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The Innocents (A Quinn Colson Novel) Hardcover – July 12, 2016

by Ace Atkins (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 2,337 ratings
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Quinn Colson returns to Jericho, Mississippi, and gets pulled back into a world of greed and violence in this gritty, darkly comic tale from New York Times bestselling Southern crime master Ace Atkins.
 
After being voted out of office and returning to the war zone he’d left behind, Quinn Colson is back in Jericho, trying to fix things with his still-married high school girlfriend and retired Hollywood stuntman father. Quinn knows he doesn't owe his hometown a damn thing, but he can't resist the pull of becoming a lawman again and accepts a badge from his former colleague, foul-mouthed acting Sheriff Lillie Virgil. Both officers have fought corruption in Tibbehah County before, but the case they must confront now is nothing like they've ever seen...

When a former high school cheerleader is found walking a back road completely engulfed in flames, everyone in Jericho wants answers for the senseless act of violence. As Quinn and Lillie uncover old secrets and new lies, the entire town turns against them, and they soon learn that the most dangerous enemies may be the ones you trust most.
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  1. Book 6 of 11
    Quinn Colson
  2. Print length
    384 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    G.P. Putnam's Sons
  5. Publication date
    July 12, 2016
  6. Dimensions
    6.31 x 1.38 x 9.31 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0399173951
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0399173950
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Innocents

“[N]othing short of riveting, a page turner that you will stay up all night to read....Atkins is a master of description on all points of the continuum....While I inwardly groan at the thought of having to wait another year for more Quinn Colson, my feelings are balanced by the certainty that it will be worth it.”—Bookreporter.com 

“The rough-and-tumble relationship between two tough-as-nails law officers and the place they love provides plenty of action [and] well-developed characters.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Quinn has to be the most refreshing New York Times Bestselling series character (there are numerous unsung independent publishing protagonists just as worthy) that I’ve come across in quite some time, and I’m hard pressed to name others that compare on this level—and, holy hell, that’s an invigorating statement to make…What else is there to say...read The Innocents by Ace Atkins. It’s literary crime fiction worthy of the hype.”—CriminalElement.com

More Praise For Ace Atkins’s Quinn Colson Series

“In Quinn Colson, bestselling author Ace Atkins has created an American hero in a time when we need him.”—C. J. Box 

“Ace Atkins’s Quinn Colson series is, quite simply, the best in crime fiction today—and also so much more. With a rich cast of characters, and a hero we can count on, these are tales of morality and desperation, of shocking violence and the enduring resilience of family and community. And the emotional places they take us make them unforgettable.”—Megan Abbott 

“Quinn Colson is my kind of guy. I would follow him anywhere.”—Lee Child 

“Atkins finds his natural-born storytellers everywhere. It’s all music to these ears.”—Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Ace Atkins is the New York Times bestselling author of the Quinn Colson novels, the first two of which—The Ranger and The Lost Ones—were nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel (he also has a third Edgar nomination for his short story, “Last Fair Deal Gone Down”). In addition, he is the author of several New York Times bestselling novels in the continuation of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser series. Before turning to fiction, he was a correspondent for the St. Petersburg Times, a crime reporter for the Tampa Tribune, and, in college, played defensive end for the undefeated Auburn University football team (for which he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated). He lives in Oxford, Mississippi.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ G.P. Putnam's Sons; First Edition (July 12, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0399173951
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0399173950
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.3 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.31 x 1.38 x 9.31 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 2,337 ratings

About the author

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Ace Atkins

Ace Atkins

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One of the best crime writers working today, Ace Atkins has been nominated for every major award in crime fiction, including the Edgar three times, twice for novels about former U.S. Army Ranger Quinn Colson. He's written eleven books in the Colson series, with many more to come. He continued Robert B. Parker's iconic Spenser character after Parker's death in 2010, and has added ten best-selling novels in that series.

A former newspaper reporter and SEC football player, Ace also writes essays and investigative pieces for several national magazines including Time, Outside, and Garden & Gun.

He lives in Oxford, Mississippi with his family, where he’s friend to many dogs and several bartenders.

Find out more about Ace and his novels on his official website: aceatkins.com, on Facebook Ace Atkins, and on Twitter @aceatkins.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
2,337 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be an excellent novel with well-developed characters, particularly appreciating Quinn Colson's portrayal. The writing is smart and easy to read, with a fast-paced story that customers enjoy. The book receives positive feedback for its series quality, with one customer noting it's not predictable or cliché. The suspense element receives mixed reactions, with some finding it engaging while others consider it mediocre.

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66 customers mention "Story quality"66 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as an excellent and fun read.

"...town and surrounding Tibbehah County. This is a series best read in sequence, but you can read it out of order and still get a good picture...." Read more

"...The overall story was interesting and Atkins’ writing held me completely captivated with this very dark and sad tale...." Read more

"...Atkins' character development is among the best, eerily good. You feel like you know these people by the end of his novels...." Read more

"...Might not be every person's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed reading it. Very true to life in language, mood and tone. Well written and fun." Read more

29 customers mention "Character development"29 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly the main character Quinn Colson, with one customer noting how the supporting cast is just as good.

"...Nevertheless, his character development in this story was good enough to not detract from the plot nor does it belittle anyone in particular...." Read more

"...Atkins' character development is among the best, eerily good. You feel like you know these people by the end of his novels...." Read more

"...The characters, dialogue, and plotting is exceptional. I also enjoyed the settings...." Read more

"...The story moves quickly and there are a few new main characters introduced...." Read more

29 customers mention "Writing quality"25 positive4 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, noting its smart and easy-to-read style with good dialogue, and one customer highlights the author's fantastic descriptive skills.

"...Atkins' descriptive skills are fantastic - you practically start to sweat reading about the scorching Mississippi sun in summer, hear the cicadas,..." Read more

"...His descriptions are gritty and seedy, and if you've spent any time in rural Mississippi, you know he's spot on...." Read more

"...Very true to life in language, mood and tone. Well written and fun." Read more

"...The characters, dialogue, and plotting is exceptional. I also enjoyed the settings...." Read more

16 customers mention "Pacing"13 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book, describing it as a fast-paced read with well-drawn characters.

"...best read in sequence, but you can read it out of order and still get a good picture...." Read more

"...An ex-Army Ranger, now County Sheriff, Colson is rugged, tough and smart...." Read more

"...Once introduced and described move on. The story moves quickly and there are a few new main characters introduced...." Read more

"...A quick read, but miles from the earlier novels of this series." Read more

13 customers mention "Series quality"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the series quality positive, with one customer noting it's not predictable or cliché, while another mentions good continuity from the previous book.

"...Atkins is my favorite current author, not only brilliant in the Colson series, but also with the travails of blues professor Nick Travers, an ex-..." Read more

"Ace Atkins continues to impress with this series. I have been an avid fan since he took over the Spenser Series for RBP." Read more

"A bit convoluted, but all in all, well done. This is a pretty good series and I like how the main character is developing." Read more

"...has ghosted some of the post-Parker Spenser series and he does fine outside the genre...." Read more

30 customers mention "Suspenseful"19 positive11 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the suspenseful elements of the book, with some finding it engaging and keeping the story interesting, while others describe it as mediocre at best.

"...local whites of minorities or not, the series is so well written, so engaging, you will want to read his other books too, and enjoy one of the best..." Read more

"...Don't know what it was for sure but it felt contrived and dull-almost like the previous ones sold well so lets tell the same story and charge folks..." Read more

"...This is fiction and I read it as such. People are people and Atkins does a fine job of flushing out interesting characters in this story...." Read more

"...Very true to life in language, mood and tone. Well written and fun." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Scott Hedegard
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great installment in a brilliant series
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Most mass market paperback readers are much more familiar with the books of John Grisham and his own version of life in the South, including several novels that are centered around the fictional Clanton, Mississippi. While he has enjoyed huge success and not undeservedly so, for me Ace Atkins is the guy to top in his ongoing saga of Quinn Colson, an Afghan war vet, his returning to Jericho, Mississippi and going through more hell than Grisham dares to write about, his audience perhaps not ready or willing to read a much much darker view of life in this dreary and incredibly corrupt town and surrounding Tibbehah County.
    This is a series best read in sequence, but you can read it out of order and still get a good picture. Atkins is my favorite current author, not only brilliant in the Colson series, but also with the travails of blues professor Nick Travers, an ex-New Orleans Saint, who gets into a lot of trouble with the great music of the blues and Stax era R & B as a background. Plus, Ace Atkins does historical novels that are simply second to none, and took over the late great Robert Parker's "Spenser" series, doing it so well you have no problem thinking Parker is still writing them.
    But on his own, Atkins offers a dismal and violent view of life in northern Mississippi, the poverty of Jericho, the crooks and nasties like an old biker gang, an ugly nude bar, and in this installment a tale of racism, a horrific murder, a town turned upside down when a beloved football coach looks like he might be a whole lot less of the great American than he wants everybody to be, and resentment from Sheriff Lillie Virgil, and a newly reinstated Colson as a deputy after returning from Afghanistan after an instructor role as a private citizens teaching locals how to fend for themselves against the Taliban.
    Whether or not the level of criminal activity is actually quite accurate, and some of it is, including the redneck racism, meth abuse and hatred by the local whites of minorities or not, the series is so well written, so engaging, you will want to read his other books too, and enjoy one of the best writers out there today. Atkins' descriptive skills are fantastic - you practically start to sweat reading about the scorching Mississippi sun in summer, hear the cicadas, see the bad guys lurking around every seedy business in town, and the struggles of the decent folks to survive in a place that for better or worse they call home.
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  • Hendricks Book Reviews
    4.0 out of 5 stars ...a dark but captivating tell of a mysterious crime committed in the Deep South.
    Reviewed in the United States on August 24, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Book Review - “The Innocents” by Ace Atkins is a dark but captivating tell of a mysterious crime committed in the Deep South. Atkins’ storytelling of this puzzling crime not only brings life to the flawed and dynamic characters but to the plot of the story which was about trust being broken and sacrifices being made. The overall story was interesting and Atkins’ writing held me completely captivated with this very dark and sad tale. This is my second Quinn Colson book and I’m beginning to like the main character, County Sheriff, Quinn Colson. The heart of the story is set in Mississippi and portrays the area with authentic ‘Southern’ characters and real Southern culture. Unfortunately, Atkins has been criticized in some reviews for using unfavorable stereotypes that have offended some folks in Mississippi. Nevertheless, his character development in this story was good enough to not detract from the plot nor does it belittle anyone in particular. This is fiction and I read it as such. People are people and Atkins does a fine job of flushing out interesting characters in this story. Quinn Colson continues to be a great lawman in solving difficult crimes. An ex-Army Ranger, now County Sheriff, Colson is rugged, tough and smart. With his native Tibbehah County, Mississippi overrun with corruption, dying businesses, meth runners, and lots of criminal violence, he is constantly after the truth in resolving various criminal cases. His ‘tomboy’ deputy, Lillie Virgil, is a good partner and she too wants to help clean up their hometown from all the ugliness that has engulfed it. Book 6 of an 11 book series, The Innocents is well worth a read. A strong but dark crime thriller set in the ‘Deep South’ that is sure to please any crime thriller reader…
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  • Jan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent storyteller
    Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I've been in a reading rut lately, nothing able to keep my interest. Last five or so books I've read have been blah. This one has broken my losing streak. It's the kind of book that makes you look forward to getting in bed at night because you know you get to read it.
    Atkins' character development is among the best, eerily good. You feel like you know these people by the end of his novels. His descriptions are gritty and seedy, and if you've spent any time in rural Mississippi, you know he's spot on.
    The way he develops his characters and describes a place in a way that makes it feel familiar to you remind me of Robert Galbraith's (J.K. Rowling) Cormoran Strike novels or Michael Robotham's Joseph O'Loughlin novels.
    I can tell you this: The man can tell a story.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Dennis H. Kevonian
    4.0 out of 5 stars Y'all will like it, maybe?
    Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I like the Quinn Colson novels, though I don't like all the characters (not supposed to!), and the tone of the setting is unsettling.

    Ace Atkins does a great job of capturing the "flavor" of extremely rural Southern life, and the oftentimes unsavory low-life people who live and work in that environment. Quinn is an army ranger whose roots are in this southern town, and when he comes home, all kinds of craziness is taking place and he can't help but get in the middle of it. Murder, drugs, real "trailer park trash" elements make this book move very well to conclusion.

    Might not be every person's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed reading it. Very true to life in language, mood and tone. Well written and fun.
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  • Lee Gimenez
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is another excellent novel in the Quinn Colson series
    Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The Innocents is another excellent novel in the Quinn Colson series. I've read four of the Colson books and have found all of them to be very good reads. The characters, dialogue, and plotting is exceptional. I also enjoyed the settings. The author, Ace Atkins, is an expert at crafting suspense filled, action mystery thrillers. As a writer of mystery thrillers myself, I've always found Atkins to be among the best in the genre.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Marquinius
    4.0 out of 5 stars Evil
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on August 20, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I’m not sure what hit me harder in this story, the absolute horror of a girl burning alive or that of all the stupid people not wanting to see evil.

    These stories are getting almost too close to being uncomfortable. Especially as you read about similar horrors regularly in the newspapers.
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  • Richiedog
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ace Atkins writes a great story. The Ranger turned Deputy
    Reviewed in Canada on August 3, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Ace Atkins writes a great story. The Ranger turned Deputy, was Sheriff, catching bad guys in Mississippi. Keep it up. Ace.
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  • A retired cop
    5.0 out of 5 stars Undecided
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    It's 4.30am and I've just finished book six and I don't know if I should leave this review until daytime.
    It's a difficult one for someone who's old white and definitely not American, maybe you'd need to read it yourself to decide if it's all acceptable.
    I understand that race is a huge issue in the States but if you live it maybe you don't have to tread so carefully regarding steriotyping.
    It's complicated
    Anyway another great book moving the characters on even if the plot was a little weak in places. It appeared pretty obvious from the introduction of 'The Coach' where the story was headed but the writing style of this man os unstoppable and will happily carry me onto book seven.
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  • augustinius
    1.0 out of 5 stars Ace Atkins should stick to writing in the style of ...
    Reviewed in Canada on July 18, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Ace Atkins should stick to writing in the style of Robert Parker, where he does a credible job.

    The Innocents is southern trash and should never have seen the light of day.

    I don't understand how books of this low calibre ever get published.
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  • Ian Gilchrist
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Southern noir series that goes from strength to strength
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Finding it hard not to burn through this series one after another, to slow down and savour each book.

    Gritty and compelling plots and characters combined with real insight in to the light and dark sides of Southern US culture.

    Highest recommendation.
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