Heart Of Diamonds: A novel of scandal, love, and death in the Congo

By Dave Donelson

Corruption at the highest levels of government, greed in the church, and brutality among warring factions make the Congo a very dangerous place for television journalist Valerie Grey. Amid the bloody... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1449919928
• ISBN13: 9781449919924
• Release Date: December 2009
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Fast modern adventure

This well-plotted thriller starts with a rebel attack on a Congolese village as told by a boy soldier who was captured and pressed into service in the raid. His tale sets the book's tone, which builds slowly to a high-octane finish. The action and suspense centers around a diamond smuggling scheme uncovered by TV reporter Valerie Grey. Hatched by missionary Thomas Alben, who runs a diamond mine owned by American televangelist Gary Peterson. Peterson is in cahoots with the President of the Congo, but doesn't mind skimming some of the mine's profits, when Alben comes up with the idea of smuggling raw diamonds into the U.S. inside little dolls. The slimy preachers use some of the diamonds to bribe a White House aide to recommend a U.S. military mission to the Congo supposedly to support Messime's government, but actually to protect the diamond mine. When Grey goes to the Congo to cover the action, she stumbles upon the smuggling scheme. She tries to get the story on air but the missionary, the Congolese army, even a Terminator-type secret agent sent by the White Hous try to stop her. It all happens in the middle of a civil war, which provides some horrible background scenery and complicates Grey's struggle to get away. Grey has help along the way, from Jaime Talon, an altruistic doctor who runs a clinic in the village where the mine is located. A romance blooms between them. Even with all the fights, raids, battles, chase scenes along crocodile-infested rivers and over refugee-clogged roads, the story is fast-paced with the romance allowing the reader to breathe as it unfolds. It will make a great screenplay.

A Super Heroine

Valerie Grey, the heroine of Heart of Diamonds, is one of the more nuanced characters in a popular novel. She's brave and not afraid to confront forces bigger than her, but still has plenty of internal doubts about what she's doing and why she does it. Valerie is a star international TV reporter who has been under fire in war zones many times. She has also posed tough questions to world leaders without backing down. Her internal doubts come out when she is turned down for a big promotion and can't find the words to argue with her boss about it. That makes her a lot more like a real person than some sort of super-woman. She really comes across as real, though, when you read about her love life. It's kind of a mess. She's been kind of living with an executive at her network but, when he proposes marriage, she can't bring herself to do it. The whole subject just creates doubts in her mind about whether she really loves him or not. Then, in the Congo, she meets an altruistic doctor, Jaime Talon. That's when it gets really messy. The two of them are thrown together as they try to escape the bad guys who are smuggling diamonds out of the Congo in a scheme that Valerie discovers. Their romance grows despite all the flying bullets and gruesome battles. I don't want to give away the ending, but suffice it to say that David Powell, the man who wants to marry her, re-appears in the end.

The Congo Gets Personal

Dave Donelson brings a fresh look on life in the Congo. I'm not a novel reader (though I'm ashamed to say), but this gripping illustration of life in a place far from my home is nothing short of enlightening. I found myself rivited to this book like a front seat at my favorite movie. Thanks Dave for the edutainment!

High Adventure - High Romance

This book offers both intricate, exciting action and compelling, well-drawn characters. The plot includes diamond smuggling, civil war in the Congo, intrigue that involves the White House, and a magnificent chase along crocodile-infested rivers, through raging gun battles, and into the sky in armed helicopters. There's enough sometimes-bloody action and intense suspense to please the most demanding thriller addict. But there are also great characters who make Heart of Diamonds a good read for those who want to know why the bullets are flying and the diamond smuggling scheme must be revealed. The heroine, Valerie Grey, is a star TV reporter whose career hits a dead end just about the same time as her boyfriend and mentor, David Powell, decides they should get married. The problem is, Valerie isn't really sure she wants to marry David. Those internal conflicts run throughout the book, giving Valerie's character something to think about when she isn't dodging bullets and facing down bad guys. The situation become more complicated when Valerie encounters Jaime Talon, a cynically altruistic doctor who runs a money-starved clinic near the diamond mine in the Congo village of Mai-Munene. Dr. Talon is actually the first character you meet in the book and his treatment of a child soldier, showdown with a guerrilla fighter, and run-in with the book's main bad guy, missionary Thomas Alben, give you fine insights into his life and character. The two of them discover a diamond smuggling scheme that involves an American televangelist with ties to the White House. When the Congo civil war reaches fever pitch, Valerie Grey races to expose the scheme as American troops start pouring into the country. The Congolese army, the televangelist's minions, and even CIA-like assassins sent by the White House try to stop her while the countryside erupts in war around them. Between the high-concept suspense, steamy love triangle, and action-packed portrayal of the Congo, Heart of Diamonds makes a great read.

Couldn't have said it better myself

I agree with Nora. Heart of Diamonds is a fantastic ride, cinematic in nature. It's timely as well, and I hope a movie is forthcoming!