Roger Jon Ellory

This book tells the story of Joseph Vaughn, who lost his father in when he was twelve, living on a farm near a small town in Georgia at the very beginning of the Second World War. Later that year, the first girl is murdered. A Quiet Belief in Angels spans over three decades, some in more detail than others, telling the story of Joseph's difficult life and the way the murders haunt him. R.J. Ellory writes in an elaborate style that suits the time period and the narrator's own complex and show more confused view of events. This is an event-packed novel, including a monstrous serial killer, a coming of age story, a vivid description of a place and time, madness, false imprisonment, fame, love and retribution, it nonetheless loses its forward momentum a few times along the way. show less

Daniel Ford sits on death row, all appeals have failed, the date is about to be set. The crime he is convicted for: killing his best friend. These last months he is accompanied by a priest, who gets him to tell his story. And so we learn about Daniel and Nathan, one white, the other black, growing up in small town South Carolina in the 50s and 60s, how they become aware of racial tensions and the Vietnam war and what it would mean for both their lives. And finally how Daniel came to be where show more he is.

Superbly written, it brings alive a time that feels much further away than it actually is. The characters are flawed and feel so very real. Loved this book. show less

Annie O'Neill has it all - a cosy Manhattan apartment, a beautiful bookshop and a network of supportive friends. But at the heart of her life is a hole - a place vacated by her father when he died in her childhood. So when a mysterious man named Forrester enters the shop and claims to be her father's oldest friend she jumps at the chance to find out more of her own past. But he's not being free with the answers she needs. He's much more interested in telling her a story about a ruthless show more ganglord and a fifty year old betrayal. A betrayal that she will realise far too slowly, has something very much to do with her...

My Thoughts:

I had read this book before and looking back on my notes I can remember that I enjoyed it. I have been given it again to read for book group as we had a visit from R J Ellory as part of World Book Night.

Reading it a second time was no problem either as I felt I was enjoying it as if I had not read it before. I could remember that it was going to have a sad ending for Annie where David was concerned. First time around I can remember not been able to guess what was going to happen but second time around I couldn’t quite remember, I just knew there would be heartache.

I did love Sullivan, the guy from next door and felt his character held the book together. Annie I loved and wanted to put my arms around her and David I felt sorry for. Simply because I felt he didn’t have his own mind and I felt he did care for Annie deep down and should have followed his heart.

What I have found with R J’s books is either that they are very good or very bad. This one was very good and I would highly recommend it. show less

There is no doubt that this novel is right outside of my comfort zone,. However as with the three other novels I have read by this author, I was hooked right from the start, and would have finished it much faster had it not been for a very busy week. I am now glad I didn't finish it too quickly as it was a real pleasure to have it keep me company this week. It also seemed very appropriate to be reading it just before Christmas as the story takes place in the days leading up to Christmas Eve show more in New York. City of Lies is also so well written, the sense of place is wonderful, the constant hum of the city and it's underlying threat a character in itself, brilliantly done.

The world created here by R J Ellory is a tough, urban underworld, where violence come easily to men for whom it is a way of life. Into this world comes John Harper, who has spent the majority of his adulthood in Miami leading a pretty unremarkable life, and totally unaware of this other world. He spends the next week with people like Walt Freiberg a man who has known his father for many years and was a shadowy figure in John's own childhood, Cathy Hollander "the eye candy" who it seems has gone by several different names, his Aunt Evelyn, who is responsible for the lies John grew up with, and knows more than she is telling him, and Frank Duchaunak a crazy cop with a Marilyn Monroe obsession. The characterisation is fantastic, the dialogue is fast paced and authentic, and reminiscent of all the episodes of Hill Street Blues I watched with my Dad in the 1980'. show less