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The Queen of Diamonds: A Dystopian Steampunk Adventure (Red Dog Conspiracy Book 2) Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 66 ratings

Jacqui's back!

She wanted an easy case ... what she got was a disaster.

Private eye Jacqueline Spadros just wants a simple, straightforward case that the Spadros Family won't find out about. A friendly jewel merchant seems to be offering the perfect arrangement.

But the more Jacqui learns, the more she begins to think this job wasn't such a good idea after all ...


Warning: graphic descriptions of blood and gore, foul language, smoking, alcohol abuse ... about the same as the first book.

What readers say about The Queen of Diamonds

"... blackmail, murder plots and seemingly everyone with a secret!" - Diana Johnson

"... action, conspiracies, mystery and danger ..." - Laura Furuta

"I could not put this book down." - Jacob Posey

This is chapter 2 of a 13-part serial novel:

  • The Jacq of Spades
  • The Queen of Diamonds <- you are here
  • The Ace of Clubs
  • The King of Hearts
  • The Ten of Spades
  • The Five of Diamonds
  • The Two of Hearts
  • The Three of Spades
  • The Knave of Hearts
  • The Four of Clubs (coming October 2023)

Scroll up, buy your copy, and let's find more clues to the mystery!

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Definitely noir, definitely intriguing, The Queen of Diamonds offers a tangled, complicated society held together by money, greed, and underhanded dealings while on the surface it is all pretty dresses, balls, and rigid classism. Even a simple dinner party is full of minefields as you will soon discover if you join in a walk on the dark side of the Bridges." - Margaret McGaffey Fisk, Tales to Tide You Over

About the Author

Patricia Loofbourrow, MD is an SFF and non-fiction writer, PC gamer, ornamental food gardener, fiber artist, and wildcrafter who loves power tools, dancing, genetics and anything to do with outer space. She was born in southern California and has lived in Chicago and Tokyo. She currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three grown children.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01JDTWYIE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Red Dog Press LLC (October 1, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 1, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 246 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1944223053
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 66 ratings

About the author

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Patricia Loofbourrow
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Patricia Loofbourrow, MD is a NY Times and USA Today best-selling science fiction writer, PC gamer, ornamental food gardener, fiber artist, and wildcrafter who loves power tools, dancing, genetics and anything to do with outer space.

She was born in southern California and currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband and three grown children.

You can see all her books at pattyloof.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
66 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and full of surprises. They describe it as an enjoyable read with well-developed characters. Readers praise the author as gifted, creating a rich and imaginative future. The plot is described as intricate with plenty of explanations.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

7 customers mention "Suspenseful"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's suspenseful mystery. They find it compelling and interesting, with plot twists that keep readers hooked. The ending is exciting, as the mystery slowly unfolds.

"...much even to my displeasure, I give the book five stars for the riveting tale it is. I only hope I never have to really experience anything like it." Read more

"...Never boring and always full of surprises, I look forward to many more installments of Jacqui's adventures." Read more

"...This volume presents an array of mysteries for the reader to solve. Are they all connected? I love that it leaves me guessing...." Read more

"...The plot in this one, as in the first, slowly reveals itself. It's a strange world and one that takes time to get used to...." Read more

5 customers mention "Enjoyment"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it an enjoyable read, interesting, and never boring. The trip is fun and the characters are pleasant company. Many consider it worthwhile and better than the first book.

"...Never boring and always full of surprises, I look forward to many more installments of Jacqui's adventures." Read more

"...But for now, the trip is fun and the characters pleasant company in a compelling mystery." Read more

"This one was better than the first. A lot more explanations and more action and information with the family and the rest of the story." Read more

"An exciting and interesting book. Ending is even more exciting. It is a worthwhile read." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed and interesting.

"...The lead character here is equally complex and it's a pleasure to see how she deals with the world around her...." Read more

"...But for now, the trip is fun and the characters pleasant company in a compelling mystery." Read more

"...Her characters are well developed and interesting...." Read more

"...author, creating a rich and imaginative future filled with many complex characters. But do yourself a favor and get both books in the series." Read more

4 customers mention "Writer quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the author's writing style. They find the book engaging and a good read.

"...I’m not one of them. Queen of Diamonds is generally well written and edited...." Read more

"...An excellent read, you'll definitely enjoy it if you can deal with it's serial nature." Read more

"...You will find that Patricia is a gifted author, creating a rich and imaginative future filled with many complex characters...." Read more

"...The ongoing story of Jacqi Spadros is well-written and interesting but probably is lacking in the tech aspects that hardcore steampunkers would..." Read more

3 customers mention "Complexity"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's complexity. They find it intricate with more explanations and action, as well as a rich and imaginative future.

"...You will find that Patricia is a gifted author, creating a rich and imaginative future filled with many complex characters...." Read more

"This one was better than the first. A lot more explanations and more action and information with the family and the rest of the story." Read more

"Good fun and quite intricate..." Read more

Intriguing, Suspenseful Mystery
5 out of 5 stars
Intriguing, Suspenseful Mystery
In Queen of Diamonds, Jacqui Spadros is asked to settle financial matters for the self-proclaimed “Queen of Diamonds”, a seller of gems with special healing powers to the people of Bridges. Strangely enough, it seems Jacqui’s new assignment might involve an enemy Jacqui had hoped was dead.I believe that I may actually like this installment better than the first one—which is saying a lot since I loved it! While Jacq of Spades set the tone for the setting of Bridges and introduced the major players of the Red Dog Conspiracy, Queen of Diamonds offers more insight into Jacqui’s past and desires as well as reveals possible motives and backgrounds for various other players around her. This volume presents an array of mysteries for the reader to solve. Are they all connected? I love that it leaves me guessing.There were, however, some connections made by Jacqui in the last quarter of the book that I did not find entirely clear. The pacing at the end is fast, mostly due to its suspenseful and time-sensitive nature. So, it is entirely possible I just missed them in all the action.I loved Queen of Diamonds, eagerly await Ace of Clubs, and have already starts the prequel The Alcatraz Coup because I can’t get enough of this world Patricia Loufbourrow has created. I definitely think Queen of Diamonds will appeal most to readers of classic mystery authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2017
    Patricia Loufbourrow's book are sometimes confusing and intermittent, but they nonetheless hold me spellbound. Once I start, no matter how I fight against parts of it I must continue until the final denouement. That was certainly the case with her first book Jacq of Spades, and this book is no exception. The structure of the society in the domed city in which she lives is restrictive in the extreme, and the fact that her heroine was born and raised in a brothel does not endear her to to the society in which she lives. The four Families which dominate the city seem like little more than mafia clans, and the more she reveals of the social structure the more I am appalled by it. Jacqueline Spadros, the heroine, is continually referred to as a "pot rag", a reference to her other-side-of-the-tracks upbringing, her mother a brothel keeper, and her father an outright scoundrel.

    Almost everyone she loves comes to a bad end, and while I understand that she lives in a brutal society, I feel the author is really laying it on thick. In spite of this, or maybe even because of it, I remain fascinated by the tale, and can barely wait to discover what ghastly thing will befall her in the next chapter. That she has a husband she was forced to marry at twelve, doesn't love, and a lover she can't be with and does, only adds to the contortions of this awful tale.

    The "Queen of Diamonds" in the novel's title is one of her only friends. But take that with a grain of salt. In this book friends turn into enemies in an instant, characters, even the best of them, are two-faced, and in this dystopian world, no one can count on anyone anytime..

    All in all, I remain aghast at this sordid tale of friendship betrayed, spying, murder, and political machinations that often end in death. It is a story where it is impossible to tell who are friends and who are enemies and it is, frankly, so far removed from what I know of life, that it forces me to wonder what sort of life the author herself has had, and what sort of "friends" she has associated with. I tend to believe that authors write about what they have experienced, even in fiction, and if this book is a reflection of things Patricia has experienced, I certainly feel for her. If the book is purely a child of her imagination, I can only wonder what kind of fantasies she has.

    Nevertheless, and much even to my displeasure, I give the book five stars for the riveting tale it is. I only hope I never have to really experience anything like it.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2018
    This book picks up right after the first one, "Jacq of Spades". Once again, we are following Jacqui Spadros as she delves into the underworld intrigues of her family.

    After rescuing David Bryce from his kidnappers, Jacqui thinks that her life will get back to normal. However, that's not to be. Instead, someone is targeting the Spadros family for unknown devilment. Add in Dame Anastasia and her fake jewels, Jacqui's evil father-in-law and lots of secrets and you have another interesting installment in the Red Dog Conspiracy.

    I have to admit that listening to these books is a little difficult at times because of all the characters. I'm sure if I was reading the actual words, it would be easier to follow the action. With that being said, it was still an enjoyable read.

    These books are a unique mixture of Mafia-type families, steampunk and Sherlock Holmes. Never boring and always full of surprises, I look forward to many more installments of Jacqui's adventures.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2017
    In Queen of Diamonds, Jacqui Spadros is asked to settle financial matters for the self-proclaimed “Queen of Diamonds”, a seller of gems with special healing powers to the people of Bridges. Strangely enough, it seems Jacqui’s new assignment might involve an enemy Jacqui had hoped was dead.

    I believe that I may actually like this installment better than the first one—which is saying a lot since I loved it! While Jacq of Spades set the tone for the setting of Bridges and introduced the major players of the Red Dog Conspiracy, Queen of Diamonds offers more insight into Jacqui’s past and desires as well as reveals possible motives and backgrounds for various other players around her. This volume presents an array of mysteries for the reader to solve. Are they all connected? I love that it leaves me guessing.

    There were, however, some connections made by Jacqui in the last quarter of the book that I did not find entirely clear. The pacing at the end is fast, mostly due to its suspenseful and time-sensitive nature. So, it is entirely possible I just missed them in all the action.

    I loved Queen of Diamonds, eagerly await Ace of Clubs, and have already starts the prequel The Alcatraz Coup because I can’t get enough of this world Patricia Loufbourrow has created. I definitely think Queen of Diamonds will appeal most to readers of classic mystery authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Intriguing, Suspenseful Mystery

    Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2017
    In Queen of Diamonds, Jacqui Spadros is asked to settle financial matters for the self-proclaimed “Queen of Diamonds”, a seller of gems with special healing powers to the people of Bridges. Strangely enough, it seems Jacqui’s new assignment might involve an enemy Jacqui had hoped was dead.

    I believe that I may actually like this installment better than the first one—which is saying a lot since I loved it! While Jacq of Spades set the tone for the setting of Bridges and introduced the major players of the Red Dog Conspiracy, Queen of Diamonds offers more insight into Jacqui’s past and desires as well as reveals possible motives and backgrounds for various other players around her. This volume presents an array of mysteries for the reader to solve. Are they all connected? I love that it leaves me guessing.

    There were, however, some connections made by Jacqui in the last quarter of the book that I did not find entirely clear. The pacing at the end is fast, mostly due to its suspenseful and time-sensitive nature. So, it is entirely possible I just missed them in all the action.

    I loved Queen of Diamonds, eagerly await Ace of Clubs, and have already starts the prequel The Alcatraz Coup because I can’t get enough of this world Patricia Loufbourrow has created. I definitely think Queen of Diamonds will appeal most to readers of classic mystery authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • jgabrielehay
    5.0 out of 5 stars The story continues to intrigue
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 6, 2017
    I'm convinced that I'm still missing a card game reference or two. Partly because I can't quite see what the jokers will do - although that's probably the point.
    Jacq is becoming more constrained, and we watch her discover that her presumed freedom is perhaps more illusory than she had thought. The plotting still intrigues, and the reader finds out more about what's really going on as Jacqueline does, but with the additional hints of the card game theme.
    More minor cards are sacrificed in play, if this were chess they would have been pawns. Looking forward to part three.
  • Diana Johnson
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Queen Of Diamonds, part 2 in the Red Dog Conspiracy, Further Establishes Patricia Loofbourrow in a Class of the Best!
    Reviewed in Canada on December 8, 2016
    Finding Jaqueline Spadros recovering from her horrifying ordeal, Jaqui is now even more determined to find evidence to bring before the Families to have justice served for murder and kidnapping! She is convinced if she can find something, anything to bring the Families, then something can be done to stop a very dangerous man from freely roaming the streets!!
    A failed dinner party with the self proclaimed Queen of Diamonds, a beautiful child who's parentage seems to be a mystery (or someone simply isn't talking), to miraculous cures, blackmail, murder plots and seemingly everyone with a secret! I was completely absorbed! Reading in one sitting, this fast paced novel kept me intrigued and at times shocked as I continued reading towards the end, and what a shock of an end!!!
    In an exiting and fast paced novel we have a combination of so many odd and mysterious events, all combined to even further my desire to continue on with Jaqui and the next installment in The Red Dog Conspiracy!!
  • Daryl J Ball
    4.0 out of 5 stars A great follow-up
    Reviewed in Canada on July 6, 2019
    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.

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