One of the best ways to learn about a person is by asking questions, so let’s get to know Gregory.

What is your full name?
Gregory Longdon

How old are you?
43

What is your profession?
Officially, I’m the chief investigator for the insurance firm Symington’s. However—for life would be dreadfully tedious without a smidgen of however—I will take you into my confidence. My true métier is that of jewel thief. Diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, it doesn’t matter. Mind you, I have a penchant for diamonds. Sometimes I wonder whether the infinitely seductive diamonds are my destiny or a curse. That is a philosophical debate I must leave for another time.

You see, I like the electric feel of gems between my fingers and the way their fiery facets trap the light. I also revel in the adrenaline surge after a successful heist and the expression on poor Detective Superintendent Oliver Burnell’s face when another robbery lands in his lap. Deep down I know he relishes the challenge of trying catch me red-handed. Alas, we both know he never will.

Do you have a significant other?
Yes, my wife. She captured my heart on a rainy night four years ago and has never let go. I lost her once and nearly a second time because of the secrets lurking in my past and my enemies. I must concede that before she accepted my proposal, she insisted that I find legitimate employment, which I did. As a gentleman, it would be ungallant to upset the delicate balance of her scruples with the knowledge that I’m still stealing jewels. Besides, she has a temper and would kill me if she learned the truth.

What is her name and profession?
Emmeline Kirby. She’s the editorial director of investigative features for The Clarion, a highly regarded newspaper.

Do you have any children?
We have a baby on the way. We want to be surprised, so we don’t know the baby’s sex.

Who is your best friend?
Emmy is unequivocally my best friend. Although he would deny it publicly because he’s embarrassed by emotions, I’m certain that Superintendent Burnell would count me as one of his best mates. Now, now. Don’t look skeptical. It’s a fact that Oliver misses me terribly, when I’m not around.

Do you have cats, dogs, or other pets?
The nearest thing we have to a pet is MacTavish, the impish Scottish terrier belonging to Emmy’s grandmother, who I adore and we see often.

What city do you live in?
London, England

What type of dwelling do you own or rent?
Emmy and I live in a townhouse in the Holland Park neighborhood.

What is your favorite spot in your home?
The living room. It’s cheerful and comfortable. There’s nothing I enjoy more than sitting on the sofa with Emmy snuggled up next to me, a tumbler of Scotch at my elbow, and a good book.

What is your favorite meal and dessert?
My favorite meal would be a steak with a Madeira mushroom sauce, roasted new potatoes and haricots verts, accompanied by a glass of Barolo. Rather than dessert, I would have a glass of Sandeman Porto Founder’s Reserve, a rich ruby red port wine bursting with fruit and fire. It warms my heart like Emmy.

Do you have any hobbies?
Stealing jewels. Plotting a heist keeps my mind agile. Is it a character defect? An addiction? Perhaps a psychiatrist would say it is a bit of both. After all, no one is perfect. It’s not such a bad vice. I couldn’t possibly allow my unique talents to atrophy. That would be a frightful tragedy.

What is your favorite vacation spot?
I think I was born with wanderlust in my veins. Peeling back the layers of history and immersing myself in the rich art and culture of country, city or town is like unraveling a puzzle. Every place has a story that appeals to my curiosity. As you may have realized, Emmy and I are ready to go off on an adventure at a moment’s notice in the pursuit of the truth and justice.

What is your idea of a really fun time?
Stealing jewels.

If you were to write a memoir, what would you call it?
Flawless Facets: A Life of Daring Escapades

Amateur or professional sleuth and whom do you work with?
I’m an amateur sleuth. As a free spirit, I abhor being bound by legal shackles and prefer to have flexibility to maneuver. I use my professional skills as a jewel thief to help solve some particularly cunning crimes. Naturally, I work with Emmy. I must admit that it is exhausting at times trying to keep her from brandishing a long list of probing questions as a weapon. She’s an expert at rattling a great many cages.

Meanwhile, the cases we get drawn into always involve Superintendent Burnell and Detective Sergeant Jack Finch of Scotland Yard and Philip Acheson, who ostensibly works for the British Foreign Office, but is a MI5 agent. Inevitably, we cross paths with Laurence Villiers, the deputy director of MI5, to whom I’m tied in more ways than I care to dwell upon.

What is a typical day in your life like?
A day would not be complete—nor would it be satisfying—without a generous dollop of deception, unexpected perils, espionage, and murder.

SECRETS LIE IN WAIT – An “Emmeline Kirby/Gregory Longdon” Mystery, Book 10
Genre: Traditional Mystery
Release: December 2025
Format: Print, Digital
Purchase Link

Lost, found, stolen, dead…
In a den of enemies, there’s nowhere to hide

Debonair jewel thief/insurance investigator Gregory Longdon has always relied on his wits to extricate himself from tricky situations. But when he’s kidnapped and framed for murder in Amsterdam by Russian mafia boss Bogdan Kozlov, living on a knife’s edge stops being a game. Meanwhile, his wife, journalist Emmeline Kirby, is stirring up trouble—as usual—with articles about Kozlov’s diamond smuggling operation and the Golden Tulip, a looted 130-carat yellow diamond with a long, colorful past.

As husband and wife fight to clear Gregory’s name, they stumble into a web of blackmail and cover-ups that reaches the highest echelons of the British government and society. Rival under-world figures and the rich and powerful all have designs on the Golden Tulip. Emmeline and Gregory soon learn that running into danger means running for their lives.

About the author
Daniella Bernett is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Mystery Writers of America, where she is a board member of the New York Chapter. She also is a member of the Crime Writers Association. She graduated summa cum laude with a B.S. in Journalism from St. John’s University. She is the author of the Emmeline Kirby-Gregory Longdon mystery series featuring a journalist and a jewel thief, who are a magnet for murder, intrigue and espionage. Daniella has served as a panelist at ITW’s ThrillerFest conference and for MWA. Additionally, she is the author of two poetry collections, Timeless Allure and Silken Reflections. Daniella is currently working on Emmeline and Gregory’s next adventure. Visit www.daniellabernett.com or follow her on Facebook or on Goodreads.