Reviews

Richmond Times Dispatch – March 27, 2011
“The King of Diamonds” is the third suspense novel produced by Tolkien, the grandson of J.R.R. Tolkien, and although it’s not as much of a whodunit as last year’s “The Inheritance,” it’s compulsively readable. As Tolkien lays out a story that’s grounded in diamond-dealing and the Holocaust, the tension builds with inexorable strength. And Tolkien’s nuanced portrait of the Traves is a compassionate study in the travails of marriage…  …Crafted with cunning and imbued with menace, “The King of Diamonds” adds luster to Tolkien’s growing reputation as a brilliant star in the thriller firmament.”

Kirkus, Starred review – February 1, 2011
“A thick web of family tensions and psychological dysfunction with a whodunit chaser, Tolkien’s third novel (The Inheritance, 2010, etc.) is elegantly written, with Masterpiece Theatre pacing and embellishments.”

Library Journal – January 15, 2011
“Atmospheric and intricately plotted”

Publishers Weekly – December 7, 2010
“J.R.R. Tolkien’s grandson continues to burnish his credentials as a solid writer in his own right with his second suspense novel featuring Oxford Det. Insp. William Trave.”