Customer Reviews
Brilliant - By: Babbling Books, 11 May 2008 
I recently read A Quiet Beliefin Angels for my book group & was blown away by the story, the characters & the delicious writing. When I wasn't reading the book, I was itching to get back to it. I love how the narrative echoes the pace of lifein sleepy Augusta Falls, Georgia where much of the story is set; it's so atmospheric, I really felt I was there. It is reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird & The Catcherin the Rye, two of my all-time favourite novels. This is the first of R. J. Ellory's works I've read & I savoured every word - I could read his writing all day long. I'll definitely be reading his other novels & eagerly await his next, A Simple Act of Violence.
A Quiet Belief in Angels - By: jenwhaley, 10 May 2008 What a wonderful book! At times I was crying my eyes out, other times I was overjoyed, or shocked & was always completely caught upin the story. Once I'd worked out who had "done it", about 4 pages from the end, I didn't want to read any more such was my involvement with the storyline. Beautifully written & completely involving.
Absolutley wonderful.
Definitely worth reading - decide for yourself - By: Ichabod J, 09 May 2008 
I read this novel a few months ago & although I'm still undecided about its absolute merit, the story has stuck with me. Many reviewers are very enthusiastic about this book, rating it as the best they've read. I certainly wasn't blown away to that extent, but Ellory has produced a work that is considerably more than a formulaic crime thriller.
This is a tragedy telling the sorry tale of a series of child murdersin small town Georgia & the profound effect these have on local boy Joseph Vaughan. Not surprisingly, the frequent passages documenting Joseph's tragic obsession can sometimes be hard going, but Ellory's writing is thoughtful & descriptive so keeps you reading.
Interestingly, Ellory is an Englishman who writes `American' novels, complete with US spellings throughout. I thought he over-egged the pudding with this a bit with the dialogue sometimes sounding as if it were lifted from a Western. However, there is mostly an engaging naturalness of tone that carries the story along well. The writing, especially the early sections about Joseph's childhood, reminded me a lot of Stephen King's non-supernatural outings, which is a good indicator that this is readable stuff.
Overall, this novel is recommended but don't approach it expecting either Steinbeck or a standard whodunit. What you will get is a writer with a distinctive voice & a novel that should provoke a reaction & they're both signs of quality writing.
Quiet belief in Angels - By: Mrs. J. A. Tindley, 08 May 2008 
Ummm - it started off very slowly & I wasn't at at sure that I would get into it. (I rarely give up on a book) I did however quite enjoy it by the end - not particularly for the story line but more for the style of writing & some beautifully written pieces. My advice therefore is don't give up!
A superb novel-it worries itself back into the mind - By: Brolyn, 06 May 2008 I thought A Quiet Belief In Angels was a suberb, atmospheric & gripping novel. Toldin the first person by Joseph Vaughan, we see him grow up from a talented but tortured childhood into an even more troubled adulthood. Although one can view the book as a whodunnit, it offers far more than that genre can, & concerns the effects of the series of murders on many other characters' lives. I could not put this novel down & yet I didn't want it to end!
