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A Quiet Vendetta

by R.J. Ellory

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 358 ratings · 54 reviews

Paperback, 528 pages

Published March 8th 2006 by Orion (first published 2005)

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Nov 30, 2011 Fran rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Quiet Vendetta
Author: R.J. Ellory
Reviewed by Fran Lewis

Enter the world of a Medical Examiner as he takes you through the process of discovering a corpse, placing it on the table, seeing where it was found and the work needed to identify the person in order to show respect for who he/she was. The car is unique, the smell is overwhelming and the case will prove to be unusual as one man finally comes forward after seeing a lone car sitting for three days, peers inside the window and what he finds...more

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May 17, 2013 Lukasz Pruski rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Having read and reviewed several one-star novels recently, I felt elated when I started reading R J Ellory's "A Quiet Vendetta". The very first sentence of the novel, long and almost faulkneresquely complex, yet meaningful, emotional, and strongly visual, makes it clear that Mr. Ellory is a gifted writer. One of the remaining pleasures in the current phase of my life is to read a book written by someone who writes well. Even if it is not a very good book, which is the case with "A Quiet Vendetta...more Having read and reviewed several one-star novels recently, I felt elated when I started reading R J Ellory's "A Quiet Vendetta". The very first sentence of the novel, long and almost faulkneresquely complex, yet meaningful, emotional, and strongly visual, makes it clear that Mr. Ellory is a gifted writer. One of the remaining pleasures in the current phase of my life is to read a book written by someone who writes well. Even if it is not a very good book, which is the case with "A Quiet Vendetta".

The first hundred pages or so are fabulous. The premise of the book is fascinating; alas, I am unable to explain it without spoiling the clever setup. This long novel (over 450 pages) reads like a thriller, though it is much more than that. One of the blurbs on the back cover happens to be truthful: "An epic history of the Italian Mafia in America which [...] has the ring of truth and real research behind it all... [The Guardian]" I have been totally fed up with books about the Mafia, yet I am making an exception here as the story is just a vehicle to study the deeper issues of power, corruption, and the so-called evil.

Unfortunately, the book, being too long, fades quite noticeably past its midpoint or so. Reading good prose is still a pleasure but the curiosity about what will happen next wears out. The ending is not as unexpected as the author would like it to be, which I do not find an issue at all, but it also lacks impact proportional to the strength of the earlier parts, which leaves me with a sense of incompleteness. Further, the clever literary device that provides the pacing of one of the threads of narration (story of the Mafia) eventually feels tedious and overused.

Other than for the writing, I value the novel for pushing some of my buttons; for instance, it portrays several politicians as much lower forms of life than the worst Mafia thugs. About certain president of the United States: "Guy was as crazy as a bug on a hotplate, but he was a politician so we didn't expect much else." I also like how the author makes (fictitious) connections of the novel's plot to well-known people and events of the 20th century. New Orleans is portrayed vividly and the sense of the place comes through. New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, though, are mostly just names.

For me, "A Quiet Vendetta" is clearly a case of a three-and-a-half-stars novel. Well, it is an odd-numbered day of the month today so...

Three stars.
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Feb 23, 2013 Katia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Peu de mots me viennent à l'esprit et en même temps beaucoup trop. Une chose est sûre, j'ai découvert un auteur ! J'espère d'ailleurs le suivre à travers d'autres textes. Ce roman a tout pour plaire, depuis l'intrigue inédite et très bien menée jusqu'à la verve enchanteresse, en passant par les protagonistes loufoques et fascinants. Il est toujours délicat d'avouer aimer ce genre de roman, où est mise en scène la violence la plus pure et le vice le plus abouti, mais malgré tout j'avoue avoir ado...more Peu de mots me viennent à l'esprit et en même temps beaucoup trop. Une chose est sûre, j'ai découvert un auteur ! J'espère d'ailleurs le suivre à travers d'autres textes. Ce roman a tout pour plaire, depuis l'intrigue inédite et très bien menée jusqu'à la verve enchanteresse, en passant par les protagonistes loufoques et fascinants. Il est toujours délicat d'avouer aimer ce genre de roman, où est mise en scène la violence la plus pure et le vice le plus abouti, mais malgré tout j'avoue avoir adoré lire ce roman, dans lequel on découvre un tueur atroce et sans état d'âme. Immolez-moi je le mérite. L'intrigue est très originale, les personnages se dévoilent peu à peu et on veut tellement savoir que les pages défilent à une vitesse folle. Le lecteur découvre au fil des chapitres deux personnages principaux, Ernesto Perez et Ray Hartmann, qui sont tout deux attachants, très différents mais avec des points communs non négligeables. A travers ces personnages, on découvre la mafia italo-américaine, la cosa nostra, le respect face au boss. Et puis au-delà, on découvre aussi des hommes faillibles, des hommes abimés, des hommes peinés. Ces deux hommes ont des torts, et pas des moindres, mais Ellory nous apprend à les connaître, et nous les rend attachants. J'ai, avec ce roman, découvert R. J. Ellory, et je me suis délectée de cette plume d'une grande finesse et qui révèle un auteur de talent. Cet auteur a du succès depuis maintenant quelques mois, et il ne m'a pas attendue pour être révélé, mais ça fait toujours chaud au coeur de s'apercevoir que la littérature n'est pas morte. A travers ce roman j'ai été transportée, au-delà des mots, dans un univers qui m'a plu, en partie parce qu'il a beaucoup malmené mon coeur d'artichaut (Masochisme j'écris ton nom) ! J'ai poussé les hauts cris aux alentours de la page 597 (au hasard), en voyant Perez s'enfoncer dans les problèmes. Si je continue je sens que je vais spoiler donc je vais m'arrêter là, mais quand même, Perez, pourquoi ce flic ? Et puis ce que tu as fait à son oeil, c'est pas très gentil ! Foncez lire ce roman, c'est une perle.(less)

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Jan 31, 2013 Kathleen Hagen added it

Shelves: 2013-audio

A Quiet Vendetta, by R. J. Ellory, B-plus, Narrated by Donald Corren, Produced by Blackstone Audio, Downloaded from audible.com.

The police in New Orleans, one night, finds a vintage car. The car was supposed to be driven by a bodyguard and contain the governor’s daughter,Catherine Bucane. But the car contains only the body of the bodyguard which has been cut up with the heart removed but left loose in the body. The governor’s daughter is nowhere to be found. Then, someone calls the FBI and indic...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction-crime-detection

A QUIET VENDETTA. (2005 in UK, Amer ed. 2012). R. J. Ellory. ****.
Mr. Ellory is as fine a writer as you will likely come across in today’s world. He is British and lives in Birmingham, though his novels are not set there. This novel is a hefty one, and provides, through its principle character, a rather complete history of the Italian-American Mafia – although there are certainly a lot of suppositions involved. The focus of the book is Ernesto Perez, a Mafia hit man now in his late sixties. The...more A QUIET VENDETTA. (2005 in UK, Amer ed. 2012). R. J. Ellory. ****.
Mr. Ellory is as fine a writer as you will likely come across in today’s world. He is British and lives in Birmingham, though his novels are not set there. This novel is a hefty one, and provides, through its principle character, a rather complete history of the Italian-American Mafia – although there are certainly a lot of suppositions involved. The focus of the book is Ernesto Perez, a Mafia hit man now in his late sixties. The scene is set as follows: The daughter of the governor of Louisiana has been kidnapped. All of the resources of the state, local and federal government are thrown against the case in the hopes of finding her quickly. Suddenly, Ernesto calls the local police department and tells them that he is the kidnapper, and wants to talk to the FBI, but only through the presence of Ray Hartmann, a man the FBI doesn’t know but soon finds is a minor police official working in NYC. They immediately fly Hartmann to New Orleans and let Perez know that they are ready for a meeting. Perez lets them know that he is coming in of his own free will, and will let them know where the young girl is when he is done telling his story. This sounds hokey so far, but you have to suspend your disbelief for a while, since the crux of the novel is Perez’s confession. Perez begins his story about himself from when he was a young boy. He was born in New Orleans, but moved to Cuba with his father early on. While in Cuba, he gets involved with other kids on the wrong side of the law and is slowly eased into the criminal circles there, when Havana was run by the Mafia under the Batista regime. He spends time talking about Castro and Che, too, and the ultimate take-over they effected. His performance in Cuba is noted by the higher-ups in the organization, and they bring him to the U.S. to do jobs for them. During the telling of his story he ultimately confesses to at least nineteen murders – although there were many more. He provides, over several days, the story of the Mafia’s organization across the U.S., including New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. The information he provides is a gold mine for the FBI. He even confesses that he was the one that “clipped” Jimmy Hoffa. The FBI, meanwhile, is doing their best to find where he has hidden the governor’s daughter. They don’t even know if she is still alive. They are forced to continue listening to Perez. He assures them that he will reveal her whereabouts when he is done. When he is done, however, the author manages to pull a surprise on his readers. The ending will cetainly make you sit up and take notice. This is a very-well written book, worthy of the time you will have to invest. Recommended.
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Oct 28, 2009 Andrea Bowhill rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Quite Vendetta is the story which revolves around one man known to all as the Cuban. His real name Ernesto Perez born in the 40's in Louisiana of Cuban/American parentage. Perez spends the early part of his life in Louisiana until his mothers unexpected death, then Ernesto Perez returns to Cuba, old Havana with his father. They begin a new life, Havana in the fifties was a struggle to make ends meet, but Perez has a sharp mind he uses acts of Violence to get ahead until one certain event leads...more A Quite Vendetta is the story which revolves around one man known to all as the Cuban. His real name Ernesto Perez born in the 40's in Louisiana of Cuban/American parentage. Perez spends the early part of his life in Louisiana until his mothers unexpected death, then Ernesto Perez returns to Cuba, old Havana with his father. They begin a new life, Havana in the fifties was a struggle to make ends meet, but Perez has a sharp mind he uses acts of Violence to get ahead until one certain event leads him to sit on the edges of organized crime, his employers are the mafia. Ernesto Perez the Cuban is sent back to America, life really begins.

Present day: A federal investigation is taking place involving a kidnapping of the daughter of the Governor of Louisiana. Ernesto Perez now aged late sixties hands himself into the authorities and is quiet forth coming to advise all he was directly involved with this crime. Perez would be an unknown to the FBI all they can do is abide by his wishes, humour him give him what he wants for the time being and within reason, in exchange for information of the Governor's daughter whereabouts dead or alive. Ernesto Perez just feels old and what he really wishes would be to tell his life story spanning fifty years, the authorities are given no choice in the matter but to sit and listen. As Perez's life unfolds the federal agents understand why this certain girl had been taken.

This book for me was incredible, an epic gripping read. Centered around one man's life, Ernesto Perez the planner, the thinker, the story is told from Perez's view of life he talks about his own fight with his inner conflicts, the passionate and brutality of life he has faced. He talks in contradictions which seems quite natural to him, his day's violent work and then returns home to his wife and children to play a loving husband and father. The fictional characterisation which I love are quiet incredible, you lose yourself not only in these clear characters but the storyline is bigger and so much, much more than just mafia or crime connected, extremely well planned and beautiful written.

We are taken on a tour of cities that are all finely detailed. This book reaches out with it's direct language, it's intensity and violent nature, insightfulness and suspensful to the last page. The history and politics in this novel spans seventy years, Organized Crime, Fidel Castro, Jimmy Hoffa, The Kennedy's all entwined for a compelling read.

Roger Jon Ellory would be a writer to look out for, a brillant piece of literature writing not to ignored, congratulation to Ellory for a highly engrossing and wonderful twisted crime thriller the best I've read in a long long time highly recommended.

Andrea Bowhill
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Sep 25, 2012 Ciska rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

The author
Roger Jon Ellory was born in Birmingham, England, June 20th 1965. At age 7 his mother died and with his father out of the picture already he was send of to boarding school. He returned to Birmingham age 16 and at 17 he spend some time in jail for poaching.
After a short career as a musician he devoted himself to studying obscure philosophies and reading.
He had a lot of trouble getting his first stories published as UK publishers did not want to publish books set in America and America...more The author
Roger Jon Ellory was born in Birmingham, England, June 20th 1965. At age 7 his mother died and with his father out of the picture already he was send of to boarding school. He returned to Birmingham age 16 and at 17 he spend some time in jail for poaching.
After a short career as a musician he devoted himself to studying obscure philosophies and reading.
He had a lot of trouble getting his first stories published as UK publishers did not want to publish books set in America and American publisher did not want to publish books set in America written by an Englishman. Eventually Orion picked up the book "Candlemoth" and published it. This book secured a nomination on the shortlist for the Crime Writers’ Association Steel Dagger for Best Thriller 2003. For more information on R.J. Ellory visit http://www.rjellory.com

The review
I am doing a A-Z challenge this year on book titles. I had many books qualifying for the Q but either I could not get my hands on a copy or they where just not my thing and I was not able to continue reading them. After a thorough search I found this book and I was attracted to it immediately. I was in need of a nice crime novel, police, murders, excitement. And all those elements where in this story and there was more story and more and more... and eventually a bit to much story.
The book takes of with a very descriptive chapter on New Orleans. You almost miss out that they actually found a dead body and the police is gathering around the crime scene. There are some characters introduced of whom you think will be the lead investigators on the murder case but it keeps being handed over and over and over until some other important FBI people are introduced and they finally stick with it. The former well introduced police men are not coming back until the end of the book when they are mentioned to show the author has not forgotten about them. This made that I was not sure which character I had to invest in and connect to until 150 pages into the book. I like to hang myself up on a character and move along trough the story. I missed that in the beginning making it difficult for me to get hooked. Eventually the two main characters get a bit to intense and you feel like skipping on their thoughts /story cause there are again to many details.
And that is the main problem with the whole storyline. The author looses himself and the story at regular intervals, making clear he did his research on things but slowing down a good story. There is a line about certain trees that are characteristic for New Orleans which is repeated three or four times, there is an extended description of which roads are in a certain area in New Orleans of which most are not even relevant to the story but you can look it up on google maps and see exactly where the “body has been found”.
That is a shame cause without that the story would have been a 4+ star book for me. There was a lot of crime and seen from the eyes of a certain criminal making it very interesting. Though at some point the plot can be guessed it takes a while before all things drop in place. For me the book now is not more than three stars and I even doubted for two but it was not that bad. Am not sure I would recommend it to someone though. (less)

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May 15, 2011 Keith rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime-thriller, fiction, 2011

An ingenious and inventive tale. The daughter of the governor of Louisiana is kidnapped. The kidnapper shows up at FBI headquarters in New Orleans and offers to release the girl only if they will listen to his story. Anxious to save the girl the agents agree and so a history is told. The teller of the tale is a Cuban-American who, through a sordid and violent series of adventures, becomes a Mafia hit man. His story is also the story of organized crime in the United States. All of the infamous na...more

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Apr 01, 2012 John Herbert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: thriller, ten-out-of-ten

After reading A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS by Ellory, I was struck rigid by its intensity and fine storytelling.
And here, yet again, I'm left absolutely dumbfounded by Ellory's masterful Mafia story, which drags you in on a non-stop turbo-charged maelstrom of action from beginning to end.

Not for the feint-hearted, as significant and insignificant characters are ruthlessly dispatched with the maximum of violence, that on occasions makes you wince as the full description sifts through to your brain.

Bu...more

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Jun 02, 2012 David Cullen rated it 4 of 5 stars

As a relatively new reader of Ellory's books (this one plus Candlemoth and Ghostheart)I can see a formula emerging! However, this does not detract from the quality of each book. This one has the Ellory hallmark if there is such a thing; parallel stories; one in flashback; very strongly drawn characters; superbly researched backgrounds and political/topical insights; slow build-up of tension and wonderful twist in the tail.

To describe his books as mystery/thriller doesn't really do them justice....more

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Nov 02, 2009 BookScout rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-and-thrillers, 2009, favourites

Lock the door, put your feet up, you will read this in one sitting…

After a kidnapping and intriguing murder, a Mafia hitman begins to recount his life story and this novel suddenly becomes the most compelling of R.J.Ellory’s I’ve read to date. As with his previous two books I’ve read, A Quiet Belief in Angels and A Simple Act of Violence, Ellory once more demonstrates his astonishing ability to capture time, place and people in a distinctive, poetic voice that makes reading a joy. I am amazed ho...more Lock the door, put your feet up, you will read this in one sitting…

After a kidnapping and intriguing murder, a Mafia hitman begins to recount his life story and this novel suddenly becomes the most compelling of R.J.Ellory’s I’ve read to date. As with his previous two books I’ve read, A Quiet Belief in Angels and A Simple Act of Violence, Ellory once more demonstrates his astonishing ability to capture time, place and people in a distinctive, poetic voice that makes reading a joy. I am amazed how each of his novels show such versatility, altering his tone and prosaic style to fit the subject matter and time frame of his work. He is one of the most talented and exciting voices to emerge from this genre in a long time.

I found myself unable to stop reading this masterly constructed story. Using some real events and real mobsters the plot feels like a real-life interview with someone from the inside of the Mafia. It is a plot that unravels gradually bringing together the central themes of Choices versus Circumstance and the ties of Family and how we define a Family. You will find yourself staying up late into the night just to finish this. Then he goes and leaves you with a terrific ending that will make you recommend it to everyone you know and force you to buy everything from the author’s back catalogue.

This is more than your average crime/thriller. It is a haunting meditation on the capabilities of man to enact violence and revenge but also on man’s capabilities to offer love and self-sacrifice.

The characters are made up of real-life characters from the Underworld and Ellory’s own complicated protagonists who will wrench from you genuine empathy. Even the fictional bad guys are deeply complex and damaged and you’re emotions towards them are not straightforward, thus we are made to question what makes a man evil - his own choices or his lack of them?. This is serious writing wrapped up in a fantastic story - as the best books always are.

Ellory’s prose is tough, unflinching and always, always perfect. His genius for timing, pace and dialogue make this a novel that surprises you, moves you and challenges you. His descriptions of New Orleans and Havana, that attack the senses, are exquisitely drawn. His ability to elicit emotions and questions from the reader regarding psychopathic behaviour turns crime fiction into something philosophical, original and worth thinking about. A Quiet Vendetta is a disturbing, clever and wonderful tale that will stay with me for a long time.(less)

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Jan 03, 2012 Hidaliv rated it 5 of 5 stars

Sublime! The best book I ever read since now, I am aware I have a lot too read still but this novel has everything I like, crime, mafia. The way of writing and the pace and timing, going back and forth in time is excellent. The end a 10+.

Sublime! El mejor libro que he leído hasta el momento, siendo consciente de que me queda mucho por leer todavia, pero lo tiene todo esta novela. La manera en la que esta escrita y los tiempos, pasando del presente al pasado son excelentes. El final un 10.

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Jun 02, 2012 Ginny rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have read other books by R.J. Ellory and loved them. When I started reading this I was a little overwhelmed by the lack of white space and number of pages. When I realized the majority of the book would involve the life story of a mafia hit man I thought I wouldn't enjoy it. Boy, was I wrong. I was quickly intrigued by his story and the mystery of a kidnapped daughter of the Louisiana governor. The ending really caught me by surprise. R.J. Ellory is a master story-teller.

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Jan 14, 2011 Stephen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Thought that "A Quiet Belief in Angels" was good but this is even better. Probably one of the best books that I have ever read. Starts off a bit slow but once Ernesto Perez appears and starts describing his life story, you just can't put it down. Very clever twist at the end rounds it off perfectly as well.

Also read "Simple Act of Violence" and "Saints of New York" - they are all excellent but "Quiet Vendetta" is the pick of them.

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Jan 12, 2012 Ian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: a-kindle, thrillers, america-51, a-to-z-2012

This is the tale of an old mafia hitman who gives himself up and confesses to a murder in New Orleans but who then insists on telling his life story to the FBI as a prerequisite to freeing a kidnap victim. It is a fascinating and brutal story that spans many decades, begins in New Orleans and ends there, but also embraces mafia killings and all pervasive political corruption in Cuba, Florida,Las Vegas, New York, LA and Chicago.

Like all RJ Ellory's work, there is a lot more to it than that. This...more

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Feb 05, 2012 wintermute314 rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, kindle

The plot was more or less OK. Now that concludes the nice part of this review. The problem is that both protagonists have bruised souls, and tend to ruminate about life quite often. Mostly these ruminations are predictable, repetitious, shallow and boring. Cliché is piled upon cliché, and while the writer's at it, he also tends to elaborate on the history of Cuba, American Mafia Wars, even a little politics. All with an ample supply of names and dates thrown in. Sometimes you wonder why there is...more

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Feb 20, 2012 Maryellen Woodside rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ellory is quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller/mystery writers. Be warned that this book is very dark.When the daughter of the Governor of Louisiana is kidnapped, Ernesto Perez comes forward to offer details that will lead to her recovery. Ernesto is a hit man for the Mafia and the tale he tells is at once gruesome and compelling. A real surprise ending!

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Jun 16, 2012 Lori rated it 3 of 5 stars

This started slow for me, and i almost closed it after a few chapters...but i stuck it out and was glad i did. Ellroy has a way of building his characters and plots simultaneously,drawing you in, and then letting you gently go...without letting you down. They aren't "barn burners", but I've always been glad i've read till the end.

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Jul 31, 2010 Kate Millin rated it 5 of 5 stars

A gripping book when I finally got into it with a very well written killer who gained our trust and sympathy more than the well meaning policeman who was interviewing him. The setting of the scene is very important but I find it hard going however once into the main story the book is very difficult to put down

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Sep 19, 2009 Neil rated it 5 of 5 stars

I would have no hesitation in suggesting that this is R J Ellory's most powerful novel to date. Once again he has the writing skill that engrosses the reader in the lives of characters who would normally disgust most self-respecting citizens. His descriptions of a killer in action never resort to the style of cheap pulp-fiction. My only negative is that apart from his latest novel (The Anniversary Man?, I have now read all his material.

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Jul 23, 2011 Elizabeth Moffat added it

You know how sometimes a book comes along and really stays with you? This is how this book was for me, definitely my favourite R.J. Ellory novel so far, the story and characters were compelling and I love the way he can change your mind and then perhaps change it back again (?) in the process of a few pages. Highly recommended!

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Nov 29, 2011 Emmanuel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Excellent roman, avec un sens du rythme remarquable, sur un mode "Usual suspects". Toutes les références aux sagas mafieuses y sont : The Godfather, Casino, Les affranchis. Bref, un monument qu'il convient de lire absolument.

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Jan 18, 2010 Linda Parks rated it 5 of 5 stars

Five stars. WOW. This story - the stories within this story - are superbly written. All 500+ pages. If it would've been a cake, I'd have eaten it. That damn good. If you love history, suspense, intrigue... OMG. Just take my word. (Sorry - still on my book high, here...)

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Apr 07, 2012 Jayw added it

A body in vintage '57 Mercury Turnpike. The governor of Louisiana kidnapped. A 70 year old hitman with a long story to tell. All make for a nice moody suspense tale.

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Jul 30, 2012 C.S. rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery

I love Ellroy's writing style. The story is told from an interesting point of view. There is a lot of darkness so don't read it if you are feeling down.

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Jul 19, 2012 Cordebard rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sympa, j'ai eu un peu de mal à rentrer dedans (je suis pas un super fan de polars) mais m'a tenu jusque au bout, bien sombre...
Donc un bon moment...

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Mar 06, 2012 Rachel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Overall it was good, but it just went on for for.ev.er. Kind of in the vein of an old-fashioned crime novel. Some things weren't explained very well, and the writing was pretty heavy-handed in some parts. Interesting idea though, and a satisfying ending.

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Oct 30, 2011 Betty rated it 4 of 5 stars

If you are interested in the Mafia and the life of a hitman, this is a book you should read. It is also a book about situations, faith, love, and family. Ellory is amazing.

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Feb 08, 2011 Britt, Book Habitue added it

I don't know how to rate this book. I loved it.... I almost hated it. It was beautiful and terrible. Amazing writing, fascinating story, but oh soooooooo dark.

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May 15, 2013 Debby Gerhardt added it

Boring, like reading a history book, with a murder on every page

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About R.J. Ellory

Roger began his first novel on November 4th, 1987 and did not stop, except for three days when he was going through a divorce from his first wife, until July of 1993. During this time he completed twenty-two novels, most of them in longhand, and accumulated several hundred polite and complimentary rejection letters from many different and varied publishers.

He stopped writing out of sheer frustrat...more Roger began his first novel on November 4th, 1987 and did not stop, except for three days when he was going through a divorce from his first wife, until July of 1993. During this time he completed twenty-two novels, most of them in longhand, and accumulated several hundred polite and complimentary rejection letters from many different and varied publishers.

He stopped writing out of sheer frustration and did not start again for eight years.

In the early part of September 2001 he decided to start writing again. This decision was based on the realization that it was the only thing he had ever really wanted to do.

Between August 2001 and January 2002 he wrote three books, the second of which was called ‘Candlemoth’. This was purchased by Orion and published in 2003. ‘Candlemoth’ was translated into German, Dutch and Italian, and has now also been purchased for translation in numerous other languages. The book also secured a nomination on the shortlist for the Crime Writers’ Association Steel Dagger for Best Thriller 2003. His second book, ‘Ghostheart’, was released in 2004, and his third book, ‘A Quiet Vendetta’, was released in August 2005. In 2006 he published ‘City of Lies’, and once again secured a nomination for the CWA Steel Dagger for Best Thriller of that year. His fifth book – ‘A Quiet Belief In Angels’ - was published in August 2006, and in the latter part of the year it was selected for the phenomenally successful British TV equivalent of the Oprah Winfrey Book Club, the Richard and Judy Book Club.

‘A Quiet Belief In Angels’ went on to be shortlisted for the Barry Award for Best British Crime Fiction, the 813 Trophy, the Quebec Booksellers’ Prize, The Europeen Du Point Crime Fiction Prize, and was winner of the Inaugural Prix Roman Noir Nouvel Observateur. It has since been voted Best Thriller of 2009 in The Strand Magazine. The book was also optioned for film, and Roger has recently completed the screenplay for Oscar-winning French director, Olivier Dahan.

Following on from ‘A Quiet Belief In Angels’, Roger released ‘A Simple Act of Violence’, again securing a nomination for Best British Crime Fiction of 2008. In late 2009 he released ‘The Anniversary Man’ to rave reviews.
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