A Simple Act of Violence

by R. J. Ellory Narrated by Kevin Kenerly

Overview

Washington, embroiled in midterm elections, did not want to hear the truth about an unsettling series of murders. But when the newspapers reported a fourth killing, when they gave the killer a name and details of his horrendous crimes, few people could ignore it.

Detective Robert Miller is assigned to the case and rapidly uncovers 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 about the corrupt world he lives in-truths so far removed from his own reality that he begins to fear for his life.

In the tradition of the masters of suspense, R. J. Ellory has written a shocking and tense narrative of politics and violence in the nerve center of America. As Detective Miller becomes more and more embroiled in the shifting realities of the case, the reader is irresistibly propelled through the intrigues and betrayals of Washington's elite. This controversial and timely novel explores the notions of identity and hidden government dealings, and it is sure to stay with the reader long after the final page.

Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly

At the outset of this superb crime thriller from Ellory (The Anniversary Man), Det. Robert Miller, a veteran Washington, D.C., cop who doesn't have much of a life outside his job, arrives at the house of Catherine Sheridan, an attractive woman who's been badly beaten and strangled. Around her neck is a ribbon attached to a luggage tag, the hallmark of the Ribbon Killer, who's claimed three other female victims in the same upscale neighborhood over the past eight months. Bizarrely, Sheridan's murderer ordered pizza delivered, thus insuring that the corpse would be found right away. Meanwhile, in creepy first-person asides, someone using the alias John Robey reveals he knows a great deal about the crimes. As the case unfolds, the motive behind the murders gradually comes into focus, connecting with much larger political issues. 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. 5-city author tour. (June)

Wall Street Journal

A police procedural thus shifts into a conspiracy thriller and historical exposé … Powerful scenes and vivid images.

Clive Cussler

The master of the genre.

James Patterson

A beautifully written novel that is also a great mystery.

From the Publisher

"A beautifully written novel that is also a great mystery." — James Patterson

"The master of the genre." — Clive Cussler

"A police procedural thus shifts into a conspiracy thriller and historical exposé … Powerful scenes and vivid images." — Wall Street Journal

"A masterful exercise in suspense . . . This one will keep you up late reading, and then you won't be able to sleep."

"A rich, powerful, evocative novel of great psychological depth." — Jonathan Kellerman

DECEMBER 2011 - AudioFile

Kevin Kenerly narrates Ellory’s thriller with all the suspense and depth it deserves. He offers an intense, deep, and even troubled first-person portrayal of Jon Robey, a CIA assassin with a backstory that spans from his childhood to his 1980s operations in Nicaragua to his present-day role as a college professor. His chronicle is juxtaposed with the third-person account of Detective Robert Miller, who leads the Washington, DC, police department’s investigation into Robey’s connection to the murders of four women. Kenerly provides an interesting touch of warmth beneath the urban-cop exterior of Miller, along with a host of believable supporting characters. This is a crime story with government conspiracy, violence, corruption, and psychological intrigue expertly woven throughout by both author and narrator. K.C.R. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169908602
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	08/03/2011
Edition description:	Unabridged

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