The legendary ruby of Bianca Corleone, the greatest soprano Italy has ever known, was said to carry a deadly curse. All who possessed it courted ruin. When the diva dies, the precious stone disappears, and a hungry chase begins across the dark byways of Italian society. A ruthless band of thieves, a wealthy American collector named Van Torp, and others whose motives remain shadowed in secrecy all vie to possess the legendary gem. But the ruby's true danger lies not in its cursed history, but in what it reveals about the desperate lengths people will reach for beauty and power. Crawford weaves a tale where greed becomes indistinguishable from madness, and the pursuit of wealth exposes the rot beneath the glittering surface of high society. The vivid Italian setting pulses with atmospheric menace, while the mystery unfolds with Victorian precision. This is a novel for readers who crave the guilty pleasure of gothic suspense, who want to watch flawed characters unravel against the irresistible pull of a legendary jewel.
