‘The Redeemers’ by Ace Atkins

Published by Corsair,
21 April 2016.
ISBN: 978-1-4721-5164-3

 

Goldarnit, that boy's good!  Author Ace Atkins, I mean.  In The Redeemers, he presents us with another gripping episode in the troubled and troublesome life of Quinn Coulson, Sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi.  Former sheriff, that is, since thanks to some ballot-box chicanery by bad-ass  Johnny T. Stagg, he has been voted out of office. 

The book opens with Quinn leaving his post, about to take up the peaceful life of a farmer with his father, former Hollywood stunt-man Jason Coulson.  Which doesn't prevent him from getting involved with the lawless and homicidal crims which seem to infest Tibbehah and its environs. So, as always, events conspire against a peaceful  departure. On top of that, Quinn's sister Caddy, mired in despair and needing all the help she can get, comes home.  And there's the three bad  ol' boys from Alabama who steal a safe containing not only – or so it's rumoured – one million dollars, but also some deeply incriminating files which could bring a lot of high-up folks down if they aren't quickly retrieved. 

I love the hard-scrabble, black-eyed-peas-and-collard-greens society which Ace Atkins describes so well.  I love the fact that justice – of a kind – is usually done.  And I particularly enjoy Colson's foul-mouthed, big- shouldered straight-talking Deputy, Lillie Virgil. The author is adept as painting his settings and in bringing his characters to life, be they peripheral or right slap-bang in the forefront of the action ... of which there is one heck of a lot.

Don't miss this one, y'all!

------

Reviewer: Susan Moody

Ace Atkins is an experienced crime writer with several stand alones, a series about Nick Travers and his Quinn Coulson series which he continues to write. He has already published the Spenser Lullaby and is writing more Spensers. In an interview in 2013 he explained that he couldn't write the Coulson and Spenser books at the same time - he writes the two series separately allowing half a year for each!

http://www.aceatkins.com

Susan Moody was born in Oxford is the principal nom de plume  of Susan Elizabeth Donaldson, née Horwood, a British novelist best known for her suspense novels. She is a former Chairman of the Crime Writer's Association, served as World President of the International Association of Crime Writers, and was elected to the prestigious Detection Club. Susan Moody has given numerous courses on writing crime fiction and continues to teach creative writing in England, France, Australia, the USA and Denmark.  In addition to her many stand alone books, Susan has written two series, on featuring Penny Wanawake (seven books) and a series of six books featuring bridge player Cassie Swan.