2008-09-30 An exceptional achievement. I loved it.

I have read all RJE's novels, and like many readers, I have always been transported by the beautiful prose and wonderfully woven plot. As can be observed, this author has the ability to write in many different styles, the style of A Simple Act Of Violence is very much a fast past thriller, except that it is epic in scope, and still maintains a quality of writing, which I believe sets RJE above his contemporaries.

We have two stories in this novel. First is the story set in the vividly portrayed Washington D.C, where the Ribbon Killer has burst onto the pages of a myriad of D.C broadsheets following four gruesome murders. Detective Robert Miller is charged with the responsibility of making sense of these killings, particularly that of victim number four; Catherine Sheridan. As he delves deeper, things make less sense, become more complicated, and then he comes upon a very interesting character.

This character's back story is told separately but does not make the novel in any way disjointed. Like in past RJE novels, it is interwoven gracefully. The story of the indoctrination and deployment of this character in the CIA is in my opinion Ellory's best writing to date. The research that went into to this must have been immense. Solid facts are entwined with fiction so skilfully that you cannot see the seams or the joins. The descriptions of the questionable activities of this CIA, this "Sacred Monster" provide electrifying and terrifying revelations in equal measure.

We have here a novel with wonderful depth, great characterisation, and the fastest pace of all RJE's books thus far. If you loved A Quiet Vendetta for its sheer audacity of scope, or a Quiet Belief in Angels for its wonderful characterisation, then this is veritable feast. You see, this book exceeds both of them on both fronts.

An immense achievement, go and read it I think you will love it, it is certainly at the top of my favourite ever reads. RJ Ellory is here to stay.