The Color of Death
By Elizabeth Lowell
Read by Maria Tucci

     What do a gem cutter named Kate, a courier named Lee, and a FBI Special agent named Sam have in common? Gems, of course. The Seven Sins to be precise. The Seven Sins are seven true sapphires. Kate cut them, and Lee is expected to deliver them to a wealthy client. Only Lee and the gems disappear. They find his car with no signs of foul play. Agent Sam catches Kate palming synthetic sapphires in a jewelry store. When he learns who she is, he tells her that Lee is most likely basking in wealth by now with a big-busted blond. Kate doesn't believe him because Lee is her brother and he's gay. While Kate plays amateur sleuth, looking for her brother and the gems, a gang of illegal gem dealers are violently wiping out the competition.

     Agent Sam has problems at the Bureau. When a brownnoser tells their boss Sam fingered Kate, the boss instructs him to follow it up. Sam and Kate keep company. Kate seduces Sam, and Sam helps her look for the gems. They match wits and have sex. They share gem knowledge, risk danger, and try to find her brother without becoming the illegal gem dealers' next victims.

     Romance readers looking for the effects of a crime novel in a contemporary romance should try The Color of Death. Elizabeth Lowell pens an interesting storyline involving the gem world and creates tough characters with the use of tough language. The abridged version of the audio book is just right. It fits into one afternoon. If you do choose the audio book version, consider using earphones. There is explicit sex, violence and language, as well as repetitive remarks about the male anatomy.

     The audio book is read by actress and Broadway star, Maria Tucci. Tucci does a good job of voicing the characters, although I did have trouble understanding the anonymous character on the phone.