The Lost Diamond was a wonderful dual-timeline book with two entwined stories.
One happening in 1947 in India and the second in London in 2024.
I truly loved both timelines, although, in my opinion, the one from 1947 was more thrilling. The whole story was splendidly researched and told. I truly have learned something new from the history of India and Pakistan.
You will find out more about the Diamond, also known as "Chamakta Sitara" which got lost in 1947 and appeared again in 2024, and if it was cursed

I enjoyed the whole book and can recommend it to lovers of dual timelines and mystery.

Thank you NetGalley and HQ for this eCopy to review

“The Lost Diamond” by Kathleen McGurl is a captivating dual-timeline historical novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The story is set in two different periods: India in 1947 and London in 2024. In 1947, we follow Celia Fforbes-Whyte, who remembers little about her beloved mother but vividly recalls the family’s prized diamond, the Chamakta Sitara. As India approaches independence, Celia’s father makes a drastic decision to hide the diamond to protect the family, leading to a lifetime of mystery and intrigue.

In the present day, we meet Lisa Statton, who, heartbroken and seeking solace, retreats to the Alps. There, she stumbles upon a sparkling gem and an unopened letter embedded in a glacier. This discovery thrusts her into a mystery that connects her to Celia’s past and the lost diamond.

What I loved most about this book was the seamless blending of the two timelines. McGurl’s writing is beautifully descriptive, making it easy to visualize the settings and feel the emotions of the characters. The mystery surrounding the lost diamond kept me engaged and eager to uncover the truth.

The characters are well-developed and relatable. Celia’s determination to protect her family’s legacy and Lisa’s journey of self-discovery are both compelling and deeply moving. The dual timelines add depth and complexity to the narrative, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected stories.

In conclusion, “The Lost Diamond” is a spellbinding tale that explores the power of family, the importance of heritage, and the enduring strength of women. Kathleen McGurl has crafted a masterful story that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and a good mystery.

This was a simple romance story - set partly in pre-independence India, and linked with a modern day love story in London. It isn’t going to be nominated for any prizes but it was a good story, with likeable characters and a nice ending.

India, 1947: With independence imminent, Celia Fforbes-Whyte does not share the same plans as her father. Having spent most of her life in India, Celia is desperate to remain there but her father is looking forward to a return to England. Before this can happen, however, there is the problem of the Chamakta Sitara, a diamond in the possession of the Fforbes-Whyte family which others are desperate to get their hands on, believing that it does not really belong to them. Celia’s father makes a decision: to protect his family, he must find somewhere safe to keep the diamond, a decision that will have major repercussions for all around him.

London, 2024: After the breakdown of her relationship, Lisa Statton heads to the Alps with her friend for a much-needed break. When she discovers a case embedded in a glacier, she is amazed to see the contents – a range of paperwork and an expensive-looking diamond. On her return home, Lisa is determined to find out how they ended up where they did.

The Lost Diamond is the latest of Kathleen McGurl’s dual timeline books and this time she takes us back to India in the 1940s. The author paints a really vivid picture of life in India, the relationship between Celia and her father highlighting the different attitudes towards the forthcoming independence. We see Celia, a girl who has spent most of her life in India, embracing its culture and the life it offers whereas to her father, India is just a place of work and is longing to get back to England.

The two timelines weave together seamlessly with Lisa in 2024 trying to find out more about the owner of the diamond she has found while also trying to come to terms with upheaval in her own life. I enjoyed reading about her research and liked this aspect of the book just as much as the story set in 1947.

I always look forward to a new Kathleen McGurl book and this is another fantastic, evocative read. If you are a fan of dual timeline books, I can highly recommend all of this author’s previous novels, each one transporting you to a different period of history.

A dual timeline story - 1947 India just prior to Independence and 2023.

The link a diamond - the Chamakta Sitara - gained by devious means by the Forbes-Whyte family and handed down through the generations. Cursed it seems to lead to the untimely deaths of women within the family.

Found in 2023 by two climbers, Gaby and Lisa, near Mont Blanc. Lisa is determined to find out how the diamond ended up there and who it belongs to. This leads her to Ben Forbes and together they investigate the plane crash and the events which led up to it. It eventually brings them to India.

The novel brings to life India of 1947 with the British preparing to leave and the unrest surrounding possible partition prior to Independence. Against this background there is a plot to force Wilfred Forbes-Whyte to return the diamond to its rightful owners.

An interesting read.

This is a wonderful dual timeline novel including a family mystery that span decades. The settings of both London and India are sublime and both the past and present narratives are compelling and immersive. I loved the real.life story of the plane crash that inspired the story and the story of the missing jewel. Multi layered, this is a great story, highly recommend

A priceless lost diamond is at the heart of this dual-timeline story set in 1947 India and 2023 London.
Ceila, born in India, doesn't want to leave and return to England, but her father insists it is necessary. The 1947 timeline is evocative and draws readers into India during significant change. It has a vibrant cast of characters and believable family dynamics between Ceila and her father.
The 2023 story is emotional and features complex characters. Lisa and her friend Gaby are walking in the Alps when they make an extraordinary discovery. Lisa is recovering from an acrimonious break-up and welcomes the chance to solve the mystery behind the unexpected discovery.
I like the storytelling, mystery and satisfying conclusion, which is perfect for an engaging read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This was a very engaging read. I particularly enjoyed the earlier year, set in 1947, in India. It was a time of political upheaval. I liked the descriptions of the places and the people. Celia lived with her father, Wilfred Fforbes-Whyte and was at that awkward stage of 15/16 years old and often in conflict with her father. She was a determined person and this would stand her in good stead for what was to come. At the centre of the story is a special diamond, owned by her father but wanted by the original owner’s family. In 2023, Lisa finds the diamond and is trying to find the owner. In doing so, she meets Ben Forbes. I couldn’t really understand Ben’s reasons for not continuing the relationship, particularly when they seemed to like each other and have a lot in common. I found the ending quite emotional, especially the letter. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

India, 1947. Celia Foforbes-White rembers little about her beloved mother, but she will never forget how the family's prize diamond, the Chaamakta Sitara, listened at her throat, The diamond had been part of her family for as long as she could remember, but growing voices begin to ask whether it should have belonged to them at all?

London, 2024. Heqartbroken and desperate for an escape, Lisa Statton retreats to the comfort of the Alps. But when she stumbles across a sparkling gem and an unopened letter embedded in a glacier, Lisa finds herself thrust into a mystery more devastating than she could ever imagine,

This story has a dual timeline that's told in the past - Agra, India, 1947, and the present day - London 2024. This is an intriguing read. The two stories intertwine perfectly. It's descriptively written, the pace is steady and the characters are well-portrayed. There was just the right amount of mystery and suspense. I enjoyed both stories equally.

Published 27th February 2025

I ewould like to thank #NetGalley #HQ #HQDigital and the author #KathleenMcGurl for my ARC of #TheLostDiamond in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is a dual timeline story.

It’s 1947 and riots have started and Wilfred feels that it’s not safe for him and his daughter to continue living in India’ and to travel back to England. The diamond he has isn’t just a stone, there’s talk of it having a curse.

Now it’s 2023, and following the end of her relationship we meet Lisa who goes to the Alps with her friend hiking. She uncovers a briefcase, which is buried in the snow, what seems like a long time ago.

When Lisa opens it, reading the documents inside it, she realises that it’s been there since 1947. But, that’s not all she finds, there’s a broach which has a large diamond.

When she tries to find out more about what’s inside the briefcase, she discovers that there was a plane crash back in 1947, which is maybe when the case was buried. Now, she wants to make more enquiries about the broach and why it was put in the case.

I highly recommend this book.

This is a great story, told over two timelines, present day and 1947, just before India declares independence from Britain. I thought Celia was a magnificent, strong, young woman, and Lisa is also a likeable, relatable, heroine. Having been to India, I can attest that the descriptions are both accurate and fantastic; they transported me right back to the sights and smells. I wasn’t so keen on the ‘curse’ aspect of the book, apart from this it is a perfect read.

My rating:

Plot: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Writing: 5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 4 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Historical Fiction

Review:

This is a beautiful, vividly written dual time line story The book takes you on a journey to interesting and exotic places, this was especially true for the historical timeline set in 1947 India. It is one of those books that has the right amount of mystery and suspense, It captures you from the start and slowly pulls you in until you can’t stop reading, you have to know what happens next and before you know it, you have finished it. The characters are interesting and well developed. The two time lines each center around a strong woman, their stories are linked by the lost diamond at the end the two timelines are nicely interwoven into a satisfying conclusion. A great book worth reading!

Another lovely, well written, well researched, dual timeline book from this author.

When Lisa and her friend make a surprise find walking in the Alps, what follows is a tale of discovery, of moving on and new friends. We flash back to the past and meet Celia and her family and friends and learn of her life in India, as they move to Independence,

As ever the two stories run side by side, intertwine and come together perfectly.

The settings and timelines are described so well, you could visualise everything that was happening, now and in the past.

The story set a good pace, the urgency of their various situations, but also giving the story and characters time to develop. as you read you become invested in all of their stories, hoping for happy ending for them all.

I was really hoping I had worked out the ending correctly, and I had, which was a perfect finish to this book. The author really does know how to keep you reading and then bring the storylines together.

Another must read.

Another fabulous read from Kathleen. Her books always deliver and this one set In India brought the sights and sounds alive. A compelling story and very addictive. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Stunning historical novel! I was unable to put the book down as I wanted to know what was going to happen! I love the dual story line with the past and the present, and the historical setting was beautiful. The characters were well developed and the plot was interesting. Highly recommend!

<i>The Lost Diamond</i> is a dual timeline story of a hidden jewel, a buried past, and a secret waiting to break free.

I found the story so intriguing when it wasn't dragging on and on for pages and pages of explanations. In the London 2024 storyline, Lisa instinctively knew, understood, recognized, or realized things throughout the book. No one had to tell her. She just knew, which made her seem psychic. And, all too often, I had to remind myself of all of the characters' ages in both storylines, as their actions and words sometimes felt younger or older than what their ages were supposed to be.

The story was fascinating but the book needs some editing. Having the characters speak and act more age-appropriately, and doing something about those long long explanations would make <i>The Lost Diamond</i> unputdownable for me.

Thank you HQ Digital for providing this book for review consideration. It has an expected publication date of February 27, 2025. All opinions are my own.

I very much enjoyed this dual time line book, the descriptions of the turmoil in India during the move to independence were really interesting and really brought the setting to life. The story was well thought out and well told. I would recommend.

A dual timeline historical novel set in both India and England. On a hiking vacation in the Alps, the main character in the present, finds a briefcase embedded in ice. Finding letters and a diamond piece in it, she is determined to find out who the briefcase belonged to and how it came to its resting place. Jumping back to the past at the end of the British rule in India, the reader meets a British man and his daughter with the links to the briefcase. I always enjoy reading about history and the situation In India as the author describes it was very informative. Although it has a predictable ending, I did enjoy and will recommend it.

The Lost Diamond is a dual timeline story with the first timeline taking place in 1947 in India, during the last days before Indian independence from Britain, with Celia and her father preparing to move back to England. Both were born in India although English citizens; her father Wilfred is looking forward to the move, while Celia is dreading it. The "lost diamond" of the title is a diamond brooch called the Chamakta Sitara which is owned by Wilfred but had been purchased by his family after it was looted during the first Indian uprising about 75 years prior. The novel begins with Wilfred on a plane with the diamond in his briefcase when the plane crash lands in the Alps. The second timeline is that of Lisa in 2023, who finds the battered briefcase during a walking tour in the Alps. After finding out who owned the diamond in the past, she returns it to the family and at the same time, meets Ben, the diamond owner's son, a man who could change her life - if only the diamond didn't have a curse attached to it! The two timelines were interwoven quite skillfully and about half way through the book, I couldn't put it down. Highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I was totally engrossed in this book. Two interconnected stories presented side by side, each as enjoyable as the other, with the history and mystery of the diamond and the fate of its keepers slowly revealed. I absolutely loved it and spent several nights sitting up until late, unable to put it down. A very well deserved 5 stars.