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

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!

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.

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.

Super fun mystery tale...!!!

This one is really great. Peter Lovesey has crafted a real winner here with terrific background, great historical tongue in cheek twists, truly believable characters (Johnny Getz at The Head of the Class) and an excellent narration without exception. one of the best Peter diamond episodes.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Another diamond from Peter Lovesey

I was taken aback at the start of Diamond and the Eye to have the voice of another character. At first I wasn’t too keen on Johnny but I have to admit he grew on me and luckily was no slouch in the detecting department. Enjoyed the story and the art angle. Thanks Peter for another great story!

Great narration

Too bad Lovesey has to use the F word….no need, no accuse. That being said the story is really good, loved the double main characters….

humor and wit is back

the last several Diamonds were not nearly as entertaining as the first 5, so it is with relief and a grin that I say of Lovesey, "Heeee's baaaaaackkkk!"

Better than no new Diamond, however...

Congratulations to Peter Lovesey on the occasion of publishing the 20th book in his mostly superb Peter Diamond detective series. I forgive him for larking about with gumshoe conventions in this book. I do not like the performance. It's distracting to have the plot interrupted by the fake voice of a tough guy cinema noir American PI from some 1940s B movie. This proved to be my least favorite Diamond book, but I still enjoyed it. Listeners new to the series: this is not very representative of it.