Allmen and the Pink Diamond

In Suter’s so-so sequel to 2018’s Allmen and the Dragonflies, Johann Friedrich von Allmen, the head of Allmen International Inquiries, accepts a lucrative assignment, despite the belief of his butler and business partner, Carlos de Leon, that the case is beyond Johann’s capacity. A pink diamond that was auctioned in Switzerland for £30 million has disappeared. An Englishman named Montgomery tells Allman that his unnamed client was the gem’s purchaser, and that others have identified a Russian, Artyom Sokolov, as having been involved in the theft. Montgomery asks Allman to find Sokolov, whose last known address was in Switzerland. Allmen’s dogged but unremarkable sleuthing develops promising leads, as well as evidence that his quarry is also of interest to multiple other parties. The plot itself is nothing special, and the conceit of an investigator living beyond his means who relies on his servant’s commonsense goes only so far in maintaining interest in what happens once Sokolov is found. Still, some fans of light crime novels will be satisfied. (Mar.)