Publication Date: October 14, 2023
An inconvenient alibi…a priceless treasure…an MI6 mole It’s a lethal cocktail Journalist Emmeline Kirby and her jewel thief/ insurance investigator husband Gregory Longdon become targets after a desperate stranger asks them to deliver a fortune in rare red diamonds to hotelier Alexander Colefax. Before they can ask any questions, the man is killed. Driven by dark secrets, Colefax is willing to flirt with treason if it means getting what he wants. His coterie included the son of a Kremlin elite and a Russian mafia boss. When a man’s only loyalty is to money, his enemies become twice as ruthless. After Colefax is bludgeoned to death, Emmeline and Gregory discover that his dangerous games involved not only diamonds, but a stolen Fabergé egg that has vanished and a spy named Snowdrop. The trail of lies and revenge leads to Switzerland, where a treacherous double-cross could cost Emmeline and Gregory their lives.
Betrayed by the Truth is the ninth book in the Emmeline Kirby/Gregory Longdon Mysteries series by author Daniella Bernett, which left me wanting more.
Ms. Bernett’s stories of international intrigue, murders, gems, and other crimes have all been five-star reads for me. I’ve only missed three books in this series, and I plan to read them.
I was totally immersed in the story from the first page to the last. The book begins in Spain and moves to London and Switzerland before returning to London. Emmeline and her husband, Gregory, are front and center, along with many characters we’ve met previously. The story has a wonderful flow and a fast pace. There are many layers to the story and the characters. Many stories are being told that are woven together nicely. There are surprises throughout; people are not always as they seem, and Gregory is one of those characters. Is his past behind him, or is he still involved in shady dealings?
Beautiful and vivid descriptions throughout made me feel like I was there. Many clues are uncovered to solve the murders, and no lead is unimportant. Some red herrings are tossed into the mix to keep us riveted to find out whodunnit and why.
There are police, spies, lots of secrets, crimes, murders, gems, a Faberge egg plays a key role, stories to write, and truths to uncover. There is closure in solving the murders and the unmasking of spies and traitors. There is a surprise of a personal nature and a cliffhanger, too. I can’t wait to see where Emmeline and Gregory take us next, what mysteries they will solve, and where they are located.
Betrayed by the Truth brings us spies, international intrigue, murders, and an incredible mystery with characters you’ll grow to love—quirks and all!
DANIELLA BERNETT is a member of the Mystery Writers of America New York Chapter and the International Thriller Writers. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Journalism from St. John’s University. LEAD ME INTO DANGER, DEADLY LEGACY, FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE, A CHECKERED PAST, WHEN BLOOD RUNS COLD, OLD SINS NEVER DIE, VIPER’S NEST OF LIES and A MIND TO MURDER are the books in the Emmeline Kirby-Gregory Longdon mystery series featuring a journalist and a jewel thief. She also is the author of two poetry collections, TIMELESS ALLURE and SILKEN REFLECTIONS. In her professional life, she is the research manager for a nationally prominent engineering, architectural and construction management firm. Daniella is currently working on Emmeline and Gregory’s next adventure. A CHECKERED PAST was featured as Novel of the Week on Art in Fiction.
Great review!
Thanks, I’ve loved all of her books in this series.