Podcast Summary: Harold's Old Time Radio

Episode: "A Woman's Good Eye xx-xx-xx (8) Death & Diamonds [Dunlap]"

Date: February 28, 2026
Host: Harold's Old Time Radio
Story Author: Susan Dunlap
Featured Detective: Kiernan O'Shaughnessy
Narration: Lori Holt

Episode Overview

This episode features a dramatized reading of "Death and Diamonds" by Susan Dunlap, a suspenseful mystery from the anthology A Woman's Eye, edited by Sarah Paretsky. The story centers on private investigator Kiernan O'Shaughnessy, who, while nursing an injured foot, is tasked with couriering a mysterious suitcase from San Diego to Phoenix. The narrative is layered with tension, witty banter, and probing psychological insight, as Kiernan fends off both boredom and danger during an airport encounter with the charming but potentially dangerous Jeff Siebert—all while carrying the weight of a tragic prior case involving stolen diamonds and murder.

Key Discussion Points & Major Insights

1. Character Introductions & Setting (01:54–04:30)

• Kiernan O'Shaughnessy: A tough, athletic PI sidelined by injury, but determined to complete her job.
• Jeff Siebert: A charismatic, restless man with a mysterious past and possibly ulterior motives.
• Setting: Southwest Airlines gate in San Diego, with an atmosphere of impatience and frustration. Kiernan is surrounded by families and tense travelers, mirroring her own internal state.

Notable quote:

"The thing I like most about being a private investigator is the thrill of the game...but alas, you can't always have what you love."
– Kiernan O'Shaughnessy (03:00)

2. Backstory: Melissa Jessup & The Missing Diamonds (05:18–07:25)

• Kiernan recalls the tragic case of Melissa Jessup: murdered by her lover, who stole her inheritance diamonds and left no evidence.
• Kiernan’s frustration and guilt over failing to solve the murder through forensics—her hope rests on tracing the diamonds instead.

Notable quote:

"A woman should never get involved with the man she works with... Melissa Jessup had done all those things."
– Kiernan (06:12)

3. Banter & Psychological Games at the Gate (08:00–16:10)

• Kiernan and Siebert engage in playful, Sherlock-Holmes-style deduction and flirtatious banter.
• Both attempt to read each other's backgrounds using details like clothing, accessories, and personal habits—each revealing more than they intend while keeping secrets close.
• Kiernan demonstrates her wit and investigative acumen, but Siebert’s charm remains disarming—and possibly suspicious.
• There are moments of comic relief and dry humor, especially about travel woes.

Notable quotes:

"Detecting all the time, huh? ...Well, this one's easy."
– Jeff Siebert (09:42)

"You look like the most attractive man here. Of course, looks can be deceiving."
– Kiernan (16:02)

4. Courier Work & The Risks (16:15–19:55)

• Kiernan details the nature and risks of bonded courier work—emphasizing how valuable, untraceable items, such as diamonds, often travel under the radar.
• Siebert’s interest in the suitcase grows increasingly intense, raising Kiernan's suspicions about his motives.

Notable quote:

"I'm not carrying it for a lover with an M1. I'm a bonded courier. ...And I do get to travel."
– Kiernan (17:39)

5. Boarding & Deductive Showdowns (20:05–24:58)

• As pre-boarding is announced, Siebert skillfully maneuvers to board early with Kiernan using her crutches as an excuse, offering to help with her suitcase.
• Kiernan analyzes his impatience and speculates about his occupation, noting his "con man's hands" and inability to work under others.
• The two maintain their banter, but the stakes are clearer, and Kiernan’s guard tightens.

Notable quote:

"Are you really buying a car online at a playground? ...Mommy, I think kid is walking up the slide."
– Interruption/Comic Relief at Boarding (ads skipped)

"Okay, you're traveling from San Diego to Phoenix on the Friday evening flight...so chances are you were here on business."
– Kiernan (23:40)

6. Flight & Inner Tension (28:20–36:40)

• On the plane, Siebert’s demeanor is increasingly ambiguous—charming but evasive.
• Flashbacks and internal monologue reveal that Kiernan suspects Siebert is Melissa Jessup’s killer, now trying to disappear with his loot in Phoenix.
• Kiernan keeps the suitcase close, rebuffing Siebert’s repeated attempts to help—clearly connecting him to the prior murder.

Notable quote:

"How often had that type of thing happened? Had his charm brought that reaction so automatically that for him it had seemed merely the way women behave? ...He was an impatient man, quick to anger. Had liquor made it quicker?"
– Kiernan (31:20)

7. Climax: The Theft & Chase (36:41–41:35)

• As the plane lands, Siebert uses the chaos of disembarkation to seize Kiernan’s suitcase and quickly disappears into the Phoenix airport.
• Kiernan tears off her bandage and sprints in pursuit, using her athleticism to try and catch him.
• She loses him as he drives away in a blue Chevy pickup, realizing her plan failed—until the twist.

Notable quote:

"Jeffrey Siebert and the suitcase were gone. In those few seconds, he had raced down the metal steps and was disappearing into the terminal."
– Narration (40:18)

8. Twist Ending & Resolution (41:36–End)

• Kiernan drinks alone in the Sky Lounge, reflecting on her loss—then reveals her real plan:
  • The diamonds Siebert stole were fakes, each embedded with a tracking beeper.
  • A surveillance team will be able to follow and apprehend him, finally securing justice for Melissa Jessup.
  • Kiernan toasts to Melissa’s memory, quietly savoring her victory against deceit and violence.

Notable quotes:

"She wished Melissa Jessup could see him when he compared the two collections and realized the new ones he'd stolen were fakes...drawn by the beepers concealed in those fake diamonds."
– Narration (42:50)

"Only death and diamonds are forever."
– Narration (43:10)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Witty Banter: The Holmesian deduction duel at the gate (08:45–12:15)
• Psychological Insight: Kiernan’s internal debates about trust, risk, and the trauma of past cases (24:45–31:10)
• Thrilling Escape/Chase: Kiernan’s gymnastics-inspired dash after Siebert (39:45–41:20)
• Twist Resolution: The fake diamonds and impending sting operation (42:30–43:15)

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 02:00 – Story Opening & Character Introduction
• 05:18 – Melissa Jessup Backstory Introduced
• 09:10–12:00 – Deductive Banter Between Kiernan and Siebert
• 17:00 – The Nature and Danger of Courier Work Explained
• 20:10 – Boarding Sequence, Stakes Raised
• 28:20–31:40 – In-Flight Tension, Suspicions Revealed
• 36:41 – Disembarkation and the Theft
• 39:45 – Chase Through the Airport
• 42:30–43:15 – Twist Ending: Fake Diamonds and Justice

Tone and Language

The narration expertly balances suspense, wry humor, and nuanced psychology. Kiernan’s voice is smart, sardonic, and perceptive. Dialogue crackles with double meanings; internal thoughts blend weariness with irrepressible wit, and the final twist offers a satisfying sense of poetic justice.

Conclusion

"Death and Diamonds" delivers the best of the Golden Age radio mystery: crisp dialogue, evocative settings, and a heroine whose brains and courage turn the tables on a clever villain. Susan Dunlap’s story—brought vividly to life through skilled narration—reminds us why death and diamonds, in fiction as in life, are forever entwined.