The Occasional Diamond Thief

Kia’s father, a space merchant, was never the same after he returned from lock-down on Malem, a planet ravaged by a particularly lethal form of coronavirus. Haunted by nightmares and recurring fevers, he refuses to ever speak about Malem. Until he reveals to Kia on his deathbed something he’s kept hidden for 14 years: a stunningly beautiful Malemese diamond. The problem is, it’s illegal for anyone who isn’t from Malem to own one of their diamonds. The only way Kia can discover what happened to her father during the epidemic and solve the mystery of how he came by such a priceless gem is to visit Malem—but what if her vaccination doesn’t protect her from the most recent strain of coronavirus? Winner of the 2016 Book Publishers of Alberta Award for Science Fiction. Featured in the acclaimed VOYA magazine. "Tense, thrilling, edge-of-the-seat reading--I tore through this! Kia and Agatha are a fascinating pair, Kia so practical, down-to-earth, and willful; Agatha so mystical and driven. More, please!" ~ award-winning author Tamora Pierce "Flawless-The Occasional Diamond Thief was one of those rare stories where I found myself hanging onto every word. McLachlan delivers a fast-paced, unpredictable story with perfectly-executed twists. Descriptions were succinct and epigrammatic with no room for boredom. It felt so real, it was almost like being in the theater with a surprise treat at the end that you do not want to miss." ~ BittenbyBooks review "J. A. McLachlan is a terrific writer -- wry and witty, with a keen eye for detail. In a world where young-adult fiction is booming, The Occasional Diamond Thief propels McLachlan to the front of the pack." ~ Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo-award winning author. "Strong, character-driven Science Fiction -- McLachlan makes you both care and think. You can't ask for more." ~ Tanya Huff, Aurora-award winning author