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Book Summary and Reviews of Cartier's Hope by M. J. Rose

Cartier's Hope by M. J. Rose

Cartier's Hope

A Novel

by M. J. Rose

  • Critics' Consensus (3):
  • Readers' Rating (23):
  • Published:
  • Jan 2020, 334 pages
  • Rate this book

About this book

Book Summary

From M.J. Rose, New York Times bestselling author of Tiffany Blues, "a lush, romantic historical mystery" (Kristin Hannah, The Nightingale), comes a gorgeously wrought novel of ambition and betrayal set in the Gilded Age.

New York, 1910: A city of extravagant balls in Fifth Avenue mansions and poor immigrants crammed into crumbling Lower East Side tenements. A city where the suffrage movement is growing stronger every day, but most women reporters are still delegated to the fashion and lifestyle pages. But Vera Garland is set on making her mark in a man's world of serious journalism.

Shortly after the world-famous Hope Diamond is acquired for a record sum, Vera begins investigating rumors about schemes by its new owner, jeweler Pierre Cartier, to manipulate its value. Vera is determined to find the truth behind the notorious diamond and its legendary curses—even better when the expose puts her in the same orbit as a magazine publisher whose blackmailing schemes led to the death of her beloved father.

Appealing to a young Russian jeweler for help, Vera is unprepared when she begins falling in love with him…and even more unprepared when she gets caught up in his deceptions and finds herself at risk of losing all she has worked so hard to achieve.

Set against the backdrop of New York's glitter and grit, of ruthless men and the atrocities they commit in the pursuit of power, this enthralling historical novel explores our very human needs for love, retribution—and to pursue one's destiny, regardless of the cost.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Rose's newest title is complex and compelling, with many threads of history, plot, and character that weave together into a bold, satisfying tapestry." - Kirkus (starred review)

"Rose's elegant narrative and timely dialog express her characters' humanity and inhumanities, while her research and attention to every detail occasionally make it difficult to separate facts from fiction. A must-read for lovers of atmospheric historical fiction." - Library Journal (starred review)

"The narrative cleverly explores highlights of early 20-century history and heaps on plenty of intrigue. Rose irresistibly combines elements of mystery, romance, and historical events in this memorable novel." - Publishers Weekly

"From the very first page, Cartier's Hope plunges the reader into the fascinating world of New York jewelers, journalists, and high society at the dawn of the Gilded Age. With her signature elegance and attention to detail, M.J. Rose weaves a twisting tale of greed, revenge, and masked identities that put love and lives at risk. A fast-paced historical novel that shines with as much intrigue and mystery as the Hope Diamond itself." - NYT bestseller Kristina McMorris, Sold on a Monday

"MJ Rose's latest encapsulates everything I love about historical fiction: a heroine whose journey is as timely today as it is in the 1910s, a glamorous setting that perfectly melds fact and fiction into an unputdownable tale, and at the sparkling center of it all: New York City. A true gem by an author at the top of her game." - Fiona Davis, nationally bestselling author of The Chelsea Girls

"M.J. Rose soars with Cartier's Hope, a heady tale of romance, intrigue and empowerment. The contrasting poverty and wealth of turn of the century New York make for a vivid backdrop for the story of Vera, a journalist determined to go beyond the confines imposed on women in her field and learn the truth about the Hope Diamond while confronting her own dark past. Readers will root for journalist Vera on her page-turning quest for the truths that are both intimate and universal. Brava!" - Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris

This information about Cartier's Hope was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

Reader Reviews

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Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews

All-around "gem" of a read - Elizabeth Of Silver's Reviews
The story of the Hope Diamond, women journalists, hidden identities, locked bookcases, and family secrets greet the reader of Cartier’s Hope.

Vera was the daughter of a wealthy businessman, but she needed to hide this fact so she could work at being a journalist for the stories women were assigned, and according to her mother to not disgrace the family’s name because she didn’t comply with social norms of being a married woman and a wealthy woman who didn't work.

Vera was always looking for a story. The Hope Diamond would be a perfect one. What intrigued Vera was when she heard its background and its supposed curse.

Even more interesting than the Hope Diamond and what peaked her curiosity was when she found locked bookcases in her father's library and had no idea why her father would have locked books inside.

Mystery about the bookcase and the intrigue about the Hope Diamond kept Vera's journalistic mind going. Vera had been in a slump and didn't want to write any more, but after she found out why her father had books hidden behind books, the Hope Diamond story took second place but was going to help her with her father's secret. This made her realize it was time to get back to her life's work and find out why and who was behind her father's story and how to use the Hope Diamond to aid with the search for answers.

Ms. Rose made the reader aware of the challenges female journalists faced and what they had to put up with in the male-dominated profession. The female journalists had to put up with the worst stories, lower pay than their male counterparts, sexual favors if they wanted their name on a story, and not being treated the same or looked at for being as good as a male journalist.

M. J. Rose has a writing style that pulls you in along with her marvelous details and research.


Historical fiction fans will enjoy CARTIER'S HOPE as well as mystery fans and those readers who enjoy strong female characters.

And...there can't be an absence of some romance with all those gorgeous jewels, right?


ENJOY when you read CARTIER’S HOPE. It is an all-around "gem" of a read. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Yana G. (Poway, CA)

More than just a story about a diamond
What a fascinating story! Cartier's Hope by M.J. Rose is an intricate novel is set in NYC 1910. A magnificent dive into the Hope Diamond, women's empowerment and a surprise romance. It is filled with mystery and love, intrigue and suspense, and, finally, acceptance and hope. Is the Hope Diamond real or a fake? No one is sure.

Barbara B. (Bradenton, FL)

Cartier's Hope
M. J. Rose once again, has written an attention keeping historical mystery. Set in Gilded Age New York with the infamous Hope diamond and it's legends and curses forming an intriguing story. There is also mystery and romance with a journalist heroine. Best of all is the shocking twist ending that you don't see coming. This is a must read for all M. J. Rose fans.

Chris D.

Luck may not be real, but hope is.
I enjoyed this book very much. There was so much to it! The story line was entertaining, but there was also information about the plight of women journalists and women in general in the early 20th century, the history of the Hope Diamond and the stories of other precious gems. I learned a lot by reading this book, and will certainly look for other books by this author, who was new to me.

Mary G. (Greensboro, GA)

Multi-layered historical fiction satisfies on all levels
Secrets and deception abound in Cartier's Hope, so having the intrigue surrounding the Hope diamond at the center of the plot seems appropriate. The main character is a young high-society woman who lives a secret life as a female reporter. She decides to use her alter ego to avenge a family member, with the Hope diamond as bait. It is an absorbing and entertaining read to see how all the threads of this interesting book finally come together.

Betty C. (Concord, CA)

Carrier's Hope
From the author of "Tiffany Blues" comes a story of hope, love, mystery and intrigue. Discover that love and hope can sometimes come in different forms and meanings.

...17 more reader reviews

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Author Information

M. J. Rose Author Biography

M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother's favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice... Books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.

Rose is a New York Times, Wall St. Journal and USAToday bestseller as well as an international best seller. She has published more than nineteen novels and 3 books on marketing. She has been published in more than 30 countries and sold over 1.5 million books. The Fox TV show Past Lives was based on Rose's novel, The Reincarnationist.

Rose is a founding member of International ...

... Full Biography
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