Sweetie's Diamonds [Mass Market Paperback]

Raymond Benson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 2007

Diane Boston lives with her Marfan syndrome-afflicted 13-year-old son in a suburb of Chicago and teaches social studies at the high school, with the students even voting her Teacher of the Year. But she has some dark secrets. Her ex-husband Greg always suspected that Diane kept things from him, but he has no idea just how right he is. When Diane's son, David, finds a box of unmarked videotapes and watches one of them out of curiosity, he discovers that it's a hardcore adult movie from the late 1970s. The star, Lucy Luv, was an actress that mysteriously disappeared in 1980. Some suspected she'd been murdered. David recognizes the actress as his mother. Then, somehow, the news of Diane's involvement in the adult film business hits the streets and causes chaos at her school and at home. It also attracts the attention of the West Coast porn czar who has ties with organized crime. Apparently when Lucy Luv disappeared, she took a cache of stolen diamonds with her. This is the catalyst for a non-stop roller-coaster ride of suspense and mystery that involves the dark side of the adult film industry, the mob, kidnapping, and murder.

Raymond Benson has authored several of the James Bond novels, as well as the novelizations of the films Die Another Day, The World is Not Enough, and Tomorrow Never Dies. As "David Michaels," Raymond is also the author of the action/adventure novel Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell - Operation Barracuda. Raymond is married, has one son, and is based in the Chicago area.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

When a teenage boy discovers that his mother once starred in pornographic films, he is, predictably, shocked. This is a side of his mom he'd never suspected, but the truth is far more complicated than even young David can possibly imagine. Benson, best known for his popular James Bond novels, proves here that he is equally adept at more realistic thrillers. This ever-more-intricate story (which involves a two-decade-old murder and several buried secrets) may remind some readers of the novels of James Grippando, who tends to structure his high-octane thrillers on families with closets full of secrets. The relationship between David and his mother, Diane (aka Lucy Luv), is key to the drama, and Benson layers on enough twists and turns to keep mother and son, not to mention the reader, searching desperately for the truth. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A pulse-pounding edge-of-your-seat thriller with more twists and turns than a roller coaster."
- Parnell Hall, author of Stalking the Puzzle Lady --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 337 pages
• Publisher: Leisure Books (May 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0843958596
• ISBN-13: 978-0843958591
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,454,346 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

As of January 2011, Raymond Benson is the author of twenty-four published books. These include six original JAMES BOND novels (now collected in the recent anthologies THE UNION TRILOGY and CHOICE OF WEAPONS), three 007 film novelizations, and the first two TOM CLANCY'S SPLINTER CELL novels (for the latter he used the pseudonym of "David Michaels"). With John Milius he penned HOMEFRONT: THE VOICE OF FREEDOM. He also wrote the novelizations of the popular videogames--METAL GEAR SOLID and METAL GEAR SOLID 2: SONS OF LIBERTY. Raymond writes his own original suspense books as well--stand alone thrillers such as TORMENT, ARTIFACT OF EVIL, SWEETIE'S DIAMONDS, FACE BLIND, and EVIL HOURS, or his two "Spike Berenger Rock 'n' Roll Hits" featuring a music industry detective--A HARD DAY'S DEATH and DARK SIDE OF THE MORGUE. Coming soon--Raymond's entry in the "Gabriel Hunt" adventures, HUNT THROUGH NAPOLEON'S WEB, and an original thriller, THE BLACK STILETTO. There's a lot more, so if you want the full story visit the author at his website... www.raymondbenson.com!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Thriller, April 23, 2006

By 

Chicago Noir (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweetie's Diamonds (Hardcover)

This is one of the best thrillers I've read in years. The protagonist Diane and her son David (who has a rare disease) are vulnerable, yet likable and real. The villains are formidable and menacing. The supporting characters are memorable. The background (the pornography industry) makes for dark atmosphere, which the writer mines expertly. There are a number of plot twists, and as the story proceeds (at a brisk clip), the protagonist and her son are thrown into increasing peril. Once you start this one, you'll have difficulty putting it down. Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Benson book!, February 25, 2006

By 

Jacqueline A. Fiest "Jackie Fiest" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sweetie's Diamonds (Hardcover)

This is my third book by Raymond Benson and by far the best.

Everytime you think you have this book figured out, it changes gears on you, and you are led down a completely different path...then are left simply breathless in the end.

The main character and her son are tremdously strong characters, despite various medical and personal weaknesses. The supporting characters are fantastic and there is edge-of-your-seat action in several different locations.

After reading Sweetie's Diamonds, my only complaint is I don't know which of Benson's books to start on next!

--
Jackie Fiest

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great characters, unusual story, terrific twist!, February 20, 2006

By 

Charbroiled "Charbroiled" (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sweetie's Diamonds (Hardcover)

I was interested in this book when I learned that one of the characters (a teenage boy) has Marfan syndrome. I have Marfan syndrome, and you don't get too many novels with characters who have Marfan syndrome! I was pleasantly surprised. It's a fast-moving (I couldn't put it down) thriller that begins innocently enough but takes off like gangbusters. When the teenage boy finds out his mom was a porn star from way back, there's a domino effect of people finding out... and then the bad guys come in. Sort of a chase-thriller that begins in the Chicago suburbs and ends in Los Angeles... and a cool twist that makes you go "wow." Also liked the supporting character Belgrad, who should probably have his own series.