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After a New Orleans college professor goes missing while searching for the rumored lost recordings of bluesman Robert Johnson-who, as legend has it, sold his soul to the devil at a Mississippi crossroads-Nick Travers is sent to find him. Clues point to everyone from an eccentric albino named Cracker to a hitman who believes he is the second coming of Elvis Presley. From the Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist turned New York Times bestselling author ACE ATKINS, and artist MARCO FINNEGAN, show more comes a thrilling tale of crime and mystery that brings the history of the blues and the Mississippi Delta to life on every page. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Nick Travers is Tulane University’s blues historian. He is on the hunt for the 1930s lost recordings of Robert Johnson. But, Nick has discovered more than he bargained for and it may cost him his life.
It has been a while since I have read an Ace Atkins book. WHY? No earthly idea! Lord have mercy this book is good! I loved it for multiple reasons. Of course, great characters. Nick Travers is the best! But the setting is my favorite…The Mississippi Delta! I knew every place in this novel…from Memphis all the way down to New Orleans and everywhere in between. And then there is the mystery and the myth surrounding blues singer Robert Johnson. Ace Atkins did a fantastic job with all of this, the history, the myth, the legend and of show more course the hunt for the old recordings.
The narrator, Dion Graham is FANTASTIC! He could not have been better and more perfect for this novel. Also, the audiobook is not at Audible. It is at Chirp so I put that link below.
Need a wonderful southern, blues fiction…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. show less
It has been a while since I have read an Ace Atkins book. WHY? No earthly idea! Lord have mercy this book is good! I loved it for multiple reasons. Of course, great characters. Nick Travers is the best! But the setting is my favorite…The Mississippi Delta! I knew every place in this novel…from Memphis all the way down to New Orleans and everywhere in between. And then there is the mystery and the myth surrounding blues singer Robert Johnson. Ace Atkins did a fantastic job with all of this, the history, the myth, the legend and of show more course the hunt for the old recordings.
The narrator, Dion Graham is FANTASTIC! He could not have been better and more perfect for this novel. Also, the audiobook is not at Audible. It is at Chirp so I put that link below.
Need a wonderful southern, blues fiction…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. show less
This is Ace Atkins' first Nick Travers novel. Actually, I believe it's his first novel, period, and it shows. It has a wonderful premise and some very well drawn characters. It also has some wretched sentences, and other flaws. As the title suggests, we're dealing here with the perennial mystery of Robert Johnson's death and the possibility of missing recordings. Atkins clearly is passionate about his subject matter, and knows the history. He managed to create a story line that taps into the Johnson myth, expands on it, but does not presume to alter it in any fundamental way. I admire what he did here, if not the way he did it. The plot got a little loose and sloppy, the characters' motivations slightly obscure at times, and the show more denouement suffered a total failure of suspense. But it was good enough to reflect a lot of potential for a series featuring Travers. I will read more of Atkins, as I suspect he improves with age.
Review written July 2011 show less
Review written July 2011 show less
Man, does Ace Atkins ever know his delta blues history. In a story that weaves modern day NOLA together with the Mississippi delta blues scene from the 30's and 40's, I was mesmerized. Excellent read for any blues fan and your basic pot-boiler detective novel buffs should have some good fun as well. I can't wait for the next one.
If you are interested in blues music, you may like this one. I raised my rating slightly because I do like the blues, and I learned a bit about Robert Johnson, a pretty well-known musician from the past that I didn't know about. I've heard some of his songs by other artists, including the Rolling Stones, but never realized how old it was.
But I didn't think the story itself was anywhere near my favorite series from him, the Quinn Colson series. But it was enjoyable, and New Orleans featured prominently. I've spent a bit of time there, and it was fun to revisit the place without actually going there. It's a nice place to have visited, but I wouldn't really want to go again.
But I didn't think the story itself was anywhere near my favorite series from him, the Quinn Colson series. But it was enjoyable, and New Orleans featured prominently. I've spent a bit of time there, and it was fun to revisit the place without actually going there. It's a nice place to have visited, but I wouldn't really want to go again.
Darn good for a first book. On a side note: Ace Atkins did a good job of taking over the Robert Parker books, plus his own series The Ranger was good, but I finally got tired of it and decided to start over with the Blues series. Next one is in the mail and looking forward to reading it.
Researching the live of Robert Johnson turns dangerous for a professor from Tulane. Too many characters left me a bit confused.
Writer investigates the history of the blues and finds a way to write a mystery. Lots of blues background. Anger at the House of Blues style of presenting the players. OK.
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Author Information
45+ Works 7,813 Members
Ace Atkins was a correspondent for The St. Petersburg Times and a crime reporter for The Tampa Tribune. He received 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 novel White Shadow. He is the author of approximately 20 books including The Ranger, show more The Lost Ones, and Lullaby. In 2011, he was selected by the Robert B. Parker estate to continue the adventures of Boston's private eye, Spenser. His books include Robert B. Parker's Wonderland, Robert B. Parker's Cheap Shot, and Robert B. Parker's Kickback. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Series
Work Relationships
Has the adaptation
Common Knowledge
- Canonical title
- Crossroad Blues
- Original publication date
- 1998-11
- People/Characters
- Nick Travers; Robert Johnson; Jesse Garon; Keith Fields; Deputy Willie Brown; Virginia Dare (show all 10); Cracker; Earl Snooks; JoJo Jackson; Loretta Jackson
- Important places
- Greenwood, Mississippi, USA; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
- Important events
- Death of Robert Johnson
- Epigraph
- I went to the crossroad
Fell down on my knees
I went to the crossroad
Fell down on my knees
Asked the Lord above “Have mercy
Save poor Bob, if you please.”
... (show all)Mmmm, standin’ at the crossroad
I tried to flag a ride
Standin’ at the crossroad
I tried to flag a ride
Didn’t nobody seem to know me
everybody pass me by
---Robert Johnson,
“Cross Road Blues” - Dedication
- for the zen poets of mississippi
- First words
- Robert Johnson laid down his battered six-string, took a seat at the juke joint's bar, and wrapped his long fingers around a jar of corn whiskey.
- Quotations
- "Remember, son, life is easy---livin' is hard."
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)R. L.'s footsteps thumped heavy in his ears.
- Disambiguation notice
- Please distinguish between Ace Atkins' original novel, Crossroad Blues (1998), and its similarly-titled, graphic novel adaptation (2018).
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Statistics
- Members
- 189
- Popularity
- 173,114
- Reviews
- 9
- Rating
- (3.41)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 10
- ASINs
- 2
