West 47th [Paperback]

Gerald A. Browne (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1997

As a former Madison Avenue jeweler who earns his keep by recovering stolen precious gems, Mitch Laughton is used to dealing with dangerous situations. But when he becomes involved in the search for priceless emeralds stolen from the Iranian treasury, he might be in over his head. Caught in the diamond district world of 47th Street, Mitch must confront mobsters, a disillusioned cop, a half-mad fence, and informants of all shades, not to mention shadowy emissaries from Iran. Fighting for their lives, Mitch and his wife Maddie are determined to beat the odds.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Mitch Laughton is the man you need to know after a jewelry heist. And there's been a heist, a rather large one--$6 million in gems from an Iranian businessman who lives in New Jersey. Laughton, a former jeweler who now works full-time recovering stolen stones, begins to track the job and is led to mob boss Joe Riccio while trying to stay out of the sights of an assassin, Furio Visconti. Laughton also contends with, though in an entirely different way, his beautiful yet eccentric and blind wife, who's given to playing guitar in the nude. Laughton combs through the heart of the New York diamond district and its penthouse residents, hunting for jewels and clues as he unravels this complex and beguiling crime. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

West 47th Street, New York's diamond district, gets a guardian angel in the person of Mitch Laughton, a professional recoverer of stolen jewelry, in Browne's pulse-racing new novel (after 18mm Blues). Six million dollars worth of gems have been taken from an Iranian couple in New Jersey; Mitch is asked to get them back. As he tries, he mingles with a gallery of notable characters, including a slightly friendly street cop, a secretary with a weakness for layaways, several not quite honest jewelers and a bevy of lowlifes. Mitch's dealings with New York street types, mobsters and bent fences is nicely counterpointed with his movements within moneyed society and with his relationship to his wife, Maddie, a flamenco guitarist who's rich, sexy, bright and blind. Browne, who can create characters of rare substance, beautifully details the couple's marriage, a loving, dependent union that helps drive the nearly nonstop action. Although not billed as such, this grandly old-fashioned entertainment with a cutting edge could kick off an excellent series: Maddie and Mitch deserve another adventure. Major ad/promo
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Warner Bks, Ny (April 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446604135
• ISBN-13: 978-0446604130
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,316,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book., August 2, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Montpelier, Idaho) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West 47th (Paperback)

This book is well worth reading. It has the usual jewel background which I love. It has very interesting characters, particularly Maddie.It has the terrific language usage that Browne does well as well as some interesting plot twists. You may have to suspend your belief during the scene with the mob guys but that is the only thing wrong with this novel. There is much interesting gem lore and allusion. It is not as good as Stone 588 or 11 Harrowhouse but it is a lot better than 18mm. Blues, or Hot Siberian. Give it a try!!! By the way. Does anyone know where I can buy or borrow a copy of Green Ice? I keep hearing how great it is but am unable to find it.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars West 47th, July 11, 2001

By 

CJ (Toledo, Oh) - See all my reviews

This review is from: West 47th (Paperback)

This is the first book I have read by the author. It was a little too detailed at times and other times there needed to be a clearer explanation of events. All in all the characters Mitch and Maddie were a romantic couple in a suspense situation. It was enjoyable to read and a sequel to their lives in a follow up book would be a winner!

4.0 out of 5 stars Mystery and Mayhem in the Diamond District and Beyond, June 26, 2010

By 

GrannyBooks (Frankfort, OH USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: West 47th (Paperback)

A $6 million jewel heist in a New Jersey suburb leads to death, intrigue, a $25 million dollar reward offer, and a double cross. Mitch is a freelance insurance investigator for jewelry related losses. His wife, Maddie, is a beautiful, blind, talented musician who inherited a significant amount of money. Mitch is uncomfortable being the lesser financial partner in their relationship. When he sees a chance to narrow that financial gap, he jumps at it. While, in my opinion, this is not the best of Gerald Browne's books, it is not a terrible book. It moves along at a reasonable pace and the characters -- at least Mitch and Maddie -- are people you can enjoy meeting.

Browne may not know his guns but he knows the diamond trade and the book is about an aspect of the diamond trade, not about guns. While I agree with the reviewer who mentioned how irritating it is for an author to describe a character as putting a revolver on safety or releasing the safety on a revolver, over the years I have developed my own strategy for dealing with that statement without stressing. I automatically think "Oh, he must have a Webley-Fosbery" and I move on. I suspect there is scarcely a novel extant that does not include at least one factual error, whether tiny or tremendous. It is called fiction for a reason.