It is a family tragedy that leaves little Clementine in the care of her father, who is ravaged by grief and fueled by alcohol. It is a sad introduction to this child’s life, as Clementine’s mother passes away from malaria, while her family are based in Southern Africa, as part of the diamond rush. When The Diamond Hunter opens we are acquainted with a young girl by the name of Clementine Knight. The Diamond Hunter hooked me in from the first sentence, until the final word of Fiona McIntosh’s latest historical tale. Along the way, we bear witness to a consuming tale of love, family ties, commitments, honour, betrayal, trust, secrets and lies. This new tale from one of our most gifted Australian novelists takes the reader from the harsh grounds of the diamond hunting trade in Southern Africa, through to the bustling streets of England’s capital, and to a wealthy estate in Northumberland. I have to concur with the cover quote, provided by fellow book reviewer Book’d Out, which states, ‘Fiona McIntosh is an extraordinary storyteller.’ McIntosh returns with her annual historical release, The Diamond Hunter. A story of greed, love, loss and forgiveness, The Diamond Hunter is one I highly recommend. Starting in the 1870s with Clem’s childhood, through to almost the turn of the century, I found the loyal bond and closeness between Clem and Joseph One-Shoe – Zulu name Zenzele – particularly poignant and heartwarming. The Diamond Hunter is another excellent, well researched historical novel from the pen of Aussie author Fiona McIntosh which I thoroughly enjoyed. Would the love and trust she’d held all those many years be shattered? Twenty two years later, Clementine was nearing thirty when her memories of her African childhood were jogged and she suddenly wondered if her life in England had been based on lies. But the arrival at the diggings of her mother’s half-brother, Uncle Reggie, set a course for the future which was not one her parents had envisioned. The discovery of a large diamond from Big Hole meant James could fulfil his wish to take Clem back to England, to the home of her mother, where she could grow up on the Grant’s estate in the manner of her mother. But Clem dearly loved the two most important men in her life, and although she ran wild through their shanty town of New Rush and had no liking for school, she was a bright and intelligent young lass. He turned to the bottle to drown his sorrows, so Clem’s care fell to Joseph more and more often. Clem’s mother had passed when she was six years old of malaria, and her father was distraught at her loss. To solve the mystery of what happened to her loved ones all those years ago, she must confront a painful history and finally bring justice to bear.įrom the harsh desert of Africa’s Kimberley diamond mine to the misty, green plains of northern England, The Diamond Hunter is a breathtaking adventure story about trust and betrayal, the ultimate quest for truth, and a love that is truly priceless.Ĭlementine Knight loved her father, James, and Joseph One-Shoe, Zulu companion and partner in the diamond diggings of Africa. Years on, long-buried memories of Clementine's childhood in Africa and her beloved Joseph One-Shoe are triggered, as she questions who she can trust. A dark bargain is struck to do whatever it takes to return Clementine to a respectable life at the Grant family’s sprawling estate in northern England – while the diamond disappears. When the two men uncover a large, flawless diamond, James believes he has finally secured their future, but the discovery of the priceless gem comes at a huge cost. Much of Clementine’s care falls to their trusty Zulu companion, Joseph One-Shoe, and the unlikely pair form an unbreakable bond. When six-year-old Clementine Knight loses her mother to malaria during the 1870s diamond rush in southern Africa, she is left to be raised by her destitute, alcoholic father, James. ‘It won’t matter how many diamonds you find if you lose the love of your child.’
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