A Darker Side of Paradise

By: R.J. Ellory

Narrated by: Regina Reagan

A brand new thriller from the internationally bestselling author of A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS

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Rookie police officer Rachel Hoffman has never seen a dead body before.
It will not be her last.

Her first murder case is a young woman - sent off to sleep with a mysterious note that quotes from an eight-hundred year old book: Dante's Divine Comedy.

So begins an investigation that will haunt her for the rest of her life, and lead Rachel on a descent into obsession that upends everything she thought she knew about justice.

As the killings unfold over the decades, Rachel's obsession will drive her from small-town America through the streets of NYC, to a revelation that will cost her everything.

Because every case she thought she solved was a lie.
And the truth is more dangerous than she could have imagined.

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PRAISE FOR R.J. ELLORY

'Beautiful and haunting... A tour de force' MICHAEL CONNELLY

'Beautifully written novels that are also great mysteries' JAMES PATTERSON

'A uniquely gifted, passionate, and powerful writer' ALAN FURST

'In the top flight of crime writing' SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

'The master of the genre' CLIVE CUSSLER©2025 R.J. Ellory Publications Limited

R J Ellory’s Best Novel

As someone who has now read 15 of Roger’s novels, and equally, as someone who reads over a hundred books a year, I believe I am well equipped to make the following evaluation.
Roger is one of a comparatively small percentage of writers who consistently delivers quality work. Unfortunately, many writers, once they have some measure of success and the numbers of their books increase they skate along, or write the same type of books again and again – too much the same.
I have read hundreds and hundreds of crime, mystery, detective novels – this is among the very best.
Rachel Hoffman is a rookie cop who is cutting her teeth in the world of crime and has yet to see her first dead body. She attends a murder scene where a young woman has been “put to sleep” and with the body is an enigmatic note quoting Dante’s Divine Comedy. Little does she know her life will never be the same again, and her destiny for the coming decades is shaped and ordained that day.
I was particularly impressed with the development of Rachel’s character – both as the character in a fine novel and the character of a person coming to grips with the worst of evils. She moves from rookie to seasoned detective, and then after five years, it appears the case can be closed with the death of the alleged perpetrator, but she questions the evidence. There is something in the shadows, it is too tidy.
Over the coming years her questions take formidable shape with more bodies and more questions, but no answers. Her determination to find the truth, the answers, becomes and obsession, which in itself determines the steps she takes on the path she has chosen.
I was greatly impressed with Roger’s attention to detail in the day to day police work and the dogged determination of Rachel and her colleagues to push on and find answers in the void.
This is a book where the reader will be gripped from first page to last, and, most importantly, will feel for and empathise with the character of Rachel Hoffman. Ultimately we are rewarded with a powerful climax and a credible, satisfying conclusion. This is the type of book you hope is the next one you pick up, and this time it is. Enjoy every page.
Regina Reagan does an excellent job of the narration.
An additional note:
Norma and I have been on holidays up to the Gold Coast to see her family in Queensland. We were having dinner with her daughter, and as I related in an email to Roger: she was running around starting to get dressed and still listening to the last minutes, but didn't want to stop. She gave me the following quote to send to Roger, then we dashed out the door:
Norma: "I was involved with the story and the characters all the way through - right to the very last word. Enjoyed it immensely.
Your best book yet and I have read over a dozen of your books. Thank you, Roger."