The Queen of Diamonds [Kindle and ePUB]

This instalment of the series had the characters dealing with the aftermath of book #1, more details about peoples' lives, and a great exploration of the idea of deception and its' consequences. We never truly meet the antagonist for book #2 but rather see the results of their handiwork and how it affects different characters while also continuing on with the larger worries introduced at the beginning of the series. Jacqui being our POV into this world continues to be an excellent choice but as much as her role tells her not to do so, she still wants to be able to trust some people in her life. By the end of this book though she's really starting to get close to realizing she can't trust anyone.

Holy moly! The plot thickens, and it is GLORIOUS!Loofbourrow teases out clues and plot twists in a novel replete with Victorian graces and social norms--everything through the eyes of a societal "outcast" married into the ruling family, so she is just as much learning about the expectations that come with being a gentrified lady as we are.The continuity is amazing. It's been quite a while since I read JACQ OF SPADES, but as the action picks up right where the last one left off, I feel as if no time has passed--I've only somehow forgotten the odd detail here and there! But even that wasn't a huge issue, as the story sucked me right back in anyway!Jacqui is trying not to cross her husband or step on any toes--the numerous run-ins with Roy in the first book have her good and scared... but also, she's realizing that all Tony needs is a bit of a push and he can be a different man from his father, though they are of the same blood. She's doing her best to stay on Tony's good side and maintain his trust--but the secret activities and investigations she's trying to follow are rapidly spiraling out of control!I deeply admire the way Loofbourrow sets up her mystery. We get to know the characters on a deeper, more personal level. They’re not just names for different archetypes in a play; they are real people, swept into real conflict. I still can’t figure out who the Red Dog conspirators are, nor why they are killing certain people just when Jacqui gets close to having the information she needs. I am in awe at the depth, breadth, and complexity of all her characters: the titular “Queen of Diamonds” who isn’t at all what she seems; the Kerr siblings, who have been close friends with Jacqui, yet there are still secrets held between them; even the enigmatic Blaze Rainbow has more and more about him that he has kept to himself. Even Jacqui grows and deepens in her character and personality.The magic continues, and the quality never lags. QUEEN OF DIAMONDS is a stellar, thrilling mystery. If you like gritty, noir steampunk with dynamic, realistic characters, and don’t mind some suggestive scenes or intense peril—then The Red Dog Conspiracy is a jewel of a series!

Queen of DiamondsIn book 2 of the Red Dog Conspiracy, the author continues to build the world of Bridges and the characters that inhabit each faction within the whole.Queen of Diamonds builds slowly without the hurry up need to solve a particular crime as did the first book. That is not to say that it is all dull and boring. But, there is a great deal more character background than in the first book as well as hints of things to come in future books.Jacqui Spadros, for all that she was born in The Pot, remains a bit naive and often trusts people she should not. The atmosphere is full of distrust and intrigue, but she may have allies of which she is currently unaware and are hinted at in her interactions with them even so she, herself, does not see it. It will be interesting to see how correct...or not so...I am as the story unfolds.As with Jacq of Spades, book 2 is written from the first person, or main character’s, point of view. While you get a bird’s eye view, so to speak, of what is going on in Jacqi’s mind, you have none at all of what is going on with any of the other characters other than what you see from facial expressions or hear from inferred tone of voice as written by the author. Since this series is, at it’s core, a mystery it creates the challenge of not having any clues until Jacqi either finds them herself or they are revealed in the narrative.While I found this book much slower going in the read, I still enjoyed it as the layers of mystery and conspiracy grow throughout as I am not one who needs to be entertained every second by action and mayhem. There are people and places that are NOT who or what they seem. You are not going read this and say “Aha!!! I’ve got it!” The authoring is taking you along on the same ride as the main characters sees, feels, and discovers the clues herself.Queen of Diamonds definitely earns Four Stars. I say this because I fully expect this writer will improve as she polishes this story and hones her already talented skill of telling her story.I have had the good fortune to be able to read these books as an advanced reader and have appreciated that role. It does not, however, color my ability to write an honest review of her work. Nor have I found it to be a waste of my time and look forward to what comes next.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series “Red Dog Conspiracy”. The Queen of Diamonds is the second book in this series. I kept thinking about the mystery in this story when I wasn’t reading the book. I couldn’t wait to get back to reading it again. Takes place in the late 1800’s. Murder and mystery and who trusts whom and who can be trusted. Nothing is as it seams. Ready to start book 3 in the Conspiracy.

Note: This is Book 2 in the series and you really need Book 1 before enjoying this book.Book 1 left me confused across the board. I wasn’t sure about the setting, I didn’t really get the main character, and the plot had so many little plots within it that I wasn’t sure that what I got was what the author intended. I did like this book better as it explained more of what was going on for all areas even if it didn’t clear everything up.So I finally understand why Jacqui is going on about Joseph, who didn’t really put in an appearance in Book 1. Although that can easily lead to some silly love triangle….. Also the setting is much clearer. Alcatraz Island is mentioned more than once and also we learn there are other domed cities (which everyone knows about but somehow I missed in Book 1). There’s also references to an uprising and a collapse so I think we have a fallen human civilization where only domed cities can support large numbers of humans. Yet I’m still a bit confused about the time. The story reads like it’s set in Victorian times but with the collapse and references to a few pieces of tech, I feel like it’s set in a future time.Anyhoo, the plot was a little more straight forward this time. Jacqui is still dealing with the fall out from the previous book. She conquered one villain but a second is untouchable. She has pressure from every corner. Her husband, Tony Spadros, truly cares about her but she doesn’t have the same intensity of feelings. Roy, Tony’s dad, is a sadistic control freak who enjoys hurting others. Then there are those that need her help. Anastasia has fallen on tough financial times and Jacqui agrees to help her. Toss in some child abuse, a few secrets, and a lost love or two and you have plenty to keep Jacqui busy.There’s a lot of cloak and dagger in this tale and some of it is well laid out and some of it reads like it was tossed in spur of the moment. When things were well laid out, I felt like it was a good episode of Peaky Blinders with the organized crime, family on the rise, secrets, and occasional violence. At other times, I just rolled my eyes a little because it felt like some deceptions or secrets were tossed in just to add drama, like that big do about Jacqui being trained to fire a gun. It was part of her training in Book 1 but now in Book 2 her husband isn’t suppose to know that she’s ever fired a gun. It just came off as silly.I think I know who Jacqui is now but I am still sometimes confused on her timeline. In fact, I haven’t even figured out why Roy Spadros had her dragged up from the Pot (poor man’s neighborhood), cleaned up, educated, and engaged to Tony so many years ago. It’s not a secret she comes from the Pot but it’s suppose to be a secret that she was forced by Roy to marry Tony. She had some of the best tutors but lacks even passing Italian (apparently, that’s the classy language of choice) and knowledge of the basic politics of who to invite to dinner (which can have political implications for the entire Spadros family). Again, it seemed a matter of convenience for the plot or for drama as to what Jacqui knew or didn’t know.This tale ends with a wrap up to several questions even as it leaves the door open for the next book. This story felt more polished than the first book but still needs a bit here and there. 3.75/5 stars.The Narration: Machelle Williams did an OK job. Her voices were clearer this time, each character being distinct and most of the male voices being masculine. Her pacing is still quite slow. She does do some regional accents for some of the characters, which I liked. There were no issues with the recording. 4/5 stars.I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Patricia Loofbourrow. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.