The Jewel Thief, Jeannie Mobley
The Jewel Thief, Jeannie Mobley
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The Jewel Thief

Author: Jeannie Mobley

Narrator: Mary Sarah

Unabridged: 9 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/26/2020

Synopsis

A lush, slow-burn romance set in 17th century France, and based on the history of the Hope Diamond--The Glittering Court meets Alex and Eliza.

Her story begins . . . in Paris. The only daughter of the King's crown jeweler, Juliette marvels at the large, deep-blue diamond Louis XIV has commanded her father to make shine like the sun. But Jean Pitau has never cut a diamond quite like this, and shaping it is a risky endeavor. As Jean spirals into depression, Juliette takes it upon herself to cut the stone, and with every misstep, brings her family closer to ruin.

Her story resumes . . . in a cold, dark cell of the Bastille prison. Charged with stealing the King's diamond, Juliette has but one chance to convince him that her motives were pure. If she fails, this night may very well be her last. Though, death wouldn't be her worst fate. Because recording Juliette's confession is René, a court-appointed scribe, and the man she loves. But René holds his own grudge against Juliette, and this is her one and only chance to win back his heart.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Tiziana

Actually only 3.7 rounded up to 4 stars. The French court of the Sun King, a large 115-carat blue diamond, a love story... I love fiction inspired by true events, if you add to this a bit of romance and a context (that of the stonecutters) that is different from the usual, the recipe is perfect. The pr......more

Goodreads review by Melissa

A captivating tale set in 17th century France, and in a world a knew nothing about: gem-cutters. I was fascinated by this story, by how Juliette was ready to risk everything to save her father. I liked how the story is told from Juliette's perspective, and that she mentions René, her lover, directly......more

Goodreads review by Sue (BeautyBookCorner)

4.5 Stars -- I loved this book so much! The writing style, the history, and the high stakes drama all made for a really engaging read. I love that the book is told through a frame narrative. Our main character is in jail recounting her tale of events to the royal scribe who happens to be her ex-love......more

Goodreads review by Tara

The Jewel Thief is an absolute hidden gem. This lush, beautifully written historical fiction novel swept me off my feet. Although the story was a bit slow at times, everything came together beautifully at the end. I loved Mobley’s choice to tell this story as a story within the novel. Given that Jul......more

Goodreads review by Katie

*4.5 stars* ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Summary Juliet is the daughter of King Louis XIV's prized jeweler. When Louis acquires the Tavernier Violet, which today is known as the Hope Diamond, she sees it as a chance for her family to be brought to glory and esteem......more

Quotes

Praise for The Jewel Thief

"Mobley crafts her own Hope Diamond legend, one filled with romance and intrigue . . .  Mobley's account of diamond cutting is fascinating, and her attention to the political and social tensions of the time, particularly the treatment of Jews in 17th-century France, adds a pointed layer of consequence to the novel."--Publishers Weekly

"Mobley skillfully combines real events and people with a fictional teen protagonist forced to make her thief's confession to her horrified true love. The romance inherent in diamonds and royalty is enhanced by the young lovers' story, and is also augmented by a (multicultural) plot thread involving the Jewish jewelers, who were notoriously badly treated in Europe at that time (the 1600s)."--Booklist

"Juliette emerges as a realistically flawed heroine . . . A winding tale of jewelry-based intrigue."--Kirkus Reviews

"The mystery at the heart of this book maneuvers deftly between the intrigue and deception of the Sun King's court, an aching romance, and the lengths we will go for those we love. I couldn't put it down!"--Andrea Robertson, New York Times bestselling author

"Set among the splendors and intrigues of the Baroque court, The Jewel Thief is a gripping tale of a bold young craftswoman determined to carve out her own glorious destiny."--Elizabeth Bunce, Morris Award-winning author of A Curse Dark as Gold

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