Customer Reviews

The Vandenberg Diamonds

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A military flight ends in a crash landing with one survivor. The cargo is
removed and stored on a pig farm by the finders who plan to be wealthy men
after the war. Fate steps in and the cargo lies unclaimed for another
generation.

A tale by talented author John Russo that contains all the ingredients for a fun read, The Vandenberg Diamonds offers plenty of action as the real owners of the diamonds set out to find them while two young men have decided to use them to make their fortunes.

Unfortunately, there is in the mix of characters a very unpleasant criminal whose decisions affect the outcome for everyone. He's a villain you'll love to hate.

A well-crafted tale of several subplots woven together to give the reader
lots of action in a variety of settings will hold your attention. Intrigue mixed with a touch of history move the story along at a good pace.

Recommended as a good read for anyone looking for a worthwhile way to spend some reading time. Enjoy. I sure did.

In 1941 the Ladybird with a military crew of three was flying to Pretoria, South Africa to protect a horde of uncut diamonds worth 8,000,000 pounds. However instead they crashed in Italy occupied Egypt. Brian Cutler, managing director of Vandenberg Diamonds, Europe's largest diamond exchange, who made the decision to move the raw gems to a safer locale, is upset to learn that two chests probably sunk in the Mediterranean where military hostilities between the allies and the axis make it impossible to search. At the same time Italian Lieutenant Brazzi and his superior officer Colonel Marchi find the diamonds and one of the British soldiers in Sicily. Marchi hides the diamonds on his cousin's pig farm.

In 1947 Vandenberg Mining's security chief Sean Corklin makes inquiries into the missing diamonds; others of a more criminal and lethal bent have heard rumors of uncut "glass" and begin a search. However Corklin starts from his home in Pretoria, travels to England to interview those involved in the original plan, journeys to Suez where the Ladybird was to refuel, and finally reaches Sicily with adversaries wanting him eliminated so they can abscond with THE VANDENBERG DIAMONDS.

This is an exciting historical suspense thriller that brings to life somewhat early WWII and more so 1947 as Europe and Sahara Africa recover. The story line is action-packed in both years, but especially soars when Sean begins his quest. Readers who appreciate a deep historical background in an exhilarating mystery will want to follow Corklin's adventures as his goal is to complete the mission so he can go home while others see him as an obstacle to stealing the diamonds. John Russo provides his audience with a great adventure thriller from the moment the Ladybug goes down and never slows down until the final conflict at the Sicilian pig farm.

Harriet Klausner