Merchant of Pearls

Edward Sherwood understands the irresistible appeal of cursed gems. Capitalizing on the psychology of superstition, he specializes in keepsakes said to have brought their owners to a bad end. But when he outbids the Russian mob to acquire a particularly interesting ruby, he finds himself in the crosshairs of a deadly hit squad.

Escaping the country with the help of a former Bratva henchman, Edward quickly sells the stone to shed the heat. But when the buyer meets with a mysterious accident, the unscrupulous gemologist comes face to face with an obsessive policeman determined to prove he's connected to similar deaths.

Has Edward's ominous business provoked a curse he can't escape?

Merchant of Pearls is a spellbinding standalone crime thriller. If you like shady characters, dark twists and turns, and supernatural mysteries, then you'll love P. J. Mann's gritty tale.