Buy new:

$14.57

List Price: $20.33

Save: $5.76 (28%)

FREE delivery Tuesday, April 4 on your first order. Details

Or fastest delivery Sunday, April 2. Order within 23 hrs 29 mins. Details

In Stock

[{"displayPrice":"$14.57","priceAmount":14.57,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"57","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"9hig%2BhE0Sjz38q8FewIjVnhtzuehzt9CYN4oASrGfg3RoxNmCS74NGRtTidgaQcnx%2Bxw8Y4fbvV761jYcgJNsWZwWtaC0Fz6%2FTTde5tq4qTvhIWOMyEKRGFJQBuUVKdH5mpfnjuA%2FcY%3D","locale":"en-CA","buyingOptionType":"NEW"}]

$$14.57 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details

Secure transaction

Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.

Add gift options

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See all 2 images

Follow the Author

Robert Dugoni

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel Paperback – April 24 2018

by Robert Dugoni (Author)

32,629 ratings

See all formats and editions

Amazon Price

New from

Used from

Kindle Edition

"Please retry"

$8.21

—

Audible Audiobook, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$0.00

Free with your Audible trial

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$34.09

$27.59

$18.69

Paperback

"Please retry"

$14.57

$8.64

MP3 CD, MP3 Audio, Unabridged

"Please retry"

$21.99

$16.30

—

Kindle Edition
$0.00 This title and over 1 million more available with Kindle Unlimited $8.21 to buy
Audiobook
$0.00 Free with your Audible trial
Hardcover
$34.09

15 Used from $18.69 19 New from $27.59 1 Collectible from $99.96
Paperback
$14.57

22 Used from $8.64 19 New from $14.57 1 Collectible from $77.49
MP3 CD
$21.99

5 New from $16.30 1 Collectible from $82.89

Enhance your purchase

Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestselling author Robert Dugoni’s coming-of-age story is, according to Booklist, “a novel that, if it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border.”

Sam Hill always saw the world through different eyes. Born with red pupils, he was called “Devil Boy” or Sam “Hell” by his classmates; “God’s will” is what his mother called his ocular albinism. Her words were of little comfort, but Sam persevered, buoyed by his mother’s devout faith, his father’s practical wisdom, and his two other misfit friends.

Sam believed it was God who sent Ernie Cantwell, the only African American kid in his class, to be the friend he so desperately needed. And that it was God’s idea for Mickie Kennedy to storm into Our Lady of Mercy like a tornado, uprooting every rule Sam had been taught about boys and girls.

Forty years later, Sam, a small-town eye doctor, is no longer certain anything was by design―especially not the tragedy that caused him to turn his back on his friends, his hometown, and the life he’d always known. Running from the pain, eyes closed, served little purpose. Now, as he looks back on his life, Sam embarks on a journey that will take him halfway around the world. This time, his eyes are wide open―bringing into clear view what changed him, defined him, and made him so afraid, until he can finally see what truly matters.

Winner of Suspense Magazine’s Crimson Scribe Award.

Print length

448 pages
Language

English
Publication date

April 24 2018
Dimensions

13.97 x 2.54 x 20.96 cm
ISBN-10

1503948978
ISBN-13

978-1503948976
See all details

Frequently bought together

+
+

Total price:

To see our price, add these items to your cart.

Choose items to buy together.

by Robert Dugoni Paperback
$14.57
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
by Taylor Jenkins Reid Paperback
$14.68
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.
by Fredrik Backman Paperback
$17.99
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.ca.

Jonathan Franklin
5,297
Paperback
in Ecology of Fishing
36 offers from $16.45
Robert Dugoni
14,890
Paperback
27 offers from $12.97
Matt Haig
20,135
Paperback
11 offers from $18.90
Lynda Rutledge
63,613
Paperback
31 offers from $14.48
William Kent Krueger
36,822
Paperback
60 offers from $8.61
Andrew Sean Greer
17,515
Paperback
82 offers from $6.33

Popular Highlights in this book

What are Popular Highlights?

We realize it is in those quiet moments that each of us has the ability to make our lives extraordinary.
Highlighted by 3,743 Kindle readers
There comes a day in every man’s life when he stops looking forward and starts looking back.
Highlighted by 2,780 Kindle readers
“Time is wicked. It comes and goes like a thief in the night, stealing our youth, our beauty, and our bodies.”
Highlighted by 2,094 Kindle readers
There comes a day in every man’s life when he stops looking forward and starts looking back.
Highlighted by 1,570 Kindle readers

Product description

Review

A Suspense Magazine Crimson Scribe Award Winner

A Goodreads Choice Award Semifinalist, Historical Fiction

An Amazon Best Book of the Month: Literature & Fiction Category

“This is the bestselling Dugoni’s masterpiece, the book by which his work, and that of others, will be measured for years to come.” ―Providence Journal

“Dugoni has produced a novel that, if it doesn’t cross entirely over into John Irving territory, certainly nestles in close to the border…Told in two separate time lines (Sam as a boy, and Sam as a man) that eventually come together, and written in a gentle, introspective yet dramatic style that is very different from that of Dugoni’s crime fiction, this is an inspirational story of a man who spends a lifetime getting to know himself.” ―Booklist

“Sam Hell is inspiring and aglow with the promise of redemption.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“Robert Dugoni has a rare and brilliant talent for infusing his characters with complex emotions. It is very hard not to ache for young Sam…Frankly, this might be the best book of the year.” ―Bookreporter

“Distinctly different in style from Dugoni’s typical fare, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, is a captivating and poignant journey of strength and the power of finding your true self. Without a doubt, this is Dugoni’s best yet.” ―Suspense Magazine

“Dugoni’s writing is compellingly quick, simple, and evocative; readers will immediately empathize with young Sam and will race to discover how his story ends. The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell is a heartwarming novel that celebrates overcoming the unfairnesses of life.” ―Seattle Book Review

Past Praise for Robert Dugoni:

“Dugoni is a superb storyteller…” ―Boston Globe

“Dugoni has a gift for creating compelling characters and mysteries that seem straightforward, but his stories, like an onion, have many hidden layers.” ―Associated Press

About the Author

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, #1 Wall Street Journal, and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite Series, including My Sister’s Grave, Her Final Breath, In the Clearing, The Trapped Girl, and Close to Home. The Crosswhite Series has sold more than 2,500,000 books worldwide, and My Sister’s Grave has been optioned for television series development. Dugoni is also the author of the bestselling David Sloane series, which includes The Jury Master, Wrongful Death, Bodily Harm, Murder One, and The Conviction; the stand-alone novels The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell, The 7th Canon, and Damage Control; and the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year; as well as several short stories. He is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel in the Pacific Northwest. He is a two-time finalist for both the International Thriller Award and the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction and has been nominated for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award. His books are sold worldwide in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than two dozen languages, including French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com, and follow him on Twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (April 24 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 448 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1503948978
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1503948976
Item weight ‏ : ‎ 431 g
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.97 x 2.54 x 20.96 cm

Best Sellers Rank: #11,109 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #441 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books)
- #497 in Family Life
- #1,119 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
32,629 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Robert Dugoni

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 8 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels including The 7th Canon, Damage Control, and the literary novels, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell - Suspense Magazine’s 2018 Book of the Year, for which Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award and the critically acclaimed, The World Played Chess; as well as the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. Several of his novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and a three-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has also been a finalist for many other awards including the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award.

Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Visit his website at www.robertdugoni.com, and follow him on twitter @robertdugoni and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

32,629 global ratings

5 star		65%
4 star		24%
3 star		7%
2 star		2%
1 star		2%

How are ratings calculated?

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Nilton C. Teixeira

very engaging

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on July 13, 2022

Verified Purchase

This was a delightful surprise.
Great storyline and structure, with very short chapters that were absolutely engaging.
It’s full of heart. It’s not flawless, but I was completely immersed in the story.
The ending, although cheesy, was very touching. I was reading the last 16% in the subway, riding to work, and I had to hold back my tears. Had I been home I would have bawled.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Leslie Connors

Loved it!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on December 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

Highly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down and read it in 2 days.

Helpful

Nadine G.

Couldn't put it down!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 25, 2022

Verified Purchase

Many moments of tears, smiles and so much more. Thank you to the author and rich characters. The book is now one of my faves! :)

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

BJ

True story

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on July 27, 2022

Verified Purchase

Lives are challenging sometimes and thanks for sharing the humanity!

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

Michael Turner

The extraordinary life of Sam Hell

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on March 20, 2021

Verified Purchase

Well written novel about how faith can help us pull through life’s adversities.It kept my attention and flowed freely.A strong Mother and son bond which transcends all obstacles. How faith can keep us grounded even in life’s ups and downs. I believe in the circle of life and second chances. Parents give so much to their children and it was nice to see it reciprocated.

2 people found this helpful

Helpful

turtle65

Loved this book

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 5, 2021

Verified Purchase

What an amazing book to read through the Christmas holidays of 2020. It has everything a great story needs , Sam, Mickie, mom, dad, sisters of the church characters that you can feel, their emotions their highs and lows. Highly recommend have faith you will love it

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

LIRV

Loved this feel good book!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 22, 2022

Verified Purchase

Great coming of age book!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Luc F Brown

Captivating !

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 7, 2019

Verified Purchase

This story reminds that your life's tribulations are truly your own and that the why's should be left for the end, if at all.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Siltone

The Extraordinary Book By Robert Dugoni

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 9, 2020

Verified Purchase

Well, talk about a novel that I couldn't put down! This was a tremendous read. I'd never come across this author's books before, but I saw several very complimentary comments about this novel by reviewers I've come to trust, so duly ordered myself a copy. I understand that this writer usually pens best-selling, highly-rated crime thrillers, so this is possibly a one-off diversion for him.
Anyway, I was very moved by this sensitively told tale about an American boy who is born with red eyes. As you would expect, his unusual appearance provokes major issues for him, particularly as a child. The story is actually told by the grown-up Samuel Hill. He starts from when he is a baby, and relates his Mum and Dad's recollections, his Mum's scrap-book diaries, family photographs, home movies, and his own memories to brilliantly flesh out his formative, and then later years. This really is writing of the highest order, and put me through a gamut of emotions as I slowly got to 'know' Sam and 'witness' the trials and tribulations that beset him throughout his life. I rarely succumb to tears when reading a novel, but I couldn't control shedding a few with this book. To redress the balance though, there is a fair degree of humour woven throughout this wonderful story.
I loved every moment I spent with this book and, in a way, was sorry to turn that very last page. This is one of those books that once in a while will come your way - and at such times, you need to give it the respect it deserves. So, if possible, find the time, the space, and the solitude to fully savour its contents - a comfy armchair, a large plate of biscuits, and a mug of freshly-brewed tea may also enhance the experience! I can't praise it enough. My advice: get you hands on a copy ASAP, read it, digest in and feel enriched by the experience.
I love 'spreading the word' after I've found a 'standout piece of fiction' which this most certainly is. On that note, if you have found my review of use, please feel free to hit that 'Helpful' button below. Such a positive gesture will not only make my day, it'll also remind me that people out there are actually reading what I post! - many thanks & enjoy your reading. 😊📖📚

149 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

So disappointed in the surprise religion push

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 14, 2018

Verified Purchase

I felt tricked by the lack of declaration of religious theme, after reading this book. I have no interest organized religion, other than a sorrow for the horrible things done in the name of it , and an appreciation for those who do believe (in whatever they believe), yet don't try to drag me or others into it. I wish this had billed as a 'believe' push, so that I could have saved myself some money and time.

1,173 people found this helpful

J. Laithwaite

Medical errors make the story less believable

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 22, 2018

Verified Purchase

In terms of enjoyable fiction, and the reading of the Audible book, I really enjoyed this novel.

HOWEVER,

as an ophthalmologist I am having to maintain a rather significant suspension of disbelief. There is no indication that Sam's ocular albinism affects his vision in any way - he apparently sees well enough to be an ophthalmologist, which is a highly unlikely event. This means that the novel deals with the social effects of someone who has red eyes, but not the reality of living with a disease which would certainly affect the patient's light sensitivity, vision and visual experiences.

To add insult to injury, the description of leaving a patient with a retinal detachment for a couple of weeks, when she should have surgery the same day, again demonstrates the lack of a knowledgeable medical advisor.

These factual errors don't ruin the story, but they did make it less believable and enjoyable for me.

1,250 people found this helpful

Boingboing

One Hell of a Book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on September 1, 2018

Verified Purchase

When Sam Hill was born his eyes were closed. His troubles started when he opened them to reveal that they were red. Sam's mother loved him for his red eyes and fought for him to be given the opportunities that were open to other children - standing up to the school admissions team and insisting he be allowed to attend, supporting him when the school wanted to expel him for fighting.

We're used to tales of prejudice based on race, religion, disability, sexuality etc, but this book takes on unfair treatment of a boy for his eye colour and works as a bit of a morality tale.

This book is about the power of friendship between Sam and his best friends Ernie, the only black kid in school, and Mickie, the daughter of an alcoholic mother, and also a story of family love. Sam's mother is a wonderful, powerful, deeply religious woman who just won't take no for an answer.

The extraordinary life of the title is a life that's perhaps more extraordinary in its apparent ordinariness. A life made special by the attitude of its protagonist.

I enjoyed this a lot. Small town life with big time messages. Though I could have done with a bit less of the slightly preachy Catholic messages towards the end.

28 people found this helpful

Bonnygran

What a surprise !

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 6, 2018

Verified Purchase

This is a wonderful book. It's an eloquent story, beautifully written and the surprise is that it is really not an extraordinary life in the way most people would expect, but is extraordinary in the message the story tells us about lifes troubles and joys, friends and foes and the power of a devoted Mother's faith and love. I loved it and would highly recommend it.

42 people found this helpful

See all reviews

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	Amazon Business Everything for your business	Amazon Drive Cloud storage from Amazon	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide	Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands

Warehouse Deals Open-Box Discounts	Whole Foods Market We Believe in Real Food	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust	Blink Smart Security for Every Home

Buy new: $14.57

Follow the Author

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell: A Novel Paperback – April 24 2018

Enhance your purchase

Frequently bought together

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Product description

Review

About the Author

Product details

About the author

Robert Dugoni

Customer reviews

Top reviews from Canada

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries

Buy new:

$14.57