Ace Atkins

Ace Atkins is the author of eleven novels, including the true-crime based White Shadow, Wicked City, Devil’s Garden, and Infamous. He is also the author of the Quinn Colson series, which includes The Ranger and the forthcoming The Lost Ones. Bestselling author Michael Connelly has called Atkins “one ... (more)of the best crime writers working today.” Atkins will read from and sign the new thriller Robert B. Parker's Lullaby ($26.95 Penguin). Robert B. Parker was the author of seventy books, including the legendary Spenser detective series. Taking up where Parker left off when he passed away in 2010, Atkins brings Spenser back to life and has him face one of his most dangerous murder mysteries.

Ace Atkins, a former crime reporter who has become a popular bestselling crime novelist, is back with an exciting new book, ”The Ranger.” The book represents a return to his first love: hero-driven series fiction, and his hero, Quinn Colson, truly deserves the label. He’s a veteran of Iraq and ... (more)Afghanistan who comes back to Mississippi to battle corruption close to his home. Ace is the author of nine novels including ”Crossroads Blues,” ”White Shadow” and ”Wicked City.” We’ve joined with our partners at Eagle Eye Books for this evening’s presentation, and we hope you’ll head over to the store (2076 N. Decatur Road at the corner of North Decatur and Clairmont) for this entertaining program.

Signs a dynamite gangster novel, The Ranger (Putnam $26) “I have always been impressed with (and jealous of) how easy Ace Atkins makes it look. The Ranger is by far his best work, a tough and fully gripping story about reconciliation and determination. I hope Quinn Colson and Lillie Virgil stick around ... (more)for a good long time.” -Michael Connolly Ace Atkins is the author of nine novels, including The Ranger, the debut novel in the Quinn Colson series, from G.P. Putnam’s Sons. A former journalist who cut his teeth as a crime reporter in the newsroom of The Tampa Tribune, he published his first novel, Crossroad Blues, at 27 and became a full-time novelist at 30. While at the Tribune, Ace earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination for a feature series based on his investigation into a forgotten murder of the 1950s. The story became the core of his critically acclaimed novel, White Shadow, which earned raves from noted authors and critics. In his next novels, Wicked City, Devil’s Garden, and Infamous, blended first-hand interviews and original research into police and court records with tightly woven plots and incisive characters. The historical novels told great American stories by weaving fact and fiction into a colorful, seamless tapestry. The Ranger represents a return to Ace’s first love: hero-driven series fiction. Quinn Colson is a real hero—a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan—who returns home to north Mississippi to fight corruption on his home turf. The first Quinn Colson novel, a contemporary book with a dash of classic westerns and noir, hits stores in summer 2011. Ace lives on a historic farm outside Oxford, Mississippi with his family.

The prize-winning Mississippi author of such popular mysteries as White Shadow, Wicked City and four Nick Travers novels comes a thriller, Infamous. He has been compared to Lehane, Ellroy, and Pelecanos, but Ace Atkins's rich, raucous, passionate blend of historical novel and crime ... (more)story is all his own and never more so than in Infamous. In July 1933, the gangster known as George "Machine Gun" Kelly staged the kidnapping-for-ransom of an Oklahoma oil­man. He would live to regret it. Kelly was never the sharpest knife in the drawer, and what started clean soon became messy, as two of his partners cut themselves into the action; a determined former Texas Ranger makes tracking Kelly his mission; and Kelly's wife, ever alert to her own self-interest, starts playing both ends against the middle. The result is a mesmerizing tale set in the first days of the modern FBI, featuring one of the best femmes fatales in history – the Lady Macbeth of Depression-era crime – a great unexpected hero, and some of the most colorful supporting characters in recent crime fiction. FREE. Book sales benefit the Georgia Center for the Book. If you cannot attend the reading, but would like a signed copy of Infamous, you may reserve it at http://www.acappellabooks.com/ev_atki....

Best-selling crime writer & Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist Ace Atkins will sign & discuss his new novel, Devil's Garden (Putnam; $24.95). San Francisco, September 1921: Silent-screen comedy star Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle is throwing a wild party in his suite at the St. Francis Hotel: ... (more)girls, jazz, bootleg hooch... and a dead actress named Virginia Rappe. The D.A. says it was Arbuckle who killed her-crushing her under his weight-and brings him up on manslaughter charges. William Randolph Hearst's newspapers stir up the public and demand a guilty verdict. But what really happened? Why do so many people at the party seem to have stories that conflict? Why is the prosecution hiding witnesses? Why are there body parts missing from the autopsied corpse? Why is Hearst so determined to see Fatty Arbuckle convicted?

Ace Atkins earned a Pulitzer Prize nomination in 2001 for his investigation into a forgotten murder of the 1950s that became the basis for his novel White Shadow. His next novel, Wicked City, was based on the true story of “the Wickedest City in America”—Phoenix City, Alabama. He is also the author ... (more)of four Nick Travers novels

Meet author and journalist Ace Atkins as he signs copies of his book, Devil’s Garden. In 1921, few stars shone as brightly as Fatty Arbuckle. He was at the top of his silent-film career, an explosive talent who entertained millions and dazzled the world with his charm. But he had a dark and notorious ... (more)side as well, one that famously came back to haunt him and ruined his career—and led to his trial for murder.

Ace Atkins discusses and signs his book Wicked City.If you are unable to attend,you must call the book shop to order signed books.

"Pulitzer Prize-nominated crime novelist Ace Atkins will sign & discuss his new historical thriller, Wicked City (Putnam; $24.95)."

The Other Covered Bridges Conference benefits the Oneonta Library. For tickets call 205-274-7641.