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The Toronto Matrix have a new pitcher. Ricardo (Rico) Valasquez is from Cuba and has let fame and fortune go to his head. He isn't getting along with his teammates. Matter of fact, he taunts the relief pitcher he took the job away from. And though he has a wife in Cuba, he has a girlfriend, Eva, in Toronto. Since Rico doesn't speak much English, he pairs up with teammate Ferdinand Ortes who speaks Spanish.

The Toronto Matrix has a family friendly image. Rico's carrying on and throwing baseballs and yelling when he doesn't get his way, doesn't fit that image. So unbeknownst to him, they bring his wife Alita up from Cuba to surprise him. It surprises him and stymies his action.

Stasey Simon is a local sports radio talk show host. One day she recommends on air that someone bash Rico's head in. When Rico is found murdered in that way, she becomes a suspect. But considering he didn't get along with his teammates, there are quite a few suspects. That list also includes other sportscasters: especially Ginny Lovejoy and Kyle Schmidt.

Paul Maziuk and Jackie Ryan are the detectives on the case. Maziuk is a baseball fan. Ryan is not. They've recently been paired up since Maziuk's partner is in the hospital. Can they work together and find the identity of the killer?

I am not a baseball enthusiast, and it took me a while to fully get into the book. Even while reading the first few chapters, I found I couldn't just set it aside. I had to know what was going on. There are so many different undercurrents and tangled story lines. I found myself picking it back up to unravel the mystery.

It is a very well written book. It shows the lives of the players as well as the sportscasters. Plus I liked that it even gave us a real insight into the lives of the detectives. And it showed how those lives can be intertwined.

The author has done a great job of creating a large cast of characters. Yet I never felt confused as to who people were, and I really liked most of the characters. The baseball setting as very well done as well.

I highly recommend this book.

Dawn Dowdle

 
In her second mystery after Shaded Light, Lindquist, a master of plotting, seeds her tale with concealed clues and innuendoes that keep readers guessing until the very end. Reminiscent of golden age mysteries, her latest will appeal to fans of classic mysteries. Lindquist lives in Toronto.

Library Journal


Although this reviewer very seldom watches a baseball game, listens to a talk show sportscaster, or ever read anything on the sports page of the newspaper, this book was written in such a way that it's possible for someone like myself to enjoy the story. … There are stories within stories about the families of some, the romance of others, the jealousy of still others. Glitter of Diamonds is a book worth reading. N. J. Lindquist is fantastic in telling this story with humor, compassion, and commitment.”

Hidden Staircase Mystery Books


Baseball. There are few things that say lazy, hazy summer days than that sport. But this book is anything but lazy or hazy – and is one hell of a read. A Christie –style mystery, this one does a good job of it. The fictional Toronto Matrix have a new pitcher but his fame and prowess don't sit well with others. And, of course, he's a bit of a sports brat – or is that a redundancy? ... There are plot twists enough to keep you occupied, and enough other entertaining material to please even the most demanding reader. Great characters, lots of information, and plenty of plot. A home run? Maybe.

Mysterical - E