Product Description

John Harper has always been alone. His mother died when he was just seven years old and he was raised in New York by an aunt he barely knew. He never even made his father's acquaintance - a man who died shortly after he was born. After leaving the Big Apple as soon as he was old enough, his life consisted of one moderately successful book, a collection of affectionately received newspaper columns and a comfortable existence in Miami. Then everything changes. A liquor store heist goes wrong - and turns John's existence on its head. It seems that his father didn't die all those years ago. In fact, he has thrived in the New York underworld. But now the man himself lies critically injured in a Manhattan hospital and it's time for father and son to meet at last . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15286 in Books
• Published on: 2007-07-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 464 pages

Review
"Tension is high, and the pace never flags" -- Victoria Moore Daily Mail "There's a riveting plot at the centre of this frustrating thriller" -- Kevin Sweeney Irish Times

Kevin Sweeney, Irish Times
"There's a riveting plot at the centre of this frustrating thriller"

Matthew Lewin, THE GUARDIAN
'RJ Ellory has a keen understanding of rhythm and pace, knowing how to let a story unfold without too much interference. So there is a natural feel to the way the reader is drawn inextricably into the world he creates ... Excellent.'

Customer Reviews

Another superb read.
This is an author that continually astounds me, not only from the viewpoint of his writing, but also the diversity and scope of his stories. I've read everything he's done from Candlemoth forward, and it really is unfair to pigeonhole him with a 'crime fiction' label. It's not really crime fiction, but then it's one hell of a lot better than the vast majority of crime fiction on the market. In all honesty, there's so much more to this author's books that it's hard to classify them at all. Crime yes, but also relationships, real people, excellent dialogue, the most superb stories (and more often than not you get three or four or five stories brilliantly woven together as opposed to just one). I have read a lot (and I mean, a LOT!) of the standard successful best-selling type crime fiction, and this stuff is so far above the routine, so beyond the usual, that it's hard to put into words how much I recommend these books. Take a gamble, read one (any of them will do - Candlemoth, Ghostheart, A Quiet Vendetta (awesome!!) or this most recent one, City of Lies). Once you've read one you'll read all of them. Apparently there are some bound proofs of the new book - A Quiet Belief In Angels - floating about on the internet. E-bay here I go!

Excellent read!
From the moment John Harper got the phone call summoning him back to New York and found out that his father, who he'd thought dead for the past 30 years was seriously ill in hospital following a shooting in a liquor store I was hooked.

As the storyline develops John uncovers a massive web of lies and deceit starting with the Aunt who brought him up and told him his father was dead, Uncle Walt his fathers business partner in the criminal underworld, the 'eye candy' Cathy Hollander. Which one should he believe? Where does the seemingly obsessed Detective Frank Duchaunak fit in to it all?

I enjoyed this one so much I didn't want to finish it.

A fabulous read and as already said it would make a fantastic movie!

Anyone who's considering an RJ Ellory book and not sure which one, they're all great, but I'd recommend this one or 'A Quiet Vendetta'

** Fantastic Book....A Class Act
I am new to Roger Jon Ellory's books, and was first attracted by the cover and then on closer inspection by the story plotline.

This guy is definitely one of the best author's around today, and I am sure as more people get to know his work he will get every success he deserves.

He has a unique style and I would recommend him to anybody who appreciates quality work. Take it from me it doesn't come much better than this.

Buy this book..you will be hooked liked I was.