Glitter of Diamonds: The Case of the Reckless Radio Host

A Paul Manziuk & Jacquie Ryan Mystery

It’s Toronto in July. There’s an out-of control baseball player. A frenzied sports media. A talk-show host who enjoys playing devil’s advocate. The field is ready—for murder.

“A finely drawn police procedural written in the style of Georgette Heyer, long considered queen of the British mystery genre... appealing characters, creative plot and classic Agatha Christie style writing.” The Suspense Zone

Homicide detective Inspector Paul Manziuk is mourning the death of his best friend. Constable Jacqueline Ryan is trying to get her bearings and figure out how to keep from irritating an already-stressed Manziuk without losing her self-respect. But not far from Toronto police headquarters, two people are speaking words that will lead to murder.

Rico Velasquez, the Toronto Matrix's new Cuban pitcher, is determined to prove he deserves the huge contract he’s been given. So he explodes in anger and derision when a reliever gives up a home run that takes away his win. A day later, Stasey Simon, a radio talk-show host who thrives on controversy, asks on-air for a volunteer to knock some sense into Rico.

Before long, groundskeepers at the Diamond Dome find Rico's body in the bullpen, and Manziuk and Ryan are given the task of arresting the murderer before the case escalates into an international incident.

Of course, Stasey herself is a prime suspect. So are several other members of the sports media, an obsessed fan, Rico's neglected wife, the pitcher Rico embarrassed, the elusive owners of the baseball team, and a Marilyn Monroe wannabe who seemed to think Rico was her Joe DiMaggio.

Manziuk draws on his own love of the game of baseball while Ryan struggles to make sense of a sport she’s never watched.

“A master of plotting, [she] seeds her tale with concealed clues and innuendos that keep readers guessing until the very end.” Library Journal

“There are plot twists galore and you are guessing to the end. I had to stay up all night to finish it….” Natalie York, Armchair Interviews

“The writing has humour, the story-telling is edged with compassion, and the characters are well drawn.” Don Graves, The Hamilton Spectator

"Baseball. There are few things that say lazy, hazy summer days than that sport. But this book is anything but lazy or hazy.” Vero Caravette, Mysterical – E

The Manziuk and Ryan Mysteries in order:

• Shaded Light: The Case of the Tactless Trophy Wife
• Glitter of Diamonds: The Case of the Reckless Radio Host
• Shadow of a Butterfly: The Case of the Harmless Old Woman (coming May 15th*)*

Short stories by J. A. Menzies:

• “The Case of the Sneezing Accountant: A Manziuk and Ryan Short Story”
• “The Day Time Stood Still”
• “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”
• “Revenge So Sweet”

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*Originally published as Glitter of Diamonds by N. J. Lindquist