A visit to a local jeweler inspired author Lynn Franklin to write her first novel, The Blue Diamond, a recently published mystery that she calls a celebration of the jewelry industry.  

The store, Dickinson Jewelers in Dunkirk, Md., will host a free signing and reading of the book on Aug. 23.

The plot revolves around the protagonist, Kimberley West, named after the Kimberley diamond mine in South Africa. Within the story, Kimberley’s grandfather urges her to hide a blue diamond, forcing her to question the origin of the stone.   

The book is the first in a planned “Jeweler’s Granddaughter Mystery” series. Each edition will spotlight a different gemstone. 

“Readers are not only enjoying the mystery, but also enjoying learning about the gemstones,” Franklin says. 

Growing up as the granddaughter of a Swiss watchmaker, Franklin draws upon her own experiences with the jewelry industry. She was particularly inspired by a recent visit to Dickinson Jewelers, when a pair of blue gemstones caught her eye.  

“I hope the jewelry community will be happy with the book,” Franklin continues. “I want to celebrate my grandfather and the industry he worked in. I’d like people to see that jewelers work so hard to make people feel good about themselves.”

JCK