Customer Reviews

Diamonds in the Sand: An Almost True Tale of Midway Atoll

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If, like me, you enjoy a book that transports you to a place you've never been, you'll like Diamonds in the Sand. It takes you to a place precious few people have been - Midway Atoll in the Pacific, site of one of the most dramatic U.S. victories of World War II. But it's not about the battle. It's about avarice, subtrafuge, and - of course - albatross, the island's ubiquitous "natives."

Author Laurel Benson describes her unusual setting in the sort of detail that could only come from personal experience. A map of the atoll at the beginning of the book helps the reader more fully imagine the locale, as do illustrative photos scattered throughout. The likeable cast of characters includes wildlife enthusiasts, island residents & employees, the Japanese relatives of Battle of Midway casualities, and an unidentified treasure hunter who goes to extremes in his pursuit of riches stashed years earlier.

For me, the most interesting subplot revolves around Don, a character who lost his idolized older brother in the famous battle. Don's encounters with the Japanese visitors help him to forgive and to find a sort of personal closure at last.

The suspense of the main plot is well crafted, the clues are subtly dropped, and the surprise ending will make you smile. At just 117 pages, Diamonds is a quick, light read that painlessly imparts some intriguing facts about history and Pacific wildlife along the way.

I was excited to get my copy of this book. I had spent a year on Midway Island while in the Navy. It's the type of place that once you've visited will always be in the back of your mind as it did the author. The book was very believable for someone who had spent time on the island. It was a good story line. My only complaint is that the book was too short. I could have kept on reading if there had been more.

Laurel Benson's Diamonds In The Sand is a thoughtfully written historical novel set among the Midway Atoll islands in the Pacific Ocean. It the story of seven people who have gathered upon the atoll for very different reasons, from the need to make peace with bitter memories of World War II to searching for precious diamonds to seeking a fresh start on life. Diamonds In The Sand is a complex, interwoven, fascinating tale immersed in the heart of its sunny tropical setting.