Death by Diamond Lab: A Hilarious Feel-Good Cozy Mystery

by Tess Marlowe

A vanished boyfriend, a high-end "gift" from a Labrador, and a clairvoyant parrot.

When retired army therapist Alex agrees to help a frazzled newcomer find her missing boyfriend—and his missing dog—she expects drama, not a full-blown conspiracy. But after the Labrador drops a diamond under the bush and the boyfriend washes up dead, Alex and her husband Reg (a dry-witted ex-SEAL with excellent aim and zero patience) realize their paradise comes with a body count.

With their retired bomb-sniffing dog, Bombay, leading the way, the couple uncovers a smuggling ring using dogs to move diamonds across the border. But the deeper they dig, the messier it gets—shady cops, secret wives, and a jewelry store with gang ties. And at the center of it all? A mysterious woman who’ll stop at nothing to protect her empire.

To crack the case, they’ll need sharp instincts, stronger cocktails, and a dog who’s hell-bent on unretiring.

Welcome to San Malvino. Pack sunscreen and an arrest warrant.

Genres: Cozy Mystery

82 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 9, 2025

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is hilarious! And the dog doesn't die like in most books with a dog.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Alex and Reg’s characters and once I barely got into the book realized they couldn’t be more like Beckett and Castle from TV if the book was actually written about those two, lol. It made the reading even more enjoyable picturing two of my favorite TV cop show characters. The banter, the dialogue—everything was spot on and hilarious when it needed to be. Bombay was the goodest doggie ever and being a retired bomb sniffer, he managed to help the showdown progress without incident. I’ve already borrowed the next in series and can’t wait to read it!

[Whitney Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think with more development this could have been a five star book! (It’s closer to a novella) I loved the humor and the dialogue between the main two older sleuths. I also loved the animals & wish they would have had more screen time/development. There were a couple of typos that I caught. Overall this was a cute & lighthearted mystery that I enjoyed my time with. I do wish there would have been more action surrounding the final reveal. There is also some mild and infrequent language but otherwise it is clean! This has potential and I hope the author will continue to improve on it.

[Dallass · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short but fast paced and intriguing. I enjoyed the tropical island setting with the quirky locals, and the mystery of the disappearing boyfriend and little Labrador. Even though the cover suggests a cozy mystery vibe, I won't class as such. Not your average amateur unskilled busybodies investigating, that's for sure. Liked this enough to pick up the second book... well, at least add it to my list to pick up soon.

3.5 stars

[Robyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Retirement busted

Alex, Reg and Bombay are enjoyment when Shannon shows up looking for heNr boyfriend and his dog. They decide to help her move into her boyfriend's place but she doesn't know any Spanish. Reg and Alex help her. Using their former skills they start looking into what is going on. Good story enjoyed the characters.

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

My First Tess Marlow

This is a really fun mystery. The characters are a little different and some can't be trusted. Others will save your life. I'm happy that I found this intriguing story.

[Stephanie K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute mystery

death by diamond is a fast, cute mystery. Nice characters. It is a good beach read , not deep, so u can be interrupted and not lose track of the plot. Thanks. I will buy another in the series.

[Elizabeth Hubbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loco and Loud Parrot

Great novella, bad editing. This was a good detective story, great beginning tale of Alexandra and Reg, the detective duo on a beach island and Bombay, faithful K9. Can't wait to read the other's, hopefully learn more backstory.

[Candis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick Cleanser

New to me author and I wasn't disappointed. I'll be using this author Tess, for any future change of pace reading. The book itself was a quick but efficient read. It's what I consider a palette cleanser with simple action and mystery.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet

Great characters, fast paced, good dialogue. Just wish it hadn’t been so short. Good book for when you want a good, quick read and not stay up all night finishing it. I will definitely be reading a few more.

[L. Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is exactly what the subtitle promises: a hilarious, feel-good read. It's the perfect pick-me-up when you need something uplifting.

[Jemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series, excellent reading!

[Lee Brothers · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a quick book but it was fun to read. I really liked Bombay, Alex and Reg. I hope there's more to come.

[Kimberly McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting quick read

I read it in under an hour and enjoyed it immensely. Good story with an interesting mystery and colorful characters. Can't wait to read more in the series.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was kind of fun

[Josey Fansher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun!

Fun and super cute short story. As a dog lover, enjoy the dog plot and no dogs harmed! Excited to continue the series.

[Erna Van · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death by Diamond

A lovely mystery. The characters are interesting. Lots of action, mystery and drama. A nice way to relax and leave the real world behind for a while.

[Elizabeth Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super fun read with characters I look forward to spending more time with.

[Armen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gifted author. Death by Diamond Lab is a delightful island escape packed with quirky characters, clever twists, and laugh-out-loud moments. I couldn’t put it down!