BLUE DIAMONDS by Spencer Dane
A Zach Taylor Adventure (Book 1)

Stopping a holdup at a convenience store, rescuing hostages from a bank robbery, saving a dog from a burning building, and bringing in a fugitive from justice are all in a day's work for Federal Agent Zach Taylor -- until a chance encounter with his former girlfriend, Erin McShane, a television journalist hot on the trail of a popular Congressman with ties to organized crime, stirs up feelings he thought were long gone.

Meanwhile, a bag of rare blue diamonds stolen from Greek Jews during the Holocaust holds the key to bringing down a modern day Miami crime lord selling high-tech weapons to terrorists. Zach goes undercover when a key Government witness is murdered and his partner seriously wounded, teaming up with his former prisoner, Matt Crawford, and a mysterious, beautiful diamond dealer known only as "Malone." Using the blue diamonds as bait, Zach must penetrate the Don's inner circle, gather evidence, and re-establish the Government's case.

Complicating matters is Valeria Santiago, the Don's free-spirited daughter, who has her eyes set on Matt; Raul Carlona, an ambitious mobster with his own agenda; Toni Manzano, a professional hit woman out to settle an old score; and Erin, whose search for a scoop crosses paths with Zach's at the worst possible moment.

BLUE DIAMONDS is available as an ebook at the following locations: mobipocket.com, fictionwise.com and ebooksonthe.net. The paperback goes on sale in September 2007 from Cambridge Books. It's the first in the Zach Taylor Adventure series. The first chapter of Book 2 -- White Gold -- is included in the paperback edition.

Reviewed by Anne K. Edwards, Mystery Fiction. Net January 11, 2007 Follow the track of a dozen blue diamonds that seem to carry a curse as they wreak havoc in the lives of those into whose hands they fall. How many will pay with their lives to possess them? Where will they end up? Federal Agent Zach Taylor and his partner, Sabrina Calabrese, are drawn into the drama surrounding the stones in the pursuit of criminals. More than once they put their lives on the line and danger seems to confront them at every turn. Is there a mole in their department who is feeding information to the mob that is partly responsible for this? Zach finds his cases further complicated by the reappearance of an ex lover in his life. As a newscaster,
she could add to his danger when they turn up at the same hotel and he is under cover. Will she? This is a story that will please the suspense fan who enjoys sharing the danger with the good guys as they move from case to case. A fun read. Enjoy. I did.

Marjorie Doughty, author of Gator Hole, June 2007 "EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN. Blue Diamonds would rival any on the market today. I strongly recommend it for an interesting read."

Arline Chase, author of Killraven and Ghost Dancer, June 2007 "A THRILLER
WITH A NEVER-LET-UP PACE. Spencer Dane's Blue Diamonds will keep you on the edge of your chair. Don't start this one late at night!"

Carroll M. Jones, author of Murder on Margin, June 2007 "THIS IS A KEEPER! I've read this twice, it's that good. For a first novel, Dane has nailed it.
It's fast- paced, but involves so many different scenes and people (all of which grab your interest), that one is mesmerized by how they all fit together. There's more than one hero as well (letting you pick your own favorite), and yet that doesn't take from the story at all. All in all I'd have to give this four stars at least."

Nancy Madison, author of Whispers, Clues to Love, and Never Love a Stranger, June 2007 "A GOOD READ. Blue Diamonds starts with a bang then the excitement accelerates in this story of larger-than-life law enforcement agents investigating organized crime and its connection to terrorist activity."