Thirteen Diamonds [Paperback]

Alan Cook (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 2000

Lillian Morgan is bored with life in a retirement community, but she gets more excitement than she hoped for when a fellow resident drops dead at the bridge table--while holding a perfect hand of thirteen diamonds. Intrigued by the astronomical odds against this happening, she uses her mathematical background plus assistance from her beautiful granddaughter and friends to prove that a murder was committed--but not everybody wants her to find the murderer.

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I really enjoyed this book because the protagonist is different from any
other...The writing is energetic and very funny, which is also
a good way to describe Lillian.
--Robyn Glazer, Pipl Profiles

From the Author

My mysteries don't usually star crime fighting professionals. The protagonist is everyman--or woman--thrown into a situation new to him or her, involving suspense, and often murder. They must rely on their wits and newfound courage to put their shattered worlds back together. The partial exception to the amateur theme is Run into Trouble, in which Drake and Melody are former undercover operatives.
 

I use both male and female protagonists, and in some cases, a combination. Following is a one-liner about the sex of the protagonist(s) and theme in each of my mysteries:
 

Forget to Remember--female--amnesia mystery. Facing the world as a non-person.
Run into Trouble--couple--the Cold War turns hot on the California coast.
Honeymoon for Three--couple--honeymooners with a stalker.
The Hayloft--male--murder in high school in the fifties.
Hotline to Murder--couple--murder on a crisis hotline.
Aces and Knaves--male--murder in San Francisco.
Catch a Falling Knife--female--sexual harassment and murder in college.
Thirteen Diamonds--female--murder in a retirement community.
 

Series? Gary Blanchard is featured as the protagonist in The Hayloft, and ten years later, in Honeymoon for Three. Lillian Morgan, a retired math professor, is the protagonist in Thirteen Diamonds and Catch a Falling Knife.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 172 pages
• Publisher: Firstpublish.Inc (October 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929925328
• ISBN-13: 978-1929925322
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,977,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

After spending more than a quarter of a century as a pioneer in the computer industry, Alan Cook is well into his second career as a writer. Alan has written a number of mysteries, including "Forget to Remember," "Run into Trouble," "Honeymoon for Three,"The Hayloft," "Hotline to Murder," "Catch a Falling Knife" and "Thirteen Diamonds." "Run into Trouble" received a Silver Quill award from the American Authors Association and was named Top Pacific West book by Readers Choice. "Honeymoon for Three" received a Silver Quill award from the American Authors Association and was named Top Mountain West book by Readers Choice. Alan's short story, 'Hot Days, Cold Nights,' appears in the Mystery Writers of America anthology, "A Hot and Sultry Night for Crime," edited by Jeffery Deaver. Alan splits his time between writing and walking, another passion. His inspirational book, "Walking the World: Memories and Adventures," has information and adventure in equal parts. It has been named one of the 'Top 10 Walking Memoirs and Tales of Long Walks' by the walking website, walking.about.com. He is also the author of "Walking to Denver," a light-hearted fictional account of a walk he did. "Freedom's Light: Quotations from History's Champions of Freedom," contains quotations from some of our favorite historical figures about personal freedom. And "The Saga of Bill the Hermit" is a narrative poem about a hermit who decides that the single life isn't all it's cracked up to be. Alan lives with his wife, Bonny, on a hill in Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An entertaining read, July 22, 2004

By 

Lorraine Talbot (Winsted,, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Thirteen Diamonds (Paperback)

Prior reviews have summarized the plot of this book so I'll only add that it is a fine mystery. Lillian, the protagonist, is a sharp, feisty and likeable retiree. Except for the villian and the villian's pawns, all the characters are attractive. Lillian's Watson, Tess, of the bad feet, is clever, practical and a true friend. There's even a sub-plot of a romance between Lillian's granddaughter and a bartender/student. We have plenty of suspects, lots of motives, and a scary ending. I neither play bridge nor understand math, except as it pertains to dollars and cents, but that fact didn't prevent me from finding this a very entertaining way to spend an evening.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thirteen Diamonds, December 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Thirteen Diamonds (Paperback)

I don't have any trouble sleeping, but I did keep the night light burning late finishing this unusual mystery. Alan Cook has concocted an intriguing plot that keeps you turning the pages, not only to solve the crime (What IS the crime??)but also to figure out the puzzles he skillfully weaves into the story. (His heroine is a retired math professor). The setting isn't the international jet set scene, not is it the courtroom. Cook instead chooses a posh retirement community where the resident roster reads like a Who Was Who in America.(Do you recognize yourself?) Your stereotypes will crash as Cook details with accuracy and humour the shennanigans among the current inhabitants of the digs as he leads us down the investigative path. Besides writing a book that is just a great and easy read,Cook has achieved a wonderful characterization of the heroine not so much through description of her but through her dialogue and its tone. She is a pistol, and reminded me of Miss Marple as she goes about her dry witted and relentless pursuit of the scoundrel. You'll like her, and cheer her on even as her more conservative counterparts try to put the brakes on her activites. Keep an eye on this budding novelist; he's finding his voice!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thirteen Diamonds, August 11, 2006

By 

Lynda W. Clark (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thirteen Diamonds (Paperback)

Cook has told a masterful murder mystery in the improbable setting of an assisted living facility that will break any stereotypical viewpoints you may have about the people who reside in them. Very humorous in spots. Great interplay between sleuth mother and exasperated son.