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Vendetta
When Catherine Ducane disappears in New Orleans, the cops react fast--she is the governor's daughter, after all. But the case quickly grows strange.
Her bodyguard turns up horribly mutilated, and when the kidnapper calls, he doesn't want money: he wants time alone with a minor government functionary. By the time the pieces fall into place, it's already too late . . .
A Quiet Vendetta is both the epic story of one mobster's life-- ranging from Cuba to Chicago-- and equally a powerful thriller of rage, love, and loss. With tension to match the best of Cussler, Patterson, and his own best-selling work, A Quiet Vendetta confirms R.J. Ellory's place at the forefront of the genre.
Her bodyguard turns up horribly mutilated, and when the kidnapper calls, he doesn't want money: he wants time alone with a minor government functionary. By the time the pieces fall into place, it's already too late . . .
A Quiet Vendetta is both the epic story of one mobster's life-- ranging from Cuba to Chicago-- and equally a powerful thriller of rage, love, and loss. With tension to match the best of Cussler, Patterson, and his own best-selling work, A Quiet Vendetta confirms R.J. Ellory's place at the forefront of the genre.
126 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
36 people are currently reading
1039 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 135 reviews
July 29, 2015
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.
Also read "Simple Act of Violence" and "Saints of New York" - they are all excellent but "Quiet Vendetta" is the pick of them.
August 27, 2022
Ik heb al tien boeken van Ellory gelezen en me slechts één keer bekocht gevoeld. Enkel zijn boek over het circus vond ik het lezen niet waard. Maar de rest? Superspannend, zeer lezenswaardig, vlot verteld, helder beschreven met veel psychologisch inzicht. Dat is ook hier het geval. In 540 bladzijden krijg je het verhaal van een Cubaan die zijn hele leven in dienst van de maffia heeft gewerkt. In die tijd heeft hij niet alleen ontelbaar veel "hoofden voorzien van ventilatie", hij werd ook geconfronteerd met de dood in zijn eigen gezin. En zoiets vraagt uiteraard om een heel gedetailleerd uitgewerkt wraakplan. Intrigerend verhaal, je vraagt je voortdurend af waar dat lange, meanderende maffiaverhaal naartoe gaat. Pas rond pagina 500 begin je een licht vermoeden te krijgen. Over het belang van familie én het maken van keuzes op je levenspad. Want die heb je. Overal en altijd.
May 21, 2014
Another fantastic book by R J Ellory, but I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the others, particularly Candlemoth, but it's extremely enjoyable and I couldn't put it down.
I won't go into the plot details, as this is covered by other reviewers, but I particularly liked (and I know I shouldn't!) Ernesto Perez and the brilliant, Ray Hartmann. They are some of the strongest and likeable characters I have ever come across. Ernesto, in particular for me, as he was the bad guy with a heart of gold. The pace was completely breathtaking in the last quarter and, although I wanted answers, I really, by that stage,didn't want it to end.
I just love how R J Ellory writes with fast paced plots, twists and turns around every corner and strong, wonderful characters.
Excellent.
I won't go into the plot details, as this is covered by other reviewers, but I particularly liked (and I know I shouldn't!) Ernesto Perez and the brilliant, Ray Hartmann. They are some of the strongest and likeable characters I have ever come across. Ernesto, in particular for me, as he was the bad guy with a heart of gold. The pace was completely breathtaking in the last quarter and, although I wanted answers, I really, by that stage,didn't want it to end.
I just love how R J Ellory writes with fast paced plots, twists and turns around every corner and strong, wonderful characters.
Excellent.
March 27, 2023
Souffert pour atteindre la fin! Déjà le cas lors de la lecture dense et ardue de « Seul le silence », mais j’avais survécu et le verdict final était: superbe.
Beaucoup plus mitigé ici. C’est vraiment très long et lent. Un tueur à gages mafieux narre sa longue liste d’assassinats. Sans état d’âme, ce n’est pas le but, qui est??? Flou! Détails sordides d’actes minables, plaisir cruel généralement en prime, pourquoi se priver quand on a le droit de mort. Comptez un assassinat toutes les 10 ou 15 pages, j’en ai lu de moins en moins par le menu, je voulais juste tenter de comprendre le pourquoi de ce besoin viscéral et malsain de passer ces meurtres en revue.
Il y a évidemment une intrigue puisque c’est repris dans la catégorie « thrillers ». Mais ça fait quand même beaucoup de paroles amassées pour atteindre un dénouement. Assez frustrant d’ailleurs car ce dénouement est tout sauf plausible. Ça fait un peu désordre dans un roman qui se veut authentique, bourré d’anecdotes sans doute vraisemblables. Comme est frustrant aussi d'apprendre que le «personnage central », difficile d’évoquer un héros, semble savoir qui a assassiné les Kennedy, un super leader syndical et plein d’autres célébrités - on irait jusqu’à supposer que ce fut lui - mais esquive toujours la réponse. Il sait, mais il ne dira rien, c’est une grande âme.
Voilà, mitigé donc, et même déçu, par un écrivain de très grand talent, assez fatiguant.
Beaucoup plus mitigé ici. C’est vraiment très long et lent. Un tueur à gages mafieux narre sa longue liste d’assassinats. Sans état d’âme, ce n’est pas le but, qui est??? Flou! Détails sordides d’actes minables, plaisir cruel généralement en prime, pourquoi se priver quand on a le droit de mort. Comptez un assassinat toutes les 10 ou 15 pages, j’en ai lu de moins en moins par le menu, je voulais juste tenter de comprendre le pourquoi de ce besoin viscéral et malsain de passer ces meurtres en revue.
Il y a évidemment une intrigue puisque c’est repris dans la catégorie « thrillers ». Mais ça fait quand même beaucoup de paroles amassées pour atteindre un dénouement. Assez frustrant d’ailleurs car ce dénouement est tout sauf plausible. Ça fait un peu désordre dans un roman qui se veut authentique, bourré d’anecdotes sans doute vraisemblables. Comme est frustrant aussi d'apprendre que le «personnage central », difficile d’évoquer un héros, semble savoir qui a assassiné les Kennedy, un super leader syndical et plein d’autres célébrités - on irait jusqu’à supposer que ce fut lui - mais esquive toujours la réponse. Il sait, mais il ne dira rien, c’est une grande âme.
Voilà, mitigé donc, et même déçu, par un écrivain de très grand talent, assez fatiguant.
April 28, 2016
Un autore che regala molto più di quanto prometta.
A pagina 1 un cadavere viene ritrovato dentro il bagagliaio di un auto parcheggiata in un quartiere malfamato di New Orleans.
Poco dopo il detective che (erroneamente) pare il protagonista della storia segue la solita autopsia che il solito medico legale esegue sul cadavere con il solito ritrovamento di prove di efferata violenza e di peculiarità tipiche di un omicidio rituale… (vi risparmio i dettagli).
A questo punto la tentazione di lanciare il romanzo dalla finestra con le sue rimanenti 600 (!) pagine al grido di “Basta! Un altro killer seriale, no!” è evidentemente molto forte!
Ma Roger Ellory mi ha già giocato questo scherzetto in passato, piazzando un incipit banale all’inizio di un romanzo dal titolo banale (“Un semplice atto di violenza”), proprio come in “Vendetta”: questo trucco, non so quanto consapevole, ha comunque l’effetto di far deflagrare con la massima efficacia l’effetto sorpresa man mano che si procede lungo una trama ingannevole, originale e molto ricca di svolte narrative, interessanti personaggi ed innumerevoli luoghi molto ben descritti, ove si consideri che Ellory è un inglese di Birmingham con la propensione ad ambientare i suoi romanzi in America (non solo Usa).
E quindi, in barba all’inflazione del genere, “Vendetta” si rivela un altro ottimo thriller che spazia attraverso avvenimenti personali e fatti storici lungo diversi decenni, fra Fidel Castro e Jimmy Hoffa, I boss mafiosi e JFK, il che non può non evocare i materiali prediletti dal maestro di cui Ellory sembra fin dal cognome una sorta di ingannevole anagramma.
Ma se pure le ambientazioni sono simili, lo stile di Roger Ellory è molto diverso da quello inventato da James Ellroy, più classico (Roger) e meno rivoluzionario e viscerale, più attento alla coerenza della trama che all’effetto speciale e all’enfasi.
In modo molto riduttivo il libro si potrebbe definire un romanzo di formazione di un giovane esule malavitoso verso l’ascesa nell’ambito delle gerarchie della mafia italo-americana. Ma questo canovaccio, che detto così sa alquanto di dejà-vu, viene sviluppato con un taglio e una struttura narrativa decisamente originali e avvincenti.
Forse qualche eccesso di atrocità e qualche luogo comune di troppo sulla morale e il senso della famiglia da parte dei picciotti impediscono di gridare al capolavoro ma per quanto mi riguarda, tanto di cappello a chi riesce ancora a trarre linfa da un genere in chiaro affanno.
Ellory è autore anche di un terzo romanzo che ho letto, dei quattro pubblicati in Italia (che stanno diventando sei…): “La voce degli angeli”, altrettanto riuscito e compatto, a conferma che questo autore rappresenta una garanzia di qualità. Teniamocelo stretto e soprattutto abituiamoci a superare le prime trenta pagine, i suoi incipit in sordina, perchè Roger Ellory è un autore di talento, che regala molto più di quanto prometta.
A pagina 1 un cadavere viene ritrovato dentro il bagagliaio di un auto parcheggiata in un quartiere malfamato di New Orleans.
Poco dopo il detective che (erroneamente) pare il protagonista della storia segue la solita autopsia che il solito medico legale esegue sul cadavere con il solito ritrovamento di prove di efferata violenza e di peculiarità tipiche di un omicidio rituale… (vi risparmio i dettagli).
A questo punto la tentazione di lanciare il romanzo dalla finestra con le sue rimanenti 600 (!) pagine al grido di “Basta! Un altro killer seriale, no!” è evidentemente molto forte!
Ma Roger Ellory mi ha già giocato questo scherzetto in passato, piazzando un incipit banale all’inizio di un romanzo dal titolo banale (“Un semplice atto di violenza”), proprio come in “Vendetta”: questo trucco, non so quanto consapevole, ha comunque l’effetto di far deflagrare con la massima efficacia l’effetto sorpresa man mano che si procede lungo una trama ingannevole, originale e molto ricca di svolte narrative, interessanti personaggi ed innumerevoli luoghi molto ben descritti, ove si consideri che Ellory è un inglese di Birmingham con la propensione ad ambientare i suoi romanzi in America (non solo Usa).
E quindi, in barba all’inflazione del genere, “Vendetta” si rivela un altro ottimo thriller che spazia attraverso avvenimenti personali e fatti storici lungo diversi decenni, fra Fidel Castro e Jimmy Hoffa, I boss mafiosi e JFK, il che non può non evocare i materiali prediletti dal maestro di cui Ellory sembra fin dal cognome una sorta di ingannevole anagramma.
Ma se pure le ambientazioni sono simili, lo stile di Roger Ellory è molto diverso da quello inventato da James Ellroy, più classico (Roger) e meno rivoluzionario e viscerale, più attento alla coerenza della trama che all’effetto speciale e all’enfasi.
In modo molto riduttivo il libro si potrebbe definire un romanzo di formazione di un giovane esule malavitoso verso l’ascesa nell’ambito delle gerarchie della mafia italo-americana. Ma questo canovaccio, che detto così sa alquanto di dejà-vu, viene sviluppato con un taglio e una struttura narrativa decisamente originali e avvincenti.
Forse qualche eccesso di atrocità e qualche luogo comune di troppo sulla morale e il senso della famiglia da parte dei picciotti impediscono di gridare al capolavoro ma per quanto mi riguarda, tanto di cappello a chi riesce ancora a trarre linfa da un genere in chiaro affanno.
Ellory è autore anche di un terzo romanzo che ho letto, dei quattro pubblicati in Italia (che stanno diventando sei…): “La voce degli angeli”, altrettanto riuscito e compatto, a conferma che questo autore rappresenta una garanzia di qualità. Teniamocelo stretto e soprattutto abituiamoci a superare le prime trenta pagine, i suoi incipit in sordina, perchè Roger Ellory è un autore di talento, che regala molto più di quanto prometta.
May 16, 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 names are here - Luciano, Nitti, Lansky, Tafficante, the Gambinos and more. All of the men and their long and lamentable catalog of crime. The narrator spins a story that starts in the hard scrabble poverty of rural Louisiana, to the Havana of Castro's revolution, and on to Miami, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles, before spiraling to a pulse pounding conclusion back in New Orleans. Elling's achievement is the creation of a most literary thriller with a narrative that sizzles and characters that breathe on the page. That the author is British makes his evocation of this most American of stories all the more impressive.
November 6, 2014
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.
But this is no ordinary tale to be simply dismissed as a mafia tale - this is a full-on no-holds barred confession of a man with a real axe to grind.
The ending is worth the entrance fee alone, and cleverly lifts the roof off of the 500 pages that preceded it.
Read this book and do it NOW!
I'm off ....looking for another Ellory masterclass ....
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.
But this is no ordinary tale to be simply dismissed as a mafia tale - this is a full-on no-holds barred confession of a man with a real axe to grind.
The ending is worth the entrance fee alone, and cleverly lifts the roof off of the 500 pages that preceded it.
Read this book and do it NOW!
I'm off ....looking for another Ellory masterclass ....
February 5, 2012
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 isn't an appendix at the back.
June 16, 2013
Ellory can tell a story, that's for sure. But this one got bogged down in one hit after another. And then there were the "explanations" of several infamous unsolved American deaths or in one case, disappearance. The clever ending doesn't make up for slogging through the middle.
May 20, 2017
Wow, this book took a while to get through and for me was slow starting, but about 1/2 way through it I got hooked. Then I lost it in my house. Luckily I found it before my vacation and finished it. A fun book with unexpected twists and turns.
March 11, 2020
Une lecture qui se mérite et qui pourrait en faire fuir certains. C'est noir, dense, long, mais hautement addictif. Quelle fresque! Une plume extraordinaire. Quel talent de conteur R.J. Ellory. Avec un récit superbement construit notamment à travers un tueur à gage, l'auteur nous offre une plongée dans l'histoire de la Mafia Italienne aux états-Unis qui m'aura subjugué.
October 28, 2009
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
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
September 27, 2012
Up there with Mario Puzo's The Godfather
February 19, 2023
Very deep and with spotless writting style.
September 22, 2024
Mijn man had me overtuigd dit boek te lezen, hij vindt dit een echte aanrader. Het begin en einde vond ik spannend, de ontknoping was de moeite. Het middendeel was voor mij een sleur, het is 100'den pagina's over het leven van een huurmoordenaar in de context van de Amerikaanse maffia anno 1940-2000, er worden super veel gruwelijke moorden beschreven wat misschien wel bijdraagt voor het personage echt te begrijpen, maar ik vond het geen plezier dit te lezen. De schrijver heeft wel echt een hele rijke schrijfstijl en er staan toch ook verrassend veel wijze uitspraken in over het leven in het algemeen.
September 25, 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 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.
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.
January 31, 2017
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.
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.
January 4, 2012
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.
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.
May 1, 2017
Hier probeert Ellory net iets teveel te vertellen, met een hoop uitweidingen naar verschillende ‘bekende’ moordpartijen én nog een blauwdruk van de geschiedenis van Cuba erbovenop. Dit maakt het zeker geen gemakkelijk boek om eens tussendoor te lezen... Een ietwat ontgoochelend einde, en net iets te bloemrijk, typerend voor een boek uit het begin van zijn carrière. Toch blijft dit één van mijn favoriete auteurs.
May 24, 2020
Je n'ai pas lu des tonnes de romans policiers, donc je suis loin de me positionner comme un expert, mais à mon souvenir je crois qu'il s'agit de l'un des meilleurs que j'aie lus. Une écriture riche, détaillée, des personnages complexes, des péripéties angoissantes et captivantes qui donnent toujours le goût de lire "un dernier chapitre".
Je verrais bien une adaptation au cinéma par Scorsese.
Je verrais bien une adaptation au cinéma par Scorsese.
January 19, 2010
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...)
September 8, 2011
An extremely well plotted book. Not at all what I expected and all the better for it. I thought it was going to be a standard murder mystery, how wrong could I be? Great read with a fantastic end. Highly recommended.
November 10, 2011
Absolutely fantastic read, superb twists and turns, strongly recommended. This is my second RJ Ellory read, after Candlemoth, and I'm looking forward to following it up with others by the same author.
October 9, 2021
The strong characterization, brilliant writing and clever plot I expect from RJ Ellory was here, interspersed with the importance of ‘family’ and ‘families’, Italian, Cuban and Louisianan. A fascinating tale which starts off slowly and builds to a heart pounding crescendo with clever twists.
September 19, 2009
Didn't enjoy this one as much as Candlemoth and Ghostheart. To much Mafia stuff in there for me.
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February 9, 2011I 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.
October 31, 2011
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.
September 24, 2013
What an interesting book! I do not like violence as a rule but listened to the audiobook and the narrator was exceptional...brought the book to life.
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May 15, 2013Boring, like reading a history book, with a murder on every page
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July 4, 2013Overrated. Think cheese noodles of the noir genre.
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