Diamond Solitaire

By: Peter Lovesey

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Length: 10 hrs and 44 mins

Publisher's summary

One time police detective Peter Diamond loses his job as a security guard when he fails to spot a small Japanese child hiding in the furniture department of Harrods. Weeks later, she's still unclaimed; Diamond is unable to forget the frightened eyes of the silent little girl and takes on the challenge of uncovering her identity. Now Diamond is back in the sleuthing business, following a trail that leads from London to New York to Tokyo and to a shocking climax that may shatter his heart or cost him his life.

©Copyright © 2007 by Peter Lovesey. All rights reserved.; 2007 by Peter Lovesey. All rights reserved.

A fun romp— far fetched plot but at least it wasn’t that racist

Is someone very familiar with Japanese culture I was afraid that this would be full of generalizations and semi-racist stereotypes, but was pleased to find that this wasn’t too much in evidence. I have no familiarity with what the discourse about autism was when this book was written, but was pleased that it seemed to be treated with empathy and sensitivity.
I enjoyed the way that the (very good) narrator kind of made the New Yorkers sound like 1930s gangsters and it was fun to hear about places that I -a New Yorker- know very well like the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and the Hungarian Pastry Shop from a British perspective in a book so old that they have Concorde planes and the Twin Towers. The scene with the priest at the beginning really was pointless but I’m dying with laughter at the reviewers on here who can read a whole book about child abduction and murder, but get offended by the “f word” 🤣 if you’re more bothered by swear words than by violence you need to reconsider your values!

Suspension of Disbelief

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This story really pushes on the ability to "suspend disbelief". And yet, I kept listening.The events seemed implausible: the abandonement of a Japanese autistic child in a major department store, a former chief inspector volunteering at a school for autistic children,a meeting with a sumo wrestler, flights to the United States and Japan.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Any changes to the story would upset the balance of the incredible and make it a totally unbelievable story.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Simon Prebble is one of the best narrators, but I find the older audios more difficult to understand.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It took more than one sitting to finish this audio book, but I stayed awake at night to follow it to some of its incredible junctures.

good solid 4 stars

I did like the first book in the series a little better, but this was a good solid four star read, and I'm starting the next in the series.

Brilliant work!

I love this book! Peter Diamond is a terrific character, one of the best detectives I’ve encountered.
Simon Prebble is incredible in narration. Something that becomes painfully obvious when I attempted 3-4 other books in the series were read by narrators so poor I couldn’t get past the first 30minutes.

Loved this story!

The character Peter Diamond is so lovable in this story. I enjoyed the complexity of story and variety of characters.

Riveting plot, but moments of incredulity Mar sati

l liked this book, and especially the reader, who really brings the characters to life. the book seemed so well researched, that I was shocked at the incident of someone so easily removing a child from a home. Even in the 80's there would have been reams of paperwork before such a thing would have been allowed. But other than a few other moments where things happened that were so unlikely that they broke the suspension of disbelief, I really enjoyed this second Inspector Diamond mystery (better than the first one) and will try a third!

Excellent

Beautifully read and wonderfully written. Mr. Lovesey is a true storyteller. Diamond is, literally, a larger than life man with a hidden heart. I listened in two days and shall, in fact, continue through this thoroughly entertaining Diamond series. Highly recommend.

Peter Diamond is No Pretty Boy

At first I thought that the various locations and the the mention of terrorists in the first chapter were bad signs and almost gave the book a pass. But Peter Diamond is definitely a diamond in the rough, almost off putting as the main character. He grows on the reader. He has an appealing intellect and is self deprecating and funny. Lovesey reveals Diamond and the plot gradually. At a point between an hour and two hours in the book I was caught.

As for the narrator Simon Prebble, I have been a fan for years. I would listen to him read the telephone directory. He elevates everything he reads.

I enjoyed the Mystery

Peter Diamond’s exterior personality is gruff for me. I suppose he is written that way. He certainly gets things done, and has a kind heart. The Japanese Sumo Wrestler was a fun touch. And Simon Prebble is always one of my favorite readers.

Good listen.

Story was interesting. Slow starting, so many different characters, it took a while to sort everything out. Narrator needs more work on his American accent. No one American pronounces garage "gar▪︎rage".