A Quiet Belief In Angels

Plot

A Quiet Belief In Angels is written from the perspective of Joseph Vaughan, growing up in a rural community in early 1940s Georgia. Early in the novel, Joseph's father passes away from a fever, and Joseph likens a white feather on his pillow to his father's angel. Afterwards, a serial killer begins committing a spree of murders, abducting and brutally killing young girls. Joseph and his friends form a group known as "the Guardians" devoting themselves to protecting the town's girls from any further harm. The townsfolk begin to suspect a German farmer named Gunther Kruger, mainly due to rising tensions because of the Second World War, and burn down his family home, killing his youngest daughter, whom Joseph had sworn to protect when the killings began. The Kruger family leave town, and the townsfolk seem satisfied the killings will leave with them.

Writing Style

The novel is written in a first-person narrative, and Ellory uses descriptive prose extensively. For example, "Blame is a bitter and indigestible thing, even when the blame is a coat you cut for yourself, even when you stood right there and got yourself measured so you could wear it right.".

Reception

A Quiet Belief In Angels received generally positive reviews. Current Amazon ratings for the book give it 4 out of 5. The social cataloging website Goodreads.com holds a score of 3.5 out of 5. It was ranked third in the Sunday Times bestselling book list in the week of its review on TV. It was shortlisted for the Barry Award for best British crime fiction 2008, the 7th Prix Du Polar Européen 2008 of the weekly French magazine Le Point, Le Nouvel Observateur Crime Writing Prize 2008 and the Quebec Booksellers' Prize 2008. The book was featured on the Richard & Judy British Book awards of 2008.