The Broken Places (A Quinn Colson Novel)
Quinn Colson, Afghanistan War veteran turned hometown sheriff, returns for a third tale of crime fighting in Jericho, Mississippi, with criminals and natural disasters competing to wreak the greatest damage. Trouble has crept into Quinn’s private life via his sister, Caddy, who has dived headlong into a relationship with recently pardoned murderer Jamey Dixon. Dixon, ordained a minister through a prison theology program, is preaching redemption at his new church, but many locals are skeptical. Before long, Dixon’s return threatens the entire community. Two of his prison buddies escape, determined to retrieve the fortune they’re convinced Dixon has stolen from them. At the same time, Jericho is hammered by a storm that shields the escapees and challenges Quinn to emerge as the community’s leader. Atkins’ voice is graceful and tense as he portrays Jericho’s residents facing human and natural threats with a certainty that their community will prevail. Readers’-advisory opportunities abound with Atkins’ habit-forming series, which shares a tremendous sense of (rural) place and powerfully nuanced characterization with those of James Lee Burke, Craig Johnson, and C. J. Box. --Christine Tran