There are two sayings I can't stand.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend, and laughter is the best medicine. Far as I'm concerned, neither holds a shred of truth. Diamonds? They're a girl's worst enemy. And laughter? Sometimes, it's the best retribution.

My name is Les Holiday. I'm a pickpocket, a petty street criminal. But don't get me wrong—I'm not a violent man. At least, I wasn't. Not until the heist that killed my girl went south. Now I'm hunting down Rex, the bastard who set us up.

And here's the punchline: Rex is a comedian, a damn good one. A better funny man than my father, Gil, ever was. And fate? It's got a sick sense of humor. If I want my revenge against Rex, I have to step into his world—the open mic circuit, a world I swore I'd never set foot in again. Not after watching Gil bomb on stage night after night.

My deadbeat dad ended up leaving me and Mom to chase his doomed dream of making people laugh. I haven't cracked a smile since. My biggest fear is that I'll have to perform stand-up myself to get a glimpse backstage at some comedy club, where Rex will be hiding. God help me if that's the case.

No matter. I'll find Rex. Or he'll find me. Either way, I'll make sure his final act is a true showstopper. I'll make sure he gets what's coming to him. He's about to learn the hard way that some jokes can kill—on and off the stage.

Praise for The Gemstone Peridot (Dumaine writing as Jon Hébert): "Only pick it up if you have plenty of time though—once I started reading this book I did not want to put it down!" ~ Kelsey Cashman, Reedsy Discovery