Elizabeth Lowell’s The Diamond Tiger, penned in 1993 under the pen name Ann Maxwell, has been re-released with the title Death Is Forever. While the story is over eleven years old, Lowell fans of her more recent releases will not be disappointed, although faithful Lowell readers may notice a difference in the author’s writing style between the decades.
Death Is Forever is about the diamond industry, which is of global importance and controlled by ConMin, a cartel-owned company that controls the world’s diamond trade. When professional photographer Erin Shane Windsor inherits an old diamond mine station in the Australian outback from a great uncle, the diamond industry is turned on its head. ConMin and other diamond dealers believe that the diamond mine may yield raw gems worth millions. Unfortunately, the station is huge, and Erin’s great uncle took the location of the rumored raw gems to his grave, leaving behind some bad poetry that is supposed to lead Erin to their location.
Now that Erin owns the station, her life is in danger. ConMin and others want control over the diamond mine on the station, and Erin’s life is of no importance to them. What Erin needs is someone to protect her and help her find the location of the raw gems. Enter Cole Blackburn, a mysterious geologist who is well-connected in the diamond trade. He understands the precarious Erin’s inheritance has put her in.
Erin begrudgingly accepts Cole’s offer of protection and assistance in finding the raw gems. Erin in turn promises Cole half of whatever the mine yields, which could be worth millions or nothing at all. While Erin does not completely trust Cole, she refuses to sell out her interest in the diamond mine. She is ready to pursue her dreams by uncovering the location of the supposed gems.
Death Is Forever is a romantic suspense thriller that takes the reader from Los Angeles to the Australian outback. Erin and Cole’s adventure is about trust, danger, greed, and passion and the awesome fact that “death is forever.” Lowell delves into the subject of diamond mining and the diamond industry in detail, making the reader appreciate the danger that Erin is in due to the inheritance. Fans of thrillers will enjoy the suspense of Death Is Forever, and fans of romance will enjoy the sparks that fly between Erin and Cole. Fans of Lowell’s more recent books will want to check this out.