December 5
Day 5
My introduction to R.J. Ellory's work came at Bouchercon 2009 in Indianapolis. Several on a panel of book reviewers named his book A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS one of the best they'd read that year so I bought a signed copy. Coincidentally, I was fortunate to meet Roger himself at an awards ceremony later that night.
Just a few pages in and I knew why those reviewers had selected A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS as one of their favorites. It is a beautifully written book. Once I started, I found it difficult to put down.
The novel is about Joseph Vaughn, a boy whose young life is shaken when a series of murders of young girls occurs in his town. Ten years go by and the murders are finally "solved," but when Joseph moves to New York City as an adult and another series of murders begin, it seems that the past has followed Joseph.
From there I was hooked on Ellory's writing. I recently finished THE ANNIVERSARY MAN and CANDLEMOTH is next on my list. R.J. Ellory does more than just write compelling crime stories; he has the ability to reveal his characters' souls in a way that doesn't happen often enough in the genre.
If you're buying books as gifts this holiday season, please consider purchasing from your local independent bookshop. The level of customer service you'll receive is unmatched, you'll have the added benefit of making new friends of the staff, and you'll help support a local business.
Books featured in this post can be purchased from the Mystery Bookstore in Los Angeles (orders@mystery-bookstore.com).
What a great website they have! Thanks for posting that. I’ll have to order from them next time over Amazon.com (who jacks up the shipping anyway.)