When a young life is taken at a Madrona Rim restaurant, Claire Farnsworth abruptly ends her career at the Washington State resort. She grows jaded about life in general, upset mostly over the mistreatment of children. Four other characters play a key role in Claire's quest to help the helpless:
- Ben Stanford replaces Claire having recently lost his job at a Seattle engineering firm. Ben resents returning to the security business and becomes increasingly distant from his family. In addition to his dissatisfaction at work and home, Ben is attracted to a female colleague. He looks to Rock n Roll for guidance, a convenient "religion" with messages that help him justify his choices.
- Beau Rivera is also employed at Madrona, and remains a loyal friend to Claire, who eventually finds work as a real estate agent. Looking to augment her budding income, Claire coaches Ben and Beau in a high-tech security business, where in their moonlighting endeavors the trio discovers a growing threat to children operating inside their community. Beau is seriously injured in an brutal attack while trying to break-up a crime.
- Leroy Begay, left the Navajo Nation as a young man but is now approaching retirement from Madrona's security department. Strong and wise, Leroy is a father-figure to Claire and helps her and Ben infiltrate a kidnapping ring. Assisting police in a race with time and ransom demands, the team follows the abductors' trail from Vegas hotel rooms to deep within a cave, but the experience of Leroy serves as the game-changer. A man of few words, Leroy's message perhaps will resonate the loudest for the reader.
Using sophisticated surveillance techniques and gut instincts Ben continues the chase despite mistakes and setbacks. Satellite radio, a random page from a book and a volcano rim influence Ben in his search. A frantic journey around the western U.S. culminates in a stunning outcome.
- "TJ" is the mysterious young person that Ben discovers through an extraordinary series of events. Despite the many positive elements in the story, there are several frightening twists and turns in Ben and Claire's road.
- Charlie and Merideth Stanford play a relatively quiet role in this story. Ben's young son and troubled wife bring life to essential elements of Rock. Charlie, age seven, is introduced in Chapter One in a drive up the California coast with Ben. Mysterious "Merry" eventually is understood; becomes the heart of the novel.
Music featured in the book provides both mood and message for Ben and Claire. Most songs are
mentioned when they fit the situation. Click here for song list. Lines from a few songs help narrate the story.
Delivering DIamonds is a journey involving popular music, human relations & personal priorities. The story follows Ben and Claire through the common distractions in modern life & some violent events along the way. The book uses fiction to mimic real-life examples of hope & healing in the wake of disappointment & tragedy.
