Synopses & Reviews
"One of the best crime writers at work today."Michael Connelly The electrifying new novel in New York Timesbestselling author Ace Atkinss acclaimed series about the real Deep South.
He is only in his early thirties, but now Quinn Colson is joblessvoted out of office as sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, thanks to the machinations of county kingpin Johnny Stagg. He has offers, in bigger and better places, but before he goes, hes got one more job to dobring down Staggs criminal operations for good.
At least thats the plan. But in the middle of the long, hot summer, a trio of criminals stage a bold, wall-smashing break-in at the home of a local lumber mill owner, making off with a million dollars in cash from his safe, which is curious, because the mill owner is wealthybut not that wealthy. None of this has anything to do with Colson, but during the investigation, two men are killed, one of them the new sheriff. His friend, acting sheriff Lillie Virgil, and a dangerous former flame, Anna Lee Stevens, both ask him to step in, and reluctantly he does, only to discover that that safe contained more than just moneyit held secrets.
Secrets that could either save Colsonor destroy him once and for all.
Review
“I have always been impressed with (jealous of) how easy Ace Atkins makes it look.
The Ranger is by far his best work…I hope Quinn Colson and Lillie Virgil stick around for a good long time.”—Michael Connelly
“Atkins has written a bunch of great thrillers, but this one sets up a series that should push him to the top of the bestseller list.”—John Sandford “A dark, headlong crime story set in the Mississippi hill country and teeming with corrupt officials, murderous meth dealers and Southern femmes fatales.”— St. Petersburg Times
Review
Praise for Ace Atkins and the Quinn Colson Novels
and#8220;A series that should push him to the top of the bestseller list.and#8221;and#8212;John Sandford
and#8220;One of the best crime writers at work today.and#8221;and#8212;Michael Connelly
"Compares to the best of Max Allan Collins or Elmore Leonard."--Library Journal
and#8220;[Ace Atkins] has solidified his place alongside Dennis Lehane and George Pelecanos as one of our most important literary crime novelists.and#8221; and#8212;San Francisco Chronicle
and#8220;Ace Atkins goes straight for the throat in The Lost Ones.and#8221;and#8212;The Houston Press
and#8220;Atkinsand#8217; sense of place is superb, his story stark and suspenseful.and#8221;and#8212;Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
and#8220;In the same class as James Crumley and James Lee Burke. Atkins.and#8221;and#8212;Bookreporter.com
and#8220;Quinn Colson is a character I look forward to meeting again.and#8221;and#8212;Tampa Bay Times
and#8220;Masterful.and#8221;and#8212;Memphis Commercial-Appeal
and#8220;Goes for extreme thrills, complemented by in-depth character studies and a view to the motives that turns ordinary people corrupt. Lee Childand#8217;s Jack Reacher and Greg Ilesand#8217; Penn Cage will find a kindred spirit in U.S. Army Ranger Quinn Colson, Atkinsand#8217; new take-charge hero.and#8221; and#8212;South Florida Sun-Sentinel
and#8220;Southern-fried noir.and#8221; and#8212;The Washington Post
and#8220;A dark, headlong crime story set in the Mississippi hill country and teeming with corrupt officials, murderous meth dealers and Southern femmes fatales.and#8221; and#8212;St. Petersburg Times
and#8220;Has the down-and-dirty vibe of a and#8217;70s drive-in action picture.and#8221; and#8212;The Dallas Morning News
Review
Praise for Ace Atkins and The Forsaken “Ace Atkinss killing honesty sets a new standard for Southern crime novels.”—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review
“Quinn has a quick wit, a strong code of honor, and radiates sex appeal, but more importantly he knows the difference between law and order.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Lean prose, solid pacing, and a compelling lead distinguish bestseller Atkinss gritty fourth Quinn Colson novel.”—Publishers Weekly
Review
Praise for The Forsaken
“Articulate characters [and] a densely layered stack of stories. Atkins finds his natural-born storytellers everywhere. Its all music to these ears.”—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review
“Atkins excels in solid pacing, effective dialogue and compelling characters . . . Atkins shapes Quinn not as a superman, but as a flawed man who wants to do the right thing for his hometown . . . The excellent Quinn Colson novels, as illustrated in "The Forsaken," are the true showcase for Atkins' storytelling skills.”—Associated Press
“A darkly exciting thrill ride.”—Tampa Bay Times
“Dont miss this book or series. Its one of the best.”—Bookreporter.com
“Quinn is facing a seemingly impossible string of complications in this fourth series installment, but somehow all these layers of catastrophe make sense together, a testament to Atkins ability to capture small-town life. The dive into Jerichos dark past makes for great reading as Atkins rolls through a handful of perspectives, propelling the storys threads toward an adrenaline-laced, Wild West-style conclusion.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Atkins is at the top of his game in Quinns fourth appearance, filled with nonstop action and moral ambiguities. The sheriffs many flaws only enhance his human appeal.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
“Lean prose, solid pacing, and a compelling lead distinguish bestseller Atkinss gritty fourth Quinn Colson novel . . . That Quinn resembles the late Robert B. Parkers Spenser—both are uncomplicated, principled men unafraid to use violence to protect themselves and others.”—Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
From the acclaimed, award-winning author comes an extraordinary new series about a real hero, and the real Deep South.
With terrific, inflected characters, and a dark, subtle sense of place and history, The Ranger is an exceptional novel. -John Sandford
One of the best crime writers at work today. -Michael Connelly
Ace Atkins returns with an extraordinary new series. Northeast Mississippi, hill country, rugged and notorious for outlaws since the Civil War, where killings are as commonplace as in the Old West. To Quinn Colson, it's home-but not the home he left when he went to Afghanistan.
Now an Army Ranger, he returns to a place overrun by corruption, and finds his uncle, the county sheriff, dead-a suicide, he's told, but others whisper murder. In the days that follow, it will be up to Colson to discover the truth, not only about his uncle, but about his family, his friends, his town, and not least about himself. And once the truth is discovered, there is no turning back.
Synopsis
THE FIRST NOVEL IN ACE ATKINS'
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING QUINN COLSON SERIES.
"A dark, headlong crime story set in the Mississippi hill country and teeming with corrupt officials, murderous meth dealers and Southern femmes fatales."--St. Petersburg Times
After years of war, Army Ranger Quinn Colson returns home to the rugged, rough hill country of northeast Mississippi to find his native Tibbehah County overrun with corruption, decay, meth runners, and violence. His uncle, the longtime county sheriff, is dead. A suicide, he's told, but others--like tomboy deputy Lillie Virgil--whisper murder.
In the days that follow, it's up to Colson to discover the truth, not only about his uncle, but about his family, his friends, his town, and himself. And once it's discovered, there's no going back for this real hero of the Deep South.
Synopsis
THE FIRST NOVEL IN ACE ATKINS' NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING QUINN COLSON SERIES. "In Quinn Colson, bestselling author Ace Atkins has created an American hero in a time when we need him."--C. J. Box
After years of war, Army Ranger Quinn Colson returns home to the rugged, rough hill country of northeast Mississippi to find his native Tibbehah County overrun with corruption, decay, meth runners, and violence. His uncle, the longtime county sheriff, is dead. A suicide, he's told, but others--like tomboy deputy Lillie Virgil--whisper murder.
In the days that follow, it's up to Colson to discover the truth, not only about his uncle, but about his family, his friends, his town, and himself. And once it's discovered, there's no going back for this real hero of the Deep South.
Synopsis
Fans of Justified and James Lee Burke will love Mississippi lawman Quinn Colson
The first Quinn Colson novel from the author of The Lost Ones, The Broken Places, and The Forsaken
After years of war, Army Ranger Quinn Colson returns home to the rugged, rough hill country of northeast Mississippi to find his native Tibbehah County overrun with corruption, decay, meth runners, and violence. His uncle, the longtime county sheriff, is dead. A suicide, hes told, but otherslike tomboy deputy Lillie Virgilwhisper murder.
In the days that follow, its up to Colson to discover the truth, not only about his uncle, but about his family, his friends, his town, and himself. And once its discovered, theres no going back for this real hero of the Deep South.
Synopsis
For fans of Justified and James Lee Burke: THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES FEATURING "A HERO TO RIVAL JACK REACHER."--Kirkus Reviews "Keep an eye on Ace Atkins, he can write rings around most of the names in the crime field."--Elmore Leonard
A year after becoming sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, Quinn Colson is faced with a pardoned killerand#8217;s return to Jericho. Jamey Dixon now preaches redemption and forgiveness, but the family of the woman he was convicted of killing isnand#8217;t buying it. They warn Quinn that his sisterand#8217;s relationship with Dixon could be fatal. Others donand#8217;t think the new preacher is a changed man, eitherand#151;a couple of dangerous convicts who confided in Dixon about an armored car robbery believe heand#8217;s after the money they hid. So they do the only thing they can: break out and head straight to Jericho, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.
Colson and his deputy, Lillie, have their work cut out for them. But they donand#8217;t count on one more unwelcome visitor: a tornado that causes havoc just as the manhunt heats up. Communications are down, the roads are impassableand#151;and the rule of law is just about to snap.
Synopsis
A Quinn Colson Novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Broken Places
Thirty-six years ago, a nameless black man wandered into Jericho, Mississippi, with nothing but the clothes on his back and a pair of paratrooper boots. Less than two days later, he was accused of rape and murder, hunted down by a frenzied posse, and lynched.
Now evidence of his innocence has surfaced, and county sheriff Quinn Colson sets out to identify the strangers remains and charge those responsible for the lynching. But as he starts to uncover old lies and secrets of corruption, he runs up against fierce opposition from those with the most to loseand theyre not afraid to play dirty.
Soon Colson will find himself implicated in terrible crimes, and the accusations just might stick. As the two investigations come to a head, it is anybodys guess who will prevailor who will come out of it alive.
READERS GUIDE INSIDE
Synopsis
After years of war, Army Ranger Quinn Colson returns home to the rugged, rough hill country of northeast Mississippi to find his native Tibbehah County overrun with corruption, decay, meth runners, and violence. His uncle, the longtime county sheriff, is dead. A suicide, he’s told, but others—like tomboy deputy Lillie Virgil—whisper murder.
In the days that follow, it’s up to Colson to discover the truth, not only about his uncle, but about his family, his friends, his town, and himself. And once it’s discovered, there’s no going back for this real hero of the Deep South.
Synopsis
THE
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES FEATURING "A HERO TO RIVAL JACK REACHER."--
Kirkus Reviews "Keep an eye on Ace Atkins, he can write rings around most of the names in the crime field."--Elmore Leonard
A year after becoming Tibbehah County sheriff, Quinn Colson is faced with a pardoned killers return to Jericho. Jamey Dixon now preaches redemption and forgiveness, but the family of the woman he was convicted of killing isnt buying it. They warn Quinn that his sisters relationship with Dixon could be fatal. Others dont think the new preacher is a changed man, eithera couple of dangerous convicts who confided in Dixon about an armored car robbery believe hes after the money they hid. So they do the only thing they can: break out and head straight to Jericho, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake.
Colson and his deputy, Lillie, have their work cut out for them. But they dont count on one more unwelcome visitor: a tornado that causes havoc just as the manhunt heats up. Communications are down, the roads are impassableand the rule of law is just about to snap.
About the Author
Ace Atkins is the author of the Quinn Colson novels
The Ranger,
The Lost Ones, and
The Broken Places. Atkins was also chosen by the Robert B. Parker estate to continue the highly popular Spenser novels. A former journalist who cut his teeth as a crime reporter in the newsroom of
The Tampa Tribune, he published his first novel,
Crossroad Blues, at 27 and became a full-time novelist at 30. While at the
Tribune, Ace earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for a feature series based on his investigation into a forgotten murder of the 1950s. The story became the core of his critically acclaimed novel,
White Shadow, which earned raves from noted authors and critics. In his next novels,
Wicked City, Devil's Garden, and
Infamous, blended first-hand interviews and original research into police and court records with tightly woven plots and incisive characters. The historical novels told great American stories by weaving fact and fiction into a colorful, seamless tapestry.
The Ranger represents a return to Ace's first love: hero-driven series fiction. Quinn Colson is a real hero--a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan--who returns home to north Mississippi to fight corruption on his home turf. Ace lives on a historic farm outside Oxford, Mississippi with his family.