A Simple Act of Violence - Softcover

R. J. ELLORY, orphaned at the age of seven and sent to prison for poaching when he was seventeen, immersed himself in literature and set about learning the craft of writing fiction. He now divides his time between writing and volunteer programs in the areas of drug rehabilitation and youth literacy. He is married with one son.

''A Simple Act of Violence is a masterful exercise in suspense that keeps unfolding and taking the reader to unexpected places. This one will keep you up late reading, and then you won't sleep.'' --John Lutz, New York Times bestselling author

''The backstory is ingeniously written as a first-person account of the relationship of the killer to his victims and relates how passions of the persons involved and their actions lead up to the present. The DC murder investigations, written in third person, provide a quick read and plenty of blood and gory scenes to satisfy the taste of the most bloodthirsty thriller fan. There is something for everyone in A Simple Act of Violence . . . This crime thriller will delight the palate of lovers of political intrigue in international venues, events that ring of historical truth, bringing the action closer to the realm of real life.'' --New York Journal of Books

''A police procedural . . . shape-shifts into a conspiracy thriller and a historical exposé . . . There are powerful scenes and vivid images.'' --Wall Street Journal

''[A] superb crime thriller . . . Impressive prose and pacing, coupled with a grim, unflinching view of reality that James Ellroy would recognize, make this a must-read for noir fans.'' --Publishers Weekly (starred review)

''Ellory is back with an amazing new novel. It's not only a mystery with enough plot twists to keep the most jaded fan of the genre guessing, it's also a high-speed car chase of a thriller . . . Ellory lures the reader into a Machiavellian tapestry of international proportions . . . Many writers who attempt to construct a novel with levels of geopolitical intrigue found here wind up producing a string of lame polemics or, even worse, a conspiracy-theory rant. It's a tribute to Ellory's mastery of his craft to note that he avoids these pitfalls completely. This is a superbly entertaining book and one that will endure in the reader's thoughts long after the last page turns. After several fine novels, it's high time for Ellory to take his rightful place on crime fiction's A-list.'' --Booklist (starred review)

''An awesome achievement--a thriller of such power, scope, and accomplishment that fanfares should herald its arrival.'' --Guardian (Manchester)

''This is a book with everything that a fan of modern mystery fiction could hope for: a labyrinthine plot, unbearable tension, controversy, and a social conscience.'' --Crimesquad

So skillful is his use of dialogue and the Washington location, in a thriller that propels the reader along and offers shocks and suspense in equal measure, that one never doubts the authenticity of his American credentials . . . This is a long, substantial novel. Yet had it been twice as long this reviewer would still have wanted more.'' --Waterstones Books Quarterly

''A very cunningly constructed serial killer thriller.'' --Bookseller Paperback Preview

''Grips with an iron fist until the bitter end.'' --Shortlist

''Ellory brings a new psychological and moral tension to the genre, mixing Washington politics with serial killings.'' --Saga

''A real page turner--shocking and deeply moving by turn.'' --Scotsman