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...
THE SHAMELESS is the ninth book in the Quinn Colson series and it's a bloody marvelous series. I've read almost all the books (only THE LOST ONES left to read) and I have enjoyed each and every book. This book is no exception. For one thing, I really liked the concept of two reporters and a cold case. And since Quinn is so involved in the case, there are lots of his past deeds and misdeeds which are brought to light. Quinn was quite a handful when he was a young man. Storywise, this book is one of the best in the series. Maggie, Quinn's wife, is a new character in the series but she has wormed herself into my heart. Maggie's just the kind of woman he needs in his life - along with his Elvis-loving mother Jean and born again sister Caddy. There is also Lillie Virgil, Quinn's ex- deputy, who is now a marshal. A tougher lady is hard to find and, besides Quinn, Lillie's my other favorite character in this series. I wouldn't mind a book with Lillie taking the central role. All in all, this is a fabulous crime novel and I recommend this book - as well as the whole series - with all my heart.
Buried secrets, dirty lies, and unbridled greed and ambition raise the stakes down South in the lauded crime series from New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins.
Twenty years ago, Brandon Taylor was thought to be just another teen boy who ended his life too soon. That's what almost everyone in Tibbehah County, Mississippi, said after his body and hunting rifle were found in the Big Woods. Now two New York-based reporters show up asking Sheriff Quinn Colson questions about the Taylor case.
What happened to the evidence? Where are the missing files? Who really killed Brandon?
Quinn wants to help. After all, his wife Maggie was a close friend of Brandon Taylor. But Quinn was just a kid himself in 1997, and these days he's got more on his plate than twenty-year-old suspicious death. He's trying to shut down the criminal syndicate that's had a stranglehold on Tibbehah for years, trafficking drugs, stolen goods, and young women through the MidSouth.
Truck stop madam Fannie Hathcock runs most of that action, and has her eyes on taking over the whole show. And then there's Senator Jimmy Vardaman, who's cut out the old political establishment riding the Syndicate's money and power--plus a hefty helping of racism and ignorance--straight to the governor's office. If he manages to get elected, the Syndicate will be untouchable.
Tibbehah will be lawless. Quinn's been fighting evil and corruption since he was a kid, at home or as a U.S. Army Ranger in Afghanistan and Iraq. This time, evil may win out.
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