As much a sociological study of upper-crust Dallas society as a true crime story, enlivened by [Pederson's] sprightly writing style ... King of Diamonds is an enjoyable read, in large measure because of Pederson's extensive, high-quality research, obtaining compelling info from and about her subjects.
Deeply researched and fluidly written ... The King of Diamonds ends inconclusively with the author speculating that the thefts actually involved three of her characters—one who got the original idea and then teamed up with two others. Still, it’s quite a yarn.
Riveting ... With a novelist’s gift for description and a detective’s keen eye for evidence, Pederson considers suspects ranging from gigolos to interior designers and jewelers. It’s a pleasure to watch her cross them off her list one by one until she resurrects a convincing theory that the case’s original investigators were unable to pursue. This is a must-read for any true crime buff.
