Synopses & Reviews
From the critically acclaimed, award-nominated author comes a new noir crime classic about one of the most notorious trials in American history.
Critics called Ace Atkinsas Wicked City agripping, superba (Library Journal), astunninga (The Tampa Tribune), aterrifica (Associated Press), arivetinga (Kirkus Reviews), awicked gooda (Fort Worth Star-Telegram), and aAtkinsa best novela (The Washington Post). But Devilas Garden is something else again.
San Francisco, September 1921: Silent-screen comedy star Roscoe aFattya Arbuckle is throwing a wild party in his suite at the St. Francis Hotel: girls, jazz, bootleg hooch . . . and a dead actress named Virginia Rappe. The D.A. says it was Arbuckle who killed heracrushing her under his weightaand brings him up on manslaughter charges. William Randolph Hearstas newspapers stir up the public and demand a guilty verdict. But what really happened? Why do so many people at the party seem to have stories that conflict? Why is the prosecution hiding witnesses? Why are there body parts missing from the autopsied corpse? Why is Hearst so determined to see Fatty Arbuckle convicted?
In desperation, Arbuckleas defense team hires a Pinkerton agent to do an investigation of his own and, they hope, discover the truth. The agentas name is Dashiell Hammett, and heas the bookas narrator. What he discovers will change American legal historyaand his own lifeaforever.
aThe historical accuracy isnat what elevates Atkinsa prose to greatness, a said The Tampa Tribune. aItas his ability to let these characters breathe in a way that few authors could ever imagine. He doesnat so much write them as unleash them upon the page.a You will not soon forget the extraordinary characters and events in Devilas Garden.
Review
Review
Praise for THE LOST ONES “A haunting page-turner in Faulkner country.”—Associated Press
“Atkins’ sense of place is superb, his story stark and suspenseful. Quinn Colson has a quick wit, a strong sense of honor, and radiates sex appeal.”—Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Review
Praise for The Broken Places
“Atkins voice is graceful and tense . . . Atkins habit-forming series [shares] a tremendous sense of (rural) place and powerfully nuanced characterization with those of James Lee Burke, Craig Johnson, and C. J. Box.”—Booklist
“A high-tension thriller with a hero to rival Jack Reacher.”—Kirkus
“Supercool. ‘Manly writing akin to Elmore Leonards Detroit Westerns.”—Library Journal
“Amid the full-throttle plot, Atkins never loses sight of his characters sensitivities.”—Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Quinn Colson series comes a noir crime classic about one of the most notorious trials in American history. San Francisco, September 1921 Silent-screen comedy star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle is throwing a wild party in his suite at the St. Francis Hotel-girls, jazz, bootleg hooch...and a dead actress named Virginia Rappe.
The D.A. says it was Arbuckle who killed her--crushed her under his weight--and brings him up on manslaughter charges. William Randolph Hearst's newspapers stir up the public and demand a guilty verdict.
In desperation, Arbuckle's defense team hires an operative from the famed Pinkerton detective agency to investigate and, they hope, discover the truth. The agent's name is Dashiell Hammett... and what he discovers will change American legal history--and his own life--forever
Synopsis
San Francisco, September 1921: Silent-screen comedy star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle is throwing a wild party in his suite at the St. Francis Hotel-girls, jazz, bootleg hooch...and a dead actress named Virginia Rappe.
The D.A. says it was Arbuckle who killed her- crushed her under his weight-and brings him up on manslaughter charges. William Randolph Hearst's newspapers stir up the public and demand a guilty verdict.
In desperation, Arbuckle's defense team hires an operative from the famed Pinkerton detective agency to investigate and, they hope, discover the truth. The agent's name is Dashiell Hammett... and what he discovers will change American legal history-and his own life- forever
Synopsis
The remarkable third novel in the harrowing” (Associated Press), killer” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) new series about the real Deep South from the New York Timesbestselling author.
A year after becoming sheriff, Quinn Colson is faced with the release of an infamous murderer from prison. Jamey Dixon comes back to Jericho preaching redemption, and some believe him; but for the victims family, the only thought is revenge.
Another group who doesnt believe himthe men in prison from Dixons last job, an armored car robbery. Theyre sure hes gone back to grab the hidden money, so they do the only thing they can: break out and head straight to Jericho themselves.
Colson and his deputy, Lillie, know theyve got their work cut out for them. But they dont count on one more unwelcome visitor: a tornado that causes havoc just as events come to a head. Communications are down, the roads are impassableand the rule of law is just about to snap.
Synopsis
The remarkable third novel in the “harrowing” (Associated Press), “killer” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) new series about the real Deep South from the New York Times–bestselling author. A year after becoming sheriff, Quinn Colson is faced with the release of an infamous murderer from prison. Casey Dixon comes back to Jericho preaching redemption, and some believe him; but for the victim’s family, the only thought is revenge.
Another group who doesn’t believe him—the men in prison from Dixon’s last job, an armored car robbery. They’re sure he’s gone back to grab the hidden money, so they do the only thing they can: break out and head straight to Jericho themselves.
Colson and his deputy, Lillie, know they’ve got their work cut out for them. But they don’t count on one more unwelcome visitor: a tornado that causes havoc just as events come to a head. Communications are down, the roads are impassable—and the rule of law is just about to snap.
Synopsis
The remarkable third novel in the harrowing” (Associated Press), killer” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) new series about the real Deep South from the New York Timesbestselling author.
A year after becoming sheriff, Quinn Colson is faced with the release of an infamous murderer from prison. Jamey Dixon comes back to Jericho preaching redemption, and some believe him; but for the victims family, the only thought is revenge.
Another group who doesnt believe himthe men in prison from Dixons last job, an armored car robbery. Theyre sure hes gone back to grab the hidden money, so they do the only thing they can: break out and head straight to Jericho themselves.
Colson and his deputy, Lillie, know theyve got their work cut out for them. But they dont count on one more unwelcome visitor: a tornado that causes havoc just as events come to a head. 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 eleven previous books, including two Quinn Colson novels,
The Ranger—nominated for the 2012 Edgar Award for Best Novel—and
The Lost Ones. In addition, he has been selected by the Robert B. Parker estate to continue the Spenser novels, the first of which,
Robert B. Parker’s Lullaby, was a
New York Times bestseller. He lives on a farm outside Oxford, Mississippi.