A Quiet Vendetta [Paperback]

 

 

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I have quite literally just finished "Quiet Vendetta" and as emotionally drained as I may be, I felt compelled to post my review/comments regarding this book immediately. In brief summary, a Governor's daughter goes missing following the gruesome murder of her bodyguard. An old Cuban by the name of Ernesto Perez turns up claiming responsibility and knowledge of the girl's whereabouts. Perez requests that his story be heard before relinquishing details of the whereabouts of the Governor's daughter.

And so, we fall headlong into Ellory's detailed and rich story, retracing the steps of one man's journey as a hitman for the mob stretching over four decades. Of course the "organised crime" genre has been covered by many, but not quite like this, not as superbly as this. Ellory's prose is so rich in detail, so original in composition and so creative in plotting, not to mention fantastically well researched.

I believe that Ellory has set a new standard with his writing, and it is certainly a tough act to follow for others who wish to write creatively in this genre. In Perez we have one of my favourite characters of any book, movie or play that I have encountered. This is not due to his criminal activity, and homicidal tendencies, certainly not, but due to the depth and richness Ellory has created in Perez, rarely has a character been so real to me.

I have no doubt that this book would make a great movie, and if directed and produced well, Ernesto Perez would become a character as memorable as Michael Corleone, Henry Hill and Tony Montana. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before Ellory is a household name, as he is a bona fide talent, and this is another brilliant book. I highly recommend it

I have now read all five in the R J Ellory portfolio (his sixth is due next month) and not for the first time, I kissed this one as I closed the last page. This man, in my opinion, doesn't know how to write a bad or even mediocre novel. I have never given 5 stars to every book by the same author before, and that would include my personal favourites. I guess Ellory will inevitably slip up sooner or later, but until then I must say that all five of his novels published to date are absolutely top-notch pieces of writing and any one of them could be another reader's first preference. As for A QUIET VENDETTA, the third of the five published, I can only say buy it, borrow it or somehow get your hands on it because it is a captivating story that you just won't want to end.

Some feel that Ellory isn't a crime fiction writer, that his work cannot be pigeon-holed into any specific genre, and while I understand that argument, this story is probably the most criminal of them all. It takes a while before the reader can latch onto who the central character is; at first we assume it to be John Verlaine, a Homicide Detective in New Orleans - but it isn't. Then we figure it to be New York based Special Investigator Ray Hartmann - but again, it isn't. In fact it is more than one hundred pages into the story before we finally know who it's really all about: Ernesto Cabrera Perez, and the narrative switches from third-person to first person as the elderly Perez tells Hartmann his life story. And what a life it was.

Perez is a quite extraordinary man, a man of unquestioning loyalty and devotion to his family. But apart from his own family, at least the one he creates as opposed to his forebears, he is very deeply entrenched in a family of a very different kind. Despite his Cuban blood, Perez is a life-long 'troubleshooter' for the Italian Mafia in various cities across America. When there's trouble, he shoots - and he never misses. Yes, he is the absolutely reliable hit-man in a world of organised crime spanning five decades or more, and for once Ellory not only uses politically significant events in 20th-century American history as a time stamp, as a backdrop to the story; this time his key character is directly involved in it. Perez is responsible for one of the most notorious 'hits' in the chronicles of organised crime. Seeing as this particular murder was never solved in reality, there is an acceptable degree of credibility to this supposedly fictitious thread of the overall story. Despite this, it is actually only of minor relevance in itself, because the backbone of the tale is the kidnapping of the daughter of Louisiana Governor Charles Ducane, and Perez promises Hartmann to divulge her whereabouts once he has fully told his life story. Whether she is alive or dead, he cannot say. So begins a massive FBI-administered hunt for the abducted young girl, but she will not be found until Perez tells them where to look.

It would be easy to pick holes in the novel, and I have to confess that it was quite a while before I realised how special it is, so it does require a little patience to get fully into it. Once there, however, once I was really inside the mind and soul of Ernesto Perez, I never wanted it to end. True, it's the kind of story I favour best in being built around the world of the Mafia in their halcyon years, so I have to admit to being easily persuaded but then again it needs to have been written well and that it most certainly has been. But it is special, even among other Ellory novels, and without doubt it is one of the most engrossing books I have read in recent years. I am sorry to have finished it - you can't beat the first time, can you? - but it's one of the very few books in my personal library that I know I will read again. It isn't about the destination, fascinating though that would prove to be, no - it is about the journey, the ruthlessly riveting world that was the life of Ernesto Perez.

Unconditionally recommended.

Picked this up in a waterstones 3 for 2 because I liked the cover and his name sounded a bit like Ellroy! One of the best reads I have ever had. Ellory writes beautifully, creating a pair of highly believable characters vying with each other and begrudgingly coming to respect each other. And that is the writer's skill, Ernesto is a vile character but you can't help coming round to liking him. The ending is excellent, and relatively unexpected. I shall certainly be reading Ellory's other work sharpish...

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5.0 out of 5 stars Vendetta
I think my favourite of Ellory's works, A Quiet Vendetta tells the life story of a Cuban hitman, revealing his childhood difficulties, his rise into the murky world of organised... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Columnist

5.0 out of 5 stars A Quiet Vendetta: Outstanding novel
A Quiet Vendetta
Author: R.J. Ellory
Reviewed by Fran Lewis

Enter the world of a Medical Examiner as he takes you through the process of discovering a... Read more

Published 2 months ago by fran Lewis

5.0 out of 5 stars A Quiet Vendetta.
Yet another superb novel by what must be one of the best writers around at the moment. I have only recently started reading R J Ellory's books, and I can't read his back catologue... Read more

Published 4 months ago by Brendan

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful.
It seems strange to call a novel which references such horrific violence 'beautiful', but it is such a superbly, richly-crafted piece of writing, that the word somehow fits... Read more

Published 9 months ago by Baggie Blog

4.0 out of 5 stars A great read
A slow burner to begin with but once the main story arrives it is brilliant, RJ Ellory doing what he does best. Read more

Published 9 months ago by Paul

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning......
Ernesto Perez, retired number one hit-man for the Mafia, gives himself up to the FBI. He wants to tell his life story to one man, and he holds all the cards.... Read more

Published 11 months ago by marjorie narey

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Almost didn't fight my way through the muddy tide of description at the beginning of this book, but SO glad I did, my read of 2010, have been recommending to everyone I know... Read more

Published 13 months ago by LittleRedReadingHood

5.0 out of 5 stars Not to be missed
Others have set the scene so I won't waste words. Ellory writes prose so perfect that it is often like reading poetry. An often gruesome tale that was a joy to read. Read more

Published 14 months ago by S. Farnaby

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best book written on the Mafia.......EVER !
I don't write many reviews, but when a book of such quality as A Quiet Vendetta comes along it compels you to share your admiration, so that other readers may also share in the... Read more

Published 16 months ago by Eric S. Doms

5.0 out of 5 stars Possibly the best book that I have ever read
Thought that "A Quiet Belief in Angels" was good but this is even better. Probably one of the best books that I have ever read. Read more

Published 20 months ago by SPG

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