We chat with author Anna Rasche about The Cursed Diamond, which is a thrilling mystery about fate, obsession, and the deadly costs of ambition, inspired by history’s most captivating gemstone.
Hi, Anna! Welcome back! What have you been up to since we last spoke for the release of The Stone Witch of Florence?
Thank you, it’s nice to be back! It’s been a busy few years settling into author life, traveling to promote the paperback release of Stone Witch, working on new projects, and trying to keep up with NYC’s amazing jewelry scene.
Your latest novel, The Cursed Diamond, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Adventure. Mystery. Gilded Age. NYC. Gemstones.
What can readers expect?
The Cursed Diamond is a speculative NYC mystery in which two women’s fates, a century apart, are bound by the dark legacy of the Midnight Diamond. This dual timeline alternates between the Gilded Age and the Diamond District, where I worked for many years. Readers can expect unconventional heroines, gothic overtones, carefully crafted historic settings, and an insider’s look at the jewelry industry.
Where did the inspiration for The Cursed Diamond come from?
I was inspired by the story of the Brunswick Blue Diamond—a stone that’s been missing since the 19th century, and that many believed was cut from the same stone as the famously cursed Hope Diamond. I’d come across an old newspaper article claiming the Brunswick was brought to New York City by a Gilded Age jeweler, but nobody really knows what happened to it (or, at least, they’re not telling). It seemed like the perfect mystery to build a novel around.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I like to temper the darker themes of my writing with humour, and always enjoy creating moments of levity between protagonists and side characters. Also: I love writing party scenes. The Porter House ball is one for the ages.
Can you share some insight into your research process for The Cursed Diamond? Any interesting tidbits you discovered along the way?
I do a lot of research up front before I start writing. I like to go back to primary sources—newspaper articles, memoirs, things like this, to get a feel for the time. I also visit as many places in person as possible. There’s so much of the Gilded Age that’s still standing in NYC. I was able to walk the same blocks as my characters, and even visited the Transit Museum to get familiar with old timey subway cars.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
Getting a dual timeline just right is tricky! At first I attempted to write the chapters in sequence, but it quickly became overwhelming to switch back and forth between storylines. So instead I decided to write the historic timeline out in its entirety, and once that was finished, go back and insert the contemporary timeline. Of course there were a lot of tweaks and rearranging that happened in edits, but I found this approach much more manageable.
What’s next for you?
I’m working on book #3! It’s still early days, but it will be set in 1800s Maine, where I grew up (in Maine, I mean, not in the 1800s…) and is inspired by a strange, true story of shipwreck.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up soon? Any you’ve got your eye on that are releasing in 2027?
I’m in the middle of Trust by Hernan Diaz and loving it, and next on my list is an ARC of The Last Prince of Florence by Zoe Sivak. There are a lot of titles I’m excited about for 2027, it’s going to be a good year for readers! Magic in the Land of Eternal Spring, by Jared Lemus, See Jane Run by Charlotte Alter and The Jewel of Sugar Hill by Fiona Davis are top of mind.
