Diamond and the Eye

Peter Diamond, Book 20

By: Peter Lovesey

Narrated by: James Langton

A Bath antiques dealer has disappeared, and detective Peter Diamond has been saddled with the “help” of a hardboiled Philip Marlowe wannabe private investigator in cracking the case.

MWA Grand Master Peter Lovesey’s 20th installment in the award-winning series will have listeners laughing from the first word.

If there’s one thing detective Bath Peter Diamond has no patience for, it’s a dumb git trying to get involved in one of his investigations - for example, a Philip Marlowe-wannabe private investigator like the self-styled Johnny Getz (his card claims he Getz results). But fate has saddled Diamond with this trial. A Bath antiques dealer, Septimus “Seppy” Hubbard, has disappeared without a trace, and his daughter, Ruby, has hired Johnny Getz to find him. When a dead body is discovered in Seppy’s locked-up store, the missing persons case becomes a murder investigation, and now Diamond has to collaborate with the insufferable private eye.

©2021 Peter Lovesey (P)2021 Recorded Books

Very entertaining

A wonderful spin on detective novels, great narration and excellent story telling. I love these books but this was a pleasant and amusing surprise.

Incredible twist on the Diamond series

Much of story is told through the voice of a hapless, though devoted private eye named Johnny Getz. He speaks in a 40’s patois straight from the novels featuring Sam Spade, Phillip Marlowe and the like. Peter Diamond fans understand and expect a meddling, inexperienced PI to be chewed up and spit out when Getz muscles his way into Diamond’s investigation. You won’t be disappointed, but you will be surprised.

Therein lies the biggest twist in the Diamond series ever. I found myself cringing whenever Getz interacts with Diamond, expecting a clever, yet inevitable train wreck. I expected the conflicts to lead the story a certain way, but was constantly surprised by Lovesey’s remarkable imagination. Make no mistake, this a remarkable work of art.

I must say James Langton’s narration is excellent. I’ve loved Simon Vance’s readings in the series and found others to be great disappointments. Langston does an excellent job here.

What a fun book!

Really enjoyed this Diamond book! The chapter toggles are well done. Peter Lovesey really did an awesome job with this book!

Great

I wasn’t sure I was going to like this but boy was I wrong!
Once into it I found I couldn’t stop listening. More please.
Best credit I’ve spent in a very long time.

I think it works

Lovesey's departure from single narrative storytelling was risky, especially when introducing a stylistically expatriated character. He pulled it off for me. There was enough coninuity and familiarity with the developed characters and settings despite taking this creative liberty. Lovesey's technical skill as a professional writer is evident or it could have been a serious misstep. I have seen other authors stray, perhaps due to being out of touch with their fans or becoming hyperpolitical, with often disastrous results. The Eye is great fun, excellent variety, and also a satisfying Diamond novel.