The Hope Keeper - a young jeweler seeks answers to a family tragedy.

In 1919, Washington, D.C. serves as the backdrop where Elisabeth Beaumont is working in her family's jewelry business. Beaumont Jewelers had been thriving but after the tragic death of her twin brother Julien, everything changed. Her father, who was a master at designing jewelry, was left too traumatized to continue his work. The responsibility of saving the business along with the family home rested on Elisabeth's shoulders, despite her own grief. Julien had been successful in hob-knobbing with the area's wealthiest people to cultivate sales, so Elisabeth makes it her mission to enter this exclusive world. She manages to enter the social circle of heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean. The wealthy socialite takes Elisabeth under her wing and introduces her to her friends, all potential jewelry buyers. Evalyn also hires her to clean her extensive collection of jewels, which includes The Hope Diamond, a gem with a long history of bringing misfortunes to its owners and those who have come in contact with it. Could the curse of this legendary deep-blue diamond be linked to Julien's death? Elizabeth is determined to uncover the truth.

The Hope Keeper by Heather Webb is an entertaining mix of historical fiction and mystery. I enjoyed how Webb made the Hope Diamond a separate character, with its own voice, revealing its history. Although the story of Elisabeth and the Beaumonts is fictional, Evalyn Walsh McLean was a real person and the last private owner of the Hope Diamond, before it was acquired by Harry Winston Jewelers and subsequently donated to the Smithsonian. Webb vividly captured the extravagance of individuals like Evalyn who hosted endless soirees. If you enjoy being transported back in time and are intrigued by the Hope Diamond, be sure to check this book out.

Many thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advance.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars.

Historical Fiction| Mystery.

Publication Date: May 19, 2026.

Please "like" this post if The Hope Keeper sounds like a book you’d enjoy reading. I'd love to know. Scroll below the photo and click on the red outlined heart on the lower right-hand side of the page. Comments can also be left below.