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Jill Quint, MD, Forensic Pathologist #2
Chocolate Diamonds
A diamond store owner goes into anaphylactic shock after eating nuts.
Who is the woman in the Belgian restaurant that the Americans provide with CPR? Was it just a severe nut allergy, or something sinister? If you know you have an allergy to nuts, why would you ever eat chocolate knowing that nuts often contaminate chocolatiers? These are the questions that arise after an autopsy of the woman that makes it alive to the hospital, only to die later.
Jill Quint, MD, is a forensic pathologist, vintner, and future private investigator from California, joins her three friends from Wisconsin in Antwerp, Belgium. In the diamond industry hub of the world, they plan to enjoy their annual girlfriends' vacation exploring the museums, food, and beer of Belgium and the Netherlands.
A chance medical emergency pulls Jill and her friends into a homicide investigation, where they assist the Belgian police and Interpol with uncovering something worth killing for in the diamond industry.
Read CHOCOLATE DIAMONDS for a thrill ride through Belgium and the Netherlands. This is book 2 in the Jill Quint, MD series.
Who is the woman in the Belgian restaurant that the Americans provide with CPR? Was it just a severe nut allergy, or something sinister? If you know you have an allergy to nuts, why would you ever eat chocolate knowing that nuts often contaminate chocolatiers? These are the questions that arise after an autopsy of the woman that makes it alive to the hospital, only to die later.
Jill Quint, MD, is a forensic pathologist, vintner, and future private investigator from California, joins her three friends from Wisconsin in Antwerp, Belgium. In the diamond industry hub of the world, they plan to enjoy their annual girlfriends' vacation exploring the museums, food, and beer of Belgium and the Netherlands.
A chance medical emergency pulls Jill and her friends into a homicide investigation, where they assist the Belgian police and Interpol with uncovering something worth killing for in the diamond industry.
Read CHOCOLATE DIAMONDS for a thrill ride through Belgium and the Netherlands. This is book 2 in the Jill Quint, MD series.
290 pages, Paperback
First published June 6, 2014
About the author
Alec Peche
47 books62 followersAuthor’s Bio
I have fourteen books published in the Jill Quint, MD murder mystery series. They are best described as soft-boiled mysteries.
The books are set in different locations in the United States and Europe. The lead protagonist is Jill Quint, a forensic pathologist. She worked for a state crime lab, but left as she became disenchanted with court appearances, paperwork, and politics. She operates a vineyard in the central valley of California producing Moscato wine.
Jill also works as a private consultant providing a second opinion on the cause of death for families not satisfied with what they are being told about their loved one's death. She had developed a lab that serves two purposes: she can analyze specimens from a crime scene and she can create organic solutions to pest control and fertilizer for her vines.
Jill is partnered in her adventures with her three best friends who live in another state. Each of those friends has unique skills that move a case forward to being solved.
I also have a second series featuring Damian Green, a loner who lives on an island in San Francisco Bay. He's a computer genius and inventor and his entire family were murdered seven years ago by a mistakenly released prisoner from Soledad Prison. Now he helps Natalie Severino, a retired police detective that solved his family's murders with cold cases. There are 5 books in this series.
I'm a book lover with mystery (mostly) and urban fantasy and romance (occasionally) being the only three genres I read.
Writing mysteries is an adventure - trying to plan for twists and plots to make the story richer. I can get engrossed researching a particular angle of each case. For example, in CASTLE KILLING set in Cardiff, Wales, I spent hours studying different angles of the castle to make sure I threw my victim out the right window. He needed to be four stories up to be dead rather than have multiple broken bones. Yes, I know it sounds like a gruesome question, but if I didn't ask it, one of my readers would.
I hope you will enjoy these stories!
I started a third series with Michelle Watson, a CIA operative with a teleportation skill. Imagine what a spy could do with that skill! There are 3 books in this series.
Alec Peche
I have fourteen books published in the Jill Quint, MD murder mystery series. They are best described as soft-boiled mysteries.
The books are set in different locations in the United States and Europe. The lead protagonist is Jill Quint, a forensic pathologist. She worked for a state crime lab, but left as she became disenchanted with court appearances, paperwork, and politics. She operates a vineyard in the central valley of California producing Moscato wine.
Jill also works as a private consultant providing a second opinion on the cause of death for families not satisfied with what they are being told about their loved one's death. She had developed a lab that serves two purposes: she can analyze specimens from a crime scene and she can create organic solutions to pest control and fertilizer for her vines.
Jill is partnered in her adventures with her three best friends who live in another state. Each of those friends has unique skills that move a case forward to being solved.
I also have a second series featuring Damian Green, a loner who lives on an island in San Francisco Bay. He's a computer genius and inventor and his entire family were murdered seven years ago by a mistakenly released prisoner from Soledad Prison. Now he helps Natalie Severino, a retired police detective that solved his family's murders with cold cases. There are 5 books in this series.
I'm a book lover with mystery (mostly) and urban fantasy and romance (occasionally) being the only three genres I read.
Writing mysteries is an adventure - trying to plan for twists and plots to make the story richer. I can get engrossed researching a particular angle of each case. For example, in CASTLE KILLING set in Cardiff, Wales, I spent hours studying different angles of the castle to make sure I threw my victim out the right window. He needed to be four stories up to be dead rather than have multiple broken bones. Yes, I know it sounds like a gruesome question, but if I didn't ask it, one of my readers would.
I hope you will enjoy these stories!
I started a third series with Michelle Watson, a CIA operative with a teleportation skill. Imagine what a spy could do with that skill! There are 3 books in this series.
Alec Peche
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
October 8, 2019
OMG what a bad book!
I usually try and be positive when giving a review, but this one is going to be all negative. This book suffers from:
1. A bad plot, that is absolutely and completely unrealistic. I mean, what are the chances that amateurs could give orders to and have access to the resources of the local police and even Interpol?!
2. Really appalling writing style. The book reads like a (bad) business report, not a novel. There is very little dialogue and even that is stilted. No way does anyone speak that way, and especially not Americans.
3. Ignorance of cuisine vocabulary: an entrée is a starter, not a main dish!
4. Totally Inaccurate information regarding data, and access to it in Europe, especially financial data.
5. Boring descriptions that do not do justice to each country. Has the author even visited them? And what is the purpose of the criticism of the Belgian autopsy system?.....
6. Sloppy editing, where changes to the text were not done properly and left us reading gobbledegook.
Usually when I read a bad book to the end it’s because I want to find out who the « baddie/s » is/are. In this case I only read the story to the end because I wanted to see how bad it could get. It actually got worse than I expected.
OMG what a bad book! Don’t waste your time reading it.
I usually try and be positive when giving a review, but this one is going to be all negative. This book suffers from:
1. A bad plot, that is absolutely and completely unrealistic. I mean, what are the chances that amateurs could give orders to and have access to the resources of the local police and even Interpol?!
2. Really appalling writing style. The book reads like a (bad) business report, not a novel. There is very little dialogue and even that is stilted. No way does anyone speak that way, and especially not Americans.
3. Ignorance of cuisine vocabulary: an entrée is a starter, not a main dish!
4. Totally Inaccurate information regarding data, and access to it in Europe, especially financial data.
5. Boring descriptions that do not do justice to each country. Has the author even visited them? And what is the purpose of the criticism of the Belgian autopsy system?.....
6. Sloppy editing, where changes to the text were not done properly and left us reading gobbledegook.
Usually when I read a bad book to the end it’s because I want to find out who the « baddie/s » is/are. In this case I only read the story to the end because I wanted to see how bad it could get. It actually got worse than I expected.
OMG what a bad book! Don’t waste your time reading it.
hell-to-the-no
December 16, 2015Ewwww! That cover looks like a scat porn got out of hand. No!!!
April 26, 2020
Well the title was certainly intriguing and the premise...three American women on holiday in Belgium had some promise to be interesting and that's about where it ended. Between the various beer tastings and adulations from the Belgium police force I got rather lost in the whole story potential that was there. What really did it in for me were the long and very wordy 'discussions' in regards to diamonds, their beginnings,their consortiums,their mines,their history......well you get the idea.
I wish I could have liked this story more but it just did not happen.
I wish I could have liked this story more but it just did not happen.
October 8, 2019
Foreign investigating
Dr. Jill Quint and her three friends are in Antwerp, Belgium on vacation eating in a restaurant when the lady at the table next to them goes into shock from a but allergy. Jill and Marie start doing CPR when the woman passes out. When the woman dies and it is ruled murder, the ladies are drawn into an investigation with Interpol and the Belgium state police. Finding out the deceased is a famous diamond thief makes the story very interesting.
Dr. Jill Quint and her three friends are in Antwerp, Belgium on vacation eating in a restaurant when the lady at the table next to them goes into shock from a but allergy. Jill and Marie start doing CPR when the woman passes out. When the woman dies and it is ruled murder, the ladies are drawn into an investigation with Interpol and the Belgium state police. Finding out the deceased is a famous diamond thief makes the story very interesting.
October 27, 2020
Jill's posse does it again
WOW!!! What a wonderful story. Jill and her friends go on holiday for their yearly vacation and get caught up in a murder. Just when you think the story is over a new incident is thrown at you. Alec keeps you guessing at what is going on constantly. Has a talent for holding your attention and interest so that you don't want to put the book down. Fantastic book.
WOW!!! What a wonderful story. Jill and her friends go on holiday for their yearly vacation and get caught up in a murder. Just when you think the story is over a new incident is thrown at you. Alec keeps you guessing at what is going on constantly. Has a talent for holding your attention and interest so that you don't want to put the book down. Fantastic book.
September 8, 2019
Awesome book!!!!
I was going to wait until tomorrow morning, to comment on this book, but I can't wait to order the next book, it's a very good 👍read very well written and so much fun to read, it took all day, love the information about diamonds, have my sister reading the first book, she enjoyed it and can't wait to get the next book.
Thanks for the awesome work!!!📚📚📚☕☕☕👍👍👍
I was going to wait until tomorrow morning, to comment on this book, but I can't wait to order the next book, it's a very good 👍read very well written and so much fun to read, it took all day, love the information about diamonds, have my sister reading the first book, she enjoyed it and can't wait to get the next book.
Thanks for the awesome work!!!📚📚📚☕☕☕👍👍👍
Read
November 4, 2019Well written and suspenseful, loved the characters!
This story has all of the components that made this an enjoyable reading experience. Strong, clever characters, an interesting plot and an adventure that wasn't too graphic in the violence or romantic action. Well done! I will be reading more by this author.
This story has all of the components that made this an enjoyable reading experience. Strong, clever characters, an interesting plot and an adventure that wasn't too graphic in the violence or romantic action. Well done! I will be reading more by this author.
March 1, 2020
Lots of twists and turns
Great plot with !it's of twists and turns. I only have it 4 stars because of the sloppy editing. Basic spell check and grammar check would have solved many of the repeated words. Even though I found the errors irritating, I look forward to reading more of the Dr. Quit books.
Great plot with !it's of twists and turns. I only have it 4 stars because of the sloppy editing. Basic spell check and grammar check would have solved many of the repeated words. Even though I found the errors irritating, I look forward to reading more of the Dr. Quit books.
June 6, 2025
This story was not quite as enjoyable as book #1 of the series - it got bogged down with the European police authorities calling the American tourists pushy and aggressive, even though their input was not only necessary but extremely eye opening!!! I love all of the characters and can't wait for book #3.
October 30, 2019
Excellent
Oh my gosh I love these books. The action is so high. There’s a lot going on. There’s so many twists and turns it’s crazy!! Think the book is about over and bam it just keeps going. Love the group.
Oh my gosh I love these books. The action is so high. There’s a lot going on. There’s so many twists and turns it’s crazy!! Think the book is about over and bam it just keeps going. Love the group.
February 14, 2020
A Pleasant Enough Book
Nice a cozy mystery. The protagonists are four strong smart probably drop dead gorgeous who oddly enough find themselves in deadly sutuations. Yes? Did I just describe every “who-done-it” in the world? Well this is another one.
Nice a cozy mystery. The protagonists are four strong smart probably drop dead gorgeous who oddly enough find themselves in deadly sutuations. Yes? Did I just describe every “who-done-it” in the world? Well this is another one.
December 27, 2020
Awesome
Wow If you want to discover East Europe ,You've got to read this book. Doctor Quint and her fellow sleuths go on a vacation And end up in not just one Investigation but a few and each one is quite interesting
Wow If you want to discover East Europe ,You've got to read this book. Doctor Quint and her fellow sleuths go on a vacation And end up in not just one Investigation but a few and each one is quite interesting
July 12, 2021
What a saga
Though hard to believe so much could happen on ones vacation. Jill,Jo,Marie, and Angela were up to the challenge. So many twists and turns. I really enjoyed Henrik’s obstacle course.
Though hard to believe so much could happen on ones vacation. Jill,Jo,Marie, and Angela were up to the challenge. So many twists and turns. I really enjoyed Henrik’s obstacle course.
February 20, 2023
This is a really fun read, with a good plot, and plenty of twists and turns.
It's set in Belgium and The Netherlands. As the characters put their earnings from solving cases towards their holiday fund, I'm looking forward to reading more of their adventures in other interesting locations.
It's set in Belgium and The Netherlands. As the characters put their earnings from solving cases towards their holiday fund, I'm looking forward to reading more of their adventures in other interesting locations.
May 1, 2025
A diamond mystery
Jill, the forensic investigator, is involved in another murder mystery this time in Belgium. I like the plot and the characters were enjoyable. I recommend this book for all of like a good murder mystery.
Jill, the forensic investigator, is involved in another murder mystery this time in Belgium. I like the plot and the characters were enjoyable. I recommend this book for all of like a good murder mystery.
February 26, 2018
Exciting book!
Immensely enjoyed this book. Always looking for interesting reading without profanity and four letter words. Enjoyed the characters as well as the countries.
Immensely enjoyed this book. Always looking for interesting reading without profanity and four letter words. Enjoyed the characters as well as the countries.
May 29, 2019
Ok Book
The book was ok. The characters were not too fleshed out but the plotting was very slow and was not a fun read.
The book was ok. The characters were not too fleshed out but the plotting was very slow and was not a fun read.
July 29, 2020
Better!!!
My review of the first book asked for dialogue and details to connect to the characters. This second one does that. The plots are intriguing .
My review of the first book asked for dialogue and details to connect to the characters. This second one does that. The plots are intriguing .
December 30, 2020
Great read I love the twists and turns of the story.
It’s fun to see how the friends all get involved in something they had no intention of pursuing. I like reading the stories of the friends they make in their adventures.
It’s fun to see how the friends all get involved in something they had no intention of pursuing. I like reading the stories of the friends they make in their adventures.
August 21, 2021
Start your vacation with your friends
4 American women who seem to have all the answers tackle an international mystery. Don’t underestimate what they can accomplish.
4 American women who seem to have all the answers tackle an international mystery. Don’t underestimate what they can accomplish.
May 10, 2022
Dangers of nut allergies
A very suspenseful thrilling book. Difficult to put down until your finished. Looking forward to next book. The characters were very believable.
A very suspenseful thrilling book. Difficult to put down until your finished. Looking forward to next book. The characters were very believable.
March 11, 2025
Not as engaging
This book was a step down from the first book in the series. , Too many characters led to a confusing storyline.
This book was a step down from the first book in the series. , Too many characters led to a confusing storyline.
January 4, 2020
The story starts with Jill and the other members of her investigation team on their annual vacation trip to Belgium. While partaking refreshments in a pub, Jill comes to the rescue of another patron who is having a medical attack. After they have placed her in an ambulance and taken to the hospital, they discover that she has died while receiving treatment.
This action that they took places them in harms way since it is discovered that the person who they helped turned out to be a diamond thief. They offer their assistance to the authorities and pursue who killed the theif and why they have become a target. Their expertise enables the authorities to solve all of the events that arise around this investigation.
To see all of the rwists and turns that this story takes and why they have become a target, then you will need to read this book which I recommend highly. You won't be disappointed.
This action that they took places them in harms way since it is discovered that the person who they helped turned out to be a diamond thief. They offer their assistance to the authorities and pursue who killed the theif and why they have become a target. Their expertise enables the authorities to solve all of the events that arise around this investigation.
To see all of the rwists and turns that this story takes and why they have become a target, then you will need to read this book which I recommend highly. You won't be disappointed.
February 22, 2017
I won this book on Goodreads. Jill and 3 friends travel to Belgium and the Netherlands for a vacation. They get involved in a murder by nut allergy. While continuing their vacation they start to be attacked and have to learn about diamonds, miners and why the lady is killed
February 13, 2016
I received this book from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for an honest review....
This book was dreadful from beginning to the end. The plot and storyline was good, and I really liked the mystery behind it all, but way the author wrote the book bored me to tears. This book was so poorly written. It was bland and ridiculously boring. The details were non-existent, and the way he described the characters (if he described them at all) felt like you were reading a boring resume. The characters were weak and unconvincing, and the fact that the author did so little to explain them, I kept getting confused on who was who.
The majority of the book was all dialog, doing very little to describe what was actually going on. The dialog was even horrible! I wanted to fall asleep every time I picked this book up. This book was extremely disappointing and a terrible read.
This book was dreadful from beginning to the end. The plot and storyline was good, and I really liked the mystery behind it all, but way the author wrote the book bored me to tears. This book was so poorly written. It was bland and ridiculously boring. The details were non-existent, and the way he described the characters (if he described them at all) felt like you were reading a boring resume. The characters were weak and unconvincing, and the fact that the author did so little to explain them, I kept getting confused on who was who.
The majority of the book was all dialog, doing very little to describe what was actually going on. The dialog was even horrible! I wanted to fall asleep every time I picked this book up. This book was extremely disappointing and a terrible read.
December 21, 2014
I almost gave up on this one as the writing style is rather plodding, but I persevered and things did improve.
I found the handy coincidences throughout the story very contrived, the various police departments oh so co-operative, dropping everything to comply with the requests from the group of women
The basic plot was good, with plenty of interest, but the way it was conveyed ( through online research) was pretty dull.A more lively narrative would have added so much more atmosphere and depth to a good idea
I found the handy coincidences throughout the story very contrived, the various police departments oh so co-operative, dropping everything to comply with the requests from the group of women
The basic plot was good, with plenty of interest, but the way it was conveyed ( through online research) was pretty dull.A more lively narrative would have added so much more atmosphere and depth to a good idea
September 26, 2015
I really am enjoying this new (to me) series! Each book stands alone and is fulled with lots of detail about forensic investigations - not just medically, but also accounting, identity and profiling functions as well. Well written and very gripping, I just want to keep reading this series, cover to cover, book after book.
January 12, 2015
The idea for a good story is there - however the author's writing style made it hard to enjoy. Sentences and paragraphs are short, choppy and non-descriptive. I think the author's bio said that he is used to writing memos and short notes and that is exactly how the book reads!
January 7, 2015
An idea for a good story is there - however the writing style makes it hard to enjoy. Sentences and paragraphs are choppy, short and non-descriptive. I think the author's bio said that he is used to writing memos and short notes and that is exactly how the book reads!
March 17, 2016
it all starts with a peanut allergy at a restaurant in Brussels....then a terrible incident at a hospital...peanuts hidden in peanut free chocolate..diamonds found in the victim's stomach...bribery of Interpol agents...intrigue, danger, murder, kidnapping...blood diamonds.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews