THE BROKEN PLACES

This is the third book in the Quinn Colson series, after The Lost Ones (Putnam, May 2012) and The Ranger (Putnam, June 2011), the extraordinary new novel in the “harrowing” (AP), “superior” (South Florida Sun-Sentinel ), “killer” (Minneapolis Star-Tribune) series about the real Deep South featuring Quinn Colson—“a joy ride into the heart of darkness” (Washington Post).

A year after being elected sheriff, Quinn Colson is faced with the return of an infamous murderer to his town, released in a massive pardon by the outgoing Mississippi governor. Casey Dixon has come back repentant, facing the family of the woman he raped and killed as a changed man, offering stories of redemption and forgiveness. Many people believe him—even Colson begins to wonder—but not the victim’s family. For them, it’s time for revenge. Another group who doesn’t believe Dixon: the men in prison who were on Dixon’s last job, a Wells Fargo armored car robbery. That money was buried in the backwoods of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, and they’re sure that Dixon has returned to claim it all for himself. There’s only one thing they can do about it: Break out of a prison and head straight for town themselves.
With Dixon, the revenge seekers, and the escaped convicts, Colson and his deputy, Lillie, know they’ve got their work cut out for them. But they didn’t count on one more unwelcome visitor: a tornado that touches down, creating complete havoc in the county for days, just as events come to a head. Communications are down, the roads are impassable, and the rule of law, often tenuous, is just about to snap. Ace Atkins is the bestselling author of White Shadow (which was nominated for a 2007 Gumshoe Award for Best Mystery), Wicked City, Devil’s Garden (nominated for a 2010 Hammett Prize), Infamous, The Ranger (nominated for the 2011 Edgar Best Novel Award), and The Lost Ones. He is also the author of four Nick Travers novels and two of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser novels, and his short story, “Last Fair Deal Gone Down,” was nominated for a 2010 Edgar Award.