Private inquiry agent Lavinia Lake and her sometime-partner, Tobias March, investigate the murder of the young wife of an old friend and the theft of a priceless ancient bracelet that supposedly possesses mystical powers.

Profiles all major gems and precious stones, with more than 450 photographs of the different varieties, arranged in descending order of hardness, and covering the classifications of natural stones and gems, organic gems, and synthetic and artificial products.

From the author of the wildly successful Dexter series, comes a new mesmerizing bad guy we can root for: Riley Wolfe is a master thief, expert at disguise and violent when he needs to be. It's no accident, though, that Riley targets only the .1% and is willing to kill when necessary: He despises the degenerate and immoral possessors of the objects that he steals. In this series launch, Riley targets an extraordinary set of crown jewels, a heist that...

"Engaging images accompany information about gemstones. The combination of high-interest subject matter and narrative text is intended for students in grades 3 through 8"--

Discover how every mineral has its own chemical recipe. See how some minerals change color when exposed to ultra-violet light. From salt and ice to talc and diamond, this book introduces the reader to the wonderful world of minerals.

See how gold has been cherished since ancient times. Find out how copper has been used for products as diverse as Bronze Age spearheads and modern-day plumbing pipes. From native minerals to sulfides, this book reveals some of the world's most precious minerals.

Discover how to collect your own rocks from space. Learn all about the destructive power of ice. From making your own crystals to creating false fossils, this book is guaranteed to entertain all aspiring rock hounds.

Discover how feldspars are the most abundant minerals in Earth's crust. Learn how amber is actually a fossil - part of an ancient tree that lived millions of years ago. From opals to pearls, this book reveals a collection of organic minerals that have been made by living things.

Discover how trilobite remains have been found on every continent on our planet. Find out how the marsupial lion Thylaceleo had the most powerful bite of any mammal ever to walk the Earth. This book showcases the astonishing remains that record life through the ages.