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Diamonds for the Dead
Talk to anyone in Reston, Virginia, and they'll say Josh Handleman's dad, "Honest Abe," was a real mensch. But when Josh returns home to bury his estranged father, he gets the shock of his life: his thrifty dad was filthy rich. Oy!
Who was this man who donated millions to charity, invested in the dreams of Josh's friends, and shared his home with a strange vodka-swilling Russian? Apparently, Abe collected diamonds too. But when Josh can't find the gems, he begins to wonder if his dad's death was truly an accident.
Hounded by grief and remorse, Josh resolves to find his dad's diamond stash—which could be his inheritance and proof of his father's love. What he doesn't realize is that this emotionally charged treasure hunt is taking him closer to his dad's killer.
Who was this man who donated millions to charity, invested in the dreams of Josh's friends, and shared his home with a strange vodka-swilling Russian? Apparently, Abe collected diamonds too. But when Josh can't find the gems, he begins to wonder if his dad's death was truly an accident.
Hounded by grief and remorse, Josh resolves to find his dad's diamond stash—which could be his inheritance and proof of his father's love. What he doesn't realize is that this emotionally charged treasure hunt is taking him closer to his dad's killer.
336 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2010
5 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Alan Orloff
58 books148 followersBefore Alan stepped off the corporate merry-go-round, he had an eclectic (some might say disjointed) career. As an engineer, he worked on nuclear submarines, supervised assembly workers in factories, facilitated technology transfer from the Star Wars program, and learned to stack washing machines three high in a warehouse with a forklift. He even started his own recycling and waste reduction newsletter business. Now he writes fiction.
His debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, was a finalist for the Best First Novel Agatha Award. He writes the Last Laff Mystery Series: KILLER ROUTINE (#1) and DEADLY CAMPAIGN (#2), and has three e-book originals, THE TASTE (horror/thriller), FIRST TIME KILLER (thriller), and RIDE-ALONG (suspense).
He wrote the thrillers RUNNING FROM THE PAST and PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best E-Book Original).
His novel, I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP was a Shamus Award finalist for Best First P.I. Novel.
His YA thriller, I PLAY ONE ON TV (Down & Out Books), won the Agatha Award and Anthony Award for Best YA Novel.
His novel, LATE CHECKOUT, is an Anthony Award Finalist for Best Paperback Original.
His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including JEWISH NOIR, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, CHESAPEAKE CRIMES: STORM WARNING, Mystery Weekly, NOIR AT THE SALAD BAR, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, five consecutive issues of the BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES, THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD, MICKEY FINN, and MYSTERY MOST GEOGRAPHICAL.
His story, “Rule Number One” (SNOWBOUND, Level Best Books), was selected for the 2018 edition of THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES anthology, edited by Louise Penny.
His story, "Dying in Dokesville," won a Derringer Award, and his story "Rent Due," won an ITW Thriller Award.
Alan recently moved to South Florida. He loves cake and arugula, but not together.
For more info, please visit his website: www.alanorloff.com
Alan is sorry he wrote this bio in the third person.
His debut mystery, DIAMONDS FOR THE DEAD, was a finalist for the Best First Novel Agatha Award. He writes the Last Laff Mystery Series: KILLER ROUTINE (#1) and DEADLY CAMPAIGN (#2), and has three e-book originals, THE TASTE (horror/thriller), FIRST TIME KILLER (thriller), and RIDE-ALONG (suspense).
He wrote the thrillers RUNNING FROM THE PAST and PRAY FOR THE INNOCENT (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best E-Book Original).
His novel, I KNOW WHERE YOU SLEEP was a Shamus Award finalist for Best First P.I. Novel.
His YA thriller, I PLAY ONE ON TV (Down & Out Books), won the Agatha Award and Anthony Award for Best YA Novel.
His novel, LATE CHECKOUT, is an Anthony Award Finalist for Best Paperback Original.
His short fiction has appeared in numerous publications, including JEWISH NOIR, Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine, CHESAPEAKE CRIMES: STORM WARNING, Mystery Weekly, NOIR AT THE SALAD BAR, Black Cat Mystery Magazine, five consecutive issues of the BEST NEW ENGLAND CRIME STORIES, THE NIGHT OF THE FLOOD, MICKEY FINN, and MYSTERY MOST GEOGRAPHICAL.
His story, “Rule Number One” (SNOWBOUND, Level Best Books), was selected for the 2018 edition of THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES anthology, edited by Louise Penny.
His story, "Dying in Dokesville," won a Derringer Award, and his story "Rent Due," won an ITW Thriller Award.
Alan recently moved to South Florida. He loves cake and arugula, but not together.
For more info, please visit his website: www.alanorloff.com
Alan is sorry he wrote this bio in the third person.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
August 22, 2010
Interesting characters and a solid, if slightly predictable, mystery kept my attention and kept me turning the pages.
March 27, 2020
There is a plot here and a fair amount of action. The protagonist is Josh Handleman, who returns to his home town to oversee the disposition of his father's remains. His father, Abe Handleman, had fallen down the stairs in his home and died. The coroner ruled it an accident.
But his father's good friend Lev told Josh that it was no accident. He accused another friend of his father's, Kassian, an old man who was living in the basement. Abe had befriended Kassian, who was living in a care home at the time, and allowed him to live in the basement, provided that he stopped drinking. Abe was a benefactor of the home.
In fact, Abe willed most of his estate to the home. Here is where it got tricky. Josh discovered that there had been diamonds left to him, but they went missing. He didn't especially care about the diamonds but was angry that they had been stolen. He set about trying to find out who did it.
In the process Josh came to believe that his father had, indeed, been murdered. But by little Kassian? It was hard to imagine. There were other candidates. He did discuss the case with the police, but found little interest there. There wasn't any evidence to suggest that it was murder, they said. What I wondered about is that there was no collecting of evidence at the scene. In cases where it could be accident or homicide, police normally collect evidence. There should have been a photographer, the crime scene investigators, and an evaluation of what was discovered. Instead, the police simply took the word of the medical examiner, who thought it was an accident. We've all seen enough Forensic Files episodes to know these things. But maybe Orloff isn't a fan of that series.
In his quest, Josh discovers much about his father that he had not known, and perhaps a little about himself. I found his transformation not entirely believable. He seems like a good guy with a chip on his shoulder that he has not yet dislodged. I found it difficult to like him.
But his father's good friend Lev told Josh that it was no accident. He accused another friend of his father's, Kassian, an old man who was living in the basement. Abe had befriended Kassian, who was living in a care home at the time, and allowed him to live in the basement, provided that he stopped drinking. Abe was a benefactor of the home.
In fact, Abe willed most of his estate to the home. Here is where it got tricky. Josh discovered that there had been diamonds left to him, but they went missing. He didn't especially care about the diamonds but was angry that they had been stolen. He set about trying to find out who did it.
In the process Josh came to believe that his father had, indeed, been murdered. But by little Kassian? It was hard to imagine. There were other candidates. He did discuss the case with the police, but found little interest there. There wasn't any evidence to suggest that it was murder, they said. What I wondered about is that there was no collecting of evidence at the scene. In cases where it could be accident or homicide, police normally collect evidence. There should have been a photographer, the crime scene investigators, and an evaluation of what was discovered. Instead, the police simply took the word of the medical examiner, who thought it was an accident. We've all seen enough Forensic Files episodes to know these things. But maybe Orloff isn't a fan of that series.
In his quest, Josh discovers much about his father that he had not known, and perhaps a little about himself. I found his transformation not entirely believable. He seems like a good guy with a chip on his shoulder that he has not yet dislodged. I found it difficult to like him.
October 22, 2023
I REALLY wanted to enjoy this book. Alan did a presentation for our community last week and gave each of us a copy of this book. I wanted to support him to repay him for his efforts by buying and reading his other books. However, this book was not that good..... I won't be reading any more of his other works. I thought the writing was too lightweight. The characters were not compelling or especially likable. I was able to figure out the ending early in the book. It was an overwhelmingly Jewish book with what seemed to be references to Judaism on every page. I realize you have to write what you know about and are most comfortable but I found it to be a little off-putting. I am comfortably living in a Jewish retirement community. One of my favorite authors is Daniel Silva who has a whole series of Israeli spy stories so overall I am very comfortable with Judaism. However, in this book it was a bit too much for my tastes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2024
This was a great mystery. Josh Handleman goes back to his hometown t0 bury his father. But discovers a bunch of secrets and that his father's death may have not been an accident. It was a great read with plenty of mystery and suspense.
November 5, 2021
A pleasant read. Not your typical murder mystery. Was it murder or an accident?
August 1, 2010
I won my copy of Diamonds for the Dead through the goodreads giveaway, which I was so excited about (since I never win anything!) that it may have biased my opinion a little bit. Anyway . . .
I really wish we could give half stars, because DftD is a very solid three-and-a-half. The plot is interesting and very well mapped out. If you've read any sort of mystery novel before there's nothing revolutionary about this one. That said, it is plenty of fun to read and keeps you guessing. I was certain I had the whole thing figured out, but in the end I didn't put all the pieces together until literally a couple of sentences before the main character did. That is exactly the way a mystery novel should be, IMO. Too easy to figure out, and the book is boring. Too hard to even get close and it's no fun to read.
I did have a bit of a problem with the characters. They are far too much defined by what, rather than who they are - specifically "Jewish" and "Russian Jew." While I did appreciate the how ethnicity was essential to the plot, it often felt like there was more caricature and stereotype than character put into these people, especially the two main suspects. Lev = Overbearing Uber-Loyal Russian Jew, Kassian = Bad Russian Jew . . . Aunt Shel = Guilt-Tripping Jewish Aunt We've All Seen a Million Times. (and speaking of Aunt Shel, talk about a minor character just begging for more time on stage!!)
The romantic subplot was a bit distracting. Actually . . . let me put it this way - I loved Rachel and everything about her and Josh's budding relationship. I hated cheating wife left behind in California. There was absolutely no point to her existence, except to create tension between Josh and Rachel, which could have been done another way. Anything else would have been better than dozens of ignored calls, a couple of brief, empty conversations, and continual brooding over things that happened before the book started. I realize it was true to life, but it brought the story's momentum to a screeching halt every time.
All in all this is a quick, enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it to any mystery fans.
I really wish we could give half stars, because DftD is a very solid three-and-a-half. The plot is interesting and very well mapped out. If you've read any sort of mystery novel before there's nothing revolutionary about this one. That said, it is plenty of fun to read and keeps you guessing. I was certain I had the whole thing figured out, but in the end I didn't put all the pieces together until literally a couple of sentences before the main character did. That is exactly the way a mystery novel should be, IMO. Too easy to figure out, and the book is boring. Too hard to even get close and it's no fun to read.
I did have a bit of a problem with the characters. They are far too much defined by what, rather than who they are - specifically "Jewish" and "Russian Jew." While I did appreciate the how ethnicity was essential to the plot, it often felt like there was more caricature and stereotype than character put into these people, especially the two main suspects. Lev = Overbearing Uber-Loyal Russian Jew, Kassian = Bad Russian Jew . . . Aunt Shel = Guilt-Tripping Jewish Aunt We've All Seen a Million Times. (and speaking of Aunt Shel, talk about a minor character just begging for more time on stage!!)
The romantic subplot was a bit distracting. Actually . . . let me put it this way - I loved Rachel and everything about her and Josh's budding relationship. I hated cheating wife left behind in California. There was absolutely no point to her existence, except to create tension between Josh and Rachel, which could have been done another way. Anything else would have been better than dozens of ignored calls, a couple of brief, empty conversations, and continual brooding over things that happened before the book started. I realize it was true to life, but it brought the story's momentum to a screeching halt every time.
All in all this is a quick, enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend it to any mystery fans.
September 1, 2010
How well do any of us know the people we love? Our husbands, our wives, our parents? This is the provocative question that shapes the plot of “Diamonds for the Dead”, the first—but hopefully not the last—novel penned by Alan Orloff.
Josh Handleman returns to his boyhood home to sit shiva for the father he has been estranged from for most of his adult life. Josh brings his failures with him—a troubled marriage and a failing business. When he arrives home, he gets the shock of his life: his frugal dad was a diamond collector worth millions—which now are missing. Plus he was a financial “angel” to many people in the community, including several of Josh’s high school friends. To say nothing of providing a home for an old, Russian Jew, who may, or may not, be a member of the family.
Troubling questions about the circumstances about his father’s death—and life—lead Josh on a twisted path to find out the truth. And, in the process, find out important things about himself. A good read, with an ending I never saw coming.
Reviewed by: Susan Santangelo, author of “Retirement can be Murder” for Suspense Magazine
Josh Handleman returns to his boyhood home to sit shiva for the father he has been estranged from for most of his adult life. Josh brings his failures with him—a troubled marriage and a failing business. When he arrives home, he gets the shock of his life: his frugal dad was a diamond collector worth millions—which now are missing. Plus he was a financial “angel” to many people in the community, including several of Josh’s high school friends. To say nothing of providing a home for an old, Russian Jew, who may, or may not, be a member of the family.
Troubling questions about the circumstances about his father’s death—and life—lead Josh on a twisted path to find out the truth. And, in the process, find out important things about himself. A good read, with an ending I never saw coming.
Reviewed by: Susan Santangelo, author of “Retirement can be Murder” for Suspense Magazine
December 19, 2011
Josh Handleman returns to his Virginian childhood home to sit Shiva for his Father. What he finds is way more than he expects.
Just who was Abe Handleman? It becomes quickly obvious, not whom his son, Josh thought. Abe turns out to be a person of great generosity. He funded Josh's friends business projects, he housed an old Russian Jewish gentleman with nowhere else to go believing without question that they are related. He has given millions to the local Hebrew Home and wanted to fully vest a wing just for Russian Jews. There is talk of Abe's collection...diamonds.
Josh gets the house, and Kassian, the resident family member he never heard of. Even Aunt Shel speaks of an Abe that Josh, in his young manhood had never gotten to known. And, where exactly are those diamonds? The police say Abe's death was an accident, but Abe's best friends says "No, he was murdered."
We are led on a fascinating journey with Josh as he meets a Father, he truly never knew.Then we venture on a treasure hunt that may find diamonds and even a killer at the end.
This was a very good story and I will look forward to reading Mr. Orloff's other novels.
Just who was Abe Handleman? It becomes quickly obvious, not whom his son, Josh thought. Abe turns out to be a person of great generosity. He funded Josh's friends business projects, he housed an old Russian Jewish gentleman with nowhere else to go believing without question that they are related. He has given millions to the local Hebrew Home and wanted to fully vest a wing just for Russian Jews. There is talk of Abe's collection...diamonds.
Josh gets the house, and Kassian, the resident family member he never heard of. Even Aunt Shel speaks of an Abe that Josh, in his young manhood had never gotten to known. And, where exactly are those diamonds? The police say Abe's death was an accident, but Abe's best friends says "No, he was murdered."
We are led on a fascinating journey with Josh as he meets a Father, he truly never knew.Then we venture on a treasure hunt that may find diamonds and even a killer at the end.
This was a very good story and I will look forward to reading Mr. Orloff's other novels.
April 20, 2011
Nothing is going right for Josh Hsndleman. Now his father is suddenly dead, and Josh, an only child, must return to his childhood home and pick up the pieces of his father's life. The first surprise is the elderly Russian living in a spare room. Of course, Abe Handleman was always interested in the plight of Soviet Jewry, but Abe's best friend, Lev, says that Josh's new housemate is a liar and a murderer. Then there's Abe's estate--it's much, much bigger than Josh expected, and mostly left to charity. And this is only the beginning of the things Josh hadn't known about his father.
March 21, 2014
Josh Handleman has returned home to bury his father. But he's barely arrived when he starts hearing rumors that his father was murdered and that he owned a bunch of diamonds. The diamonds are now missing. Were they why he died? This is a very atmospheric story with wonderful writing. The story was a bit slow to get going, but once it did, I was completely hooked.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 13, 2010
Orloff has created an interesting character in Josh Handleman, who returns to Virginia from California after his father dies. Josh's internal conflict with the perceptions of his father's generosity for others when his father ignored him as a child provides emotional depth. Josh's investigation into whether his father's death was accidental and his search for a horde of diamonds in the midst of Josh's past and new acquaintances creates tension for the physical plot.
August 11, 2010
Intriguing, exciting and suspensful! A guy finds out that his Dad was a Diamond collector and worth millions after his death. When he goes back to his home town to take care of the arrangements he finds himself in the middle of a mystery - the Diamonds are missing and his Father's death may not have been accidental.
I look forward to more from this Author. Well written, kept me captivated to the end.
I look forward to more from this Author. Well written, kept me captivated to the end.
April 6, 2014
This book was an easy read that kept my attention the entire time. The first half had me thinking of all different scenarios of who could have possibly murdered Abe or was his death really an accident after all. The second half of the book became more predictable and I really wasn't surprised by the ending at all. This was an okay read in my opinion.
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June 2, 2012What a fun — and finely penned — debut! Both a clever mystery and also a novel about family and relationships and, ultimately, beginning to fine oneself. (It's not just a search for those lost diamonds, of course....) Highly recommended.
August 24, 2011
Well-written whodunnit, with locked room mystery. Strong protagonist in transition, working to solve his father's murder while dealing with life issues. Good narrative. A few bad words, sparingly used.
July 24, 2011
This did not read like a first novel. Thoroughly enjoyable! Steeped in Jewish culture but not so strongly that it leaves non-Jews like me behind! I look forward to reading his second book, althopugh I would also like to see him continue to write about Josh.
September 7, 2011
Well-written whodunnit, with locked room mystery. Strong protagonist in transition, working to solve his father's murder while dealing with life issues. Good narrative. A few bad words, sparingly used.
February 3, 2012
Well written mystery about a young Jewish man who looks into his father's death. It's set in Reston, Va., and I used to live near there in Washington DC. Captured the area well. Interesting insights into modern Jewish culture and Russian immigrants.
March 21, 2016
Josh returns to his Virginia home for his father's funeral. He learns that his frugal father collected diamonds. But where are they? Josh suspects that his father's death was not an accident but a murder.
Fast moving mystery by a local author.
Fast moving mystery by a local author.
October 9, 2011
This was a really quick read. I thought it was okay, nothing to stand out and grab me.
Read
November 27, 2010Nice easy read that kep my interest
June 6, 2011
Orloff created a wonderful cast of characters in this book.
November 24, 2011
One of the best books I read in 2010, it definitely deserved it's Agatha Award nomination.
October 11, 2012
A fun, fast read. Enjoyed the characters.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews