The Great Green Diamond; Or, Thief Against Thief

"The Great Green Diamond; Or, Thief Against Thief" by Inspector Stark is a detective novel written during the early 20th century. The story intertwines themes of crime, culture clash, and suspense, focusing on the efforts of several characters to recover a stolen jewel that has significant cultural importance. The central character, Henry Stolburst, is an African explorer whose life is threatened due to the diamond's theft, leading him to enlist the aid of a detective, Burt Cromwell. At the start of the novel, Stolburst seeks the help of Burt Cromwell, a detective, claiming his life is in danger due to a stolen diamond that once was part of a sacred idol in Abyssinia. He shares his fear of Ajeeb, a high priest linked to the idol, who is intent on retrieving the diamond and punishing Stolburst for its theft. The opening sets the stage for a web of intrigue involving betrayal, desperation, and a potential love story with Zulima, a princess caught between her heritage and her feelings for Stolburst. As the plot unfolds, the tension rises with the introduction of characters like Enoch Cook and Dick Kidd, who are involved in the diamond's theft, and the menacing threats from Ajeeb add to the suspense.