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Edgar(R) Award Nominee for Best Novel
A new Quinn Colson novel from the author of The Ranger
When Army Ranger Quinn Colson, the new sheriff of Tebbehah County, is called out to investigate a child abuse case, what he finds is a horrifying scene of neglect, thirteen empty cribs, and a shoe box full of money. Janet and Ramon Torres seem to have skipped town—but Colson’s sure they’ll come back for the cash. Meanwhile, Colson’s sister has returned—clean and sober for good she says. His friend Boom has been drinking himself into oblivion and picking fights at the local bar. And his old flame is pregnant. But Colson can’t focus on his personal problems. He and Deputy Lillie Virgil are convinced that Janet and Ramon have a taste for guns, drugs, and human trafficking. Soon Colson and Virgil find a link between the fugitive couple and a drug cartel that controls most of the Texas border, taking their investigation far beyond the rough hills of northeast Mississippi
Ace Atkins, a former journalist, has written eight previous novels. He began his writing career in 1998, at age twenty-eight, when the first of four Nick Travers novels was published. In 2001, he earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for his investigation into a 1950s murder. That murder inspired his 2006 novel White Shadow, which was followed by three further history-based crime novels, Wicked City, Devil’s Garden, and Infamous. His Quinn Colson novels include The Ranger, The Lost Ones, and The Broken Places. Atkins lives in Oxford, Mississippi.
I first 'discovered' Ace Atkins with last year's release of The Ranger - the first book featuring Quinn Colson. I loved it and have been eagerly awaiting the next in this series. The Lost Ones is newly released and is just as good (or better) as the first one!
After ten years as an Army Ranger, Quinn Colson returned to his home town of Jericho in Tibbehah County, Mississippi. He's now the new sheriff in town. When a local doctor calls him about a child brought in with a head injury, Quinn and his chief deputy Lillie Virgil head out to investigate. What they find is an empty, filthy house. It looks like the residents were running a puppy mill...and a baby trafficking outfit. Donnie Varner, an old friend of Quinn, is doing his own trafficking as well - in guns. As Quinn and Lillie investigate, it looks like the two cases might have something - or someone - in common.
Atkins draws his characters so well. I have a firm picture in my mind of Quinn - a tough, loyal, cagey lawman who knows his county well. And umm, did I mention he's kind of (okay a lot) sexy too. Kind of that holdin' out for a hero vibe. Lillie is firmly planted in my mind as well - she's a female version of Quinn, although we see some vulnerability this time round. We also get to know some of Quinn's back story with flashbacks to his younger days with his sister Caddy.
The supporting cast is equally well drawn, with one-armed Boom standing out for me. In fact I found myself rooting for one of the 'bad guys', hoping he would get a break. The dialogue really fleshs out the mental pictures I've created. A lot of it is short and snappy, and quite humourous at times. Anything more involved would detract from the atmosphere Atkins has created. The setting is just as much of a character. Stark and gritty, Atkins brings to life a county beset by poverty, abuse and corruption.
The plotting is excellent, zigging just when I thought it would zag. Lots and lots of action, kept me frantically turning pages until I finished the book far too quickly.
So pull up a rocker, grab a glass of sweet tea, put your feet up on the railing and be prepared to set a spell. It's a hell of a read - one you won't want to put down.
Fans of television's Justified and Raylan Givens would enjoy this character, as would Jack Reacher fans.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The Lost Ones by Ace Atkins is a novel taking place in the fictional Tibbehah County, Mississippi. This is the second bookin “The Ranger” series, which was also the name of the first book.
Quinn Coloson resigned from the Army Rangers to become Sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, his uncle’s old job. A Mexican cartel is seemed to be getting guns from a gun store his friend owns and at the same time an abused child case sends the sheriff and his deputy to discover a child bootleg ring.
The Lost Ones by Ace Atkins returns familiar and new characters in the series. Quinn Colson, a former Army Ranger, his family, friends and nemesis. Ace Atkins, in my opinion, is one of the best and active Americana writers. I have read several of his historical fiction books (many set in the 1920s) and enjoyed them tremendously. Mr. Atkins’ foray into fiction proved to me that he is a capable writer and is here for the long haul.
The author has an uncanny ability to paint a picture with few words. It’s amazing that he describes a scene or a person with just the right amount of verbiage letting the reader do most of the work according to their understanding. Atkins draws county where “new in town” means you’ve been there for only ten years, Sonic is the go to place to get a meal and you still think of girls you knew with their maiden name attached.
There is a lot going on in this book, Mexican drug gangs, child abuse, baby racketeering, family drama and small town corruption yet the book moves along slowly, well paced letting the reader take in the multiple storylines as if strolling in the park on a lazy summer day.
The character of Quinn Colson is bound to become a phenomena in pop-culture much like Jack Reacher or Cotton Malone. I can see a fan based built around this character who is a peaceful warrior who has many issues most of us have. Mexican drug gangs are just as big an issue as a disturbed sister or an Army buddy who needs a job. That is how life is, there are no small problems – it’s all personal.
While I never visited the Deep South, this novel was still a pleasure to read. Mr. Atkins has a way of portraying his characters in a believable, moving manner. The stories take on a life of their own with the excellent dialog and characters’ motivations while the suspense and implied violence kept me at the edge of my seat.
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Overview
Edgar(R) Award Nominee for Best Novel
A new Quinn Colson novel from the author of The Ranger
When Army Ranger Quinn Colson, the new sheriff of Tebbehah County, is called out to investigate a child abuse case, what he finds is a horrifying scene of neglect, thirteen empty cribs, and a shoe box full of money. Janet and Ramon Torres seem to have skipped town—but Colson’s sure they’ll come back for the cash. Meanwhile, Colson’s sister has ...