The Revelators

May 4, 2020
At the start of bestseller Atkins’s subpar 10th Quinn Colson novel (after 2019’s The Shameless), Colson, the sheriff of Mississippi’s Tibbehah County, is bleeding out after being shot multiple times in the back during an ambush by members of a militia group. Implausibly, he’s soon on the mend, and the brush with death barely slows him down in his subsequent inquiry into the assault, which he believes was the work of strip club operator Fannie Hathcock, who runs drugs and guns, has bashed in an enemy’s head with a hammer, and whose powerful friends include the governor. Brock Tanner, the interim sheriff appointed during Colson’s recovery, hampers Colson’s investigation. Like Hathcock, Tanner isn’t painted with any shades of gray, and he happily collaborates with ICE agents to round up people of color working at the local chicken processing ranch. The quest to take down Hathcock and Tanner feels familiar, and no character has the depth Atkins displayed in his mysteries based on true crime. This entry suggests the series may be running out of steam. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM.

Sheriff Quinn Colson would like nothing more than to take down a notorious madam's operation blessed by the governor and his cronies. This Western crime novel--which encompasses issues relating to human trafficking, immigration, and exploitation--is a gripping listen. MacLeod Andrews's narration and author Ace Atkins's turns of phrase are outstanding. Colorful language abounds as Andrews crafts a portrait for each character. The voices are as varied as the characters, especially those of Donnie, a happy-go-lucky recently released criminal who is in love with the sheriff's sister, and Fannie, the coolheaded, tough-talking madam. Listeners will want to find out if Colson and the good guys win, and Andrews's narration will keep them entertained throughout. M.B. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine