top of page
Tim O'Brien

991. R. J. Ellory - A Quiet Vendetta

Last read this 10 years ago and it remains brilliant.

A Cuban ex-Mafia killer tricks the FBI or CIA into listening to his whole life story, on the basis that he has kidnapped the daughter of a US state governor. His terms are that the story is completed before he will reveal the girl’s location. Another character, whose name I can’t remember, is roped in by the Cuban to be the listener while the CIA sits around with headsets listening to every word.

He confesses to various killings, including that of Jimmy Hoffa, the unions leader in the 1960s (I think a true and unsolved crime), and at the midpoint is offered a deal – exile in Cuba, no US charges pressed, in exchange for the girl’s whereabouts. But he says ‘no’.

It transpires near the end that his son and the ‘kidnapped’ girls are lovers and they contrive to escape. Hard to summarise but brilliantly compelling plot.


Comments


bottom of page