, and the plot doesn't do much better. The characters are barely physically described, their backgrounds barely touched, their inner beings barely hinted at. I can barely even get a mental picture. In Ms. Lowell's previous books, I could get a sense of why the hero and heroine were attracted to one another but not in her latest couple of books, including this one. And this story is a cookie cutter image of the stories in the last 3-4 of her books. They follow the EXACT same formula. Just plug in the valuable item (gem, mineral, precious metal, expensive art); plug in the incessant details about said valuable item; plug in the hero (rich guy OR current or ex law enforcer type OR all of the above investigating or protecting said valuable item/heroine) and heroine (expert, tactician or practioner of said valuable item); plug in the situation (bad guy who wants to protect his investment in or procure all said valuable items assets); plug in the denoument (hero or heroine almost gets murdered by someone who the reader did or did not suspect); and you have your latest Elizabeth Lowell book.

I could barely finish this book. In fact, I skipped several dozen pages to quickly read the ending. I get the sense that the author doesn't want this book and her last few to be pegged as romance, rather, "suspense novels". However, this book doesn't even measure up to either category.

Ms. Lowell's books past books have brought me much enjoyment over the years, so I can't honestly say that I am done with reading her books. I'll just be more cautious in the future. I wish the author better luck with better books.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Have to agree with "Just plain dull", August 5, 2004

By 

A Reader (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Color of Death (Hardcover)

I believe my title says it all. I have been an Elizabeth Lowell fan for so many years yet, the past 3 books have left me terribly disappointed. Just like the reviewer "just plain dull" said - just plug in the new character names and you have the same repetitious plot, same everything to these disappointing novels. It seems as if she wants to attract a readership of another group (or perhaps her publisher, editor, agent or best friend has advised her to go in this direction. ITS NOT WORKING, MS. LOWELL!. Yet, it is her romance fans who are the loyal group who keep purchasing her books, only to be disappointed once again. IT IS THE ROMANCE FANS THAT KEEP THE BOOK SALES GOING, IN HOPES OF BEING REWARDED WITH A BOOK THAT IS QUINTESSENTIALLY ELIZABETH LOWELL.

I absolutely refuse to purchase any future books from this author and will go to the library to borrow it. I will borrow it because I find it is difficult to break away from this talented writer. I really don't want to, yet how many more of these books must your most loyal fans suffer through? If you are reading this Ms. Lowell, it is not my intent to hurt your feelings. Alot of work and research go into a book of this length. But I will say to you is that you really don't realize what you have until you lose it. As each of these lack-luster books come out each year, you are losing fans by the droves. I am sure it is ultimately showing in your book sale numbers. Perhaps that is the only way that your publisher, editor or agent will realize that going into another direction was not a good idea. Please return to what you know in your heart is a winner, the Donovan series. Those are characters that stand on their own and live in all of your fan's minds.