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Alex Turner #2
Ice Angel
In this explosive sequel to The Russian Pink , Alex and Lily are thrust into a murderous cat-and-mouse across the Arctic diamond fields, dodging Chinese assassins while at the same time struggling with the personal betrayals that torment their passionate affair.
Alex Turner and his treacherous lover, the Russian diamond thief Slav Lily, are back on the hunt. An American prospector is murdered in the great diamond field of northern Canada—a magical landscape of pristine lakes and granite ridges and scarlet vegetation.
The U.S. government fears that the Chinese billionaire twins who suddenly control the dead prospector’s company are seeking a toehold for their government in this vital northern region.
As we race across the globe with Alex and Lily, Hart keeps a heart-bounding pace with lethal plane chases across the diamond-rich Barrens and a battle between the scheming twins and Mitzi Angel, the murdered prospector’s daughter. All the while, The Ice Angel delves into the dark realpolitik of America’s strategy while untangling the Byzantine motives that drive the diamond trade.
In this explosive sequel to the breakout The Russian Pink, Alex and Lily must struggle with the rivalry, and sometimes the deceit, that wraps their love in its coils.
Alex Turner and his treacherous lover, the Russian diamond thief Slav Lily, are back on the hunt. An American prospector is murdered in the great diamond field of northern Canada—a magical landscape of pristine lakes and granite ridges and scarlet vegetation.
The U.S. government fears that the Chinese billionaire twins who suddenly control the dead prospector’s company are seeking a toehold for their government in this vital northern region.
As we race across the globe with Alex and Lily, Hart keeps a heart-bounding pace with lethal plane chases across the diamond-rich Barrens and a battle between the scheming twins and Mitzi Angel, the murdered prospector’s daughter. All the while, The Ice Angel delves into the dark realpolitik of America’s strategy while untangling the Byzantine motives that drive the diamond trade.
In this explosive sequel to the breakout The Russian Pink, Alex and Lily must struggle with the rivalry, and sometimes the deceit, that wraps their love in its coils.
336 pages, Hardcover
Published September 7, 2021
About the author
Matthew Hart
12 books29 followersMatthew Hart has reported on gold and diamonds for Vanity Fair, The Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal, the London Times, and many other newspapers and magazines. He was a contributing editor of the New York trade journal Rapaport Diamond Report. His award-winning book Diamond: the History of a Cold-Blooded Love Affair was translated into six languages and made into a four-hour dramatic miniseries starring Sir Derek Jacobi and Judy Davis. His latest book Gold: the Race for the World’s Most Seductive Metal was adapted into a National Geographic TV special. He has traveled from the Arctic to Angola in pursuit of diamond stories. He once found a puff adder in his room, but not since moving to New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 2, 2021
Ice Angel is a dandy read. Five paragraphs in I was really hooked. It's a fast-paced thriller, written in a descriptive style that just won't let you go. The two main characters, Alex Turner and Slav Lily, dance in an intimate yet complicated relationship, as they engage in a search for the truth behind the disappearance of a geologist who has discovered an astonishingly rich diamond pipe in the Canadian Arctic. Hart threads current US - Canada - China issues through the plot. The
Mounties(RCMP) are there along with desperate plane chases occur as the plot twists and turns to its final moments.
I lived in the Canadian Arctic for 30 years and I can say that Matthew Hart knows his stuff. The story put me right back on the land - it's captivating.
I recommend the book, but prepare for some late-night reading. You won't want to put it down.
Mounties(RCMP) are there along with desperate plane chases occur as the plot twists and turns to its final moments.
I lived in the Canadian Arctic for 30 years and I can say that Matthew Hart knows his stuff. The story put me right back on the land - it's captivating.
I recommend the book, but prepare for some late-night reading. You won't want to put it down.
October 7, 2021
Fantastic plot. Really neat look at the diamond industry. I didn't want it to end!
October 28, 2021
An American prospector was murdered in the middle of a diamond field in Alaska, and Alex Turner is tasked with discovering exactly what happened. The US government fears that a pair of dangerous and connected Chinese twins are infiltrating the area through their clandestine ownership of the prospector's company. The prospector's daughter is also involved now. He enlists the help of his lover Lily, a treacherous woman and jewel thief. They love each other and are in danger as they crisscross the globe.
Ice Angel is the sequel to The Russian Pink, which I hadn't read. Either way, I could easily understand that Lily was hardly an innocent woman. She's sharp and fast on the uptake from the start, and through her discussion with Alex we learn more about the diamond industry in Alaska, and how important Jimmy Angel's find for diamonds could be. He describes their love as "the kind where you try to outwit, use, and deceive each other until your hearts are black and blue, and shame is the measure of your tenderness." Right there, that tells you all you need to know about Lily and Alex.
Besides the missing Jimmy starting off the novel, we have the twins who essentially maneuvered their way into ownership of Jimmy's company and ousting his daughter, several gunfights and chases, and multiple government agencies spying and playing each other. The paranoia and tension circle each other for the entire book, and whatever Alex was told to do for this case is layered. He's at once an agent and a pawn and understands this even as he hates it. The kind of love that he has for Lily, where they regularly lie to each other and elide where their interests lie, is exactly the same kind of treatment he gets from his superiors and their superiors. It isn't all about diamonds, though they play a large role in the motivation and execution of their plans.
It's fascinating and tense and drew me in to stay up long after I should have gone to bed. Absolutely worth it!
Ice Angel is the sequel to The Russian Pink, which I hadn't read. Either way, I could easily understand that Lily was hardly an innocent woman. She's sharp and fast on the uptake from the start, and through her discussion with Alex we learn more about the diamond industry in Alaska, and how important Jimmy Angel's find for diamonds could be. He describes their love as "the kind where you try to outwit, use, and deceive each other until your hearts are black and blue, and shame is the measure of your tenderness." Right there, that tells you all you need to know about Lily and Alex.
Besides the missing Jimmy starting off the novel, we have the twins who essentially maneuvered their way into ownership of Jimmy's company and ousting his daughter, several gunfights and chases, and multiple government agencies spying and playing each other. The paranoia and tension circle each other for the entire book, and whatever Alex was told to do for this case is layered. He's at once an agent and a pawn and understands this even as he hates it. The kind of love that he has for Lily, where they regularly lie to each other and elide where their interests lie, is exactly the same kind of treatment he gets from his superiors and their superiors. It isn't all about diamonds, though they play a large role in the motivation and execution of their plans.
It's fascinating and tense and drew me in to stay up long after I should have gone to bed. Absolutely worth it!
January 11, 2022
Despite it’s dumb-assed title, Ice Angel, (Pegasus Crime, $25.95, 272 pages, ISBN 970-1-64313-811-4) by Matthew Hart, is a cool piece of crime fiction that has an exciting premise, a dynamic, fast-moving plot and an interesting cast of characters—all of whom are trying to rob, swindle, outwit and kill each other somewhere north of the Arctic circle in the Canadian wilderness . . . where one of the world’s greatest diamond fields has been discovered. It’s an area teeming with oil, timber and minerals that are just waiting to be exploited.
The yarn begins with the disappearance of a legendary diamond prospector and ethically challenged stock market operator named Jimmy Angel. He’s rumored to be sitting on an epic find, one of the richest diamond pipes ever discovered. Then he’s gone. That’s when a pair of Chinese billionaires—a playboy named Fan and his calculating twin sister Mei, who have ties to China’s government and it’s military—step in with a dubious maneuver to take over the missing diamond hunter’s entire business and all of it’s staked claims for leases. Because Angel is an American citizen who’s already a subject of interest to the U.S. government, treasury agent Alex Turner is sent to find out what’s happened to the missing man. Turner’s accompanied by his treacherous lover, a Russian diamond thief named Slav Lily, who may in fact be colluding with the enemy. With the takeover of the Angel Companies, higher-ups in Washington, D.C. fear that the Chinese Communist Government is trying to establish a land base on the North American Continent . . . something they want to prevent at all costs. And, when Angel’s daughter Mitzi enters the plot, all-out mayhem ensues with airplane chases, machine gun fights and a never-ending assortment of vicious thugs combined with lyrical prose and savage Arctic weather conditions all make this an electrifying hard-to-put-down read that will keep you guessing to the end!
The yarn begins with the disappearance of a legendary diamond prospector and ethically challenged stock market operator named Jimmy Angel. He’s rumored to be sitting on an epic find, one of the richest diamond pipes ever discovered. Then he’s gone. That’s when a pair of Chinese billionaires—a playboy named Fan and his calculating twin sister Mei, who have ties to China’s government and it’s military—step in with a dubious maneuver to take over the missing diamond hunter’s entire business and all of it’s staked claims for leases. Because Angel is an American citizen who’s already a subject of interest to the U.S. government, treasury agent Alex Turner is sent to find out what’s happened to the missing man. Turner’s accompanied by his treacherous lover, a Russian diamond thief named Slav Lily, who may in fact be colluding with the enemy. With the takeover of the Angel Companies, higher-ups in Washington, D.C. fear that the Chinese Communist Government is trying to establish a land base on the North American Continent . . . something they want to prevent at all costs. And, when Angel’s daughter Mitzi enters the plot, all-out mayhem ensues with airplane chases, machine gun fights and a never-ending assortment of vicious thugs combined with lyrical prose and savage Arctic weather conditions all make this an electrifying hard-to-put-down read that will keep you guessing to the end!
November 21, 2021
I live in Yellowknife and saw that this book is based in Yellowknife and dealt with mystery, intrigue, and diamonds; I figured that was good enough for me. Comparisons to Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher - some of my favourites - on the back cover also intrigued me although I had some doubts about the veracity of the comparison.
So I began to read. It was good, really good. I found I could picture the places and characters vividly and the action moved along quickly.
Then I got to chapter 7.
That was when I saw how true the comparisons to Bourne and Reacher were. Suddenly I couldn't read fast enough or put it down. Even though I was exhausted from a full week of work, I read late into the night moving from chapter to chapter as quickly as I could.
If you have any interest in Jason Bourne or Jack Reacher (heck, even James Bond), get this book. You will love it.
So I began to read. It was good, really good. I found I could picture the places and characters vividly and the action moved along quickly.
Then I got to chapter 7.
That was when I saw how true the comparisons to Bourne and Reacher were. Suddenly I couldn't read fast enough or put it down. Even though I was exhausted from a full week of work, I read late into the night moving from chapter to chapter as quickly as I could.
If you have any interest in Jason Bourne or Jack Reacher (heck, even James Bond), get this book. You will love it.
February 10, 2023
Wow ! What a stylish novel with a unique plot that centres around the diamond trade and more. As Hart is expert in diamond trade, I was expecting a basic, straight forward story around diamond. Boy I was wrong. Hart is one helluva writer with a unique style. The plot is whip smart, dialogues witty and the characters complex and very interesting. Coupled that with Hart's grasp of international geopolitics and some real research on unlikely subjects such NORAD and intelligence operations, you have a real cracker of a novel.
Though I found some of the plot to be rather unrealistic, on the overall, the novel is an enjoyable but intelligent read. Definitely one of the top thriller writers belong to the Tier 1 category. Fast paced, smart and complex. 5 stars!
Though I found some of the plot to be rather unrealistic, on the overall, the novel is an enjoyable but intelligent read. Definitely one of the top thriller writers belong to the Tier 1 category. Fast paced, smart and complex. 5 stars!
November 16, 2021
The intrigue and suspense could be found in the book, but it still lacked that grab hold on hold on that you might expect. This being his second book and after reading the Russian Pink I saw a good amount of improvements on how he transferred between stories. The book still has some dry spots causing the story to slow down. But just like his first one you can appreciate his knowledge on the subject as it adds a lot to the story.
November 17, 2021
Alex Turner along with the enigmatic and volatile Slav Lily (turned asset/lover) returns to deal with a pair of unscrupulous Chinese twins that are out to corner diamond trade in North America. Bodies will drop and blood will splatter (ever so copiously and viciously), as shady deals are made faster than folks change their undies and everyone's a potential predator (even the good guys). Looking forward to Alex Turner #3.
October 22, 2021
Ice Angel is loaded with mystery and intrigue. It's a very adult story, with fascinating descriptions of the search for diamonds and the lengths people go through to get their hands on them. And great characters with complex motivations makes for a fascinating read.
Librarians...highly recommended for your male patrons
Librarians...highly recommended for your male patrons
April 5, 2024
Was it the narrator? The story? Me? It was surprisingly clean but seemed like a wanna be of the great suspense thrillers. Once again, I was disappointed with much of the shallow storyline and happy when it was FINALLY over!
October 7, 2021
Hart really nailed this one. The fire is lit from the first page and it burns red hot until the very end. It's a spicy thriller, jam-packed with action. Pick this one up ASAP! You won't regret it
January 21, 2024
This is a good, suspenseful storyline with twists and turns.
August 21, 2025
Had no expectations going into this, but was pleasantly surprised. I hadn't read the first book of the series and this did well as a stand alone.
July 31, 2022
Who is spying on who? How many back door deals are going on behind everyone's backs? So many things going on that no knows about.
Half the time, I was confused. Maybe it's because I didn't read the first book, although I felt like it explained enough about the regular characters to get an idea of their backstory without needing to read the first book. However, there were a few spots where some scenes seemed out of place, like they belonged elsewhere. I couldn't keep up with who was setting up who, whom had deals with whom, which people were actual spies and which ones weren't. There were just too many of them.
And I hate when authors do the whole, "main character figures this part out 10 chapters back but never bothered to even hint at it to the reader, not even in their thoughts, so then everyone finds out the truth at the same time" thing. So annoying! The main character was like that at times. Very secretive. I didn't get him at all and I read many thrillers like this.
By the time I finished this book, I was relieved. Definitely not one of my favorites.
Half the time, I was confused. Maybe it's because I didn't read the first book, although I felt like it explained enough about the regular characters to get an idea of their backstory without needing to read the first book. However, there were a few spots where some scenes seemed out of place, like they belonged elsewhere. I couldn't keep up with who was setting up who, whom had deals with whom, which people were actual spies and which ones weren't. There were just too many of them.
And I hate when authors do the whole, "main character figures this part out 10 chapters back but never bothered to even hint at it to the reader, not even in their thoughts, so then everyone finds out the truth at the same time" thing. So annoying! The main character was like that at times. Very secretive. I didn't get him at all and I read many thrillers like this.
By the time I finished this book, I was relieved. Definitely not one of my favorites.
March 26, 2023
There is so much going on - it is easy to get lost in the myriad plots and subplots. There were times I felt like I was reading a novel by Dostoevsky - I need a guide to all the characters who step in and out of the book. The author does have a tendency to repeat himself - there are lines in this book that were lifted out of the first book of the series. Lots of tension, lots of action, and not bad for a quick weekend read.
August 12, 2021
You really thought you ate 🤨
Give me that damn plate 🤭
Give me that damn plate 🤭
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews