The Final Cut

The Final Cut: Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison

Imagine a diamond over 700 carats. Imagine taking that stone and cutting it into three pieces each one having its own special luster, color and power. What happens when the stones are reunited or married you won’t believe? Can they really cure someone that is sick and terminally ill? What is the history or story behind these stones? Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to steal the Koh-I-Noor or the crown jewel in the Queen Mother’s Crown from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Someone wants not only the money that is supposed to be transferred into her account but the ability to see what happens when the person who hired her to steal it has all three stones and if the curse or legend is true.

Seven hundred and Ninety Three carats, turned into 186 and finally 105. Three pieces of a priceless diamond, which are held by three different people. One the man who hired the legendary Fox to steal the Koh-I-Noor the second piece and the third held by an art thief and Russian Mobster. Just what is the legend and what will happen when they are all in one place? The diamond’s prophesy as told to a young boy and now an older man named Saleem, that: He who owns this diamond will own the world.

But will also know misfortunes

Only God, or a woman can wear it with impunity.

Imagine a stone that only God or a woman can wear and what would happen to a man if you wore it? But, there is a secret a second part to the prophecy that states: When Krishna’s stone is unbroken again the hand which holds it becomes whole

Wash the Mountain of life in woman’s blood

Se we will know rebirth and rejoice.

A young girl is caught stealing and an older man comes to her rescue, takes her in, gives her money and teaches her to become the greatest stealth or thief in the world. As sly as a Japanese fox her codename is Kitsune. Her story is one that is unique but not uncommon as she learns the ropes, travels to many places to steal art and jewels. But, befriending a the woman who is the minder of the jewel at the Museum, finding her way to the position of curator, The Fox or as she became known as Victoria Browning cleverly and brilliantly stole the diamond within five minutes of turning off the computer system and lights in the museum. Jewel of the Lion Exhibit is what it was called and imagine what happens when the director and Browning learn that it was stolen. So clever is she that she pretends when testing the stone that was supposedly left in its place that it’s a fake but in reality it was not. Enter Nicholas Drummond from Scotland Yard who received a call from the head of the security firm, his uncle Bo, that Elaine York the minder was murdered. But why? Did she have some connection to the theft? When the investigation begins leads for some reason connect her to having some type of involvement but was she made to look bad?

Although his immediate superior does not want him in New York City, Nicholas Drummond with the help of his own personal staff finds his way to the FBI, his uncle who wants him in New York and the investigation. Arriving there he gets access to the site and meets FBI agent Mike Caine and together they form what you might say is an unusual alliance. The video feeds show a five-minute gap where the power was shutdown and no clues to follow. But, authors Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison have the solution in hand as once again Coulter brings in her two amazing agents: Sherlock and Savich with their special talents and skills to help solve the case in their own unique ways. Imagine being able to assess a crime scene just by walking through it! Imagine a computer named Max that can hack into anything and anywhere. Imagine Nicholas Drummond with his own special computer skills and one astute FBI agent and you definitely have an unbeatable team.

Throughout the novel we get to know more about Mike and her past as well as Nicholas and his goal to find the reason why Elaine was killed and to prove with the help of his friend Ben, and his computer skills that she did not have anything to do with the theft. Keeping the theft of the stone from the public is paramount at first but thinking Browning added the fake stone to be used for the opening of the exhibit was naïve. However, all things point to Browning when she disappears, the real stone is gone and the fact that she is the Fox. Smart, knowledgeable, cunning and working for a man named Saleen Lanighan, we learn that he might be a direct descendant of the original owner of the stone. Linked to India. Whether the prophecy is true or just speculation he is terminally ill and thinks or believes that if all three pieces of the stone are joined together he will have great power and be healed. Browning dated a man in the Royal Family guard before she disappeared and this links her even more to the reason behind the robbery and her goal. Trying to learn about her history and her past they use this information to uncover her real name and identity.

But, the man who saved her live, is someone she never expects to betray her and when push comes to shove she learns of the deceit, lies and deception of the man called Saleen who hired her to steal the stone but really has no intention of paying her or keeping her alive. Battle lines drawn, Mike and Nicholas on the trail and just when you think they are home free someone blindsides them and puts them in grave danger. Working together as a team they manage to kill, maim and destroy the plot to a point but will they ever find the missing stone?
From one end of Paris to another to New York, Washington and Switzerland, this story travels the globe as we learn more about the three stones, the history behind them and the legend of the Koh-i- Noor.

When things begin to look like The Fox might get away with it all something changes and she is now in the crossfire and becomes a player but not on the side you would expect. Smart, cunning and demanding she is willing to work with Mike and Nicholas but on her own terms. Not willing to give up her clients, but she will tell them about the many thefts that she committed for Mulvaney, she is embroiled in a fight that might cost her and others their lives.
A warehouse that she agrees to meet with Saleen. Nicholas hot on the trail along with her but will they ever recover the diamond and how many more lives will be lost as we learn of the murder of the art thief and Russian Mobster Anatoly, his sons and Elaine’s bodyguard. Just who hired them to get rubbed out and will that person pay? A man called the Ghost is responsible but who is this person and will he be caught? A fire that breaks out in the warehouse and just who comes out alive you won’t believe as Kitsune, the Fox heads straight for the flames but will she come out with the stone or will she burn?

An ending that is quite revealing, information that the FBI will need to close the case but just what it is I cannot reveal as that would be going against protocol for the FBI and they would prefer that I not divulge the final fate of the stone, The Fox or even Saleen. A package that will explain it all and a note from Elaine that is quite telling as the missing pieces of art might be found, the end result will change it all for Nicholas and Mike.
A story about family, tradition, prophecy, deceit, forgiveness, lies, betrayals and new beginnings and a stone three stones that just might hold a special power you won’t believe. Watch what happens when the authors share the truth about the stones and watch what happens when they are joined. Is the prophecy true or false?

Characters that are well defined, vividly created and two agents that work well together and an art and jewel thief that you have to admire and would like to see more of as Savich, and Sherlock race the clock to find the information needed to save both Mike and Nicholas in time for an opening that would make history.
Events are described in detail by both authors Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison as each one creates the actions of Sherlock, Savich, Caine and Drummond in their own unique way. The banter between Caine and Drummond is filled with humor, sarcasm and honesty. With the help of his Uncle Bo, a team of amazing FBI agents, the police and investigators the truth about the theft is revealed, the race is on to find the stone and the ending quite compelling. Will they find the stone those houses itself in the center of the Queen Mother’s Crown? Disguises, intrigue, dangerous escapes, jaw-dropping events and an ending you just won’t expect. Curses, prophecies, traveling the globe and back this novel will keep you guessing until The Final Cut is made. 793, 186 and 105 THE FINAL CUT!

Fran Lewis: Just Reviews/MJ Magazine