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amerasuu's review against another edition
5.0
I love Fiona McIntosh's work, in both the fiction and the fantasy world. She is a captivating story teller and I can never get enough of the worlds she creates. I didn't want The Diamond Hunter to end! Loved the characters so much. Oh how I cried during this book! Awkward when driving, as I was listening to it on CD!
ladykeats's review
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
While the draw of this book is a storyline about mining diamonds in Africa, in the second half it devolves into what is essentially just another book about Victorian society and a critique on societal norms for the time.
kiwialexa's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
shelleyrae's review against another edition
5.0
From a ramshackle, dusty miners camp in Southern Africa, to the green countryside of northern England, and the bustling city of London, Fiona McIntosh takes us on a journey of heartbreak, trust, betrayal, and love in her latest historical fiction novel, The Diamond Hunter.
Clementine is just six when her well-born mother succumbs to malaria on the plains of Southern Africa where her father, James, has brought them, determined to make his fortune during the 1870's gold rush in Africa. With his wife’s death, James obsession to prove his worth grows and he stakes a claim in a nearby diamond mine, but haunted by grief and guilt, both the working of the claim, and the care of Clementine, is largely left to his partner, Joseph One-Shoe, a Zulu warrior.
Just as Joseph uncovers a large diamond that will ensure a secure future for them all, tragedy strikes, and Clementine has no choice but to return to England in the care of her Uncle to claim her birthright as the only legitimate heir of the wealthy Grant family.
Clementine is a wonderful character, as a child she is sweetly precocious, adoring both her father, despite his obvious flaws, and Joseph One-Shoe, whose love for her is achingly tender. Though still only a child when she returns to a life of privilege in England, as she grows Clementine remains grounded, and I found her to be an appealing heroine.
Joseph One-Shoe is also a delight, a Zulu warrior with a largely unpronounceable name, it’s is Clementine that christens him due to his preference of wearing just one shoe in order to remain connected to the land. In her Author’s Notes, McIntosh reveals she based his character on a young African man who was hired to care for her and her family while they lived in a gold mining camp in Africa during the 1960’s.
Reggie Grant, Clementine’s Uncle, is perhaps the most complex character in the novel, neither a hero nor a villain, he is both laudable, and deeply flawed. His actions are the catalyst for the questions that arise surrounding the death of Clementine’s father, driving her to determine the truth.
There is a touch of romance introduced to the plot when Clementine meets Will Axford, an underwriter for Lloyd’s of London. While somewhat conservative in his thinking, Will is a good match for her, in that he is plain spoken and honourable, though perhaps to a fault. The unresolved nature of their relationship is unusual for McIntosh, and I wonder if perhaps the author has plans to return to this story.
As always, McIntosh's deftly weaves historical fact into her fiction. The story is meticulously researched, and her descriptions evocative, particularly in terms of her depiction of the frenzy surrounding the diamond rush, and the settlement that grew around ‘The Hole’, which later became the capital city of South Africa’s Northern Cape Province, Kimberley. The author also includes some general insight into the diamond trade during the period, and alludes to Lloyd’s of London’s first steps in expanding beyond marine policies.
Beautifully written with authentic characterisation and detail, The Diamond Hunter is a captivating read from, as I’m quoted on the back cover, an extraordinary storyteller.
Clementine is just six when her well-born mother succumbs to malaria on the plains of Southern Africa where her father, James, has brought them, determined to make his fortune during the 1870's gold rush in Africa. With his wife’s death, James obsession to prove his worth grows and he stakes a claim in a nearby diamond mine, but haunted by grief and guilt, both the working of the claim, and the care of Clementine, is largely left to his partner, Joseph One-Shoe, a Zulu warrior.
Just as Joseph uncovers a large diamond that will ensure a secure future for them all, tragedy strikes, and Clementine has no choice but to return to England in the care of her Uncle to claim her birthright as the only legitimate heir of the wealthy Grant family.
Clementine is a wonderful character, as a child she is sweetly precocious, adoring both her father, despite his obvious flaws, and Joseph One-Shoe, whose love for her is achingly tender. Though still only a child when she returns to a life of privilege in England, as she grows Clementine remains grounded, and I found her to be an appealing heroine.
Joseph One-Shoe is also a delight, a Zulu warrior with a largely unpronounceable name, it’s is Clementine that christens him due to his preference of wearing just one shoe in order to remain connected to the land. In her Author’s Notes, McIntosh reveals she based his character on a young African man who was hired to care for her and her family while they lived in a gold mining camp in Africa during the 1960’s.
Reggie Grant, Clementine’s Uncle, is perhaps the most complex character in the novel, neither a hero nor a villain, he is both laudable, and deeply flawed. His actions are the catalyst for the questions that arise surrounding the death of Clementine’s father, driving her to determine the truth.
There is a touch of romance introduced to the plot when Clementine meets Will Axford, an underwriter for Lloyd’s of London. While somewhat conservative in his thinking, Will is a good match for her, in that he is plain spoken and honourable, though perhaps to a fault. The unresolved nature of their relationship is unusual for McIntosh, and I wonder if perhaps the author has plans to return to this story.
As always, McIntosh's deftly weaves historical fact into her fiction. The story is meticulously researched, and her descriptions evocative, particularly in terms of her depiction of the frenzy surrounding the diamond rush, and the settlement that grew around ‘The Hole’, which later became the capital city of South Africa’s Northern Cape Province, Kimberley. The author also includes some general insight into the diamond trade during the period, and alludes to Lloyd’s of London’s first steps in expanding beyond marine policies.
Beautifully written with authentic characterisation and detail, The Diamond Hunter is a captivating read from, as I’m quoted on the back cover, an extraordinary storyteller.
anniekinowolf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Sad, frustrating, difficult to look back at that time with what we know now.
thetashc's review against another edition
3.0
This book took a while to really engage me. I found the writing style was too descriptive without enough action for my taste.
I did love the story though and the romanticism of the novel. A very sweet book.
I did love the story though and the romanticism of the novel. A very sweet book.
shelleybaird's review
4.0
Once again Fiona McIntosh has shown why she is one of Australia's best and favourite storytellers. The Diamond Hunter is a wonderful story of all types of love - familial, romantic, and the love that develops when your chosen family is not blood born. Each character expresses this love through their own strong and distinctive voice. The ability to create such vivid characters is a skill Fiona McIntosh wields with ultimate precision in everything she writes.
Reading this story takes you on a journey to Africa and London in the late 1800s - a time of radical discoveries and the changes that spring from these discoveries. They say diamonds are a girl's best friend but reading this story, it appears they're man's best friend too! Impeccably researched, The Diamond Hunter is a gorgeous read that offers the glorious combination of armchair travel to another time and place.
Sidebar - I often purchase Fiona's books when they are released but hold onto them until I know I have a day or two to just dive in and read from start to finish uninterrupted - they are that good! So I bought this in October 2019 but saved it and it paid off (again) - I read this during the COVID-19 crisis and it was the perfect escape!
Reading this story takes you on a journey to Africa and London in the late 1800s - a time of radical discoveries and the changes that spring from these discoveries. They say diamonds are a girl's best friend but reading this story, it appears they're man's best friend too! Impeccably researched, The Diamond Hunter is a gorgeous read that offers the glorious combination of armchair travel to another time and place.
Sidebar - I often purchase Fiona's books when they are released but hold onto them until I know I have a day or two to just dive in and read from start to finish uninterrupted - they are that good! So I bought this in October 2019 but saved it and it paid off (again) - I read this during the COVID-19 crisis and it was the perfect escape!
melmins's review
4.0
Fiona McIntosh does not disappoint with another great tale taking us to South Africa in the diamond rush and back to England. I listened to the audio book.
alltoomell's review
4.0
File under: books that made me cry.
I felt like this started off slow but by the halfway mark I honestly couldn’t put it down. The end had me in tears.
Full review to come
I felt like this started off slow but by the halfway mark I honestly couldn’t put it down. The end had me in tears.
Full review to come
bookstorian's review
4.0
In the last 12 months I have now read three books which have explored the history of historical pieces or centred around the journey of precious stones. 'The Diamond Hunter' aptly named, also fits within this new wave of stories that centre around precious jewels and the people behind them.
Spanning across Africa and across to England 'The Diamond Hunter' by Fiona McIntosh imagines the world of diamond mining and the inevitable feelings that a born out of a hunger and longing for a better life. With a focus on race, loss and family in the late 1800s 'The Diamond Hunter' is a reflection during the time when others would uproot entire families in the search of gold and diamonds, sometimes at great cost. One of those effected by the actions of her ambitious father (the diamond hunter) is Clementine and her Uncle Reggie.
A sucker for a strong female protagonist, a historical setting and sparkly jewels this book had the trifecta for me. I enjoyed the self sufficient manner in which Clem conducts herself throughout the story as well as the contrasting settings of Africa during the diamond mining and England. There was certainly a few twists and a heart-throbbing love interest too to keep me turning the pages.
I was little concerned at first when the story felt like it was very focused on the father and just as I found myself wanting to move on from the story of a child, thankfully, she transitioned into adulthood. I have only read a few of McIntosh's books before but felt delighted when there was also a clever little mention of the Byzantine pearls as explored in The Pearl Thief, her previous book.
If you loved 'The Lost Jewels' or 'The Pearl Thief' I highly recommend choosing 'The Diamond Hunter' next!
Spanning across Africa and across to England 'The Diamond Hunter' by Fiona McIntosh imagines the world of diamond mining and the inevitable feelings that a born out of a hunger and longing for a better life. With a focus on race, loss and family in the late 1800s 'The Diamond Hunter' is a reflection during the time when others would uproot entire families in the search of gold and diamonds, sometimes at great cost. One of those effected by the actions of her ambitious father (the diamond hunter) is Clementine and her Uncle Reggie.
A sucker for a strong female protagonist, a historical setting and sparkly jewels this book had the trifecta for me. I enjoyed the self sufficient manner in which Clem conducts herself throughout the story as well as the contrasting settings of Africa during the diamond mining and England. There was certainly a few twists and a heart-throbbing love interest too to keep me turning the pages.
I was little concerned at first when the story felt like it was very focused on the father and just as I found myself wanting to move on from the story of a child, thankfully, she transitioned into adulthood. I have only read a few of McIntosh's books before but felt delighted when there was also a clever little mention of the Byzantine pearls as explored in The Pearl Thief, her previous book.
If you loved 'The Lost Jewels' or 'The Pearl Thief' I highly recommend choosing 'The Diamond Hunter' next!