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Bad Signs [Paperback]

R.J. Ellory
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
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Book Description

27 Sep 2012

Orphaned by an act of senseless violence that took their mother from them, half-brothers Clarence Luckman and Elliott Danziger have been raised in state institutions, unaware of any world outside. But their lives take a sudden turn when they are seized as hostages by a convicted killer en route to death row.

Earl Sheridan is a psychopath of the worst kind, but he has the potential to change the boys' lives for ever. As the trio set off on a frenetic escape from the law through California and Texas, the two brothers must come to terms with the ever-growing tide of violence that follows in their wake - something that forces them to make a choice about their lives, and their relationship to one another.


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Product details

  • Paperback: 464 pages
  • Publisher: Orion (27 Sep 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1409118592
  • ISBN-13: 978-1409118596
  • Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 12.8 x 3.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (64 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 27,207 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Product Description

Review

Set in the 1960s, the content may be dark and unforgiving but it is a beautifully and poetically planned tale that reveals itself layer by layer. (CANDIS )

Though [Ellory's] books always provide a wild and giddy ride, there is more to them than thrills, chills and spills. Bad Signs is rich, complex and nuanced, with many psychological undercurrents. It's edge-of-the-seat entertainment. (Lorne Jackson BIRMINGHAM POST )

He's one of the great British thriller writers of his generation. (Alex Gordon PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH )

Set in an utterly convincing 1960s rural America, this is a jaw droppingly good thriller by British writer Roger Ellory. (IRISH INDEPENDENT )

Ellory's the real deal, giving us another horrific chunk of small-town American violence, neglect and psychopathy. Institutionalised half brothers Clarence and Elliott have a startling choice to make when they are kidnapped by a convicted serial killer **** (Henry Sutton DAILY MIRROR )

Violent imagery, real pathos and a dark, dark humour. Without doubt, Bad Signs is Ellory's most disturbing book, and one that will haunt the reader (Ali Karim SHOTS )

One of the most interesting crime novelists working today. He sets his novels in the US and seems to change his style of writing from book to book - always to excellent effect. (THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN )

With this novel, Ellory has joined the stars of modern genre literature. It is a classic. (THE WEST AUSTRALIAN )

Will your fingernails ever grow back? Now, that is good writing. This is a stellar work of fiction that deserves to be on everyone's reading list. Loved it. (SHOTS )

Ellory has been compared to Mario Puzo, James Ellory and Stephen King. All descriptions are accurate, but they fail to define Ellory's unique style. He is a very special writer.

(CRIMEZINE )

Ellory has a talent for making the detestable captivating. An intricate fictional dance whicn he pulls off expertly. (KIRKUS )

Ellory has a lovely prose style that allows his story to glide on, as events both rivet and repel. [An] excellent action thriller. (GLOBE & MAIL )

It's a cliche to praise a crime novel for its adroit marshalling of suspense, but there is no choice here (GOOD BOOK GUIDE )

Book Description

The next bestseller from the acclaimed author of A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars `Eldorado. Where kids have moms and dads.' 15 Mar 2012
By J. Cameron-Smith TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
When Clarence Luckman's father kills their mother, Clarence and his half-brother Elliott Danziger , spend their childhood in various state institutions. By the time they are teenagers, housed in a juvenile detention facility, Clarence (known as Clay) and Elliott (known as Digger) are well acquainted with violence and the darker side of life in institutions. And things are about to get a whole lot worse when they are taken hostage by Earl Sheridan. Earl Sheridan, a man en route to death row with nothing left to lose, kills his way out of imprisonment and takes the brothers with him as hostages.

Set in the 1960s, in Texas, the balance of the story plays out over the next nine days. Earl Sheridan is a psychopath who takes the boys on a killing spree. Digger is fascinated, and sees Earl as a hero and someone that he wants to emulate. And so he does. Clay manages to escape, but is caught in a different tragedy as a consequence of mistaken identity.

This novel is both thriller and epic tragedy. Who will survive, and how? Are the fates determining who will live and die? Will the guilty be punished, and can the innocent survive? Both boys are seeking a happier life, both seem set on reaching their own Eldorado but each has chosen (or is drawn to) a different path. Other people, whose paths cross theirs, will have their lives changed. Or ended. Is it chance, or fate? Pre-destined, or self-determined? If self-determined, what factors determine the choices?

I could not put this novel down. I was caught up in an atmosphere of dreadful expectation and fearful hope - of a brighter future for one of the brothers and his new-found friend. There are some horrific scenes in this novel, but none of them seemed gratuitous within the context of the story. `Bad Signs' is disturbing but never entirely without hope. And the ending? Somehow it seemed appropriate. If you want to know why, you'll need to read it yourself. Be prepared to be shocked and moved, and then haunted.

`Doesn't matter where you are in the world, you're always looking at the same sky.'

Jennifer Cameron-Smith
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Story telling at it's best 18 Feb 2012
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
R.J Ellory has such a unique style of writing. He writes about the dark, seedy side of life but in such a light, eloquent way.
The characterisation is excellent, even if you despise a character, you can see how they became the way they are. The story follows the life-changing and fateful events of two teenage half-brothers, Elliott Danzinger and Clarence Luckman, over a nine day period and explores the consequences of coming face to face with evil and how that effects the two boys.

I particularly liked the character of John Cassidy, a detective who wants to know "why?" as well as "who, what & where?" A man who wants to make a difference, rather than just make a name for himself. A little touch of tv's "Criminal Minds" there, which I'm a big fan of.

There are twists in the plot that made me hold my breath and at one point I put the Kindle down, walked off to make a cup of tea, shaking my head and saying to my husband "No, that can't happen!" of course he had no idea what I was talking about :-)

It can be frustrating when you get to the end of a book and are left feeling that something is missing or not worked out right, but the ending of "Bad Signs" was just as I would have chosen it to end!!

If you like reading Crime or Thriller fiction I would urge you to try an R.J. Ellory novel, I'm confident you wont be disappointed.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars No Bad Signs Here!!!! 13 Feb 2012
Format:Paperback
I discovered this author just befor xmas last year (2011) and since then have read, 'A Quiet Belief in Angels', 'Anniversary Man' and 'Saints of New York'...All of which I'd give 5*'s. What a fantastically amazing writer. I'm finding it hard to choose books by other authors to read in-between these master-pieces. I'm a big fan of Peter James and Mark Billingham - I love both their series and stand alone novels but they generally seem to be about the same issues and subjects. Ellory on the other hand seems to have a bottomless pit of ideas that upon first impression may risk being far-fetched but every book so far has been un-put-downable. High drama and tension courses through the pages and all his characters are created to be liked / disliked / understood...there's never a character who doesn't matter and whose story is left in the air.
Bad Signs is simply great. Full of twists, turns and tension. A seriously crazy road trip. Could easily be a big screen hit too!!
Read it...Read em all. You won't be disappointed.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Bad signs.
gory, but just brilliant! This guy can write no wrong in my opinion, a fantastic author and all round nice bloke
Published 3 months ago by Patricia Fletcher
4.0 out of 5 stars A Worrying Sign?
I've read all of R J's books to date and I have to say that he has become my
favourite author of all time; every tale has been engrossing and on every occasion
when I've... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Mr. John Frank Herbert
4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable read
This is a slightly different kind of story than ellorys usual fare as it focuses away from the detective onto the participants. But keeps you on the hook as always.
Published 4 months ago by Selby Wells
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent thought provoking book, as I have come to expect from...
Don't just expect a cosy whodunnit from Take time to read it and your thinking will Roger Ellory. The author takes you on a journey that challenges conventional thought and... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Judy Coop
2.0 out of 5 stars A poor offering.
Having read A Quiet Belief in Angels, A Quiet Vendetta and A Simple Act of Violence and thoroughly enjoyed them, I was very dissapointed with this banal offering from the same... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Lexicon
5.0 out of 5 stars Bad Signs
Another brilliant book from Ellory. Would thoroughly recommend. I have read every Ellory book and never been disappointed. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ms Linda Gisborne
4.0 out of 5 stars If it wasn't for bad luck, they wouldn't have no luck at all
'Bad Signs' is a terrific interpretation of the American `killer on the loose' road movie, set in an expertly realised, rolling landscape of wide horizons and hidden, intimate... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Rowena Hoseason
5.0 out of 5 stars R J ellory
Very good novel! Violent and brutal, i actualy hated 'Digger' in the end. Maybe it was just me but i felt it was more a love story, the 'clay' and 'Bailey' relationship, well at... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Grahame Hills
1.0 out of 5 stars Bad Signs, you bet!
I am a dedicated fan of RJ but I just can't believe he would resort to such gratuitous violence, sex and swearing in a very plodding and unbelievable story. Read more
Published 6 months ago by A Glasgow Girl
1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible signs
Last time I wrote a review of this author's work I received a tirade from "Jelly Bean" whom we all now know to be R. J. lui meme. Read more
Published 8 months ago by John Coffey
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