The Hope Keeper ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb

G👀dreads About Summary

1919, Washington D.C. Elisabeth Beaumont comes from a renowned jeweler family, but after the untimely death of her twin brother, she's left on her own to run the failing family business. Desperate for work, she approaches the affluent crowd her brother Julien once courted to expand Beaumont Jewelers. Their ringleader is wealthy socialite Evalyn McLean, owner of the world's most infamous gemstone, rumored to curse all who travel within its orbit.
The Hope Diamond.

As Elisabeth is swept into Evalyn's toxic world of dark opulence, the lines defining who she is and where she belongs begin to blur, leading Elisabeth to question all she once believed. She's no longer certain she wants to take over the family business and be beholden to the wealthy elite of D.C. But she can't fathom leaving her father in the lurch. There's also Evalyn to consider, and the Hope Diamond, which beckons Elisabeth to admire it, touch it, care for it, despite every warning she's been told.

When tragedy strikes one night, not only is Elisabeth's fragile friendship with Evalyn put to the test, but her carefully constructed glamorous new life comes crashing down. Now Elisabeth must face the truth about her brother's death and decide what matters most.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery

The How/Why: Heather Webb, one of my fav HF authors. Plus The Hope Diamond and it's curse sounded interesting. NetGalley only had the eBook available to request so I tagged it in Libby via Notify Me when the audiobook was in their library. Tagged early on I only had a 10 day wait.  

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

🎉 Overall Storytelling? 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

🎣 Did it grab and keep my attention? 🎣🎣🎣🎣🎣

🗣️Would I recommend it to anyone? Yes ➕

🕮 Would I want a sequel? No ➖ Not necessary

📚 Would I want to read more books by this author? Yes ➕

💣💥 📢 Content Warnings? Google says: Griɇf and L0Ş$, T0xic EnṼir0nments and Psƴch0ℒ0gical MąnipŪlątion, SȖbstɐncɇ AbŲsɇ

🌶 Spice? No

🌪 Plot Twist? No

👟 Pace? Good but slowed a little in the middle

💻 Tidbits ~ Two POVs and a Co-Star.
POV - Elisabeth the protagonist. Forced to run the family jewelry business after the sudden death of her twin brother Julien. Her father’s deep depression has him bedridden and she’s trying to save the business.  
POV - The Hope Diamond, a sentient, discussing its historical journey from India to France before arriving in D.C.
Co-Star - Evalyn Walsh McLean. The socialite and real-life owner of The Hope Diamond from 1911 (at age 24) until her death.

Elisabeth is desperate to obtain information about her brother’s tragic death even if it means infiltrating Julien’s former crowd. He was heavily involved with the wealthy and powerful Evalyn Walsh McLean and her circle of influential friends.

Elisabeth’s father forbids her to be anywhere around the Mclean’s. He believes the legend that The Hope Diamond is cursed and is certain the McLean’s and their high-society acquaintances are somehow responsible for his son Julien’s death. Lizzy (nicknamed by Evalyn) can't resist Evalyn's charm nor the gifts she bestows upon her, combined with the feeling of finally fitting in, until she doesn't. 

Heather Webb is one of my favorite HF authors. She has the ability to really capture the feel of the era. This time The Jazz Era entering the Roaring 20's, describing the costumes, the elaborate luncheons and parties with free flowing fancy food and cocktails, the abundance of staff for their every whim, the toxic relationships of people who feel the need to be in the “right” circles.

I think it slowed down in the middle for a smidge with repetitive dialog, but not enough for me to deduct any stars. 

I listened to the audiobook. Narration was very good.
If I had the hard copy I’d feel the need to bedazzle it! It deserves to sparkle.

I bedazzled with Gemini AI

🎧 Narrator: Leah Horowitz (Elisabeth and Evalyn) and Julian Elfer (the Hope Diamond)

🎧10.24 hours 🕮 368 pages


Extra Tidbits

This book is HF but I always like to dive into the history.
In Real Life: Evalyn McLean died of pneumonia in 1947 at the age of 60. Harry Winston purchased The Hope Diamond from her estate in 1949. It was sold to pay off significant debt she left behind.
Winston exhibited it globally for nearly a decade. In 1958 he donated the 45.52 carat Hope Diamond to the Smithsonian Institution where it remains on permanent display. He mailed it to them in a brown paper bag!

Current estimated value is between $200 million and $350 million, however experts consider it priceless. They say it is essentially a National Treasure and will never be sold.

In it's current setting

There is also an autobiography Father Struck It Rich by Evalyn Walsh McLean, published in 1936. 

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