A Matter of Diamonds (Faith Abbey Mystery Series, Book 2) [Mass Market Paperback]

David Manuel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

Brother Bartholomew is joyfully immersed in his duties organizing the Feast of St. Francis when the news of a local woman's murder reaches him. For the second time, he is called upon to help Eastport's chief of police track down a killer. Last year, Bartholomew had played a pivotal role in the first murder case their sleepy Cape Cod town had dealt with in half a century -- first as the prime suspect, then as an honorary investigator who helped solve the crime. Now, the Chief and Brother Bartholomew must team up again to solve the mystery of the dead woman and the missing 10 million dollars in diamonds she had with her when she died.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This exciting mystery, the second in the Faith Abbey series, revives the character of Brother Bartholomew and offers readers a wealth of background information about life at the Abbey (closely modeled after the Community of Jesus on Cape Cod, where Manuel lives). The plot centers on issues of spiritual warfare, as Brother Bartholomew seeks to understand the ways of the Adversary while solving a bizarre local murder. Manuel's characters are refreshingly complex for a mystery novel, making this not so much a whodunit as a "whydunit." The cliffhanger ending will pique readers' interest in the next installment of Bartholomew's adventures. (Nov.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"...offers a wealth of background information about life at the Abbey...Manuel's characters are refreshingly complex for a mystery novel..." -- Publishers Weekly

"A many-faceted case of greed, treachery, and rivalries built around the famous Blue Angel...crisply written and tautly plotted." -- Barbara Peters, The Poisoned Pen

"Manuel uses his skill...to weave a collection of disparate threads into a rich and satisfying tapestry..." -- Over My Dead Body Online

"Manuel weaves a complex tale of intertwined relationships, morality and conflict." -- The Cape Cod Guide

Highly recommend this title for mystery buffs who also relish spiritually insightful characters. -- CBA Marketplace, January 2001

I found myself strangely drawn to the world of Brother Bartholomew and almost envious of it. -- Bookreporter.com

If you are interested in thinking about questions that are more involving than whodunit, I recommend this series to you. -- The Mystery Review, Winter 2001

Strongly recommended. -- Library Journal, November 1, 2000

This is a fascinating mystery, with well-developed characters and relationships and a very authentic feel for the Cape Cod ambience. -- I Love a Mystery, November 2000

This novel shows the maturation of Manuel as a mystery writer, offering readers memorable characters and perceptive theological insights. -- Beliefnet.com, November 9, 2000 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Reprint edition (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446609897
• ISBN-13: 978-0446609890
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,220,604 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Keep the Faith, April 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: A Matter of Diamonds (Faith Abbey Mystery Series, Book 2) (Hardcover)

A Matter of Diamonds captures the dynamics of a series of inter-connected lives in beautiful Cape cod. The characters are (virtually) all likeable and the story is delightful if a bit simplistic. Brother Bartholomew is a fun-loving monk, who partners with his childhood friend (police chief Dan Burke) to solve crimes that rock the tranquil Cape Cod community. And in this case, he finds suspects a bit too close to home. This book is well-worth the quick read -- and has inspired me to add another Faith Abbey mystery to my reading list.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Diamond of a Mystery, January 3, 2007

By 

P. Gorrasi (White Plains, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Matter of Diamonds (Faith Abbey Mystery Series, Book 2) (Mass Market Paperback)

Taking place in the beautiful Cape Cod area, Mr. Manuel tells an exciting tale that keeps you reading until the mystery is finally solved. Though there is murder involved, Faith Abbey figures prominently in the book and this provides a wonderful side story. The other books in the series are terrific too! Highly recommended.