CrimeSep 07, 2023
Amazon’s Antwerp Diamond Heist Series to Debut in October SourcingSep 12, 2023
Rob Bates’ New Murder Mystery Novel Is Out Today
The book, “Slay It With a Diamond," is the third installment in the JCK news director’s mystery series.
Longtime industry writer Rob Bates’ third murder mystery novel is available now.
New York—Longtime industry editor Rob Bates has released a third book in his jewelry mystery fiction series.
The novel, “Slay It With A Diamond,” is the latest addition to Bates’ “Diamond District Mystery Series,” which follows journalist-turned-amateur-sleuth Mimi Rosen.
In the new book, Mimi returns, along with other characters from the first two books, “A Murder is Forever” and “Murder is Not a Girl’s Best Friend,” in an entirely new mystery set in New York City’s 47th Street Diamond District.
In “Slay It With A Diamond,” Mimi’s father, New York City diamond dealer Max Rosen, buys a famous gemstone which is supposedly cursed. He’s not a believer in curses, until the wife of the jeweler who sold him the gem turns up dead.
“My books all examine different aspects of the diamond industry, and this one zeroes in on luxury and the mindset behind it,” said Bates.
“It started with the idea that people will believe that a gemstone is cursed, but they would scoff if you talked about a cursed paper towel. That’s because people perceive gemstones as special and packed with meaning. And that led me to consider why people are so attracted to diamonds and other luxury objects, and the psychological need that they fill.”
Featuring “Succession”-style intrigue, the story sees Mimi and her policeman boyfriend drawn into the dark history of the jeweler’s powerful family. Their investigation leads them to encounter an opulent mansion, long-buried scandals, a bitter family feud, and surprising evidence that the curse may be real.
“I examined many world-renowned jewelry names, and in just about all of them, eventually there was some kind of dispute between heirs,” said Bates. “The stories were generally very sad and unique, but I found some commonalities between them, and they helped inform the story.”
Related stories will be right here …
The novel, “Slay It With A Diamond,” is the latest addition to Bates’ “Diamond District Mystery Series,” which follows journalist-turned-amateur-sleuth Mimi Rosen.
In the new book, Mimi returns, along with other characters from the first two books, “A Murder is Forever” and “Murder is Not a Girl’s Best Friend,” in an entirely new mystery set in New York City’s 47th Street Diamond District.
In “Slay It With A Diamond,” Mimi’s father, New York City diamond dealer Max Rosen, buys a famous gemstone which is supposedly cursed. He’s not a believer in curses, until the wife of the jeweler who sold him the gem turns up dead.
“My books all examine different aspects of the diamond industry, and this one zeroes in on luxury and the mindset behind it,” said Bates.
“It started with the idea that people will believe that a gemstone is cursed, but they would scoff if you talked about a cursed paper towel. That’s because people perceive gemstones as special and packed with meaning. And that led me to consider why people are so attracted to diamonds and other luxury objects, and the psychological need that they fill.”
Featuring “Succession”-style intrigue, the story sees Mimi and her policeman boyfriend drawn into the dark history of the jeweler’s powerful family. Their investigation leads them to encounter an opulent mansion, long-buried scandals, a bitter family feud, and surprising evidence that the curse may be real.
“I examined many world-renowned jewelry names, and in just about all of them, eventually there was some kind of dispute between heirs,” said Bates. “The stories were generally very sad and unique, but I found some commonalities between them, and they helped inform the story.”
The new book, inspired by classic gothic fiction, puts the diamond and jewelry industry under the microscope and tackles the age-old question of why sparkly objects enchant us, said publisher Camel Press.
Bates has written about the diamond industry for almost three decades, winning 12 editorial awards, including the Gem Award for Media Excellence in 2016.
He is also a comedy writer and performer, whose work has appeared on Saturday Night Live’s Weekend Update segment, Comedy Central’s website, and McSweeney’s.
His new book is available now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org.
More on Sourcing
The Latest
GradingAug 22, 2025
Former Head of GIA India Promoted to Oversee Global Operations Sriram “Ram” Natarajan is now GIA’s senior vice president of laboratory operations and is based out of the lab’s headquarters in Carlsbad.
CollectionsAug 22, 2025
Piece of the Week: Retrouvaí’s ‘Diamond Vein Bond’ CollarThe one-of-a-kind collar represents the beauty of imperfection and the strength to rebuild.
MajorsAug 22, 2025
Kendra Scott Returns as CEO of Her Jewelry EmpireThree C-suite executives, including former CEO Tom Nolan, have resigned as part of what the company describes as a “transition.”
Brought to you by
Rallying Call for the Jewelry Industry on Tariffs and Other Key IssuesJewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.
MajorsAug 21, 2025
Claire’s Finds Buyer, Could Save up to 950 StoresThe retailer, which recently filed Chapter 11, inked a deal to sell its North American business and intellectual property.
Weekly QuizAug 22, 2025
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsAug 21, 2025
Target Names New CEO as Sales Continue to Lag Target CEO Brian Cornell will step down in February and be replaced by the company’s chief operating officer, Michael Fiddelke.
Policies & IssuesAug 21, 2025
JA, IDMA Talk Tariffs With Execs in DC The group met with the president's senior trade advisor earlier this week to express the industry’s concerns about the effects of tariffs.
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine JewelryAs a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.
MajorsAug 21, 2025
Tiffany & Co. Pops Up at 2025 US OpenThe pop-up will display this year's Tiffany & Co. Singles Championship trophies along with a diamond-encrusted tennis racket and ball.
IndependentsAug 20, 2025
Bellman’s Jewelers Opens Second Store After COO's TikTok Takes OffThe New Hampshire-based store has expanded to Boston, propelled by the success of Alex Bellman’s TikTok page, “The Truthful Jeweler.”
CrimeAug 20, 2025
Another CA Jewelry Store Rammed With Car, RobbedThe latest incident happened Monday at a store in Oakland, California, continuing a pattern JSA first warned about last month.
WatchesAug 20, 2025
Oris Launches Watch Benefiting NYC Harbor Oyster RestorationThe new aqua green New York Harbor Limited Edition II is the watchmaker’s second collaboration with the Billion Oyster Project.
Events & AwardsAug 20, 2025
Take the Jewelers for Children ‘Trinity of Purpose’ ChallengeParticipants who attend any three Rings of Strength events will be awarded a special medal.
ColumnistsAug 19, 2025
Peter Smith: The Arrival Fallacy and Jewelry RetailSmith shares wisdom he gleaned from a podcast he was listening to one morning while being walked by his dog, a Malshi named Sophie.
CrimeAug 19, 2025
Customs Seizes 7,300 Pairs of Fake ‘Alhambra’ EarringsThe counterfeit Van Cleef & Arpels jewels would have been worth more than $30 million if genuine.
MajorsAug 19, 2025
MJSA Apprenticeship Program Is Nationally RecognizedThe MJSA Mentor & Apprenticeship Program received the Registered Apprenticeship Program designation by the U.S. Department of Labor.
WatchesAug 19, 2025
Casio America Names New Timepiece Division ManagerCasio executive and watch enthusiast Masaki Obu is the new general manager of its U.S. timepiece division.
MajorsAug 18, 2025
Verragio’s Michael Barabash, a ‘Kind Soul,’ Dies at 58Barabash, Verragio’s client relations representative, was a vital member of the team and is remembered as being warm and full of life.
CollectionsAug 18, 2025
John Hardy’s New ‘Dot’ Collection Is on PointOriginally introduced in 1992, the “Dot” collection is back with a capsule featuring five archival designs and three new creations.
Events & AwardsAug 18, 2025
IJO Announces 2025 Vendor of the YearAllison-Kaufman has received the honor for the fourth year in a row.
FinancialsAug 15, 2025
In Q2 Results, Pandora Talks Tariffs, Q4 Plans The company had a solid second quarter, with sales of non-charm jewelry outpacing sales of pieces in its core collections.
EditorsAug 15, 2025
Piece of the Week: Etho Maria’s Showgirl-Approved Ruby Drop Earrings Taylor Swift dons the vibrant pair in new promotional imagery for her upcoming album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” set to release in October.
WatchesAug 15, 2025
Audemars Piguet Acquires Majority Stake in ManufacturerIts investment in micromechanics expert Inhotec will preserve skills essential to the watchmaking industry as a whole, said the company.
MajorsAug 15, 2025
Rio Grande Names New Marketing DirectorNicolette Bianchi joins the wholesale provider with more than 15 years of cross-industry experience in marketing and product development.
CollectionsAug 14, 2025
In Midst of ‘Sardine Girl Summer,’ Pippa Small Looks to ‘Flounder Fall’Her new “Ocean” collection was inspired by Myanmar’s traditional articulated fish jewelry, with depictions of flounder, catfish, and more.
MajorsAug 14, 2025
Casio America Names New CEOLongtime Casio executive Yusuke Suzuki is the new president and CEO of Casio’s U.S. subsidiary.
TrendsAug 13, 2025
Cristiano Ronaldo Proposes With Gigantic Oval-Cut DiamondModel Georgina Rodríguez received a rock of an engagement ring, with her diamond estimated to be 35 carats, experts say.
