{"product_id":"the-king-of-diamonds-the-search-for-the-elusive-texas-jewel-thief-paperback","title":"The King of Diamonds: The Search for the Elusive Texas Jewel Thief - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRena Pederson\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe thrilling story of a brazen, uncatchable jewel thief who roamed the homes of Dallas high society--and a window into the dark secrets lurking beneath the surface of the Swinging Sixties.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs a string of high profile jewel thefts went unsolved during the Swinging Sixties, the press dubbed the elusive thief \"the King of Diamonds\" because he eluded police and the FBI for more than a decade.\u003cbr\u003e Like Cary Grant in \"To Catch a Thief,\" the King was so bold that he tip-toed into the homes of millionaires while they were watching television, or hosting parties. He hid in their closets. And dared to smoke a cigarette while they were sleeping not far away. Rena Pederson, then a young reporter with\u003ci\u003eUPI, \u003c\/i\u003estarted following the elusive thief while she managed the night desk. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith gymnastic skill, this thief climbed trees or crawled across rooftops to get into sprawling mansions. He took jewels from heiresses, oil kings, corporate CEOs. These were not just some of the richest people in Texas; they were some of the richest people of their time. Scotland Yard and Interpol were on the look-out. But the thief was never caught and the jewels never recovered. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTo follow the tracks of the thief, Rena has interviewed more than two hundred people, from veteran cops to strippers. She went to pawn shops, Las Vegas casinos, and a Mafia hangout--and discovered that beneath the glittering façade of Dallas debutante parties was a world of sex trafficking, illegal gambling, and political graft. When one of the leading suspects was found dead in highly unusual circumstances, the story darkened. High society crashed head-first into Mickey Spillane. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe odd psychological aspects of the \u003ci\u003eThe King of Diamonds\u003c\/i\u003e give us different kind of crime story. Detectives were stumped: Why did the thief break into houses when his targets were inside, increasing the risk of being captured? Why did he hide in their closets? Many times, he was so close he could hear their breathing as they slept. As one socialite put it, \"It was a very peculiar business.\"\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRena Pederson \u003c\/b\u003eis an award-winning journalist, accomplished TED speaker, and author of five books. During her career, she has interviewed newsmakers ranging from Margaret Thatcher to Fidel Castro and Jane Goodall as well as five U.S. Presidents. She served on the Pulitzer Prize Board for nine years. As Vice President and Editorial Page Editor at \u003ci\u003eThe Dallas Morning News\u003c\/i\u003e, she received national recognition. During that time, \u003ci\u003eTexas Monthly \u003c\/i\u003edescribed Pederson as one of the most powerful women in Texas. Pederson also served as a Senior Speechwriter and Advisor for Strategic Communications at the U.S. Department of State. Her first book \u003ci\u003eWhat's Next? \u003c\/i\u003ewas featured on the Oprah Winfrey television show and her book, \u003ci\u003eThe Burma Spring, \u003c\/i\u003ewas featured in the Los Angeles Book Festival and the Texas Book Festival.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 416\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.27 x 8.99 x 5.99 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 10, 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51978323394861,"sku":"9781639368747","price":20.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/slqUdnT8IB9781639368747.webp?v=1775801619","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/the-king-of-diamonds-the-search-for-the-elusive-texas-jewel-thief-paperback","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}