The Shameless

May 27, 2019
In bestseller Atkins’s gritty ninth Quinn Colson novel (after 2018’s The Sinners), Colson, the sheriff of Tibbehah County, Miss., is alarmed by the growing popularity of Jimmy Vardaman, a gubernatorial candidate who dismisses accusations of racism as “fake news.” Vardaman has appeared on the fringes of Colson’s corruption investigations, but the sheriff has been unable to get sufficient evidence to bring charges. Colson hopes that will change after he gets custody of Wes Taggart, a lowlife who attempted to kill one of Colson’s friends, who he believes is connected with Vardaman. Meanwhile, Tashi Coleman, the host of a true crime podcast, has arrived in Tibbehah County to look into a 20-year-old mystery—the death of 15-year-old Brandon Taylor. Taylor went missing in the woods, only to be found a week later, dead of a gunshot wound. Tashi has doubts about the rigor of the investigation led by the sheriff at the time, Quinn’s uncle, Hamp Beckett. The suspense rises as the two cases converge. Atkins makes the thrilling plot accessible for first-timers, while further deepening both main and secondary characters. Series fans will be eager to see what’s next in store for Quinn. Author tour. Agent: Esther Newberg, ICM.

Southern charm highlights this audiobook, which will delight listeners who enjoy mysteries with personality. The audiobook is an ensemble performance, and the use of multiple narrators enhances the dialogue. Set in Tibbehah County, Mississippi, the story focuses on the 1997 death of Brandon Taylor and a new investigation into his case, which has been rejuvenated based on the efforts of two New York reporters who believe it was not a suicide. As Sheriff Quinn Colson becomes immersed in the probe, a range of Southern characters benefits from the use of multiple narrators who employ different yet complementary and entertaining styles and tones. D.J.S. � AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine