Bad Signs
Published on 27. September 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
464 pages
978-1-4091-1859-6 (ISBN)
Description
A superb thriller from the acclaimed author of A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS.
Orphaned by an act of senseless violence that took their mother from them, half-brothers Clarence Luckman and Elliott Danziger have been raised in state institutions, unaware of any world outside. But their lives take a sudden turn when they are seized as hostages by a convicted killer en route to death row.
Earl Sheridan is a psychopath of the worst kind, but he has the potential to change the boys' lives for ever. As the trio set off on a frenetic escape from the law through California and Texas, the two brothers must come to terms with the ever-growing tide of violence that follows in their wake - something that forces them to make a choice about their lives, and their relationship to one another.
Orphaned by an act of senseless violence that took their mother from them, half-brothers Clarence Luckman and Elliott Danziger have been raised in state institutions, unaware of any world outside. But their lives take a sudden turn when they are seized as hostages by a convicted killer en route to death row.
Earl Sheridan is a psychopath of the worst kind, but he has the potential to change the boys' lives for ever. As the trio set off on a frenetic escape from the law through California and Texas, the two brothers must come to terms with the ever-growing tide of violence that follows in their wake - something that forces them to make a choice about their lives, and their relationship to one another.
Reviews / Votes
Set in the 1960s, the content may be dark and unforgiving but it is a beautifully and poetically planned tale that reveals itself layer by layer. * CANDIS * Though [Ellory's] books always provide a wild and giddy ride, there is more to them than thrills, chills and spills. Bad Signs is rich, complex and nuanced, with many psychological undercurrents. It's edge-of-the-seat entertainment. -- Lorne Jackson * BIRMINGHAM POST * He's one of the great British thriller writers of his generation. -- Alex Gordon * PETERBOROUGH EVENING TELEGRAPH * Set in an utterly convincing 1960s rural America, this is a jaw droppingly good thriller by British writer Roger Ellory. * IRISH INDEPENDENT * Ellory's the real deal, giving us another horrific chunk of small-town American violence, neglect and psychopathy. Institutionalised half brothers Clarence and Elliott have a startling choice to make when they are kidnapped by a convicted serial killer **** -- Henry Sutton * DAILY MIRROR * Violent imagery, real pathos and a dark, dark humour. Without doubt, Bad Signs is Ellory's most disturbing book, and one that will haunt the reader -- Ali Karim * SHOTS * One of the most interesting crime novelists working today. He sets his novels in the US and seems to change his style of writing from book to book - always to excellent effect. * THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN * With this novel, Ellory has joined the stars of modern genre literature. It is a classic. * THE WEST AUSTRALIAN * Will your fingernails ever grow back? Now, that is good writing. This is a stellar work of fiction that deserves to be on everyone's reading list. Loved it. * SHOTS * Ellory has been compared to Mario Puzo, James Ellory and Stephen King. All descriptions are accurate, but they fail to define Ellory's unique style. He is a very special writer. * CRIMEZINE * Ellory has a talent for making the detestable captivating. An intricate fictional dance whicn he pulls off expertly. * KIRKUS * Ellory has a lovely prose style that allows his story to glide on, as events both rivet and repel. [An] excellent action thriller. * GLOBE & MAIL * It's a cliche to praise a crime novel for its adroit marshalling of suspense, but there is no choice here * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Orion Publishing Co
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 128 mm
Thickness: 35 mm
Weight
288 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4091-1859-6 (9781409118596)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
R.J. Ellory
Bad Signs
E-Book
10/2011
Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
€3.99
Available for download
Person
R.J. Ellory is the author of twenty novels published by Orion UK, and his work has been translated into twenty-six languages. He has won sixteen international literary awards including the Quebec Booksellers' Prize, the Livre De Poche Award, the Strand Magazine Novel of The Year, the Mystery Booksellers of America Award, the Inaugural Nouvel Observateur Prize, the Quebec Laureat, the Prix Du Roman Noir, the Plume d'Or for Thriller Internationale 2016, the Theakston's Crime Novel of the Year, both the St. Maur and Villeneuve Readers' Prizes, the Balai d'Or 2016, and the Grand Prix des Lecteurs on two occasions. He has been shortlisted for two Barrys, the 813 Trophy, the European Du Point, and five Crime Writers' Association UK awards.
Among other projects, he is the guitarist and vocalist of The Whiskey Poets, and has recently completed the band's third album. His musical compositions have been featured in films and television programmes in more than forty countries. He has four television series and two films in pre-production, and has recently started work on the French film adaptation of A Quiet Belief in Angels.
To find out more visit www.rjellory.com or follow him on X @rjellory
Among other projects, he is the guitarist and vocalist of The Whiskey Poets, and has recently completed the band's third album. His musical compositions have been featured in films and television programmes in more than forty countries. He has four television series and two films in pre-production, and has recently started work on the French film adaptation of A Quiet Belief in Angels.
To find out more visit www.rjellory.com or follow him on X @rjellory