QUEEN OF DIAMONDS (Book two) by Scott Finley - REVIEW

 


Saturday, March 22, 1930

In book two of Scott Finley's "Voyage of the Queen" series, QUEENofDIAMONDS (VictoriaInk), diamonds of every shape, size and color are showing up. We're aboard the Queen Victoria in the Atlantic Ocean on our way to England and a killer lurks. One of the diamond dealers sailing includes up and coming diamantaire, Harry Winston. There are several other dealers and when one is found dead, his mouthful of diamonds. Amateur sleuth, Maeve Chandler (who we met in book one) is on the hunt for a killer, who is not afraid of killing again. 

What makes author Finley's book stand out is a compelling story set in the 1920s Gilded Age. The research is extensive - you'll feel as if you aboard. Anyone who enjoys murder mysteries will discover a new series to read in Scott Finley's, "Voyage of the Queen."


Scott's fascination with the golden age of trans-Atlantic luxury liners began at an early age with reading Walter Lord's Titanic classic, "A Night to Remember." The later discovery that sinkings were not the norm and that ships actually crossed the Atlantic without incident didn't dampen his enthusiasm. He wanted a ship to put in his parent's backyard to play with after elementary school: unfortunately, being a fifth generation Texan and living inland in Dallas, ocean liners are hard to find. After graduating from the University of Texas with a degree in journalism Scott channeled his energies into a career in broadcast news, working for all four major network affiliates, then afterward doing training and corporate videos. Following that was a stint doing media for non-profit entities.

Along the way, and despite his best efforts, he collected one Emmy® nomination, 19 Telly Awards, three Aegis Awards, two Addy awards and five Best Newscast in Texas awards from the Associated Press, as well as an honorable mention from PR News for blogging for a non-profit. Outside of media and broadcast, he is the author of "A Little Theatre", a two-act comedy that has been produced by several Texas community theaters with relatively few over-ripe tomatoes thrown at the actors.

Scott is an actor himself, having over thirty community theatrical productions to his credit as well as working as an interactive performer at Texas’ Scarborough Renaissance Festival® (where he says he wouldn't have worn the white hose if he didn't have the legs for it) and in murder mystery productions (usually as the victim).

To further warp his personality, he was an actor and writer for an old west gunfight show (again, usually the victim).

In his free time he enjoys writing, reading, Lionel trains, and repairing/restoring radios from the 1930’s – 1950’s.

But the call of the sea persisted....and ultimately found voice in the Voyages of the Queen series.

So, in a way, he did finally get that ship to play with; sadly, people keep getting killed aboard it.

He shares a home with his legal counsel Gabrielle, three cats, and a confused dog,

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