The Shameless

By: Ace Atkins

Narrated by: MacLeod Andrews, Erin Spencer, Romy Nordlinger, Brittany Goodwin, Joy Nash, Emily Rankin, Frankie Corzo

Buried secrets, dirty lies, and unbridled greed and ambition raise the stakes down South in the lauded crime series from New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins.

Twenty years ago, Brandon Taylor was thought to be just another teen boy who ended his life too soon. That's what almost everyone in Tibbehah County, Mississippi, said after his body and hunting rifle were found in the Big Woods. Now two New York-based reporters show up asking Sheriff Quinn Colson questions about the Taylor case. What happened to the evidence? Where are the missing files? Who really killed Brandon?

Quinn wants to help. After all, his wife Maggie was a close friend of Brandon Taylor. But Quinn was just a kid himself in 1997, and these days he's got more on his plate than twenty-year-old suspicious death. He's trying to shut down the criminal syndicate that's had a stranglehold on Tibbehah for years, trafficking drugs, stolen goods, and young women through the MidSouth. Truck stop madam Fannie Hathcock runs most of that action, and has her eyes on taking over the whole show. And then there's Senator Jimmy Vardaman, who's cut out the old political establishment riding the Syndicate's money and power--plus a hefty helping of racism and ignorance--straight to the governor's office. If he manages to get elected, the Syndicate will be untouchable. Tibbehah will be lawless.

Quinn's been fighting evil and corruption since he was a kid, at home or as a U.S. Army Ranger in Afghanistan and Iraq. This time, evil may win out.


Read by MacLeod Andrews with Erin Spencer, Romy Nordlinger, Brittany Goodwin, Joy Nash, Emily Rankin, and Frankie Corzo

Critic reviews

“Atkins' signature blend of country noir and southern humor remains on display here, though this time the focus is on the personal traumas in the Quinn family's closets. Another strong outing in a consistently fine series.”—Booklist

More Praise for The Shameless
One of The Seattle Times’ “Best New Crime Fiction for Summer 2019”

“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.”—Publishers Weekly

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

Shameless

I love all of the Quinn Colson books by Ace Adkins. Can’t wait for the next one, since there is more to be told based on the ending of Shameless!

MacLeod Andrews

The overall story was great as always. The story was quickly paced, and kept you interested.

Only thing I did not care for were the multiple narrators, and the sound effects used. MacLeod Andrews narrated the vast majority of the book, and did a great job as always. Multiple narrator’s were used for different characters when one of the female characters perform her podcasts. Vast majority of the time, I am not a fan of multiple readers in one story. This was one of those times. Also didn’t care when sound affects were inserted into the podcasts to try and enhance the story.

Other than that, the story was great and fast-paced. Well worth the listen.

Keeps everything interesting

If you’ve made it this far in the series, don’t stop. It only gets better and more fun characters are introduced. I can’t wait for the next one.

great as always

atkin’s yarns are highly entertaining. no one writes better characters or has the pulse of the south like he does. lily virgel may be the best of the bunch. she rivals ruby in ozarks as the best female character in literature:

great use of multiple voices

always enjoy a good Ace Atkins book, especially the way they make sure to mix up the different voices that's very important when you're listening to an audiobook?