Living with Death by Richard Jan Hoekstra is a riveting journey into the labyrinthine world of high-stakes business, personal demons, and existential crises, set against the global colored gemstone industry.John, a driven CEO of a leading gemstone company, finds his life unraveling after narrowly escaping death in an avalanche. Haunted by his near-death experience, John grapples with the chilling question of why he almost welcomed the cold embrace of death. His relentless pursuit to rebuild his company, crippled by mysterious sabotage, thrusts him into a perilous game where every move could be his last. As he navigates a landscape fraught with hidden enemies and unforeseen challenges, John's struggle extends beyond the corporate boardroom to a profound internal battle.From the bustling streets of Bangkok to the serene hills of Charlottesville, Living with Death explores the tenuous balance between ambition and mortality. As the lines between life and death, success and failure, blur, will John emerge triumphant against the forces conspiring against him, or will the weight of his inner turmoil pull him into the abyss he narrowly escaped?