A Quiet Belief In Angels - Hardcover

Ellory, R.J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0752873687 ISBN 13: 9780752873688

Publisher: Orion, 2007

Synopsis

Joseph Vaughan's life has been dogged by tragedy. Growing up in the 1940s, he was at the centre of series of killings of young girls in his small rural community. The girls were taken, assaulted and left horribly mutilated. Barely a teenager himself, Joseph becomes determined to try to protect his community and classmates from the predations of the killer.

But despite banding together with his friends as 'Guardians', he was powerless to prevent more murders - and no one was ever caught. Only after a full ten years did the nightmare end when the one of his neighbours is found hanging from a rope - with articles from the dead girls around him. Thankfully though, the killings finally ceased.

Ill-fortune was not yet done with Joseph though and in desperation he leaves the town of his birth to forge a new life in New York. But the past won't leave him alone - for it seems that the real murderer still lives and is killing again. And the secret of his identity lies in Joseph's own history?

About this title

Review

A beautiful and haunting book. This is a tour de force from R.J. Ellory (Michael Connelly)

A rich, powerful, evocative novel of great psychological depth (Jonathan Kellerman)

R.J. Ellory is a uniquely gifted, passionate, and powerful writer, and the quality of his prose - every word, every sentence - lifts A Quiet Belief in Angels far above genre (Alan Furst)

There aren't nearly enough beautifully written novels, that are also great mysteries. Like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Smilla's Sense of Snow, A Quiet Belief in Angels is one of them (James Patterson)

A mesmerizing tale whose intrigue will pull you from one page to the next without pause, casting you into the gloom of dread and the shadow of grief until you reach the climactic end. R.J. Ellory's remarkable talent for probing the unknown establishes him as the master of the genre. The perfect author to read late into the night (Clive Cussler)

Ellory is English, but his evocation of life in the deep South is richly drawn and deeply detailed. His characters are well-developed, and portions of the books ably mimic great southern writers, allowing readers to savor both the words and the images they offer (BOOKLIST)

Once again R.J. Ellory shows off his special talents... This isn't your standard shock and bore serial killer novel. It's an impassioned story of a man's life told in Ellory's distinctive voice, and it confirms his place in the top flight of crime writing. (Susanna Yager Sunday Telegraph)

Each jolt strikes perfectly, and the reader will seek, utterly riveted, this masochistic beating right to the end of the book... This is thriller writing of the very highest order. (Matthew Lewin The Guardian)

From the Author

I would like to take this opportunity to communicate my thanks to all those who have read my book, and those who have taken the time and trouble to post a comment or review on Amazon. It is rare indeed, as an author, to actually receive any feedback, as writing a book is a somewhat individual and insular activity! To hear word back that a book has been enjoyed, or perhaps not enjoyed, means the world to me, and I am very grateful.

It is not my intention to confound or disappoint anyone with the books that I write. In the main, and evidenced by the very kind responses that have been posted, my work has been well-received. I am grateful indeed for the acknowledgement. But more important than anything, I wished always for my work to evoke and precipitate a response, to be something that people could either love or hate, embrace or discard as they decided. If it has accomplished any part of this, then I am happy.
I thank you for your time and attention, for the hours that you have devoted to reading what I have written, and I hope that we will continue from this point forward with a long and rewarding relationship as writer and reader.

My very best wishes,
R J Ellory.

About this edition

• Publisher: Orion
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0752873687
• ISBN 13: 9780752873688
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 368