Synopsis:
Quinn Colson didn’t owe his hometown of Jericho, Mississippi, a damn thing. After serving for more than a decade as a U.S. Army Ranger, he’d returned, been elected sheriff, and tried to make the town and surrounding Tibbehah county a better place. He was rewarded with being voted out of office, and went back to the war zone he’d left.
Now, back in Jericho, trying to fix things with his still-married high school girlfriend and retired Hollywood stuntman father, he’s drawn to becoming a lawman again. This time, he accepts a badge from acting Sheriff Lillie Virgil, a foul-mouthed law woman with shades of Calamity Jane. But what they must confront together is something brand-new.
When a former high school cheerleader is found walking a back road completely engulfed in flames, the entire state focuses on the rural county, wanting answers. The light soon shines on several people: the girl’s father, a worthless drunk named Wash Jones; a pair of teenage thugs with grand ambitions to control north Mississippi; and a red-headed truck stop madam named Fannie Hathcock, who has her own problems – the Syndicate from down on the Gulf Coast has big plans for her neck of the woods.
As Quinn and Lillie uncover old secrets and new lies, the entire town turns against them, and they learn the most dangerous enemies may be the ones you trust most.
Rating: 5 stars
Review:
The Innocents by Ace Atkins is a well-developed story. A southern detective tale that will bring readers some humor, intrigue, and danger. After spending sixteen years in a rural community, I can connect easily with this novel. What seems to be a rural town with high priority case to solve, turns out to be more deadly than originally thought. Those that the characters trust are the ones that are their enemy. The bad guys are in plenty…then to have an entire town flip sides on the good guys is a nightmare. One I hope to never see…but inside this riveting read, the scenes play out like a movie screen. Action, adventure, and crime are everywhere. Every page is detailed, engaging, and lured me deeper into the tale. The plot is fast-paced. Sheriff Lillie is a female leader who knows how to handle people and the job at hand. Then there’s tough sexy Quinn Colson. He was once a sheriff and wants back in…only time will tell if that happens. Both of them are in for a thrill ride…Believable and realistic. The Innocents brings drugs, sex, violence and redemption all into one stunning book. I couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it. Ace Atkins is definitely a writer that hooks readers with a suspenseful yet unforgettable story. Immediately, drew me inside…to a journey that sends both mind and heart racing.
Urban Book Reviews 