The Eustace Diamonds

A beautiful pathological liar, Lizzie Greystock is determined to marry into wealth. She snares the ailing Sir Florian Eustace and quickly becomes a widow. Despite the brevity of the marriage, Lizzie still inherits according to the generous terms of Sir Florian's will, which include the Eustace diamonds. However, when the family solicitor, Mr. Camperdown, begins to question her legal claim to the family heirloom, Lizzie begins to weave a tangled web of deception and crime to gain possession of the diamonds. Enlisting the aid of her cousin Frank, much to the dismay of his fiancée, Lizzie seeks to avoid legal prosecution and have a love affair, first with Frank, and later with Lord George de Bruce Carruthers. A satire of the acceptance of corrupting influences in Victorian society, this novel blends mystery, politics, and romance in a memorable work.