When a flawed and seemingly unimportant diamond is stolen, the truth about its strange qualities comes to light, drawing the attentions of a diamond dealer, his lover, a rich woman, a thief, a mobster, and the CIA. Reprint. PW.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
No ordinary thriller this (by the author of the bestselling 19 Purchase Street and 11 Harrowhouse, but a story as scintillating as the octahedron crystal on which it focuses. A puzzle to gemologists, too flawed to interest top diamond dealers, Stone 588 has, nevertheless, remarkable healing power, a fact only gradually understood by its owner, New York diamond dealer Springerand then others. Springer, who wants to use it on his sick son, refuses fabulous sums for the Stone. When it's stolen, he organizes a heist of almost military proportions in an attempt to retrieve it. The magic gem comes into the hand of a depraved, multimillionaire female socialite, and the swirl of murder and trickery in which it involves its possessors or would-be possessors culminates in a frightening chase across the roof of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The story provides an intriguing inside view of the world's diamond trade, and a tingle for the spine on every page, while Browne uses his fine-cut prose to reveal the connections between greed and sexuality with what seems like uncanny precision. 75,000 first printing; $75,000 ad/promo; first serial to Cosmopolitan; Literary Guild dual main selection.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
A stone that heals and a caper to retrieve it from a Fifth Avenue vault form the plot of a thriller by the author of 19 Purchase Street. Phillip Springer, a dealer in gems, learns that a lucky stone that had belonged to his late father has special powers. Stolen from Springer's safe, the stone is thought to be in the vault of a competitor. An ingenious caper to retrieve it is planned by Springer, his lover Audrey, and two professionals. They get away with millions of dollars worth of precious stones, but not the healing onewhich Springer wants for his cancer-ridden son. Murders, double and triple crosses, a chase across the roof of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and a confrontation involving the State Department ensue. The dialogue is lively, and the author keeps things moving, especially during the caper, but the healing stone factor may turn off some readers. Literary Guild dual main selection. Robert H. Donahugh, Youngstown & Mahoning Cty. P.L., Ohio
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Why hasn't it been made into a film?,
By Robert Clark (Surrey, UK) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Stone 588 (Paperback)
Phillip Springer is a small but successful diamond broker in New York, runing the family firm established by his father and uncle. When his daughter miraculously recovers from a mental condition that had consigned her to a series on instituitions, she credits her recovery to a flawed gemstone. When Philip's lover, Audrey, tends to her ageing guardian with the stone, more remarkable healing is evident. When the President is cured of a massive heart attack, Stone 588 becomes a magical assett. Soon after, the Springer firm is robbed of its jewels, including the lucky stone. Springer and Audrey enlist the assistance of a former disgruntled employee of one of the largest diamond houses in New York to plan and carry out their own robbery, made all the more important as Springer's son is found to be suffering from terminal cancer - something Philip and Audrey believe the magical stone could cure. A very exciting thriller with lots of twists - I'm suprised it hasn't been made into a movie.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best of Gerald A. Browne,
By
This review is from: Stone 588 (Hardcover)
Although this book adheres to the Browne formula--smart, cool guy, smart, beautiful, rich girl and gemstone intrigues--Stone 588 has a knockout premise. In some ways it is the most intelligent of his books and utterly delightful. There are some continuity problems toward the end, but overall it leaves you happy and sorry there isn't more.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Murder and Diamonds; what could be better?,
By dana cain "dana" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Stone 588 (Hardcover)
Mr. Browne knows his subject, and does and excellent job of bringing his readers into the murky, intriguing world of diamond dealing. The premise and plot are flawless, and though the character development is a bit two-dimensional, the book more than makes up for it's shortcomings by being a jolly good thriller.
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