On the eleventh day of Christmas, Overlook Press gave to me …

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know. Where the tree tops glisten, and children listen to hear sleigh bells in the snow.” – “White Christmas” by Irving Berlin

Between this week’s unseasonal warmth in the New York metro area and an unfavorable outlook for snow over the holiday weekend, it seems unlikely that any NYC-based Overlookers will be enjoying a white Christmas this year. After last December’s onslaught of extreme winter weather we’ll be grateful to skip the endless shoveling and travel delays, but as the days slowly begin to grow longer after last night’s winter solstice, we’re all secretly craving Central Park sledding and snowball fights.

Whatever the weather may bring this weekend, the 12 Days of Overlook Christmas must go on. With only two days of literary gift-giving remaining, we’ve already handed out ten prize packs containing sets of books by Charles Portis, Milton Glaser, Eva Zeisel, Kate Colquhoun, Carrie Hagen, Peter Quinn, John Avlon, Jesse Angelo, Errol Louis, Juan Luis Cebrián, Alan Cowell, Robert Forbes, Walter Brooks, Paul Lichter, King Adz, Allan Tannenbaum, Mervyn Peake, Maeve Gilmore, Charles Dickens, David Bercuson, Holger Herwig, P.G. Wodehouse, Eoin Colfer, Jim Nisbet, and Charles McCarry (whew). Today we add to that esteemed list one of our most cherished writers of crime fiction and noir, R.J. Ellory, whose three previous Overlook novels A Quiet Belief in Angels, The Anniversary Man, and A Simple Act of Violence, as well as his forthcoming A Quiet Vendetta will all be given away to one lucky winner. Congratulations to Petite, who nabbed yesterday’s suspense and comic noir compilation, and remember to continue sending comments and tweets to enter today’s contest.

What do a kidnapped governor’s daughter, a secret government cover-up, a serial killer from New Jersey, and a group of adolescent vigilante guardians have in common? They’re all subjects found between the pages of R.J. Ellory’s award winning mysteries and thrillers. Of Ellory’s work, commercial heavyweight James Patterson said, “There aren’t nearly enough beautifully written novels that are also great mysteries. Like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Smilla’s Sense of Snow, A Quiet Belief in Angels is one of them.” If you’re looking for something to do this weekend besides open gifts, skip the Fincher flick and cozy up to one of Ellory’s psychological page turners.

A Quiet Vendetta (coming in 2012) begins with a seemingly straightforward crime: the New Orleans kidnapping of Catherine Ducane. The police quickly react, expecting the usual demands of a ransom for her recovery, but when the mutilated remains of her bodyguard are discovered and her kidnapper finally calls, it’s not money he’s asking for, but instead a private audience to tell the shocking story of his own dark past. Ringing with truth and containing an epic history of the Italian mafia in America, it’s a must have for mystery fans.

A Simple Act of Violence is a panoramic novel about the covert activities of the CIA during the war in Nicaragua, the illegal trafficking of cocaine from Managua to Miami in CIA-chartered aircrafts, and the activities of known criminals given carte blanche and exemption from prosecution by the US intelligence community—all set against the backdrop of contemporary Washington. Perfect for the conspiracy theory enthusiast.

A riveting thriller set in New York City, The Anniversary Man may well be the ultimate serial killer novel, chronicling the case of a deranged but highly intelligent murderer who kills on the anniversary dates of famous crimes from the past. A mesmerizing mystery and an ideal gift for fans of the serial killer thriller.

Set in the small, rural community of Augusta Falls, Georgia A Quiet Belief in Angels tells the story of twelve-year-old Joseph Vaughan as he learns of the brutal assault and murder of a young girl—a classmate he knew better than anyone else and quietly loved. The murder is the first in a series of killings that plague his community over the next decade. Compelled by fear and duty, Joesph gather a group of friends to form “The Guardians,” who vow to watch over the young girls of Augusta Falls. But the murderer evades them and they watch helplessly as one child after another is taken.

Don't forget, there are three ways to enter. Good luck and happy holidays!

1. Comment on this post

2. Tweet at us using the hashtag #OverlookChristmas

3. Leave a comment on our Facebook page

You can enter once in each area until 8 AM tomorrow morning, and we will be announcing a winner in Monday’s post. After all entries are received, we choose a winner using random.org. Please leave an email address when entering so we can contact you if you’ve won.

Meet R.J. ELLORY at Partners & Crime Bookstore in New York on July 6

R.J. Ellory will be in New York next week for the launch of his new novel The Anniversary Man at Partners & Crime Mystery Booksellers in Greenwich Village. All are welcome to join the celebration! Tuesday, July 6, at 7pm, 44 Greenwich Avenue (corner of Charles).

Ellory will also be at Thrillerfest, the annual celebration of the thriller world, July 9-10 at the Grand Hyatt in Manhattan. On Saturday, July 10 at 3pm, Ellory will be on a panel discussing thrillers in the international market ("How Do You Cross Continents"), moderated by David Hewson.

The Anniversary Man, in bookstores now, is the second novel by R. J. Ellory to be published in the United States, following the acclaimed A Quiet Belief in Angels. The Overlook Press will publish the paperpack edition of A Quiet Belief in Angels in August 2010, and a new hardcover, Saints of New York, in early 2011.

R.J. Ellory's THE ANNIVERSARY MAN: The Ultimate "Serial Killer Thriller"

R.J. Ellory's new thriller The Anniversary Man is now in bookstores, and drawing widespread attention from critics and fans alike:

“This is one of those police-procedural gems that come along once in a blue moon. The book is entirely free of the tired formulas that drive way too many procedurals and that often seem more oriented toward securing movie rights than telling a story. And what a story this is! NYPD Detective Ray Irving—overworked, underpaid, and absolutely dedicated to his job—risks his code of ethics and, ultimately, his life to track down a serial killer who is imitating the crimes of some of the worst monsters our society has spawned. . . .although Ellory is widely acclaimed in his native Britain, his books have not yet received widespread distribution in the U.S. Following A Quiet Belief in Angels (2009), this could be the one to put his name in lights in this country. Expect his name to be on every crime-fiction fan’s lips in short order.” –Booklist (starred review)

“Ellory’s gripping thriller should appeal to lovers of procedurals and may also draw readers of true crime, as it deals with many actual serial killings. -Library Journal

“Set in New York City, The Anniversary Man is the ultimate killer thriller, chronicling the case of a deranged but highly intelligent murderer who kills on the anniversary dates of famous serial murders from the past. Each subsequent slaying eerily copycats another infamous death--all faithfully replicating precise details of previous homicides. From electrifying start to shocking conclusion, this thriller affirms the genius that is R.J. Ellory. Britain's phenom author has achieved the status of world-class writer.” – Dean Murphy, International Thriller Writers

“John Costello survived the Hammer of God killings in 1984. His girlfriend did not. Ever since then, John has become obsessed with the why. Why do serial killers do what they do? What made him and Nadia a target? Why did he survive? He’s devoted his career to their study and is the only one to draw a connection between a recent series of murders in New York. When Detective Ray Irving is alerted to the fact that these seemingly random crimes are all exact copies of previous serial killers’ scenes, he is assigned as lead in the investigation. But the department wants to keep this one quiet and Irving will need Costello’s help to try and catch the killer before he strikes again. The Anniversary Man is just Ellory’s second release here in the States (he has seven titles available in the UK) and he’s quickly cementing himself as one of my favorites in the crime genre. His stories are dark and disturbing, his plots keep you guessing, and they never end quite like you think they will.” - Becky Lejeune, Bookbitch.com

“Thank you Overlook for keeping me up till 2 am last night. READ IT! I can't say anything more. I have to get back to it now.....full review to follow, but let's just say it's as good as A Quiet Belief in Angels but with that sense of eerie foreboding ratcheted up even higher. Is that possible? – Murder, Mystery, and Mayhem

“The Anniversary Man was an engrossing read, and I highly recommend it. Put aside your doubts about the serial killer thing-you will be rewarded with a suspenseful and involving reading experience. What I really liked about this book was what Ellory did NOT do. He did not dedicate individual chapters to be told from the serial killer's point of view. We actually know very little about the murderer. We don't learn about his mommy issues. We don't learn about his childhood problems or ghastly physical appearance. What we do learn is what is revealed in the investigation. Ellory also excels at creating characters who are three-dimensional. The dialogue is completely real. I'm actually kind of amazed that Ellory, who is from the UK, did such a great job in detailing the New York setting and police procedures. It was flawless. His research on the real serial killers was seamlessly woven into the narrative and provided another layer of interest in addition to the present day crimes.” – Deadly Pleasures.com

“An ending where untold truths are revealed, lies are uncovered, the author takes the reader on a deadly roller coast ride. This riveting and spellbinding novel brings into focus the difficult job of any police department and the lengths that some dedicated men and women will go to in order to protect their cities. This is the first novel I have reviewed by RJ Ellory and I hope to have the honor of reviewing his next release.” – Fran Lewis, Bookpleasures.com

“In this bleak examination of murder and hope, Ellory’s herrings are as red and sticky as caramelized apples, more dead-ends than Manhattan riverside real estate. Fans of Ellory’s A Quiet Belief in Angels will repeatedly take the wrong road, when trying to identify the Anniversary Man. Readers who expect the amazing success of that novel to be replicated by the Brit who sets his plots in the U.S. as though he intends to recolonize for the Queen will be thrilled with this epic crime fiction novel. Written as though by a native New Yorker, this novel needs to be read twice --- once for vice-grip-like details, again for nectar from the consummate wordsmith. So real is Ellory’s writing that the lines between journalism and crime fiction blur. Though Ellory’s standalone crime thrillers grab readers by the throat and don’t let go until the last page, Detective Irving has the makings of Connelly’s Harry Bosch on steroids, sure to be a repeat character --- and made with cinematic success into a blockbuster movie. –Bookreporter.com

“This is an exhilarating New York City serial killer thriller that feels fresh in spite of the standard elements used like taunting the cops. Fast-paced throughout, the cops, the reporter and the reader increasingly believe John is the killer. Although RJ Ellory shows he is not The Boy From New York City, fans will relish this strong police procedural.” – Harriet Klausner, Genre Go Round

“Ellory is skilled at cinematic narratives [and] this novel brandishes his filmic consciousness... It's a cliche to praise a crime novel for its adroit marshalling of suspense, but there is no choice here: with The Anniversary Man, that's the signal achievement.” –Independent (UK)

“From the man who is incapable of writing a poor book, this is the serial killer novel to end all serial killer novels... Again, R.J. Ellory has given us a read that tempts the senses, engages the emotions and tickles the intellect. What can I say, but it's a sure-fire winner and deserves to be on every award list going.” -Crimesquad

“A favorite author always has a lot to live up to. I needn't have worried; the latest from RJ Ellory had me frantically turning the pages as I got more and more engrossed in the plot and the characters, unable to put it down until finished. The Anniversary Man is unquestionably a page turner with characters who are convincingly real and believable. Both Irving and Costello are brilliantly portrayed, both are haunted by the past and their mistrust of each other is central to a storyline that is both original and skilfully written. The crime scenes are graphic enough to satisfy the bloodthirsty amongst us but not too much so as to offend the squeamish. The pace of the book is just right with the tension building page by page as the book moves towards its gripping conclusion.” – Amazon.com Readers review

“Let's cut to the chase. This is quite simply one of the best cop thrillers you'll read this year. Or any year. It's an achievement that parks Ellory's wagon on the driveway of Michael Connelly the finest American exponent of the genre, and no higher praise can I give... Brilliant.” – Evening Telegraph

Overlook Preview: THE ANNIVERSARY MAN by R.J. Ellory

Coming soon is R.J. Ellory's The Anniversary Man, a new thriller from the author of A Quiet Belief in Angels. Fran Lewis of Bookpleasures.com offers an advance preview:

"John Costello is 16 years old and has his whole life ahead of him. Working hard in school and helping out in his father’s store he was a typical teenager enjoying life. In walks Nadia McGowan and his whole world changed. Getting to know her and developing strong feelings is normal when you are 16 years old. What does happen as a result of this relationship is anything but normal. It is tragic. After getting to know each other John and Nadia decide to meet at the beach to discuss that she is leaving to study art in New York City. The events of that afternoon will imbed themselves in John’s mind and forever scar him not only physically but mentally as well. “ I am the Hammer of God, “ he stated as he came upon the young couple and lifted his hammer killing Nadia and critically injuring John. This brings me to my review of a riveting thriller, The Anniversary Man by author RJ Ellory.

Twenty-two years later the unthinkable happens. A string of what appears at first random murders targeting teenagers plague the police department in NYC. Several murders are committed and appear unrelated, but are they. John Costello, 22 years later is a crime researcher for the New York Herald working for Senior Crime Correspondent Karen Langley. Detective Ray Irving is assigned these cases and is determined to solve these murders before they become cold and the killer gets away. Karen Langley will do anything to put roadblocks in his way when she barrels into his life demanding answers and threatening to run the story about the serial killings. Along with John Costello they begin to uncover the pieces that might tie all of these killings together.

Most people celebrate wedding anniversaries, anniversaries of when they first met or the first time they went to a dance with that certain someone, but few celebrate the anniversaries of murder. Our murderer, dubbed the Anniversary Man does just that. New York City is playing host to a serial killer who is committing these murders on the exact date using the same method and manner of earlier murders. This murderer is copying murders of people who were on death row that have been executed. He is killing and targeting teenagers and what brings this home to John Costello is the memory of the murder of his girlfriend 22 years before by the Hammer Of God killer who this present day killer mimicked the murder of Mia Grant.

Detective Ray Irving is determined to find out how John Costello was able to link all of the murders together. Finding out about his past and learning a little about his present made him suspicious of him. John Costello a relative recluse that belongs to the Winterbourne club a group who meets weekly to discuss serial murder cases. Irving is on quest to find the killer and Costello might be his only source to help him succeed. With John’s researching expertise and his connections, Detective Ray Irving begins the insurmountable job of trying to connect all of these murders before the body count rises. Ray Irving and John Costello along with Karen Langley form a bond to bring this man to justice forever changing all of their lives.

This extremely smart, insane killer who methodically plans each murder to the weapon used, the manner of execution and the dates that are linked to famous serial murders from the past, making the Anniversary Man one killer that needs to be stopped before he kills again. A killer who is always ahead of the police department whose resources and manpower are limited, Detective Ray Irving hopes with Costello’s help and outstanding affinity to remember dates, facts and expertly linking them together, the case might be solved. Two men with pasts they would soon forget, a serial murderer that has eluded the police for more than half a year, Detective Ray Irving and John Costello form an unholy alliance in order to bring this killer down. Both victims of their pasts, Irving and Costello put them aside when one phone call and a solid lead might turn the tables in their direction, but at what cost.

An ending where untold truths are revealed, lies are uncovered, the author takes the reader on a deadly roller coast ride along with Irving, Costello and Langley with an end result more deadly than a Category 4 Hurricane and the damage even more devastating. Everyday is an anniversary of something but our killer only celebrates death. Who will be there at the end?

This riveting and spellbinding novel brings into focus the difficult job of any police department and the lengths that some dedicated men and women will go to in order to protect their cities. This is the first novel I have reviewed by RJ Ellory and I hope to have the honor of reviewing his next release."

Starred Review in Booklist for R.J. Ellory's THE ANNIVERSARY MAN

Magnificent praise for The Anniversary Man, by R.J. Ellory in Booklist: "This is one of those police-procedural gems that come along once in a blue moon. The book is entirely free of the tired formulas that drive way too many procedurals and that often seem more oriented toward
securing movie rights than telling a story. And what a story this is! NYPD Detective Ray Irving—overworked, underpaid, and absolutely dedicated to his job—risks his code of ethics and, ultimately, his life to track down a serial killer who is imitating the crimes of some of the worst monsters our society has spawned. An increasing number of leads begin flowing in from newspaper researcher John Costello, a psychologically damaged survivor of the “Hammer of God” killer. Two decades after that traumatic event, Costello now seems to have garnered an uncannily encyclopedic knowledge of serial murderers. Costello’s almost prescient information soon makes him Irving’s number-one resource as well as his number-one suspect. Although Ellory is widely acclaimed in his native Britain, his books have not yet received widespread distribution in the U.S. Following A Quiet Belief in Angels (2009), this could be the one to put his name in lights in this country. Expect his name to be on every crime-fiction fan’s lips in short order." — Elliott Swanson

R.J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS Nominated for Dilys Award

R. J. Elllory's A Quiet Belief in Angels has been nominated for the Dilys Award, named for Dilys Winn (the founder of Murder Ink) and given out annually by the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association to “the mystery title of the year which the member booksellers have most enjoyed selling.” The contenders for books published in 2009 are:

• The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, by Alan Bradley (Delacorte)
• A Quiet Belief in Angels, by R.J. Ellory (Overlook)
• The Dark Horse, by Craig Johnson (Viking)
• The Girl Who Played with Fire, by Steig Larsson (Knopf)
• The Ghosts of Belfast, by Stuart Neville (Soho)
• The Brutal Telling, by Louise Penny (Minotaur)
• The Shanghai Moon, by S.J. Rozan (Minotaur)

The winner will be announced during this year’s Left Coast Crime convention in Los Angeles, March 11-14.

More Applause for R.J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS

On the list of FlashlightWorthy's Best Crime Fiction of 2009 is R.J. Ellory's A Quiet Belief in Angels: "There's immense pleasure to be found in a novel that's a touch of class; one that raises the bar. In 2009, the USA struck gold with A Quiet Belief in Angels, the first publication from UK-based R. J. Ellory with The Overlook Press. There’s more to come and indeed a backlist to be read, but A Quiet Belief in Angels is worthy of note.

One sentence in this novel sums it up perfectly, as imparted by its narrator, Joseph Calvin Vaughan: "It was a life, but so distant from what I’d wished."

A Quiet Belief in Angels is the story of the life of Joseph Vaughan and how much of his life is stolen away, how parts of the lives of others are stolen around him, and how lives are taken through the simple act of murder. The story is one superbly told, with great intelligence; the characterization and cultural settings are as deep and rich as a tapestry; the historical context reads as precise as a carefully researched academic tome. But what, above all, keeps you reading? It is the story that Joseph Calvin Vaughan has to tell you. And what a remarkable story it is."

R.J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS Named Top Mystery Book of 2009 by The Strand Magazine

Andrew Gulli, managing editor of The Strand Magazine, has chosen R.J. Ellory's A Quiet Belief in Angels as his top pick of books published in 2009. This beloved quarterly magazine for mystery and short story lovers not only publishes book reviews, interviews, and feature articles, it also delivers gripping tales of mystery and suspense in a variety of settings (from Victorian England to turn of the century Prague to modern day England and America) by some of today's leading mystery writers including writers. On behalf of Roger Ellory and The Overlook Press, our heartfelt thanks to Andrew and everyone at The Strand.

R. J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS: "A Gripping Mystery, Beautifully Written"

Julie Rose reviews R.J. Ellory's thriller A Quiet Belief in Angels in the current issue of Historical Novels Review: "A Quiet Belief in Angels follows narrator Joseph Vaughan, an author, who recounts the story of his life, from his time as a child in rural Georgia in the early 1940s to a hot, dark hotel room in 1960s New York City, where we learn that Joseph has just shot a man. Previously published in over 20 languages and a bestseller in the UK, A Quiet Belief in Angels is the first of Ellory’s books to be available in the US. In a series of flashbacks and flash forwards, Joseph tells the story of his life, wreathed in heartache and tragedy, defined by a series of child mutilations and murders in his own hometown. When he finally escapes Georgia and moves to New York City to chase his dream of becoming a writer, he finds that has not escaped, and that tragedy and death itself has followed him. Ellory renders mid-20th century America convincingly, with a good sense of place and time, through both description and realistic dialogue. That said, while the Georgia sections ring particularly true, the Manhattan passages suffer from too many historical details shoe-horned in. However, those quibbles are minor. This is a gripping mystery, beautifully written."

Listen to R.J. Ellory, author of A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS, on Book Talk Radio

Listen to R.J. Ellory discuss his sensational thriller A Quiet Belief in Angels on Book Talk with Stephen Usery, WYPL's terrific author interview program in Memphis.

R.J. Ellory’s masterful and riveting novel has drawn widespread praise since its American publication in September 2009. Already an international bestseller that has been translated in 22 languages, A Quiet Belief in Angels is an unforgettable page-turner. Looking ahead to next year, Overlook is proud to announce the June 2010 publication of a new novel by R.J. Elllory, The Anniversary Man.

Laura Joh Rowland, Peter Quinn, and R.J. Ellory Read from New Works at The Center for Fiction Tonight in NYC

Don't miss this special evening of readings by top novelists Laura Joh Rowland, Peter Quinn, and R.J. Ellory at The Center for Fiction, 17 East 47th Street, in New York, at 6:30pm.

Laura Joh Rowland continues her fictional adventures of Charlotte Bronte this Spring with Bedlam. Peter Quinn, author of the acclaimed Banished Children of Eve, will read from a new novel tentatively titled The Man Who Never Returned. R.J. Ellory will offer a glimpse of The Anniversary Man, which will be published in summer 2010.

Meet the authors, editors, and friends of The Overlook Press at a reception to follow!

The Quiet Persistence of R.J. Ellory

R. J. Ellory, author of A Quiet Belief in Angels, continues his whirlwind tour of America, with stops today in Philadelphia and New York. Jason Gargano of Cincinnati CityBeat caught up with Ellory for a wide-ranging interview.

CityBeat: You have a gift for crafting unique, unpredictable narratives. Do you map out a story’s plot beforehand, or is it more of an instinctual thing?

R.J. Ellory: Very definitely an instinctual thing. Realistically, I do have a rough idea of the kind of novel I want to write before I start but I don't put an outline together, nor a synopsis. There are two things I establish in my own mind before I begin a book. The first is the emotional effect I am trying to create. The second is the location and time period of the story. The location is as important a character to me as the people in the book. Location and time period dictate language, dialect, politics, culture, so many things, especially when you are writing a book set in the States. There is such a diverse and rich contradiction and contrast of cultures here that a book set in New York and a book set in Georgia are going to be completely different stories with completely different atmospheres and feelings.

CB: As a born and bred Brit, why are you so interested in writing stories set in the United States?
RE: I think writers are often told, “Write what you know.” Though I don't think this is a bad piece of advice, I do think it's somewhat limiting. I think you should concentrate on writing what you’re interested in. The things that interest me just wouldn't work in a British setting. If you want to write complex political conspiracies, serial killer novels set in post-Depression Georgia, books about the CIA, the FBI, the assassination of the Kennedys and such things, well they just wouldn't work in those small green villages in England where you find hobbits! That's the thing for me. I'm writing about what fascinates me. As Paul Auster said when he stated that there was no choice in becoming an author — that you were essentially “chosen” — so it has been for me in what I write about. There has been no real choice in the subjects and locations I write about. It just felt right, and it just was the thing I wanted to do.

CB: What’s up with your interest in serial killers?
RE: Well, that's a direct question! I have always been fascinated by the psychology and motivation of crime. Whereas many crimes can be classified as “crimes of passion” — jealousy, revenge, anger, the heat of the moment — or “crimes of considered necessity” — the perpetrator robs a bank or holds up a store or breaks into someone's house in the misguided belief that this is the only way they can make enough money to support themselves, etcetera — serial killing is neither one of those, and is something no-one understands. Psychiatry and psychology have never given definitive answers, and possibly never will. They certainly have never provided an explanation that then led to a preventative remedy or a cure for such behavior, and thus we are left in mystery. What is it that makes a human being just want to kill other human beings? It's certainly the case in the U.K., and I'm sure the case here in the U.S., that the vast majority of murder victims are murdered by someone they know. Well, a serial killer is killing strangers. The victims look a certain way. They do a certain thing. They say certain words or have something about them that prompts a response in this killer. And that response is an act of the most terrifying brutality against this stranger. Why? That's an interesting question, and certainly a question that has come up in several of the books I have published.

CB: It was interesting to find out that you wrote nearly two-dozen novels before Candlemoth was published in 2003. What kept you from giving up?
RE: The simple belief that this was what I wanted to do more than anything. John Lennon once said that you should find something you love and then you'd never work another day in your life. Through all that writing I was also working full-time, and coming home to write never felt like another job. It felt like my escape valve, my release. Frustrating, of course, to write 22 novels and to be told by the British publishing industry that they felt insufficiently confident about publishing a British author writing American novels, and then to be told by the U.S. publishing industry that they also liked the work but felt the same as the Brits. But what can I say? Disraeli was once quoted as saying that success was entirely dependent upon constancy of purpose. I just figured that I needed to keep going, and I did, and now the past doesn't matter. It was a good experience. Twenty-two novels in six years teaches you that you can write no matter how you feel, that you can write regardless of whether or not you're “in the mood,” and it teaches you a good work ethic!

More Praise for R. J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS

Eleanor Bukowsky takes a look at A Quiet Belief in Angels on the popular Mostly Fiction blog: "R. J. Ellory’s A Quiet Belief in Angels is the heartrending story of Joseph Vaughn, a boy who grows up under an unlucky star. The narrator is only eleven when his thirty-seven year old father, Earl, dies in 1939, leaving him and his impoverished young mother to fend for themselves. Earl’s death leaves Joseph and his mother deeply shaken. The boy is further traumatized when a classmate is found dead, after having been stripped, beaten, and assaulted by an unknown perpetrator. This girl’s murder is just the first in a long string of calamities that will dog Augusta Falls, Georgia, where Joseph and his mother live. The specter of death constantly haunts this tragic tale of hopes dashed and innocent lives snuffed out prematurely. The author eloquently and vividly evokes the atmosphere of rural Georgia before the Second World War, where people make do with very little, gossip is a way of life, neighbors help neighbors, and outsiders are never fully accepted. There was “a richness in friendship and community” that helped compensate for a lack of material wealth. Joseph, who is highly intelligent, sensitive, and imaginative, is given a much-needed boost by his beloved teacher, Miss Webber, who encourages him to become an avid reader and try his hand at creative writing. This multi-faceted novel blends disparate elements that do not always smoothly coexist. Side by side with scenes of gothic horror are poignant romantic encounters. Humor and tragedy intermingle freely. Although Joseph benefits from a few close friendships, he also endures unspeakable betrayals. Throughout, he recalls in flashback the high and lows of his tumultuous life. Vaughn is a three-dimensional protagonist who holds this somewhat sprawling book together when it is in danger of sinking under its own weight. In an electrifying conclusion, Joseph decides that it is his responsibility to mete out punishment on behalf of the many people whose lives have been ruined by a psychopathic and manipulative villain. It is likely that Ellory tries to do too much in this murder mystery/ coming-of-age story/ exploration of family angst/ and study of small town life. Still, A Quiet Belief in Angels has a gripping quality that draws us in and keeps us on tenterhooks until it culminates in an explosive confrontation between good and evil."

A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS Selected an "OKRA PICK" by Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance

Every year the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance chooses a basketful of books for the Fall 2009 Okra Picks. Thirteen books made the final list, and include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, children’s and young adult titles. All the books have the following things in common: 1) They are Southern in nature. 2) They are Fall 2009 releases and 3) There is a SIBA member Bookstore who is really excited about this book. Southern booksellers love their Southern authors!

Topping the Fiction list this time is R.J. Ellory's thrilling A Quiet Belief in Angels! Ellory appeared at the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville over the weekend, and will continue his tour of the South with appearances at Borders in Atlanta tonight and Books and Books in Coral Gables, Florida on Tuesday night.

Meet R.J. Ellory, author of A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS, On the Road

R.J. Ellory, author of the riveting A Quiet Belief in Angels, is on tour in America for the next couple of weeks. Don't miss this rare opportunity to meet one the the world's top thriller writers!

Based in Birmingham, England, R.J. Ellory is the author of seven novels - all of which are based in America. Joining The Overlook Press this year with his first U.S. published work A Quiet Belief in Angels, Ellory has enjoyed tremendous success in the U.K. and France, and his novels have been translated in to more than 2o languages. Overlook will publish The Anniversary Man in the summer of 2010.

Sunday, October 11, 12noon
SOUTHERN FESTIVAL OF BOOKS
War Memorial Plaza
Charlotte Ave. and Sixth Ave North
Nashville, Tennessee

Monday, October 12, 7pm
BORDERS
3637 Peachtree Road NE, Suite C
Atlanta, Georgia

Tuesday, October 13, 8pm
BOOKS AND BOOKS
265 Aragon Avenue
Coral Gables, Florida 33134

Wednesday, October 14, 7pm
The Book Stall at Chestnut Court
811 Elm Street.
Winnetka Illinois 60093

Thurs/Fri, October 15-16
BOUCHERCON 2009
Hyatt Regency Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana

Saturday, October 17
BOOKS BY THE BANKS
Cincinnati USA Book Festival
Duke Energy Convention Center
Cincinnati, OH

Monday, October 19
12noon-1pm
BORDERS
Philadelphia, PA

7pm
BARNES & NOBLE Tribeca
97 Warren Street (at Greenwich)
New York, NY

Tuesday, October 20
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New York, NY

Another Rave for R. J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS

More praise for R. J. Ellory's A Quiet Belief in Angels: This literary mystery and coming-of-age tale is an absolutely amazing read. Eleven-year-old Joseph Vaughan could have lived out an unassuming life in his small rural Georgia town. But over the years, Joseph faced events that many would never experience; events that shaped his life in unexpected ways. It is 1939 when his father dies. Joseph, a bright student, is encouraged by both his mother and his teacher to develop his promising writing skills. When a girl in his class is kidnapped and murdered, Joseph takes a special interest, collecting facts about the murder and even forming his own band of Guardians to track the killer. As more girls are found, Joseph becomes entangled in the case, eventually discovering one of the bodies himself. For decades, the girls would haunt him, until he is faced once again with the death of someone close to him, someone whose murder resembles those of so long ago. Joseph's pursuit of the truth sends him down a path that will change him forever. As he struggles with growing up, with prison, and even with fame, Joseph never forgets the murders that plagued his hometown or the body that he found. Ellory's American debut is a brilliant read -enthralling and lyrical prose paired with a smart mystery that will literally leave you guessing until the very last page." -Becky Lejune of Bookbitch.com

R.J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS: "A Rare Novel Both Meditative and Suspenseful"

Robert J. Hughes of Smart Money considers A Quiet Belief in Angels by R.J. Ellory in the September issue:

"This marvelous, evocative thriller, which is also an elegy to fractured youth and to the perils of literary fixation, marks the American debut of R.J. Ellory and was his breakout novel in Britain.

The arc of the story concerns Joseph Vaughn, whom we meet when he is a sensitive and observant boy in Augusta Falls, Ga., in the 1930s. He lives with his mother and discovers a gift for writing. Life is bucolic (up to a point) but quickly becomes fraught with evil when one of Joseph's classmates is raped and murdered. This horrific act is the start of a series of similar crimes in the area that will haunt, even implicate, Joseph through the years. Joseph is one of those people whom trouble follows. Readers will follow as well as they see Joseph's life and career unfold in rich detail over the decades. The mystery of who's been killing these young girls propels the thriller, but it's not at the heart of the novel. What is, though, is the character of Joseph and his indomitable spirit as he searches for truth, love and self-realization in the face of overwhelming odds. Ellory's language is precise and lyrical ‹ "the sound of cupped laughter, like the ghosts of trick-or-treat children" ‹ and he captures the petty grievances and the tatterdemalion charm of small towns as well as the onrush of sensations of big-city life.

A Quiet Belief in Angels is a rare novel that is both meditative and suspenseful; it's a study of character, obsession, memory and of the converging paths of compassion, regret and revenge."

A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS On Sale Today!

At long last, R.J. Ellory makes his American debut TODAY with the acclaimed thriller A Quiet Belief in Angels!

“There aren’t nearly enough beautifully written novels, that are also great mysteries. Like The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo and Smilla's Sense of Snow, A Quiet Belief in Angels is one of them.” –James Patterson

“A Quiet Belief in Angels is a beautiful and haunting book. This is a tour de force from R. J. Ellory.” –Michael Connelly

"R. J. Ellory is a uniquely gifted, passionate, and powerful writer, and the quality of his prose –every word, every sentence– lifts A Quiet Belief in Angels far above genre." –Alan Furst

“A mesmerizing tale whose intrigue will pull you from one page to the next without pause, casting you into the gloom of dread and the shadow of grief until you reach the climatic end. R.J. Ellory's remarkable talent for probing the unknown establishes him as the master of the genre. The perfect author to read late into the night.” –Clive Cussler

“What a discovery! Superb... one of my favorite books of the past year.” –Otto Penzler

"Roger Ellory is a class act. If you like James Lee Burke or James Sallis, he's a writer who speaks your language." -Val McDermid

“A Quiet Belief In Angels is a riveting mystery, as compelling as it is moving. Joseph is destined to become one of those seminal characters of literature. Here is a book that restores not only a quiet belief in the redemptive power of literature, but is a novel that you will read over and over again.” –Ken Bruen

"R.J. Ellory's A Quiet Belief in Angels starts out like a moody Chopin piano etude and quickly takes on the size and force of a symphony by Grieg - at times poignant and somber, at others plunging recklessly into the deep to consider many of the darkest and most dangerous caverns of the human heart, only to break through to the surface again and surge toward a shattering –and perfectly realized– crescendo. Ellory's style is original and complex, the story quite harrowing, and the book will stay with you long after you've quietly closed the end-pages and stared for a while into the complicated darkness beyond your own bedroom window." -David Stone

"A Quiet Belief in Angels is a rich, powerful, evocative novel of great psychological depth." -Jonathan Kellerman

“Roger Jon Ellory has a way of concealing the shocks in his text so that you stumble upon them, as if by accident, with some of the horror that you might feel if you too discovered the dismembered body of an eight-year-old girl. Each jolt strikes painfully, and the reader will seek, utterly riveted, this masochistic beating right to the end of the book. … This is compelling, unputdownable thriller writing of the very highest order” –The Guardian

“Ellory is a powerful talent, (A Quiet Belief in Angels) seems set to launch him into the stratosphere of crime writers” –Independent on Sunday

“This isn't your standard shock and bore serial killer novel. It's an impassioned story of a man's life told in Ellory's distinctive voice, and it confirms his place in the top flight of crime writing.” –Sunday Telegraph

Please visit http://www.quietbeliefinangels.com/ for all the news that's fit to post, including reviews, tweets, blogs, and a complete schedule of R.J. Ellory's October U.S. events!

R.J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS: "A Haunting Book Expertly Written"

Book critic Chere Coen reviews R.J. Ellory's A Quiet Belief in Angels in the Louisiana Book News: "Englishman R.J. Ellory was orphaned at 7 and wound up in prison for poaching at 17. While in jail, he immersed himself with reading and began to write 22 novels in longhand.
He submitted his novels to publishers on both sides of the pond but American publishers were leery of an Englishman writing about America, and English publishers were leery of American stories penned by an Englishman. He sold his first book in the U.K., however, and Candlemoth was instantly shortlisted for the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger award. Five other novels followed.

But it was A Quiet Belief in Angels that won him best-seller status, shortlisted for numerous awards and now published in 21 countries. This week, the Southern-based thriller will be published stateside and Americans will be introduced to a haunting book expertly written. . . Ellory keeps readers guessing until the very end, a kaleidoscope of suspects revolving as new evidence is unearthed. As the narrator, Joseph makes uneasy comments that make us doubt his innocence as well. And throughout the entire story, Ellory's beautifully descriptive writing delivers us to a rural place in America that's chillingly evil as it is pristine and innocent.

A Quiet Belief in Angels is one of those rare books where you grab anyone walking by to read them passages so you can hear his beautiful words out loud, a book where you long to underline well-written sentences to recount later but you can't stop reading long enough to find a pencil.
Introduce yourself to R.J. Ellory. A Quiet Belief in Angels is the first of more to come."

More Bookseller Praise for R. J. Ellory's A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS

More and more booksellers are adding their support to R.J. Ellory's A Quiet Belief in Angels, which goes on sale next Tuesday, September 8:

"I read the prologue. I read the first page. Then I had to close the book and catch my breath. What an extraordinary writer! Vigorous and tender. Beguiling. Allow yourself to open this book. Be amazed." -Jennie Turner-Collins, Joseph Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati, Ohio

"R.J. Ellory is already an international bestselling author, but he has never before been published here in the States. That will change on Sept. 8, with the publication of his U.S. debut, A Quiet Belief in Angels. This is a must-read for mystery fans: a compelling story set in 1940s rural Georgia, with a protagonist you won't soon forget. Joseph Vaughan is a young man when we first meet him. It is the summer of 1939, and death has come to the little Georgia town where he lives. A young girl has been brutally murdered, and the tragedy has shaken the tiny community to its core. The case is never solved, and it soon proves to be just the first in a string of horrific murders that plague the area over the years. Joseph, recovering from the untimely passing of his father, feels that Death has come to stay, and becomes determined to find the killer himself. As years pass, his quest slowly becomes an obsession‹one that will affect his entire life. The young Joseph doesn't know that his decision will bring him into the sights of the killer again and again, and that he will lose many of the things he holds most dear in his search for answers. A story of secrets and lies, revenge and obsession, right and wrong‹this is a moving and haunting tale in the best Southern gothic tradition. A debut not to be missed! - The Crime Scene, Deanna P., Borders Mystery & Thriler buyer