The Lucifer Cut
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Pegasus Books
Published:1st Aug '24
Should be back in stock very soon
A heart-pounding thrill ride through the dangerous world the modern gem trade, by the acclaimed author of Diamond.
When a New York diamond dealer and his wife are found dead in what appears to be a chilling assassination, and a mysterious gem—known as the Lucifer Cut—goes missing, US Treasury agent Alex Turner and his unscrupulous lover, the Russian diamond thief Slav Lily, are thrust into a deadly web of global intrigue. Without knowing if they can even trust one another, the two find themselves on the trail of a secret that could destroy not just the world diamond trade, but the entire world order.
In a fiction first, diamond expert Matthew Hart tears the curtain from the secretive world of lab-grown diamonds, where master “chefs” create astonishing gems from the chaotic, 8,000-degree maelstroms inside terrifying reactors. These beguiling fakes may masquerade as real, fooling not just consumers but criminals alike. But as Alex and Lily soon learn, one of these diamond sorcerers has learned to do much more, manipulating the very atomic structure of a stone. When news of this leaks out, it ignites a murderous race from New York to London and finally to Cape Town, as a Chinese tycoon plots to seize the secret that would give her country global military supremacy.
With knife-sharp dialogue and lacerating irony, Alex and Lily navigate an ever-shifting criminal underworld, personal betrayals, and the sudden storms of desire as they rush to unravel the enigma of the Lucifer Cut and the treacheries of the human heart.
Praise for the novels of Matthew Hart
“A witty, high-octane international thriller with a plot as multifaceted as a Rubik’s cube." * The Star Tribune *
"A crackerjack, gem of a thriller. A shot of adrenaline. Fast-paced, expertly-written with an insider's knowledge—not just of diamonds, but much, much more—that elevates the book to another level. Honestly, this one is hard to put down. Damn near flawless." * Christopher Reich, New York Times bestselling author *
"Hart writes passionately about diamonds and the people who chase them, but he also has a strong handle on the personal dynamics and obsessions that drive this mysterious world." * Dwyer Murphy, CrimeReads *
“Already an authority on the ways blood diamonds are formed, bought, and sold, Matthew Hart’s expertise shines in this thriller. An exhilarating read, The Russian Pink has more facets than even the world’s biggest diamond.” * Mitch Silver, author of The Apollo Deception and The Bookworm *
"A deft, fast-paced thriller that shines its light on a fascinating and dangerous world few of us know about: diamonds and how they get from dinosaur days to glistening around beautiful necks and promised fingers. Matthew Hart creates a saga that hurtles through mind-snapping twists at breakneck speed, with killers, con men, cops, and billionaires, all seeking to control a giant, ultra-rare pink diamond. If you want to know the real story that such treasures tell, this is the novel for you." * James Grady, New York Times bestselling author of Six Days of the Condor *
“A diamond is no one’s best friend in this fast-paced novel filled with greed, violence, and politics. Hart writes with skill, wit, and evident knowledge about the diamond industry. Top-quality storytelling.” * Kirkus Review, starred review *
“A rare gem, punning aside, this will enthrall fans for Jack Reacher and Jason Bourne, and leave them hoping for more Alex Turner." * Booklist, starred review *
“Studded with facts about black market diamond trading, this fictional thriller has adrenaline rushes, villainous plotters, and glamorous gems galore.”
* The Christian Science Monitor *
"This is a dark gem of a thriller… with lyrical prose that complements the novel’s stark setting and tone.” * Publishers Weekly *
ISBN: 9781639366743
Dimensions: 229mm x 152mm x 20mm
Weight: 498g
304 pages