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Quinn Colson #9
The Shameless
New revelations on a notorious local cold case raise the ghosts of the past in the newest thriller from New York Times-bestselling author Ace Atkins.
Twenty years ago, teenager Brandon Taylor walked into the Big Woods north of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, and never returned. For former Army Ranger-turned-sheriff Quinn Colson, the Taylor case has particular meaning. As a 10-year-old, Colson had been lost in those same woods, and came back from them alive and a local legend.
Years later, the bones of child have been found in the woods, confirming for many the grim ending to the Taylor story. As the case reopens, some point fingers to Quinn's late uncle, the former sheriff, who took his own life in a cloud of corruption and shame. Still, Quinn's wife Maggie doesn't believe it. As a close childhood friend of the Taylor boy, she thinks there's an even darker conspiracy at work. Letters she begins to receive from a mysterious inmate at a Tennessee state pen may hold the answers.
With a heated election for governor on the horizon and the strengthening of a criminal syndicate's death grip on the state, Quinn's search into the Big Woods for answers will upset the corruption that's plagued his home since before he came back from Afghanistan. Greed, false piety, power, bigotry, and dirty deals make for a dangerous mix he knows all too well.
Twenty years ago, teenager Brandon Taylor walked into the Big Woods north of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, and never returned. For former Army Ranger-turned-sheriff Quinn Colson, the Taylor case has particular meaning. As a 10-year-old, Colson had been lost in those same woods, and came back from them alive and a local legend.
Years later, the bones of child have been found in the woods, confirming for many the grim ending to the Taylor story. As the case reopens, some point fingers to Quinn's late uncle, the former sheriff, who took his own life in a cloud of corruption and shame. Still, Quinn's wife Maggie doesn't believe it. As a close childhood friend of the Taylor boy, she thinks there's an even darker conspiracy at work. Letters she begins to receive from a mysterious inmate at a Tennessee state pen may hold the answers.
With a heated election for governor on the horizon and the strengthening of a criminal syndicate's death grip on the state, Quinn's search into the Big Woods for answers will upset the corruption that's plagued his home since before he came back from Afghanistan. Greed, false piety, power, bigotry, and dirty deals make for a dangerous mix he knows all too well.
458 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 9, 2019
602 people are currently reading
2290 people want to read
About the author
Ace Atkins
71 books1,558 followersAce Atkins is the author of twenty-eight books, including eleven Quinn Colson novels, the first two of which, The Ranger and The Lost Ones, were nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel (he has a third Edgar nomination for his short story "Last Fair Deal Gone Down"). He is the author of nine New York Times-bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker's Spenser series. Before turning to fiction, he was a correspondent for the St. Petersburg Times and a crime reporter for the Tampa Tribune, and he played defensive end for Auburn University football.
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July 9, 2019
*I'm floating this review because it publishes today.*
I received a free advance copy of this from NetGalley for review.
A spray-tanned sack of crap is about to win a major election because he’s very good at firing up rubes with promises of returning to a time that never really existed, and even when his shady connections and criminal history are exposed all he has to do is claim that it’s all lies by the media to get his loyal followers to ignore the stories.
You know, I usually read crime fiction to escape reality...
Quinn Colson has been the sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, for almost ten years now, but things aren’t getting any easier for him. The rise of a populist candidate for governor who wants to turn back the clock has excited a whole bunch of deplorable people who feel emboldened to act like an even bigger assholes than usual. The candidate also has ties to the Dixie Mafia, and that relationship has caused an internal power struggle in the organization which reaches all the way to the lady running the local strip club. Meanwhile, a couple of podcasters from New York have come to Tibbehah to dig into the mysterious death of a high school boy twenty years earlier. That has personal connections to Quinn because his late uncle, the sheriff at the time, declared the boy’s death a suicide to the satisfaction of no one, and Quinn’s new wife was dating the kid when he died.
This series started with a fairly simple hook of a war hero returning to his hometown and trying to stop the crime and corruption he finds there. However, that summary makes it sound like this is a bunch of books about a bad ass action hero going lone wolf and taking the law into his own hands, and that’s just not the case. While Quinn is definitely a guy who can take care of himself in a fight, the solution is never just a matter of shooting the bad guys. Quinn respects the law and due process even if the people in power around him often don’t, and so the books aren’t just the fantasy of a good guy with a gun being the answer to everyone’s problem.
Another thing is that even though the series revolves around Quinn this is not just his story. Over the course of nine books Ace Atkins has built up the population of Tibbehah County to the point where we’ve spent as much time with Quinn’s family, friends, and enemies as we do with him. By building up every aspect of his fictional county and all of its characters Atkins has made the story about much more than just one sheriff in a small rural community.
That really pays off in this one because Tibbehah is clearly supposed to be a microcosm of America, and it’s obvious who the crooked political candidate is standing in for. The book displays how the promise of preserving traditions and culture as well as returning to some imagined glory days is just racist code used by rich old white men to try and keep their power. It’s also easy to see that as a former journalist Atkins is angry how the media has been smeared to give the faithful an excuse to turn a blind eye to crimes and horrible behavior.
The podcast subplot provides another interesting angle on the media aspect. The two young ladies seem like responsible and decent people who genuinely want to expose the truth about a hidden crime. However, they’re also looking for a good story, and they're just a little too eager to jump on a juicy theory once it presents itself. Again, this seems to be a veteran journalist doing some commentary about how facts are important, but the context and agenda of who is presenting them also needs to be considered. That's a very valid point at a time when true crime stories are being picked over and analyzed by podcasts and internet sleuths.
This one also ends on a cliff-hanger and most definitely seems like part one of a larger story. There’s always been some on-going threads from book to book that have built up a larger story in this series, but generally we also get a self-contained storyline as well. This time not much is resolved, but I’ll be counting the days until we find out what happens next.
I received a free advance copy of this from NetGalley for review.
A spray-tanned sack of crap is about to win a major election because he’s very good at firing up rubes with promises of returning to a time that never really existed, and even when his shady connections and criminal history are exposed all he has to do is claim that it’s all lies by the media to get his loyal followers to ignore the stories.
You know, I usually read crime fiction to escape reality...
Quinn Colson has been the sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, for almost ten years now, but things aren’t getting any easier for him. The rise of a populist candidate for governor who wants to turn back the clock has excited a whole bunch of deplorable people who feel emboldened to act like an even bigger assholes than usual. The candidate also has ties to the Dixie Mafia, and that relationship has caused an internal power struggle in the organization which reaches all the way to the lady running the local strip club. Meanwhile, a couple of podcasters from New York have come to Tibbehah to dig into the mysterious death of a high school boy twenty years earlier. That has personal connections to Quinn because his late uncle, the sheriff at the time, declared the boy’s death a suicide to the satisfaction of no one, and Quinn’s new wife was dating the kid when he died.
This series started with a fairly simple hook of a war hero returning to his hometown and trying to stop the crime and corruption he finds there. However, that summary makes it sound like this is a bunch of books about a bad ass action hero going lone wolf and taking the law into his own hands, and that’s just not the case. While Quinn is definitely a guy who can take care of himself in a fight, the solution is never just a matter of shooting the bad guys. Quinn respects the law and due process even if the people in power around him often don’t, and so the books aren’t just the fantasy of a good guy with a gun being the answer to everyone’s problem.
Another thing is that even though the series revolves around Quinn this is not just his story. Over the course of nine books Ace Atkins has built up the population of Tibbehah County to the point where we’ve spent as much time with Quinn’s family, friends, and enemies as we do with him. By building up every aspect of his fictional county and all of its characters Atkins has made the story about much more than just one sheriff in a small rural community.
That really pays off in this one because Tibbehah is clearly supposed to be a microcosm of America, and it’s obvious who the crooked political candidate is standing in for. The book displays how the promise of preserving traditions and culture as well as returning to some imagined glory days is just racist code used by rich old white men to try and keep their power. It’s also easy to see that as a former journalist Atkins is angry how the media has been smeared to give the faithful an excuse to turn a blind eye to crimes and horrible behavior.
The podcast subplot provides another interesting angle on the media aspect. The two young ladies seem like responsible and decent people who genuinely want to expose the truth about a hidden crime. However, they’re also looking for a good story, and they're just a little too eager to jump on a juicy theory once it presents itself. Again, this seems to be a veteran journalist doing some commentary about how facts are important, but the context and agenda of who is presenting them also needs to be considered. That's a very valid point at a time when true crime stories are being picked over and analyzed by podcasts and internet sleuths.
This one also ends on a cliff-hanger and most definitely seems like part one of a larger story. There’s always been some on-going threads from book to book that have built up a larger story in this series, but generally we also get a self-contained storyline as well. This time not much is resolved, but I’ll be counting the days until we find out what happens next.
July 10, 2019
Tibbehah County and the county seat of Jericho located in northern Mississippi’s hill country are the nightmare versions of Three Pines, Cabot Cove, and Virtual Falls. Makes those murderous but idyllic little towns sound like paradise. But Tibbehah has Sheriff Quinn Colson who for the last ten years has tried to fight the rampant crime, corruption, and sin in Tibbehah County. But Tibbehah is truly Medusa, cut off one head; there is another to takes its place.
A brilliant opening describes Tibbehah County as only a north Mississippi resident could do so. Except in The Shameless it’s a NYC podcast narrator/investigator who has spent months in Tibbehah investigating the death of a young man, Brandon Taylor, back in 1997. A death that had been ruled a suicide by Colson’s uncle, the former sheriff. That ruling has never set well with the family, and they have been persuasive enough to bring down two Brooklyn women, Tashi and Jessica, to investigate.
Not eggzactly (sic) what Colson needs at the moment as evil is once again on the move in Tibbehah. Evil appears in the form of Miss Fannie, owner of Vienna’s Place strip club, who controls most of the crime in north Mississippi and wants to control more. Much more. Evil in the form of Mr. Skinner, county supervisor, who wants to shut down Vienna’s place and wants to place a huge cross in front of it; and the good Christian man is willing to do anything to reach his goal. Anything. Maybe, the ultimate evil appears in the form of state Senator Jimmy Vardaman who is within one more election of reaching the Governor’s Mansion. One election he can’t possibly lose.
Tashi and Jessica’s investigation proves to be a real PITA for Colson, later they make up for their mistakes and prove to be great help
Author Ace Atkins has spent a great amount of time building Tibbehah and letting us get to know many of its inhabitants and to grow relationships with them. Who didn’t cheer when Johnny Stagg was finally sent to jail, but who hasn’t missed him? Who wasn’t horrified when Lillie joined the Marshall Service but relieved she is still a strong, funny part of Tibbehah? We have watched Jason grown up, and am I alone by being intrigued S/A Holliday? Oh and three cheers for the skank finally being in the back window with Maggie front and center.
Near the beginning of The Shameless, there is a scene with Quinn and Maggie at the Neshoba County fair, which is an extremely odd and wonderful place.
Carnival rides, horse racing, but the most important part of the fair is the political speechifying, for both state wide and national politicians. Quinn and Maggie are sickened as they listen to Vardaman unload his usual crap, that somehow sounds so familiar to the reader.
It is here that Quinn and Maggie first encounter Vardaman’s faux tough guy bully boys, The Watchmen. Atkins once again gives us a new dimension of evil. But of course if we watch the news, it ain’t so new.
So if you stripped away the bad language, awful crimes, repulsive characters, could this wonderful book and the other Colson books possibly be cozies? Ha, not bloody likely. But then again, the sometimes bucolic setting, the small town coming back to life, the strong unbreakable family ties, the friendship ties just as sturdy, the strong religious beliefs and always the hope that good will prevail are always present in the Quinn Colson series. Note to self, these are dark and violent stories, no matter the framework.
Atkins once again checks all the boxes for an outstanding crime story; vile villains, flawed heroes, original stories, and crisp writing.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
A brilliant opening describes Tibbehah County as only a north Mississippi resident could do so. Except in The Shameless it’s a NYC podcast narrator/investigator who has spent months in Tibbehah investigating the death of a young man, Brandon Taylor, back in 1997. A death that had been ruled a suicide by Colson’s uncle, the former sheriff. That ruling has never set well with the family, and they have been persuasive enough to bring down two Brooklyn women, Tashi and Jessica, to investigate.
Not eggzactly (sic) what Colson needs at the moment as evil is once again on the move in Tibbehah. Evil appears in the form of Miss Fannie, owner of Vienna’s Place strip club, who controls most of the crime in north Mississippi and wants to control more. Much more. Evil in the form of Mr. Skinner, county supervisor, who wants to shut down Vienna’s place and wants to place a huge cross in front of it; and the good Christian man is willing to do anything to reach his goal. Anything. Maybe, the ultimate evil appears in the form of state Senator Jimmy Vardaman who is within one more election of reaching the Governor’s Mansion. One election he can’t possibly lose.
Tashi and Jessica’s investigation proves to be a real PITA for Colson, later they make up for their mistakes and prove to be great help
Author Ace Atkins has spent a great amount of time building Tibbehah and letting us get to know many of its inhabitants and to grow relationships with them. Who didn’t cheer when Johnny Stagg was finally sent to jail, but who hasn’t missed him? Who wasn’t horrified when Lillie joined the Marshall Service but relieved she is still a strong, funny part of Tibbehah? We have watched Jason grown up, and am I alone by being intrigued S/A Holliday? Oh and three cheers for the skank finally being in the back window with Maggie front and center.
Near the beginning of The Shameless, there is a scene with Quinn and Maggie at the Neshoba County fair, which is an extremely odd and wonderful place.
Carnival rides, horse racing, but the most important part of the fair is the political speechifying, for both state wide and national politicians. Quinn and Maggie are sickened as they listen to Vardaman unload his usual crap, that somehow sounds so familiar to the reader.
It is here that Quinn and Maggie first encounter Vardaman’s faux tough guy bully boys, The Watchmen. Atkins once again gives us a new dimension of evil. But of course if we watch the news, it ain’t so new.
So if you stripped away the bad language, awful crimes, repulsive characters, could this wonderful book and the other Colson books possibly be cozies? Ha, not bloody likely. But then again, the sometimes bucolic setting, the small town coming back to life, the strong unbreakable family ties, the friendship ties just as sturdy, the strong religious beliefs and always the hope that good will prevail are always present in the Quinn Colson series. Note to self, these are dark and violent stories, no matter the framework.
Atkins once again checks all the boxes for an outstanding crime story; vile villains, flawed heroes, original stories, and crisp writing.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 14, 2020
Over the course of the last few years, this has become one of my favorite series, principally because through the nine books to date, author Ace Atkins has created such a beautifully imagined setting in Tibbehah County, Mississippi and populated it with a great cast of characters.
That is not to say that the county, in the northeastern part of the state, is beautiful in and of itself. The rolling hills of the county may be naturally beautiful, but sadly the county continues to be a cesspool of crime and corruption, ruled by greedy and corrupt politicians, and populated by a lot of people who appear to be on a downward slide. For years a criminal syndicate has been running drugs and women through the county, often with the complicity of at least some county officials. A truck stop madam named Fannie Hathcock, the owner of a strip club formerly known as the Booby Hatch, now represents the syndicate in Tibbehah, at least for the moment, while a sleazy state senator named Jimmy Vardaman is the syndicate's candidate for the state's governorship. Vardaman insists that he wants to restore traditional Mississippi values, but his candidacy could mean that the state, Tibbehah County in particular, would be wide open territory for the criminal elements.
Standing against them is a former army ranger, Quinn Colson, who is again serving as county sheriff and who is determined to clean up the county, no matter the odds against him. Over the course of the first eight books in the series, Colson has been fighting what could best be described as a holding action. While he's sent a few of the criminals off to prison and dispatched a few more of them permanently, there always seem to be new recruits, like Fannie Hathcock, waiting to step up and take over the action.
This entry revolves around the death of a young boy named Brandon Taylor who died in the woods twenty years earlier. His death was ruled a suicide, but there have always been questions about that, and now two young female journalists arrive in Tibbehah County determined to reopen the case. Unfortunately, Quinn Colson, who was only a boy himself at the time Taylor died, is in the journalists' crosshairs as a person of interest in the case. The situation becomes even more complicated when Colson's wife, Maggie, who was Taylor's girlfriend in high school, suddenly begins receiving mysterious messages about the boy's death.
While Colson tries to deal with all of that, various factions of the state's criminal elements are jockeying for position. The one thing that they all seem to share is their belief that Quinn Colson is a threat to their activities and that he needs to be neutralized. It all adds up to a potentially explosive situation for Quinn Colson, and for the family and the county that he loves. This is one of the best books in an excellent series. Five stars, principally for the complex and very believable world that Atkins has created here.
That is not to say that the county, in the northeastern part of the state, is beautiful in and of itself. The rolling hills of the county may be naturally beautiful, but sadly the county continues to be a cesspool of crime and corruption, ruled by greedy and corrupt politicians, and populated by a lot of people who appear to be on a downward slide. For years a criminal syndicate has been running drugs and women through the county, often with the complicity of at least some county officials. A truck stop madam named Fannie Hathcock, the owner of a strip club formerly known as the Booby Hatch, now represents the syndicate in Tibbehah, at least for the moment, while a sleazy state senator named Jimmy Vardaman is the syndicate's candidate for the state's governorship. Vardaman insists that he wants to restore traditional Mississippi values, but his candidacy could mean that the state, Tibbehah County in particular, would be wide open territory for the criminal elements.
Standing against them is a former army ranger, Quinn Colson, who is again serving as county sheriff and who is determined to clean up the county, no matter the odds against him. Over the course of the first eight books in the series, Colson has been fighting what could best be described as a holding action. While he's sent a few of the criminals off to prison and dispatched a few more of them permanently, there always seem to be new recruits, like Fannie Hathcock, waiting to step up and take over the action.
This entry revolves around the death of a young boy named Brandon Taylor who died in the woods twenty years earlier. His death was ruled a suicide, but there have always been questions about that, and now two young female journalists arrive in Tibbehah County determined to reopen the case. Unfortunately, Quinn Colson, who was only a boy himself at the time Taylor died, is in the journalists' crosshairs as a person of interest in the case. The situation becomes even more complicated when Colson's wife, Maggie, who was Taylor's girlfriend in high school, suddenly begins receiving mysterious messages about the boy's death.
While Colson tries to deal with all of that, various factions of the state's criminal elements are jockeying for position. The one thing that they all seem to share is their belief that Quinn Colson is a threat to their activities and that he needs to be neutralized. It all adds up to a potentially explosive situation for Quinn Colson, and for the family and the county that he loves. This is one of the best books in an excellent series. Five stars, principally for the complex and very believable world that Atkins has created here.
July 8, 2019
The Shameless is the ninth novel in the series and the first one I've read by this author. I just jumped in without knowing anything about the setting or the characters, no expectations at all. The book didn't disappoint- you have a new Quinn Colson fan here. The author provides enough background to understand the most salient points of what happened in the series prior to this instalment. The characters are well-developed and you know straightaway which side you are on. I loved the realtionship between Maggie and Quinn, Boom, Caddy, Jean, Brandon, Jayson, Cleotha...and the list goes on. You see, Ace Atkins makes you fall in love with the characters and you will want to come back and read the sequel.
An extremely unpleasant political candidate with no scruples or moral compass is about to get elected. He has ties to local criminal world and the queen of shady business who will not stop until she has control of everything she can get her hands on. In the meantime, Tashi Coleman,a New York journalist, comes to investigate an old story of a fifteen year old boy who got lost in the Tibbehah woods and whose body was found with a bullet in his head. She suspects the police were involved, so there is a good chance for an important story. Was it really a suicide or a brutal murder that goes back to twenty years ago? Tashi is definitely going to ask questions and stir some trouble in the process.
Having thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I'll be looking forward to the next title in the series.
Thank you to Edelweiss and G.P.Putnam's sons for the ARc provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
An extremely unpleasant political candidate with no scruples or moral compass is about to get elected. He has ties to local criminal world and the queen of shady business who will not stop until she has control of everything she can get her hands on. In the meantime, Tashi Coleman,a New York journalist, comes to investigate an old story of a fifteen year old boy who got lost in the Tibbehah woods and whose body was found with a bullet in his head. She suspects the police were involved, so there is a good chance for an important story. Was it really a suicide or a brutal murder that goes back to twenty years ago? Tashi is definitely going to ask questions and stir some trouble in the process.
Having thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I'll be looking forward to the next title in the series.
Thank you to Edelweiss and G.P.Putnam's sons for the ARc provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
October 14, 2019
Despite his success and huge popularity, I'd suggest that Ace Atkins is still underappreciated as an author. He writes a lot and it's ALL remarkably good. His Sheriff Quinn Colson is a perfectly drawn character, likeable and believable, and every twist and event and plot turn in THE SHAMELESS feels genuine. Better yet, there's never even a hint of the story losing pace or direction--not easy to do. This is darn close to being a perfect book, and that's no real surprise given this guy's track record. And, finally, I think readers will get a kick out of Atkins' sly, spot-on treatment of Senator Vardaman. Five stars for sure.
March 3, 2020
I'm glad I put off reading this book for as long as I did; that means I won't have to wait as long for the next book in the series, since this one just ended right in the middle. If he doesn't come out with the next one in the series soon, I'm going to sic Lillie Virgil on him. In fact, I think I'll push for a new law that when an author ends a book in the middle, there must be the rest of the story all completed and ready to publish in case something happens to the author.
OK, aside from being put out about the lack of an ending, this was a really good story. There were a lot of parallels to the Trump escapades, with the same people cheering for both Trump and the candidate for Mississippi governor in this one. We see signs at campaign rallies like "JOURNALIST, ROPE, TREE. SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED" and "PRO-LIFE, PRO-GUN, AND PRO-GOD". Well, that's Mississippi.
Basically, the story is about my favorite two bad guys, religious extremists and political extremists, all wrapped up into one.
OK, aside from being put out about the lack of an ending, this was a really good story. There were a lot of parallels to the Trump escapades, with the same people cheering for both Trump and the candidate for Mississippi governor in this one. We see signs at campaign rallies like "JOURNALIST, ROPE, TREE. SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED" and "PRO-LIFE, PRO-GUN, AND PRO-GOD". Well, that's Mississippi.
Basically, the story is about my favorite two bad guys, religious extremists and political extremists, all wrapped up into one.
June 19, 2019
The Shameless is the ninth novel in the Quinn Colson series and to this reader shows few signs of growing stale or repetitive.
Ace Atkins turns out well-written and enjoyable crime novels with interesting characters.
In The Shameless, Atkins also includes current trends to keep his novel timely. In The Shameless, two young women outside of the South and with little knowledge of the South, have been persuaded to look into a decades-old suspicious suicide some believe was murder instead of a suicide.
The two young ladies soon start their investigation into a matter many would prefer to leave alone and under each discovery of new information, links to the death stretch out in different, surprising directions.
Running in simultaneous parallel plotlines, Atkins throws in previously introduced characters, as well as plot lines originating in previous Colson novels, to keep things interesting. In some ways, The Shameless is similar to an ensemble television series that allows each character to grow and expand in their depictions.
The Shameless and other Quinn Colson novels are highly recommended. It is also surprising these novels have not been developed for television.
Ace Atkins turns out well-written and enjoyable crime novels with interesting characters.
In The Shameless, Atkins also includes current trends to keep his novel timely. In The Shameless, two young women outside of the South and with little knowledge of the South, have been persuaded to look into a decades-old suspicious suicide some believe was murder instead of a suicide.
The two young ladies soon start their investigation into a matter many would prefer to leave alone and under each discovery of new information, links to the death stretch out in different, surprising directions.
Running in simultaneous parallel plotlines, Atkins throws in previously introduced characters, as well as plot lines originating in previous Colson novels, to keep things interesting. In some ways, The Shameless is similar to an ensemble television series that allows each character to grow and expand in their depictions.
The Shameless and other Quinn Colson novels are highly recommended. It is also surprising these novels have not been developed for television.
August 10, 2021
This book has everything except a damned ending. The point of a book is to tell a story, not to sell more books. If you can't supply a finish, don't start! This would have earned at least 4.5 stars if Atkins (one of my favorite authors) had completed it and not made me wait a year or two for another high-priced novel. I feel bamboozled. I am disgusted. What a letdown. Have you figured out I'm unhappy? I hope Atkins' significant other chews his rear.
June 27, 2019
Quinn Colson doesn't have it easy with all the different people who wants him gone. The different politicians and crime syndicates. Once again we delve into the dark history of the small town of Jericho in the south. I just love this series, try it y'all.
March 22, 2020
Damn! I hate it when TV shows become "To Be Continued"...and that's what cost Ace Atkins his 5th star here...Quinn Colson, ever Gary Cooper 's Will Kane from "High Noon, is constantly facing the forces of evil in Northern Mississippi...In this one, two podcast journalists arrive in Jericho to investigate a 20 year old murder of a schoolmate of both Colson and his wife irritating the political powers that be...the usual locals, plus Lily, are around to unravel this mystery...Great stuff!!!
July 23, 2019
Two New York reporters are in Tibbehah Country, Mississippi investigating a cold case. Twenty years ago a young man, Brandon Taylor, killed himself in the Big Woods. At least that is the official explanation. What really happened is hard to know, since there were no witnesses and all the official documents are missing. Now they are asking around, trying to find out the truth. Sheriff Quinn Colson is one that is asking questions, both because of his role as a sheriff and because of his connection to Brandon, or rather his wife. Maggie was friends with Brandon and even dated him. But the truth is hard to find out, especially if there are those that try to discredit Quinn by pointing a finger at him...
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
June 29, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
THE SHAMELESS by Ace Atkins is the 9th book in the “Quinn Colson” series, and once again we find ourselves back in Tibbehah County, where there is always something dark & dirty present in the small rural community, and once again the topless bar formerly known as “The Booby Trap” (formerly owned by the infamous Johnny Stagg), that is now allegedly a classier establishment in it’s current ownership by the beautiful but dangerous Fannie Hathcock, plays an important role in what criminal activity is currently taking place.
Brandon Taylor is a long forgotten young man who disappeared years ago, and Quinn Colson, who is the local Sheriff, is approached by two out of town reporters who have taken an interest in the cold case hoping to jump start the investigation to find the truth behind the disappearance and presumed death, as well as uncovering those responsible if possible.
Quinn has to face interference by those connected to the “Watchmen”, a loyal but misguided vigilante-like group loyal to Senator Jimmy Vardeman, and Skinner, a sleazy character who’s reinvention of himself as a pious God fearing individual loyal to Vardeman, is also bent on once and for all closing down the topless establishment that Fannie runs, as there is no love lost between the two with the lines drawn long ago.
The Dixie Mafia is ever present and plays a big role in the behind the scenes activities and controls the criminal activity in the community with the power to determine the leadership in everything associated with the income generated by all illegal activities in the bar, along with related hidden revenues generated within.
Ace Atkins has once again added another strong novel to this series that never fails to paint a vivid picture of the life in this locale that on the surface appears quaint and quiet, but has an underbelly that is sleazy and evil in the shadows, and Quinn as always must overcome all odds to rid the area of the old and new players that would destroy the life he’d like to see for his community’s future.
5 stars.
THE SHAMELESS by Ace Atkins is the 9th book in the “Quinn Colson” series, and once again we find ourselves back in Tibbehah County, where there is always something dark & dirty present in the small rural community, and once again the topless bar formerly known as “The Booby Trap” (formerly owned by the infamous Johnny Stagg), that is now allegedly a classier establishment in it’s current ownership by the beautiful but dangerous Fannie Hathcock, plays an important role in what criminal activity is currently taking place.
Brandon Taylor is a long forgotten young man who disappeared years ago, and Quinn Colson, who is the local Sheriff, is approached by two out of town reporters who have taken an interest in the cold case hoping to jump start the investigation to find the truth behind the disappearance and presumed death, as well as uncovering those responsible if possible.
Quinn has to face interference by those connected to the “Watchmen”, a loyal but misguided vigilante-like group loyal to Senator Jimmy Vardeman, and Skinner, a sleazy character who’s reinvention of himself as a pious God fearing individual loyal to Vardeman, is also bent on once and for all closing down the topless establishment that Fannie runs, as there is no love lost between the two with the lines drawn long ago.
The Dixie Mafia is ever present and plays a big role in the behind the scenes activities and controls the criminal activity in the community with the power to determine the leadership in everything associated with the income generated by all illegal activities in the bar, along with related hidden revenues generated within.
Ace Atkins has once again added another strong novel to this series that never fails to paint a vivid picture of the life in this locale that on the surface appears quaint and quiet, but has an underbelly that is sleazy and evil in the shadows, and Quinn as always must overcome all odds to rid the area of the old and new players that would destroy the life he’d like to see for his community’s future.
5 stars.
August 4, 2019
I Love Quinn Colson, Boom and all the characters new and old from fictional Tibbehah County, Mississippi.
This episode is a good one, keep up the Good work Ace; but, could you do me a favor ?
Take a break from making any and every republican or Christian redneck a racist, sexist, homophobe .... “Christ Almighty!!” as a Tibbehah resident might exclaim- it’s gettin’ old !!
This episode is a good one, keep up the Good work Ace; but, could you do me a favor ?
Take a break from making any and every republican or Christian redneck a racist, sexist, homophobe .... “Christ Almighty!!” as a Tibbehah resident might exclaim- it’s gettin’ old !!
June 16, 2020
I’ve had a copy of this book for awhile, close to a year. I’d start it and put it down. It is very hard to get into, not knowing what it’s really about, except a 20 year old murder and corruption by some bad, mostly new characters.
Recently, I started it again and kept at it, finally being drawn back into Tibbehah County and its rhythm.
There will be a sequel.
Recently, I started it again and kept at it, finally being drawn back into Tibbehah County and its rhythm.
There will be a sequel.
May 17, 2020
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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This just feels like too much of a novel to do an adequate job with. It's been a week and a half (at the time of writing), and I'm still thinking about this book and everything Atkins did in it. I'm honestly not up to the task of doing it right. But I'll give it a shot, with the up-front caveat that I'm missing a lot. You just need to read this.
Twenty years ago, when Quinn was in High School, a student a couple of years older than him went missing in the woods while hunting—and everyone came out in droves to look for him. For weeks the town, the media, and the Sheriff's Department (under Quinn's uncle) devoted every waking hour to finding him. They eventually found his body near his rifle and ruled it a suicide. But no one was satisfied with that finding. Now, two New York journalists have arrived to re-open the case, look at things from a new perspective, and hopefully come up with enough material (and, better, a satisfying conclusion) for the next season of their podcast about missing people.
Quinn's new wife, Maggie, had been the boy's girlfriend and initially helps the podcasters out a lot. The boy's family isn't united about this new search for answers, but most people are willing to help (while being suspicious of the two). A lot of old secrets, old prejudices, and unanswered questions and qualms are brought forth from the recesses of the collective memory of the community. A tragedy that had shaken the county decades previously is doing the same thing again.
These two are in town for months, stirring up trouble, stirring up gossip, stirring up emotions (sometimes intentionally, sometimes not), and generally being a distraction for Quinn. He'd frankly love to devote energy, time and attention to solving a cold case, but there's a bigger, more dangerous, and frankly, very contemporary threat—Senator Jimmy Vardaman. Vardaman's been on the fringes (and frequently closer) to the problems around Tibbehah County for quite some time, but now he's running in the gubernatorial primary and is doing much better than expected. If he wins this, he's a shoo-in for the actual election. Tapping into a false sense of nostalgia for the Mississippi that never was, a healthy dose of racism, and empty platitudes—and a healthy dose of Syndicate cash—Vardaman's doing better than anyone expected.
There are a number of crimes that Quinn strongly believes are tied to Vardaman, but he can't find enough proof. Every time he comes close, something prevents it from happening—he has a few opportunities here to bring Vardaman down before primary and devotes all his energy toward them. One of the strongest themes running through this novel is the intersection of crime and politics, and how that affects both enterprises. Too often (in fiction and reality), politics boils down to the influence of and lust for money and power—which is pretty much what crime (particularly the more organized forms of it) is. Vardaman's not the only example this series or this novel has of it, but he's the current exemplar in Atkins' world.
Meanwhile, Fannie Hathcock is still running the show when it comes to illicit materials and licit (but not fully-clothed) women in Tibbehah County. Recent events have left things shaky for her, and Vardaman's ascent (and those he owes favors to) will make things shakier. We don't see much of what that means in this book, but I think we will soon. I don't think Fannie is a woman to be taken lightly—the power structures on both sides of the law may be less-than-welcoming to a woman—and I don't expect her to go quietly (if she goes at all).
My biggest complaint is about Boom Kimbrough. Yes, Quinn's best friend and staunchest ally (no offense to Maggie or Lillie), is a presence throughout—but is absent from the major story, and his subplot doesn't get that much space. Boom's primarily recovering from—to some extent—the events of The Sinners, and that's about all we see from him. He and Caddy spend a lot of time together, but if he has more than one conversation with Quinn, I'd be surprised. I should've taken notes on that front (but who'd have thought I'd have to?). I assume we'll see more of him in future books—I just don't want to wait.
Using the podcast—and the stir it creates—to revisit many of the characters' storylines, see how they got to where they are now (possibly to look at them in a different light)—is a brilliant move and Atkins uses it very effectively. There are moments recalled because of this podcast that I'd forgotten about or hadn't seen in relation to the greater story arcs. Also, it's a great way to help the reader see that other parts of the county may not see Quinn's actions the same way the reader has. By using the podcast, Atkins is able to create drama with this as well as avoiding several dull information dumps.
Something that I don't particularly enjoy—but respect and appreciate—is the way things ended. I've seen several people call it a cliff-hanger of an ending. I don't really see it that way, but I can see where they're coming from. Now, I'm not going to get into the details for obvious reasons (for one, I'm not a monster), but I can say that it was a very noir ending. Which fits, this is a dark series—fun, sometimes funny—but a real Southern noir. This is Colson at the noirest, particularly the last chapter. It was a perfect ending to a great book—so don't take my not particularly enjoying as a complaint. I'd prefer an ending where justice triumphs, evil is vanquished, and Quinn rides off into the sunset. That ain't the world we live in, that's not the world of Tibbehah County, and this novel is better at showing us than the others have been (not that things like a tornado wiping out huge parts of the county are exactly rainbows and unicorns, either).
Can this be read as a jumping-on point? I actually think it can—it easily serves as a "Where We Are Now/Where We Have Been" novel. But just know that you're going to want to go back and read the others to understand everything talked about (much of which is alluded to, rather than explained—the way you'd talk to an old friend about something that happened four years ago). Obviously, the best thing to do is get The Ranger and work your way up to this point, but this would be the best jumping-on point since The Ranger.
The Shameless is the longest novel in the series, easily the most ambitious, and very possibly the best (I can't think of a better one, but I'd have to re-read them. Which isn't a bad idea, actually.). It feels like a change in the series—which is hard to describe without spoiling, but if Chapter One was Quinn's struggles against Stagg, Chapter Two would be everything up to this book until Stagg went to prison, and then Chapter Three is whatever comes after The Shameless. Something tells me this small-town sheriff is missing the days when his biggest problem was Stagg.
I really can't recommend this enough—Quinn Colson and Ace Atkins are some of the best in the genre today and The Shameless is the best proof of that.
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This just feels like too much of a novel to do an adequate job with. It's been a week and a half (at the time of writing), and I'm still thinking about this book and everything Atkins did in it. I'm honestly not up to the task of doing it right. But I'll give it a shot, with the up-front caveat that I'm missing a lot. You just need to read this.
Twenty years ago, when Quinn was in High School, a student a couple of years older than him went missing in the woods while hunting—and everyone came out in droves to look for him. For weeks the town, the media, and the Sheriff's Department (under Quinn's uncle) devoted every waking hour to finding him. They eventually found his body near his rifle and ruled it a suicide. But no one was satisfied with that finding. Now, two New York journalists have arrived to re-open the case, look at things from a new perspective, and hopefully come up with enough material (and, better, a satisfying conclusion) for the next season of their podcast about missing people.
Quinn's new wife, Maggie, had been the boy's girlfriend and initially helps the podcasters out a lot. The boy's family isn't united about this new search for answers, but most people are willing to help (while being suspicious of the two). A lot of old secrets, old prejudices, and unanswered questions and qualms are brought forth from the recesses of the collective memory of the community. A tragedy that had shaken the county decades previously is doing the same thing again.
These two are in town for months, stirring up trouble, stirring up gossip, stirring up emotions (sometimes intentionally, sometimes not), and generally being a distraction for Quinn. He'd frankly love to devote energy, time and attention to solving a cold case, but there's a bigger, more dangerous, and frankly, very contemporary threat—Senator Jimmy Vardaman. Vardaman's been on the fringes (and frequently closer) to the problems around Tibbehah County for quite some time, but now he's running in the gubernatorial primary and is doing much better than expected. If he wins this, he's a shoo-in for the actual election. Tapping into a false sense of nostalgia for the Mississippi that never was, a healthy dose of racism, and empty platitudes—and a healthy dose of Syndicate cash—Vardaman's doing better than anyone expected.
There are a number of crimes that Quinn strongly believes are tied to Vardaman, but he can't find enough proof. Every time he comes close, something prevents it from happening—he has a few opportunities here to bring Vardaman down before primary and devotes all his energy toward them. One of the strongest themes running through this novel is the intersection of crime and politics, and how that affects both enterprises. Too often (in fiction and reality), politics boils down to the influence of and lust for money and power—which is pretty much what crime (particularly the more organized forms of it) is. Vardaman's not the only example this series or this novel has of it, but he's the current exemplar in Atkins' world.
Meanwhile, Fannie Hathcock is still running the show when it comes to illicit materials and licit (but not fully-clothed) women in Tibbehah County. Recent events have left things shaky for her, and Vardaman's ascent (and those he owes favors to) will make things shakier. We don't see much of what that means in this book, but I think we will soon. I don't think Fannie is a woman to be taken lightly—the power structures on both sides of the law may be less-than-welcoming to a woman—and I don't expect her to go quietly (if she goes at all).
My biggest complaint is about Boom Kimbrough. Yes, Quinn's best friend and staunchest ally (no offense to Maggie or Lillie), is a presence throughout—but is absent from the major story, and his subplot doesn't get that much space. Boom's primarily recovering from—to some extent—the events of The Sinners, and that's about all we see from him. He and Caddy spend a lot of time together, but if he has more than one conversation with Quinn, I'd be surprised. I should've taken notes on that front (but who'd have thought I'd have to?). I assume we'll see more of him in future books—I just don't want to wait.
Using the podcast—and the stir it creates—to revisit many of the characters' storylines, see how they got to where they are now (possibly to look at them in a different light)—is a brilliant move and Atkins uses it very effectively. There are moments recalled because of this podcast that I'd forgotten about or hadn't seen in relation to the greater story arcs. Also, it's a great way to help the reader see that other parts of the county may not see Quinn's actions the same way the reader has. By using the podcast, Atkins is able to create drama with this as well as avoiding several dull information dumps.
Something that I don't particularly enjoy—but respect and appreciate—is the way things ended. I've seen several people call it a cliff-hanger of an ending. I don't really see it that way, but I can see where they're coming from. Now, I'm not going to get into the details for obvious reasons (for one, I'm not a monster), but I can say that it was a very noir ending. Which fits, this is a dark series—fun, sometimes funny—but a real Southern noir. This is Colson at the noirest, particularly the last chapter. It was a perfect ending to a great book—so don't take my not particularly enjoying as a complaint. I'd prefer an ending where justice triumphs, evil is vanquished, and Quinn rides off into the sunset. That ain't the world we live in, that's not the world of Tibbehah County, and this novel is better at showing us than the others have been (not that things like a tornado wiping out huge parts of the county are exactly rainbows and unicorns, either).
Can this be read as a jumping-on point? I actually think it can—it easily serves as a "Where We Are Now/Where We Have Been" novel. But just know that you're going to want to go back and read the others to understand everything talked about (much of which is alluded to, rather than explained—the way you'd talk to an old friend about something that happened four years ago). Obviously, the best thing to do is get The Ranger and work your way up to this point, but this would be the best jumping-on point since The Ranger.
The Shameless is the longest novel in the series, easily the most ambitious, and very possibly the best (I can't think of a better one, but I'd have to re-read them. Which isn't a bad idea, actually.). It feels like a change in the series—which is hard to describe without spoiling, but if Chapter One was Quinn's struggles against Stagg, Chapter Two would be everything up to this book until Stagg went to prison, and then Chapter Three is whatever comes after The Shameless. Something tells me this small-town sheriff is missing the days when his biggest problem was Stagg.
I really can't recommend this enough—Quinn Colson and Ace Atkins are some of the best in the genre today and The Shameless is the best proof of that.
August 2, 2019
No, no, no!
After being glued to the page reading the further adventures of Quinn Colson, Sheriff of rural Tibbeheh County , Mississippi, I found myself facing a “ be sure to read the next book to find out what is going to happen .” I will not drop a spoiler to ruin the book for anyone else ; just hurry up with the next book.
“Shameless” , the ninth in the Quinn Colson series by Ace Atkins, finds the hero dealing with two millennial girl podcast reporters from NYC. In this part of Mississippi, they stand out just a wee bit. The story they are digging up is the disappearance and death of a high schooler twenty years ago. Th boy, Brandon Taylor was known to Colson, and his wife who was close to Taylor. Like everything else in the poorest, politically corrupt county in the poor, corrupt state, all things , maybe even the mysterious death of Brandon Taylor are connected to the power brokers, influence peddlers and money handlers running everything in the state.
Atkins has developed a group of fascinating characters in this series, good and bad, linking everyone together with Colson , his family and friends. Loved the character of Fannie Hathcock ( what a great name) who runs the local road house, focus of crime and corruption in the county. She is just deliciously bad. There is the nasty candidate for governor, a local born again who wraps himself in the flag, and wants to return the state to the good old days when the blacks knew their place, and of course, keep, the dirty money flowing to him and his cronies. And of course, Quinn himself who is tough and fair as he tries to keep the pot from boiling over.
I recommend that a new reader starts with novel number one to get everyone in focus before reading “ Shameless”. I also warn that the reader has a sense of humor about crude , over the top language and some violence.
Finally, hurry up with the sequel,Mr. Atkins!
After being glued to the page reading the further adventures of Quinn Colson, Sheriff of rural Tibbeheh County , Mississippi, I found myself facing a “ be sure to read the next book to find out what is going to happen .” I will not drop a spoiler to ruin the book for anyone else ; just hurry up with the next book.
“Shameless” , the ninth in the Quinn Colson series by Ace Atkins, finds the hero dealing with two millennial girl podcast reporters from NYC. In this part of Mississippi, they stand out just a wee bit. The story they are digging up is the disappearance and death of a high schooler twenty years ago. Th boy, Brandon Taylor was known to Colson, and his wife who was close to Taylor. Like everything else in the poorest, politically corrupt county in the poor, corrupt state, all things , maybe even the mysterious death of Brandon Taylor are connected to the power brokers, influence peddlers and money handlers running everything in the state.
Atkins has developed a group of fascinating characters in this series, good and bad, linking everyone together with Colson , his family and friends. Loved the character of Fannie Hathcock ( what a great name) who runs the local road house, focus of crime and corruption in the county. She is just deliciously bad. There is the nasty candidate for governor, a local born again who wraps himself in the flag, and wants to return the state to the good old days when the blacks knew their place, and of course, keep, the dirty money flowing to him and his cronies. And of course, Quinn himself who is tough and fair as he tries to keep the pot from boiling over.
I recommend that a new reader starts with novel number one to get everyone in focus before reading “ Shameless”. I also warn that the reader has a sense of humor about crude , over the top language and some violence.
Finally, hurry up with the sequel,Mr. Atkins!
August 3, 2019
The discovery of a child’s bones in the woods throws Sheriff Quinn Colson into an investigation that has personal connections to his family and to his own past. With two New York reporters investigating the case, things get uncomfortable very quickly. And with elections looming in the near future, the good old boys are busy manipulating things behind the scenes, trying to make things go their way. It can be tough keeping the peace in Mississippi.
In this, the ninth outing for Colson and company, all the expected characters are in place along with a few new folks folded into the Tibbehah County tale. With sufficient backstory for readers new to the series, the action-packed story unfolds quickly, offering readers surprising revelations and moving the intriguing narrative in unexpected directions. Rising tension builds suspense and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Most of the major plotlines are resolved as the story concludes, but readers will find a significant cliffhanger looming over the final page.
Highly recommended.
In this, the ninth outing for Colson and company, all the expected characters are in place along with a few new folks folded into the Tibbehah County tale. With sufficient backstory for readers new to the series, the action-packed story unfolds quickly, offering readers surprising revelations and moving the intriguing narrative in unexpected directions. Rising tension builds suspense and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Most of the major plotlines are resolved as the story concludes, but readers will find a significant cliffhanger looming over the final page.
Highly recommended.
August 5, 2021
Ace Atkins consistently delivers a good story in each installment of the Quinn Colson series. The Shameless is no exception. In this book Quinn works to solve a twenty-year-old cold case of the death/suicide of a fifteen-year-old former classmate who just happened to be a former beau of his wife Maggie. She, along with his family, believes he was murdered and that there is a conspiracy keeping the truth from coming out.
As Quinn investigates this case, he is thwarted at every turn by corrupt politicians, known criminals, the local madam and even two New York podcast journalists who stick their noses in his business. This time around his wife, sister Cady and Lillie are all on board to assist in solving the case. I was totally captivated by this story from start to explosive finish and this is probably my favorite so far. I listened to this on audiobook via Audible, the first in the nine-book series. The multiple narrators made me feel like I had known their characters all along! Bravo for excellent performances. I gave it four and ½ stars rounded up to five!
As Quinn investigates this case, he is thwarted at every turn by corrupt politicians, known criminals, the local madam and even two New York podcast journalists who stick their noses in his business. This time around his wife, sister Cady and Lillie are all on board to assist in solving the case. I was totally captivated by this story from start to explosive finish and this is probably my favorite so far. I listened to this on audiobook via Audible, the first in the nine-book series. The multiple narrators made me feel like I had known their characters all along! Bravo for excellent performances. I gave it four and ½ stars rounded up to five!
November 10, 2020
I loved this SO MUCH -- hard to imagine so much corruption in one little county, but Tibbehah has it all. And if there isn't enough to go around, Quinn goes back 20 years to an unsolved case. It was, of course, another of his uncle's cover-ups. At least partly. Anyway, Quinn's wife was involved with the victim, Boom is still around trying to stay sober, Caddy is mixed up with yet another loser, and Fannie Hathcock is running all the stripper bars. AND Lillie is a Marshal, but still available when Quinn needs her. And Vardeman is running for governor. Yikes. It seemed on many occasions that there were just too many bad guys, but Quinn is slick. Good thing he is, because most of the bad guys really really REALLY want to kill him. The ending is a lead-in to the next book in the series. I hate that!!!!
July 28, 2022
I have not visited with Ace Atkins and Quinn for a while. I'd forgotten how profane the inhabitants of Mississippi are. Or else we have an especially rotten crew in this outing. Lillie is back, always good to see her, although she does add to the colorful language. Quinn is his usual quiet, confident self, and still able to stupidly walk into trouble. We had a couple of very young journalists down from NYC to stir things up. We have a long read here, full of trips to Memphis and 'the Rez', but mostly entertaining. Plenty of loose ends for the next installment.
Recommended.
Recommended.
July 15, 2019
Thanks to netgalley.com, Ace Atkins and Penguin Group Putnam for the advance ARC copy for my honest review.
"The Shameless" is one heck of an awesome read, had me at Lillie Virgie at the start of Chapter 1, it is my favorite read of 2019 and it'll take a special book to top this one.
Quinn Colson's back, the tougher than nails Sheriff of Tibbehah County, with an intertwining storylines ripped right out of the headlines, you got badass U.S. Marshall Lillie Virgie, then add the 20 year old reopened case of Brandon Taylor, the NYC Podcast team, the Dixie Mafia, Fannie Hathcock, Senator Jimmy Vardaman and the Watchman Society.
How can you not like the Quinn Colson character? He's blue collar, digs old Country and Western music, not the candy ass shit they play these days, he's tough as nails, an ex-Ranger who makes Reacher look like a wimp, protecting troubled Tibbehah County as it's Sheriff, family oriented, thinks of nothing to help friends and Atkins just makes him larger than life with his words.
Ace Atkins just never disappoints, he's the ultimate master of character development, just breathes life into them good or bad, they play a vital role in the storylines and aren't just needless distractions to the overall story.
With each new Quinn Colson novel, he keeps raising the bar with each offering, with new elements added to the mix and leaves you eagerly waiting for the next Quinn's adventure. Especially with the cliff hanger ending to "The Shameless", since you know we'll getting a extra helping of her badass self, U.S. Marshall Lillie Virgie or at least I hope we will.
Atkins should be in every reader's book case, he's that good of an author and just feel he deserves more recognition than he gets.
Author Bob Mayer refers to the big known publishing house authors as Airport Authors. Well Ace Atkins would be my favorite airport author, he can out write James Patterson and has a legend smilin' down on him.
"The Shameless" is one heck of an awesome read, had me at Lillie Virgie at the start of Chapter 1, it is my favorite read of 2019 and it'll take a special book to top this one.
Quinn Colson's back, the tougher than nails Sheriff of Tibbehah County, with an intertwining storylines ripped right out of the headlines, you got badass U.S. Marshall Lillie Virgie, then add the 20 year old reopened case of Brandon Taylor, the NYC Podcast team, the Dixie Mafia, Fannie Hathcock, Senator Jimmy Vardaman and the Watchman Society.
How can you not like the Quinn Colson character? He's blue collar, digs old Country and Western music, not the candy ass shit they play these days, he's tough as nails, an ex-Ranger who makes Reacher look like a wimp, protecting troubled Tibbehah County as it's Sheriff, family oriented, thinks of nothing to help friends and Atkins just makes him larger than life with his words.
Ace Atkins just never disappoints, he's the ultimate master of character development, just breathes life into them good or bad, they play a vital role in the storylines and aren't just needless distractions to the overall story.
With each new Quinn Colson novel, he keeps raising the bar with each offering, with new elements added to the mix and leaves you eagerly waiting for the next Quinn's adventure. Especially with the cliff hanger ending to "The Shameless", since you know we'll getting a extra helping of her badass self, U.S. Marshall Lillie Virgie or at least I hope we will.
Atkins should be in every reader's book case, he's that good of an author and just feel he deserves more recognition than he gets.
Author Bob Mayer refers to the big known publishing house authors as Airport Authors. Well Ace Atkins would be my favorite airport author, he can out write James Patterson and has a legend smilin' down on him.
July 25, 2019
#9 of the Quinn Colson series. This is probably the lowest rating I've assigned to anything I've read by author Ace Atkins. In this 2019 series entry he continues the fight by Sheriff, former U.S. Army Ranger, Quinn Colson against corruption in Tibbehah County, Mississippi. The book ends, like some TV drama series, with a cliffhanger. The building exploded, did our hero get out in time; there's a body at the family reunion - who is it?; tune in next season (year) to find out. If I had known in advance, I'd have waited a year and read two episodes. This is a writer's gimmick that I am not fond of. Besides the cliffhanger, which I'll not describe avoiding a big spoiler, there are multiple loose plot threads. Apparently, Atkins had this great ides for a novel and he kept writing away as story lines exploded. When he hit his word limit or the publishing deadline, he said,in effect, to be continued. I call foul. Leaving aside the main plot, and the one just being hatched in a Texas prison, I want to know: will Boom get rehabilitated and go back to work; what is Caddy's boyfriend doing; Did the podcasters find all of the old sheriff's records; can Stagg's photos be tied to the hunting lodge; did the Indian assassin escape and was his partner killed; what will happen with Fannie, Skinner and the cross; and, why are characters named Vandeven and Vardaman in the same novel? Tune in next year.
Colson, the sheriff of Tibbehah County, Miss., is alarmed by the growing popularity of Jimmy Vardaman, a gubernatorial candidate who dismisses accusations of racism as "fake news." Vardaman has appeared on the fringes of Colson's corruption investigations, but the sheriff has been unable to get sufficient evidence to bring charges. Colson hopes that will change after he gets custody of Wes Taggart, a lowlife who attempted to kill one of Colson's friends, who he believes is connected with Vardaman. Meanwhile, Tashi Coleman, the host of a true crime podcast, has arrived in Tibbehah County to look into a 20-year-old mystery-the death of 15-year-old Brandon Taylor. Taylor went missing in the woods, only to be found a week later, dead of a gunshot wound. Tashi has doubts about the rigor of the investigation led by the sheriff at the time, Quinn's uncle, Hamp Beckett.
Colson, the sheriff of Tibbehah County, Miss., is alarmed by the growing popularity of Jimmy Vardaman, a gubernatorial candidate who dismisses accusations of racism as "fake news." Vardaman has appeared on the fringes of Colson's corruption investigations, but the sheriff has been unable to get sufficient evidence to bring charges. Colson hopes that will change after he gets custody of Wes Taggart, a lowlife who attempted to kill one of Colson's friends, who he believes is connected with Vardaman. Meanwhile, Tashi Coleman, the host of a true crime podcast, has arrived in Tibbehah County to look into a 20-year-old mystery-the death of 15-year-old Brandon Taylor. Taylor went missing in the woods, only to be found a week later, dead of a gunshot wound. Tashi has doubts about the rigor of the investigation led by the sheriff at the time, Quinn's uncle, Hamp Beckett.
August 26, 2019
Another very good entry in this series, Lots of action and well-developed characters. My only issue is that Jericho, Mississippi is getting to be kind of like Cabot Cove. What else can happen in this small corner of the world?
April 1, 2021
3.5 stars, really.
July 25, 2019
Ace Atkins certainly knows how to wring stories out of a relatively small piece of geography. His newly published THE SHAMELESS is the ninth installment in his series of Quinn Colson novels. While a bit more of a slow boil than the works preceding it, the narrative’s more deliberate pacing is balanced by his frequent flashes of prose brilliance and the final few chapters of the book, where the dominoes that had been painstakingly set up are explosively knocked down to great effect.
Colson is a former Army Ranger who returned to his birthplace of rural Tibbehah County, Mississippi, to ultimately become the county sheriff. His method of law enforcement could be best summed up by the term “choose your battles,” a strategy that has played out well over the course of the series. THE SHAMELESS is as much a story of the past as it is of the present.
Things begin moving when two podcast reporters from New York descend like springtime bats into Tibbehah County with the intent of investigating the death of a teenager that occurred there over two decades ago. The deceased, Brandon Taylor, was thought to have committed suicide after becoming lost in the woods. As is the case in many small towns where people tend to sink roots and stay, the connective ley lines between the past and present run deep and long. Colson’s uncle was the sheriff at the time of Taylor’s death and ruled his passing a suicide. Just a few years older than the victim at the time, Colson is currently married to Taylor’s high school sweetheart. The reporters want to take a fresh look at the evidence, but time and circumstance seem to have scattered it, as well as the case files.
Colson exhibits indifference, but it’s due primarily to the fact that a case decades old, and apparently resolved, is less important than the concerns of the present, which involve a crime syndicate in the county that is poised to capture the state governor’s office through its surrogate candidate. Everyone is jockeying for position, including old antagonists of Colson and even a couple of former friendly enemies. The reporters keep pressing, though, and as an indirect result of their efforts, Colson unearths some evidence that has the potential to cast doubt on what appears to be the foregone conclusion of the state’s election for its next governor.
Given that Colson has long been a thorn in the side of Mississippi’s organized crime in Tibbehah County and beyond, the decision is made --- from more than one source --- that things would function more effectively if he was taken off the rural radar. This isn’t the first time that efforts have been made to put Colson under the soil of the hometown he loves so much. However, it may be the last. You will have to read until almost the final page to find out, but you’ll enjoy the scenery along the way.
You won’t be able to read the last quarter or so of THE SHAMELESS fast enough. There is a bit of irony here that is worth the price of admission all by itself, as well as a cast of characters you will not soon forget. Some of them even make it to the end of the book. Knowing that they are out there somewhere will keep you waiting impatiently to see what happens next. The only certainty is that, with Atkins at the helm, you will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
Colson is a former Army Ranger who returned to his birthplace of rural Tibbehah County, Mississippi, to ultimately become the county sheriff. His method of law enforcement could be best summed up by the term “choose your battles,” a strategy that has played out well over the course of the series. THE SHAMELESS is as much a story of the past as it is of the present.
Things begin moving when two podcast reporters from New York descend like springtime bats into Tibbehah County with the intent of investigating the death of a teenager that occurred there over two decades ago. The deceased, Brandon Taylor, was thought to have committed suicide after becoming lost in the woods. As is the case in many small towns where people tend to sink roots and stay, the connective ley lines between the past and present run deep and long. Colson’s uncle was the sheriff at the time of Taylor’s death and ruled his passing a suicide. Just a few years older than the victim at the time, Colson is currently married to Taylor’s high school sweetheart. The reporters want to take a fresh look at the evidence, but time and circumstance seem to have scattered it, as well as the case files.
Colson exhibits indifference, but it’s due primarily to the fact that a case decades old, and apparently resolved, is less important than the concerns of the present, which involve a crime syndicate in the county that is poised to capture the state governor’s office through its surrogate candidate. Everyone is jockeying for position, including old antagonists of Colson and even a couple of former friendly enemies. The reporters keep pressing, though, and as an indirect result of their efforts, Colson unearths some evidence that has the potential to cast doubt on what appears to be the foregone conclusion of the state’s election for its next governor.
Given that Colson has long been a thorn in the side of Mississippi’s organized crime in Tibbehah County and beyond, the decision is made --- from more than one source --- that things would function more effectively if he was taken off the rural radar. This isn’t the first time that efforts have been made to put Colson under the soil of the hometown he loves so much. However, it may be the last. You will have to read until almost the final page to find out, but you’ll enjoy the scenery along the way.
You won’t be able to read the last quarter or so of THE SHAMELESS fast enough. There is a bit of irony here that is worth the price of admission all by itself, as well as a cast of characters you will not soon forget. Some of them even make it to the end of the book. Knowing that they are out there somewhere will keep you waiting impatiently to see what happens next. The only certainty is that, with Atkins at the helm, you will not be disappointed.
Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
August 18, 2019
Ace Atkins’ Quinn Colson series read like a country song: Hell raising, finding Jesus, and justice with a big ole gun. Atkins’ Tibbehah County, about 100 miles south of Memphis, has its very own strip bar, a truck stop, and a bunch of colorful characters who keep Sheriff Colson’s life pretty busy. He’s no choir boy, but his heart is in the right place. In this 9th in the series, interest in a 20 year old crime is sparked by the rise of a sleazy candidate for Governor of Mississippi, a good old boy who is running on a platform of bringing back the old values of the south. The thugs who surround him are all known to Colson, and the militia style guards who protect the candidate are ready to cause trouble, if less than capable. As the local madam and the candidate’s circle of thugs battle it out for territory, two journalists from New York stir the hornets nest of the 20 year old suicide—or was it murder?—of a 17 year old who was in Colson’s sister’s class in school and was the summer boyfriend of his now wife, Maggie. Guaranteed a few guns will be drawn, a few people will get awfully drunk, some justice will be served, but some sleaze will ooze into the final pages indicating another installment will follow soon.
October 14, 2022
Book Review. - The Shameless - Ace Atkins
Author Ace Atkins consistently delivers a good story in each installment of the Quinn Colson series. “The Shameless” is no exception. In this book Quinn works to solve a twenty-year-old cold case of the death/suicide of a former classmate who just so happened to be a former boyfriend of his now current wife. Everyone believes the former boyfriend was murdered and there’s even a conspiracy theory floating around that is keeping the truth from coming out. As Quinn investigates this case, he is challenged at every turn by corrupt Mississippi politicians, known criminals, and even two New York City journalists who stick their noses in Quinn’s personal business. A well written, well told crime thriller, The Shameless, book 9 in the series, was another captivating and entertaining read by Ace Atkins. The story starts out hot and finishes with an explosive ending which added to the enthrallment of the whole story. A very good crime thriller…
Author Ace Atkins consistently delivers a good story in each installment of the Quinn Colson series. “The Shameless” is no exception. In this book Quinn works to solve a twenty-year-old cold case of the death/suicide of a former classmate who just so happened to be a former boyfriend of his now current wife. Everyone believes the former boyfriend was murdered and there’s even a conspiracy theory floating around that is keeping the truth from coming out. As Quinn investigates this case, he is challenged at every turn by corrupt Mississippi politicians, known criminals, and even two New York City journalists who stick their noses in Quinn’s personal business. A well written, well told crime thriller, The Shameless, book 9 in the series, was another captivating and entertaining read by Ace Atkins. The story starts out hot and finishes with an explosive ending which added to the enthrallment of the whole story. A very good crime thriller…
November 5, 2020
Being from South Carolina, I love novels about the murderous and corrupt South, This is a really cool book, and Lillie Virgil's dialogue is worth the price of admission. Are all lawmen military veterans? And is that good? Some quote- Concerning some home-grown militia, pretend soldier types- "'Only difference is y'all used to hide in the woods. Now you've crawled on out into the daylight.'" This one applies to the last four years and no telling how far into our disappointing future- "'The truth don't matter no more.'" And this one points directly at the White House, in a particularly colorful way- "'Vardaman's political porn to these fuckwads.'"
July 22, 2019
Whoa, what a ride!! One of my favorite QC books to date! This story has it all - great writing, great story, great characters. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger...now the long wait for b10.
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