Heart of Diamonds: A Novel of Scandal, Love, and Death in the Congo

The Congo is a very dangerous place for television journalist Valerie Grey in this tragic, fast-paced tale of avarice and betrayal. Amid the bloody violence of the country's endless civil war, Grey uncovers a deadly diamond-smuggling scheme that reaches the White House by way of a famous American televangelist. Grey is pursued by the soldiers of the country's dictator, the mercenaries of the diamond mine's owner, and the rebels seeking to take control of the mine. Aided by an altruistic doctor who struggles to bring medical care to Congo's poor, she must canoe down crocodile-infested rivers, dodge attacking helicopters, and race over teeth-rattling roads to bring their stunning story—one of government corruption, church greed, and brutality among warring factions—to the outside world.

"The ongoing tragedy of the Congo serves as the backdrop for this tepid thriller, Donelson's first novel. After TV newscaster Valerie Grey gets passed over for an evening anchor job at the MBS network, she tries to lose herself in Africa, where she stumbles on a diamond-smuggling scheme involving not only a sleazy American televangelist but also the George W. Bush — like U.S. president. Valerie quickly becomes the target of the conspiracy's members and, predictably, finds herself falling for the hunky idealistic doctor who runs a local clinic. Readers should be prepared for some clunky prose ('Valerie's brown eyes flashed a warning, the green flecks in the irises dancing with anger'). Those seeking a novel that explores human exploitation in 21st-century Africa on the level of, say, John le Carr's The Mission Song will be disappointed. (Sept.)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Dave Donelson is a business journalist who writes for The Christian Science Monitor, Family Business Magazine, and dozens of trade publications serving industries from the automotive aftermarket to sporting goods retailing. As a freelance writer and photographer, his work has appeared on Disney's FamilyFun.com, Las Vegas Magazine, and Woodworker's Journal. He is the author of Creative Selling and Hunting Elf. He lives in West Harrison, New York.