Washington, embroiled in the mid-term elections, did not want to hear about serial killings. But when the newspapers reported a fourth murder, when they gave the killer a name and details of his horrendous crimes, there were few people that could ignore it. Detective Robert Miller is assigned to the case, and rapidly uncover a complication. The victims do not officially exist. Their personal details do not register on any known systems. And as Miller unearths ever more disturbing facts, he starts to face truths so far-removed from his own reality that he begins to fear for his life.
A Simple Act of Violence
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A stunning work of crime fiction...a gem of a crime novel that should be up there with the best of them. (Anthony Lund ALLBOOKS REVIEW )
A standout thriller...Ellory seamlessly connects this whodunit with a dirty history of the CIA, crafting a tale that grimly makes the personal political. (THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER )
A standout thriller...Ellory seamlessly connects this whodunit with a dirty history of the CIA, crafting a tale that grimly makes the personal political. (THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER )
Book Description
Washington has a new menace... a serial killer whose victims don't exist...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Hippy chick
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I've read A Quiet Belief In Angels by this author and thoroughly enjoyed it, but that was quite a while ago so had pretty much forgotten just how much I enjoyed R. J. Ellory's style. This book certainly reminded me of that pretty quickly into the story.
So basically, you have Police Detective Robert Miller and his partner Al Roth, doing their best to find a serial killer known as The Ribbon Killer who badly beats his victims almost beyond recognition,ties a ribbon around their neck attached to which is a luggage tag like those put on the big toes of John Does in the USA and there's always a very strong smell of lavender on the victims. But the latest victim lacks the beatings so is this the same murderer or a copycat?
During the investigation into the death of the latest victim Catherine Sheridan, Miller has his first encounter with John Robey, a university leturer and man who appears to be without a past. While Robey becomes a prime suspect in the minds of others on the investigation team, Miller just doesn't feel that he's right for the murders. But is he?
Whilst tending to have me think I had the actual murdered sussed, on more than one occasion, it wasn't until very close to the end that I had my confusion sorted. Then as I closed the book, I realized that all the pointers to who was responsible for the murders had been right there in black and white pretty much most of the way through but just kept throwing red herrings, (fairly convincing ones I might add), at me. Shan't tell you who 'done it' because I wouldn't want to spoil things for you but if you want a really good read, this is it!
So basically, you have Police Detective Robert Miller and his partner Al Roth, doing their best to find a serial killer known as The Ribbon Killer who badly beats his victims almost beyond recognition,ties a ribbon around their neck attached to which is a luggage tag like those put on the big toes of John Does in the USA and there's always a very strong smell of lavender on the victims. But the latest victim lacks the beatings so is this the same murderer or a copycat?
During the investigation into the death of the latest victim Catherine Sheridan, Miller has his first encounter with John Robey, a university leturer and man who appears to be without a past. While Robey becomes a prime suspect in the minds of others on the investigation team, Miller just doesn't feel that he's right for the murders. But is he?
Whilst tending to have me think I had the actual murdered sussed, on more than one occasion, it wasn't until very close to the end that I had my confusion sorted. Then as I closed the book, I realized that all the pointers to who was responsible for the murders had been right there in black and white pretty much most of the way through but just kept throwing red herrings, (fairly convincing ones I might add), at me. Shan't tell you who 'done it' because I wouldn't want to spoil things for you but if you want a really good read, this is it!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I have to confess that I bought this book by accident, thinking it was by James Ellroy! Having done so, I did not regret it. The book starts out as a standard police thriller, set in Washington DC, and with the same kind of emphasis on detective work and characterisation as you might get with an Ed McBain novel. The main character seems to be a fairly banal kind of detective, until you realise that one of his major qualities is his integrity and his unflinching perseverance in getting to the bottom of a series of murders that are not what they would seem.
The turning point, and what turns this from a good detective novel into an outstanding political thriller, is when you realise that the killer may not be as he seems to be. The skill of the author is to show gradually that nothing is what it seems to be, and that there are ramifications that initially do not appear to have any rhyme or reason but are eventually shown to make perfect sense.
The book is both disturbing and convincing, and I highly recommend it.
The turning point, and what turns this from a good detective novel into an outstanding political thriller, is when you realise that the killer may not be as he seems to be. The skill of the author is to show gradually that nothing is what it seems to be, and that there are ramifications that initially do not appear to have any rhyme or reason but are eventually shown to make perfect sense.
The book is both disturbing and convincing, and I highly recommend it.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Ged Wallis
Format:Paperback
A Simple Act Of Violence is superbly written, crammed with breathtaking action and wholly believable. The reason it is believable is because it is based on fact (very well researched) and the type of events that take place in the book really did happen. This the second RJEllory book (Ghostheart, the first) I have read. I am about to start Candlemoth and 2 others are on order. Really great stuff.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Sacred Monster...
If you have not read RJ Ellory before, then reading the "blurb" for this book, you might be expecting a fairly standard "serial killer thriller". Read more
Published 2 months ago by Liz Wilkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
A compelling read
I was reluctant to read this book at first - a lot of American based thrillers are too false macho for my liking. So, I went to this book bringing a little prejudice with me. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Seth Lynch
3.0 out of 5 stars
slow
A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE, RJ Ellory.
The thing is, there are no real surprises in this book. Detective Robert Miller in the Washington Police force investigates the killing... Read more
The thing is, there are no real surprises in this book. Detective Robert Miller in the Washington Police force investigates the killing... Read more
Published 11 months ago by D. Norman
2.0 out of 5 stars
not into this one
i found this book to be rather heavy going despite the good things i read about it.not the best by r j ellory
Published 13 months ago by macattheback
3.0 out of 5 stars
Too Simple Too Long
You know I really wanted to love the books of RJ Ellory but I don't think it's going to be such a relationship. Read more
Published 14 months ago by nickyb
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Simple Act of Violence
I really wanted to like this book a lot more, as I've not read a crime book for many years (I think The Black dahlia was the last crime book I read). Read more
Published 16 months ago by Jaycey
5.0 out of 5 stars
Violence
Even though A Quiet Vendetta was my favourite if Ellory's novels, I believe A Simple Act of Violence to be the best written. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Columnist
3.0 out of 5 stars
One for the conspiracy theorists
This a police procedural thriller set in Washington DC. Ostensibly a number of murders bear the signature of a serial killer. Read more
Published 17 months ago by John M
4.0 out of 5 stars
a thought provoking thriller
At times I felt like I wasn't making any progress with this book but I think thats because there are several layers to the storyline running throughout. Read more
Published 17 months ago by S. J. Mackenzie
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brendan says
This was the first novel I read by R J Ellory, just picked it up at the library and liked the sleeve notes. Once I started it I couldn't put it down, a truly superb read. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Brendan
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