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62nd out of 89 books
—
52 voters
Eye of the God
When jewel thieves attempt to steal the Hope Diamond, Dr Abigail Mitchell stands in their way. Abby's faith is put to the test as she confronts the father who abandoned her, the betrayal of the only man she has ever loved, and the possibility that she may lose her life because of the legendary gem.
Paperback, 350 pages
Published
October 1st 2009
by Abingdon Press
(first published June 1st 2009)
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The beginning wasn't great - felt kind of unnecessary to be told that a string of non-English words spoken by Tavernier were French... and then to have the Indian minister reply "in Indian" (a language that doesn't actually exist). I started worrying that the book would be full of the kind of poorly researched, imaginary colour that would perhaps be OK for a less educated reader but irritating for anyone who paid attention at school.
Luckily, it turned out better than expected and I enjoyed the...more
Luckily, it turned out better than expected and I enjoyed the...more
This was a nice read about a theft of the Hope Diamond. It wove the (current day) theft in with historical vignettes about the stone's owners, and that sometimes detracted from the main story.
The heroine meets the hero who's there to steal the diamond. She's attracted to him, and he, unaccountably, is smitten by her. At his suggestion, she (amazingly to me) contrives to persuade her employers to let her wear the diamond to a benefit to raise money. Naturally, her boyfriend steals it, and she has...more
The heroine meets the hero who's there to steal the diamond. She's attracted to him, and he, unaccountably, is smitten by her. At his suggestion, she (amazingly to me) contrives to persuade her employers to let her wear the diamond to a benefit to raise money. Naturally, her boyfriend steals it, and she has...more
Is the Hope Diamond cursed? Does it bring misfortune to those who own it? The famed diamond, stolen from the eye of a sculpture of Sita in India, has traveled great distances and continents, and with its journey, it has built an history that fascinates.
Currently housed in the Smithsonian Institute, the Hope Diamond is claimed to have been cut from the French Blue, and Dr Abigail Mitchell is tasked with organizing and hosting an event celebrating the Hope Diamond. But there is an international g...more
Currently housed in the Smithsonian Institute, the Hope Diamond is claimed to have been cut from the French Blue, and Dr Abigail Mitchell is tasked with organizing and hosting an event celebrating the Hope Diamond. But there is an international g...more
Don’t you just love the cover of this book? It’s the reason I signed up to receive a review copy of it. The Hope diamond is featured on the front cover. The author talks about the diamonds history, its allure, the suspense and drama in getting ownership of it, and the legacy attached to this one of a kind blue diamond. Who knew there was that much to talk about? Who knew of all the misfortune associated with this diamond and its owners?
Ariel Allison begins this story in 1653, Golconda, India, wh...more
Ariel Allison begins this story in 1653, Golconda, India, wh...more
This is the last of the new Abingdon Press books that I have gotten to read and review and I am thrilled to say that "eye of the god" is by far my favorite! It is right up my alley in its style and genre... mystery, suspense, romance, twists and turns, history and great characters. I love the way that Ariel blends the present where the Hope Diamond is resting in the Smithsonian Institute and Abigail Mitchell is the person who is the expert on it and is planning a huge event surrounding the diamo...more
Title: EYE OF THE GOD
Author: Ariel Allison
Publisher: Abingdon Press
October 2009
ISBN: 978-1426700682
Genre: Inspirational/suspense
Is the curse of the Hope Diamond real, or just a legacy of greed?
Dr. Abigail Mitchell is the director and curator of the Smithsonian Institution. She has had a rash of art thefts recently, and so Abby travels to South American to warn another curator, but she is too late. International thieves rob the premises while Abby is still in the building.
One of the most pricele...more
Author: Ariel Allison
Publisher: Abingdon Press
October 2009
ISBN: 978-1426700682
Genre: Inspirational/suspense
Is the curse of the Hope Diamond real, or just a legacy of greed?
Dr. Abigail Mitchell is the director and curator of the Smithsonian Institution. She has had a rash of art thefts recently, and so Abby travels to South American to warn another curator, but she is too late. International thieves rob the premises while Abby is still in the building.
One of the most pricele...more
This was a book club book and while not the best thriller I've ever read, it did have its moments. The plot centers on the Hope Diamond, and the heroine, Dr. Abigail Mitchell, is a leading expert on the stone. One might fairly say she has an obsession with the diamond and its history.
The main plot action centers on an upcoming celebration of the Hope Diamond and the ongoing problems of museums worldwide in battling a brilliant group of thieves known as the Collectors. Not surprisingly, they have...more
The main plot action centers on an upcoming celebration of the Hope Diamond and the ongoing problems of museums worldwide in battling a brilliant group of thieves known as the Collectors. Not surprisingly, they have...more
Eye Of The God is written by Ariel Allison and published by Abingdon Press. This book is a mystery that involves the Hope Diamond. A thief wants to steal the Hope Diamond and Dr. Abigail Mitchell is doing her best to stop him. Will she figure out the plan in time? Will her personal life help or hinder her as she takes this journey?
Thy mystery itself is interesting but the detailed history of the Hope Diamond was a bit too much history for me. They adventure takes off and then you get bogged down...more
Thy mystery itself is interesting but the detailed history of the Hope Diamond was a bit too much history for me. They adventure takes off and then you get bogged down...more
Was a free Kindle download.
A fun mystery centered around the Hope diamond. Dr. Abby Mitchell is coordinating the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian’s acquisition of the Hope diamond. Abby is an expert on the history of the so-called cursed diamond and has also been working with Interpol’s Art Theft Division in tracking down “The Collectors.” Alex and Isaac Weld have been stealing major art works for “The Collectors” for 10 years and have left no clues to their identity. Alex is ready to retire,...more
A fun mystery centered around the Hope diamond. Dr. Abby Mitchell is coordinating the 50th anniversary of the Smithsonian’s acquisition of the Hope diamond. Abby is an expert on the history of the so-called cursed diamond and has also been working with Interpol’s Art Theft Division in tracking down “The Collectors.” Alex and Isaac Weld have been stealing major art works for “The Collectors” for 10 years and have left no clues to their identity. Alex is ready to retire,...more
eye of the god (and the author uses lower case for the title) is built around a plot to steal the famous Hope Diamond from its home at Washington’s Smithsonian Institution. Abby Mitchell, responsible for a gala event centered around the diamond, is the central figure in a mystery that starts slowly and builds to a thundering crescendo.
As the author weaves the tale, she provides a great deal of history concerning the diamond and the alleged curse that travels with it, taking the reader back to it...more
As the author weaves the tale, she provides a great deal of history concerning the diamond and the alleged curse that travels with it, taking the reader back to it...more
I really enjoyed the premise of this book. The story focuses around the Hope Diamond which is currently housed at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. A young woman with a Ph.D. who is an expert on the diamond is preparing for a huge fund raiser for the museum in which the Hope Diamond is to be featured. She is quite obsessed with the diamond and unwittingly becomes the target of thieves who "hope" to steal the diamond. While this story is unfolding, the book interweaves the history of the curse...more
Not my usual type of novel, this page turner is a quick, fun story based on an attempted robbery of the Hope Diamond. The author goes back and forth between today and the historical stories of the diamond's origins, along with its curse of misery and destruction to those who posses it. A bit predictable in its plot, we follow Dr. Abbey Mitchell of the Smithsonian as she tries to protect the Hope diamond from a ring of international art thieves. With a few twists and surprises along the way, you'...more
Another free one I grabbed a while back for my Kindle. I really enjoyed it. It's a mystery surrounding the theft of the world's largest diamond, the Hope Diamond, which we've seen on display at the Natural History Museum (Smithsonian) in Washington. The book is interspersed with history of the diamond and its supposed curse to those who have obtained it (among them the man who purchased the original stone in India in the 1600's, Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, two kings of France, Louis XV and Louis XV...more
I thought that this book had a great story idea, so I was pretty excited when it was a free e-book from Barnes & Noble. A rather short read at 258 pages (on nook, looks like 350 in DTB), but it had a few twists and turns that I didn't see coming. Personally, I thought the ending left a little to be desired. A bit more of a wrap-up would have been good; it ended so abruptly I thought I might be missing a page! The flashbacks to the history of the diamond were very well-done, and this made the...more
I really, really enjoyed this novel. It's rare that I read something that makes me want to keep turning the page and not sleep until I've finished it. Allison does a great job of weaving the wonderful historical stories of the Hope Diamond with the modern story of Abby, an expert on the Hope Diamond at the Smithsonian Institute, two art thieves, the mysterious Broker and conglomerate of art collectors - all the while with Interpol in the mix.
It really was a wonderful read, well written. Charact...more
It really was a wonderful read, well written. Charact...more
The Hope Diamond, a dazzlingly blue and brilliant diamond of tremendous size and worth, is powerful both for its allure and its infamous curse. Fist time novelist, Ariel Allison spins an intricate web of international intrigue, high-tech crime and romance in Eye of the God.
The diamond leaves a trail of ruined lives detailed in the historical flashbacks throughout the book. For Dr. Abigail Mitchell it becomes an obsession. From the setting of the Smithsonian Institute, the reader is taken on a jo...more
The diamond leaves a trail of ruined lives detailed in the historical flashbacks throughout the book. For Dr. Abigail Mitchell it becomes an obsession. From the setting of the Smithsonian Institute, the reader is taken on a jo...more
view all 5 comments
Nov 13, 2009
Margaret
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
adventure seekers
Recommended to Margaret by:
CFBA
Awesome. The first word to enter my mind upon completing the premier novel of author Ariel Allison is awesome. Already, I can devotedly tell you I am a fan and cannot wait for more. You better believe that I am going to check out those side novels with the continuing stories of those of which their lives has been touched by the Hope Diamond. Starting this book, I was a little hesitant, and that is completely related to formatting. The font was a different one than I am used to and all was bold t...more
I've always been fascinated by the mystery surrounding the Hope Diamond, so I was especially excited to read "eye of the god." I was expecting a good read. What I wasn't expecting was the effortless weaving of historical fact and modern-day thievery, both equally as thrilling.
Dr. Abigail Mitchell has father issues. She also knows more about the Hope Diamond than just about anybody in the world. Alex Weld is one of the world's most successful and cunning jewel thieves. When their paths cross, the...more
Dr. Abigail Mitchell has father issues. She also knows more about the Hope Diamond than just about anybody in the world. Alex Weld is one of the world's most successful and cunning jewel thieves. When their paths cross, the...more
This was one of Amazon's 99 cent kindle deals of the day awhile ago and I've just been saving it until I was in the mood :). The writing was a bit cheesy, but I enjoyed it overall. It's a fast paced story about the Hope Diamond that goes back and forth between different parts of the diamond's history and a present day plot to steal it from the Smithsonian. I really enjoyed learning more about the diamond's history and it's "curse." I was able to see it at the Smithsonian a couple of times, so ov...more
I'm not a big fan of historical fiction, but this book is a modern day mystery with historical flashbacks so it worked well for me. Good dialog by historical characters. In many ways they seemed more real than the modern day characters. The door is open for a sequel, but I found the idea of a happy ending a bit of a stretch, can't imagine that really happening. Story kept me interested. A good light read for pleasure and enough history that I might read more about the hope diamond.
I was not sure about this book when I purchased it for $0.99, but at that price it sounded good enough on the description. I could not put it down. I finished in just under 4 hours, adn am going to be looking for more books by Arieal Allison.
I was so impressed with the depth of character development, research into the background of the Hope Diamond, as well as intricate detailing of all diamonds and the diamond trade industry.
I was so impressed with the depth of character development, research into the background of the Hope Diamond, as well as intricate detailing of all diamonds and the diamond trade industry.
Reminded me a bit of "National Treasure" in a book. This is a heist story surrounding the Hope Diamond. Nicely blends history and suspense with a touch of romance.
Perhaps deserves a 3 star... I enjoyed it overall. Some plot elements did not hang together for me: would final details still be up in the air for a major publicity event only three days prior to the date? My project management experience indicates those would have been nailed months before the event.
Perhaps deserves a 3 star... I enjoyed it overall. Some plot elements did not hang together for me: would final details still be up in the air for a major publicity event only three days prior to the date? My project management experience indicates those would have been nailed months before the event.
I really liked the suspense about the robberies and who was behind them. Abby was a very like-able character. She was intelligent, strong, resourceful and yet vulnerable ~ especially in relationships. She was also in the shadow of her father and felt the need to constantly prove herself.
I've always been more than a little fascinated by the Hope Diamond. It's gorgeous and it has a history. This book goes into that history and legend - perhaps in too much detail. Sometimes it feels as if we're re...more
I've always been more than a little fascinated by the Hope Diamond. It's gorgeous and it has a history. This book goes into that history and legend - perhaps in too much detail. Sometimes it feels as if we're re...more
I picked this up for free on Amazon in November 2011 and I am so glad I did. I loved it. It was interesting and suspenseful and while I thought I had an inkling about which way the story was going to go, it went in a different direction and surprised me. I will gladly purchase future books by Ariel Allison and I look forward to reading them!
For a first novel, I found the Eye of the God (and back story per the Hope Diamond) not only well-written, but intriguing as well. The plot never bogged down and the characters were three dimensional, bringing life to the story. Curious if Ariel will create a thriller series around Abby (the heroine in this story.) Time will tell!
I really enjoyed this story. I don't know how historically factual it was, but I loved it. If you're not a fan stories that flip back and forth in time, you might not like it as much...but I didn't mind it at all. There were a number of surprises for me in this story, so that was exciting.
Pretty well written, suspenseful without being too irritating about it, & the characters are developed throughout the book. I also like the descriptions of various architectural elements & all the back-story on the Hope diamond. (Warning: It is about 1/3 of the book & basically has nothing to do with the book plot.)
The book is a good read; do not expect anything great. It jumps back and forth on its storyline. At times, the flashbacks make you wonder whether it is a necessary element of the plot. It has its share of surprises and suspense, but mainly does manage to hold your attention.
I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book when I first picked it up, but ended up really enjoying it. I'm a huge fan of Abington Press Books, but this is the first book I've read by this author. I would definitely be interested in reading more of her books in the future.
A decent read that centers around the Hope Diamond. The historical parts of the novel, the histroy of the diamond, were really interesting. The current who-dunnit part of the novel was fair. The ending ties everything together just a little too neatly.
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