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Three Days in Chicagoland #3
The Killer
The Killer is the final novella in award-winning author R.J. Ellory's electrifying ebook trilogy, THREE DAYS IN CHICAGOLAND. The testimonies of the sister, the cop and the killer will at last reveal the dreadful truth behind the brutal murder of a young girl in Chicago in 1956.
Let's face facts here-there's some folks who just shouldn't be allowed to raise up kids.
Harsh, but true.
I'd have to include myself among them, for sure, but I reckon my father would get top billing.
I've been in Chicago for over ten years now. I was raised in Taylorville, Illinois, but I fled here back in '46. Not before I took a childhood of batterings from my old man, and saw my ma suffer vicious beating after vicious beating. Oh yeah, Ray Woodroffe regretted both his marriage and his kids, and he didn't shy away from showing us.
So I came here. Earned some money, got a place of my own. But that kind of cruelty leaves its mark. It's hereditary. And it found its way into my heart, my bones, my blood. I've been living with guilt a good long time now and finally it's time to make amends. I am a killer and tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, not a moment sooner or later, I am going to die in the electric chair.
Includes an exclusive preview of Ellory's gripping new novel, A Dark and Broken Heart.
Let's face facts here-there's some folks who just shouldn't be allowed to raise up kids.
Harsh, but true.
I'd have to include myself among them, for sure, but I reckon my father would get top billing.
I've been in Chicago for over ten years now. I was raised in Taylorville, Illinois, but I fled here back in '46. Not before I took a childhood of batterings from my old man, and saw my ma suffer vicious beating after vicious beating. Oh yeah, Ray Woodroffe regretted both his marriage and his kids, and he didn't shy away from showing us.
So I came here. Earned some money, got a place of my own. But that kind of cruelty leaves its mark. It's hereditary. And it found its way into my heart, my bones, my blood. I've been living with guilt a good long time now and finally it's time to make amends. I am a killer and tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, not a moment sooner or later, I am going to die in the electric chair.
Includes an exclusive preview of Ellory's gripping new novel, A Dark and Broken Heart.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
5 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
About the author
R.J. Ellory
51 books458 followersRoger 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.
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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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 7, 2012
It was over far too quickly but other than that another excellent story from RJ Ellory, highly recommended
January 24, 2016
The Killer: Three Days in Chicagoland Part 3 by RJ Ellory - Very Good
The final of the three novellas and I need to tiptoe through how I describe this as I really don't want to spoil the story.
Similar deal to the second part in that we already know 'most' of the story but this time we find out about the killer's early life - what made him the man that he is and how he came to commit murder. As with the first two parts, there are twists here, but I'd already worked out one part of the story, so it wasn't all a surprise to me. I guess the bit that surprised me most is the Epilogue - I knew there must be something we didn't know, but this was a surprise and somewhat disturbing. Saddening.
When you get to the end, there's a real feeling of so many wasted lives and sadness, of how different it could have been for all involved if just one of the many things that brought us to the day of the murder had happened differently. At the end of the day, that is how life is - your future hinges on every minutiae even though you don't realise it. (I was late today, took a slightly different route & bumped into a friend I usually only see at ballet - small things)
There was just one thing that annoyed me & this is a kindle thing. When I got to the Epilogue, I thought I had so much more left to enjoy, but it turns out that around 50% of the content of this book is actually the opening chapter of the author's next book :-( Not that I don't want to read his next book, but I had hoped there was more of this novella to enjoy.
The final of the three novellas and I need to tiptoe through how I describe this as I really don't want to spoil the story.
Similar deal to the second part in that we already know 'most' of the story but this time we find out about the killer's early life - what made him the man that he is and how he came to commit murder. As with the first two parts, there are twists here, but I'd already worked out one part of the story, so it wasn't all a surprise to me. I guess the bit that surprised me most is the Epilogue - I knew there must be something we didn't know, but this was a surprise and somewhat disturbing. Saddening.
When you get to the end, there's a real feeling of so many wasted lives and sadness, of how different it could have been for all involved if just one of the many things that brought us to the day of the murder had happened differently. At the end of the day, that is how life is - your future hinges on every minutiae even though you don't realise it. (I was late today, took a slightly different route & bumped into a friend I usually only see at ballet - small things)
There was just one thing that annoyed me & this is a kindle thing. When I got to the Epilogue, I thought I had so much more left to enjoy, but it turns out that around 50% of the content of this book is actually the opening chapter of the author's next book :-( Not that I don't want to read his next book, but I had hoped there was more of this novella to enjoy.
March 16, 2013
I'm not sure I can find the words to do this justice but I'll have a good go. "The Killer" is the third part in the "Three Days in Chicagoland" trilogy of shorts, "The Sister" and "The Cop" making up the first two parts of the whole - I'm not going to review all three, for me they are as one. Told from various points of view, the sister of the victim, the cop who investigates, and the killer, this tells the story of the murder of a young woman in 1950's America. Atmospheric and emotive, this authors ability to totally absorb you into the place and time of a story is on superb form here, I felt the story just as much as I read it. Yes there is a mystery element to the tale which will please and enthrall all lovers of the crime/mystery genre, but it is so much more than that - a study in the effects of trauma on both victims, relatives and those tasked with finding the truth, the emotions on display here are tangible and heart wrenching. Add to that an unexpected and almost perfect ending, and this is one of those stories that will stay with you when you are done. Don't let this one pass you by.
April 30, 2012
Great trilogy, really enjoyed all three and even though it's a short story it still managed to keep me gripped just like all R.J. Ellory books!!
April 12, 2022
The third instalment of the "Three Days in Chicagoland" trilogy and as the title suggests, this is the killer's story. Perfect ending to the story with a good twist.
Really quick to read just like the other two and is easily read in an hour or so.
Thoroughly enjoyed this 'instalment' approach.
Really quick to read just like the other two and is easily read in an hour or so.
Thoroughly enjoyed this 'instalment' approach.
July 3, 2022
Recommended
A well written satisfying conclusion to the trilogy Three Days In Chicagoland. Clever descriptive intelligent with good characterisation throughout.
Recommended.
A well written satisfying conclusion to the trilogy Three Days In Chicagoland. Clever descriptive intelligent with good characterisation throughout.
Recommended.
November 8, 2024
Very good noir
December 30, 2020
zie deel 1.
April 30, 2014
I just love R J Ellory books and I decided to read this trilogy which I had, for some unknown reason, forgotten was waiting for me on my kindle. I just couldn't stop reading. I was immersed completely and thought I was in Chicago in 1956-1960.
The style of writing is, as always, fantastic and totally believable.
The first part deals with the witnessing of an execution of the murderer of Carole Shaw and is from her sister, Maryanne's perspective.
The second part is from the cop's perspective, the utterly brilliant Robert Maguire and the last is from the killer, Lewis Woodroffe.
As I say I couldn't put my kindle down as the whole thing Is totally absorbing.
If you like a great fast paced thriller, you will certainly not be disappointed by anything R J Ellory writes.
Superb.
The style of writing is, as always, fantastic and totally believable.
The first part deals with the witnessing of an execution of the murderer of Carole Shaw and is from her sister, Maryanne's perspective.
The second part is from the cop's perspective, the utterly brilliant Robert Maguire and the last is from the killer, Lewis Woodroffe.
As I say I couldn't put my kindle down as the whole thing Is totally absorbing.
If you like a great fast paced thriller, you will certainly not be disappointed by anything R J Ellory writes.
Superb.
October 8, 2014
I quite liked this different three part approach, but only as a one off. I still much prefer Ellory's full length novels.
It was interesting to get the three different angles, and the ending was a good surprise.
The only complaint I have is that I felt somewhat cheated with part 3, the final part - only a third of this last book relates to the story, the other two thirds devoted to a large extract of Ellory's full blown novel A DARK AND BROKEN HEART.
It was interesting to get the three different angles, and the ending was a good surprise.
The only complaint I have is that I felt somewhat cheated with part 3, the final part - only a third of this last book relates to the story, the other two thirds devoted to a large extract of Ellory's full blown novel A DARK AND BROKEN HEART.
May 17, 2012
Part 3 of R.J.Ellory's short story trilogy. There was a nice, though very contrived twist at the end and the description of The Killer's childhood was well done, but I just felt like this was a promotional vehicle for his next novel.
February 26, 2014
Korte serie van R. J. Ellory, maar vond ze leuk om ze even tussendoor te lezen en zo ook kennis te maken met zijn schrijfstijl. Ben zeker van plan om binnenkort in een 'echt boek' van hem te gaan beginnen! :)
December 26, 2014
voor de trilogie, want het is mij een raadsel waarom het boek in 3 gekapt wordt: sfeervol, state-of-the- art detective, vakmanschap, heerlijke plottwist, aanrader!
October 7, 2016
Een heel goed slot.
Deze trilogie is een aanrader, maar alleen als je alle drie delen bij de hand hebt!
Deze trilogie is een aanrader, maar alleen als je alle drie delen bij de hand hebt!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews