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Don't Let the Devil Ride
“An instant Southern noir classic” –S.A. Cosby
S.A. Cosby meets Don Winslow in the breakout thriller from New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins. A Memphis woman hires a PI to find her missing husband, only to discover that he is involved in a dangerous web of international intrigue—and she and her children are now at risk.
Hell is empty…and Addison McKellar’s husband is missing.
Addison McKellar isn’t clueless—she knows she and her husband Dean don’t have the perfect marriage—but she’s still shocked when he completely vanishes from her life. At first Addison is annoyed, but as days stretch into a week and she’s repeatedly stonewalled by Dean’s friends and associates, her frustration turns into genuine alarm. When even the police seem dismissive of her concerns, Addison turns to an old friend of her father, legendary Memphis PI Porter Hayes.
Porter and Addison begin to dig deeper into Dean’s affairs and quickly discover that he was never the hardworking business owner and family man he pretended to be. As they piece together the connections between a hook-handed mercenary, one of Elvis’s former leading ladies, and a man posing as an FBI agent, it becomes clear that Dean was deeply enmeshed in a high-stakes web of international intrigue, and Porter and Addison aren’t the only ones looking for him.
Dean angered some very dangerous people before he disappeared—people who have already killed to get what they want—and they won’t hesitate to come after his family to even the score.
S.A. Cosby meets Don Winslow in the breakout thriller from New York Times bestselling author Ace Atkins. A Memphis woman hires a PI to find her missing husband, only to discover that he is involved in a dangerous web of international intrigue—and she and her children are now at risk.
Hell is empty…and Addison McKellar’s husband is missing.
Addison McKellar isn’t clueless—she knows she and her husband Dean don’t have the perfect marriage—but she’s still shocked when he completely vanishes from her life. At first Addison is annoyed, but as days stretch into a week and she’s repeatedly stonewalled by Dean’s friends and associates, her frustration turns into genuine alarm. When even the police seem dismissive of her concerns, Addison turns to an old friend of her father, legendary Memphis PI Porter Hayes.
Porter and Addison begin to dig deeper into Dean’s affairs and quickly discover that he was never the hardworking business owner and family man he pretended to be. As they piece together the connections between a hook-handed mercenary, one of Elvis’s former leading ladies, and a man posing as an FBI agent, it becomes clear that Dean was deeply enmeshed in a high-stakes web of international intrigue, and Porter and Addison aren’t the only ones looking for him.
Dean angered some very dangerous people before he disappeared—people who have already killed to get what they want—and they won’t hesitate to come after his family to even the score.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published June 25, 2024
About the author
Ace Atkins
57 books1,437 followersAce Atkins is the author of twenty-eight books, including eleven Quinn Colson novels, the first two of which, The Ranger and The Lost Ones, were nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Novel (he has a third Edgar nomination for his short story "Last Fair Deal Gone Down"). He is the author of nine 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 and a crime reporter for the Tampa Tribune, and he played defensive end for Auburn University football.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
June 20, 2024
As a big fan of Ace Atkin’s Quinn Colson series, I have to say that I’ve been a little disappointed that after three years, he hasn’t put out another Quinn Colson installment. Hopefully, he isn’t abandoning the series and just needed a break to write some other stuff for a while. I like Atkins; he’s a good writer and storyteller. Anyway, I thought it was time to check out some of his other stuff and this was a good place to start, plus I liked the title. Got to give props to authors who come up with good titles. This story has that same classic southern tone as that old bluesy gospel song of the same name. If you’ve never heard it, google it and you’ll know what I mean. Atkins is really good at depicting what life in the south is really like as only a real southerner can.
The book summary basically just introduces the primary storyline and two of the MC’s. After a week of no contact from her husband, Dean, Addison, waking from a drunken haze, decides to find out where he is and goes down to his office only to discover that it’s not his office and hasn’t been for more than two years. In her drunken rage to find out what’s going on, she gets arrested. Initially, Addison, a rich, alcoholic, miserable, housewife and angry mother kind of irked me, and she never really came out of the fog of alcohol that she was steeped in for most of the story. Her dying daddy, Sami Hassan, refers her to Porter Haynes, a well-known Memphis PI that he knows from back in the day and tells her Porter can find out what happened to Dean.
Porter, widowed and nearing 70, now spends most of his time chasing cheating spouses, and agrees to help Addison find her husband. There are some references that there is definitely some kind of history between Porter and Sami, but the reader never does find out. In the meantime, there is Joanna, an aging actress who found a friend murdered in his shop, and she proceeds to take an envelope she thought was money but turns out to be some documentation for a shipment. Oh, and she apparently is having an affair with Dean, who she knows as Peter. Also, the missing Dean/Peter is revealed to be some kind of international arms dealer who is now being hunted by a swindled, one-armed mercenary. Lmao Not sure if Atkins intended this to be a comedy, but it certainly had me rolling my eyes and cracking up at times. None of this is a spoiler since it all happened in the first 20% of the story.
The story chapters flip back and forth between eight different characters. Having just recently read another story with a really large cast of characters, I have to say that this is not my favorite type of storytelling. With a large cast of characters, it becomes increasingly challenging to provide any decent characterization for most of the characters. More times than not, what ends up happening is that most of the characters get no more than a superficial level of character development. For someone like me, who considers characterization one of the most important elements of storytelling, this does not bode well.
It's well into the second half that all the craziness of the first half collides into kind of an explosion of activity and insanity and all of Porter’s investigations reveal all the crazy details and connections. There were a lot of scary and intense scenes with some really graphic ones as well. However, I LOVED the final scene!!! Whoo ya!!!
This was one wild story! As expected, the characterization was ok for a couple of characters, and extremely thin for others. The pace and storyline were steady and entertaining, respectively. The writing was pretty good, once again, I like Atkins; he’s a good writer and storyteller. Anyway, I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.9 that I will be rounding up to a 4star rating. Not sure if this is a debut of a new series, and I’m not sure who the MC would be, maybe Porter but at his age, not sure how exciting that would be. Atkins could also chose to focus on a younger Porter in his nefarious heyday; that might be interesting. I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #DontLettheDevilRide
The book summary basically just introduces the primary storyline and two of the MC’s. After a week of no contact from her husband, Dean, Addison, waking from a drunken haze, decides to find out where he is and goes down to his office only to discover that it’s not his office and hasn’t been for more than two years. In her drunken rage to find out what’s going on, she gets arrested. Initially, Addison, a rich, alcoholic, miserable, housewife and angry mother kind of irked me, and she never really came out of the fog of alcohol that she was steeped in for most of the story. Her dying daddy, Sami Hassan, refers her to Porter Haynes, a well-known Memphis PI that he knows from back in the day and tells her Porter can find out what happened to Dean.
Porter, widowed and nearing 70, now spends most of his time chasing cheating spouses, and agrees to help Addison find her husband. There are some references that there is definitely some kind of history between Porter and Sami, but the reader never does find out. In the meantime, there is Joanna, an aging actress who found a friend murdered in his shop, and she proceeds to take an envelope she thought was money but turns out to be some documentation for a shipment. Oh, and she apparently is having an affair with Dean, who she knows as Peter. Also, the missing Dean/Peter is revealed to be some kind of international arms dealer who is now being hunted by a swindled, one-armed mercenary. Lmao Not sure if Atkins intended this to be a comedy, but it certainly had me rolling my eyes and cracking up at times. None of this is a spoiler since it all happened in the first 20% of the story.
The story chapters flip back and forth between eight different characters. Having just recently read another story with a really large cast of characters, I have to say that this is not my favorite type of storytelling. With a large cast of characters, it becomes increasingly challenging to provide any decent characterization for most of the characters. More times than not, what ends up happening is that most of the characters get no more than a superficial level of character development. For someone like me, who considers characterization one of the most important elements of storytelling, this does not bode well.
It's well into the second half that all the craziness of the first half collides into kind of an explosion of activity and insanity and all of Porter’s investigations reveal all the crazy details and connections. There were a lot of scary and intense scenes with some really graphic ones as well. However, I LOVED the final scene!!! Whoo ya!!!
This was one wild story! As expected, the characterization was ok for a couple of characters, and extremely thin for others. The pace and storyline were steady and entertaining, respectively. The writing was pretty good, once again, I like Atkins; he’s a good writer and storyteller. Anyway, I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.9 that I will be rounding up to a 4star rating. Not sure if this is a debut of a new series, and I’m not sure who the MC would be, maybe Porter but at his age, not sure how exciting that would be. Atkins could also chose to focus on a younger Porter in his nefarious heyday; that might be interesting. I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #DontLettheDevilRide
May 22, 2024
The first chapter is great. Addison McKellar, a feisty, rich married woman, goes looking for her husband, Dean. He’s done a disappearing act. Again. The last time he did this, he returned full of remorse, and with promises that it wouldn’t happen again. But this time is different. He’s been gone a week with no contact at all, and Addison is now on the war path. Having gotten very little help from her husband’s secretary, she visits his office, and this is where her whole life with Dean is exposed to be a huge lie.
From this point on we’re to meet quite a cast of characters, most of them wacky and extreme, but all of them are interesting. Best of all, we are introduced to a private investigator called Porter Hayes, a man in his late 60s. He’s the sort of guy you’d expect the character John Shaft (from the novel Shaft by Ernest Tidyman, and played in the subsequent films by Richard Roundtree) to have matured into. He’s magnetic, and, for me, his aura dominates the rest of the book. The problem, though, is that the challenging multi-person point of view structure employed by Atkins rather detracted from my enjoyment of this otherwise intriguing tale.
There are quite a few characters here, in what Ian a somewhat complex story. Also, to accommodate the chosen structure, the timeframe is a little jumpy, which provides an additional challenge. There’s a good plot here, and the story is populated with intriguing characters. The dialogue is great, too, and often hilarious. But it’s all told in a way that I found testing. It felt like a four star story told in a two star way. So, overall it’s a three star offering for me.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
From this point on we’re to meet quite a cast of characters, most of them wacky and extreme, but all of them are interesting. Best of all, we are introduced to a private investigator called Porter Hayes, a man in his late 60s. He’s the sort of guy you’d expect the character John Shaft (from the novel Shaft by Ernest Tidyman, and played in the subsequent films by Richard Roundtree) to have matured into. He’s magnetic, and, for me, his aura dominates the rest of the book. The problem, though, is that the challenging multi-person point of view structure employed by Atkins rather detracted from my enjoyment of this otherwise intriguing tale.
There are quite a few characters here, in what Ian a somewhat complex story. Also, to accommodate the chosen structure, the timeframe is a little jumpy, which provides an additional challenge. There’s a good plot here, and the story is populated with intriguing characters. The dialogue is great, too, and often hilarious. But it’s all told in a way that I found testing. It felt like a four star story told in a two star way. So, overall it’s a three star offering for me.
My thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2024
If you like a good story look no further. Ace Atkins never disappoints, Don't Let the Devil Ride is his latest and as far as I can tell it's a stand alone. Porter Hayes is the detective that is hired by Addison McKellar to find her husband. Simple? Well guess again, there is not much about him that seems to be right. This book is a wild ride through Memphis and some of its history. There are some twists and turns I didn't see coming and the story is like nothing I have read before. I have been a fan of Atkins for some time and I can really recommend this book.
June 2, 2024
I received a free copy of, Don't Let the Devil Ride, by Ace Atkins, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Addison McKellars' husband Dean is missing, and nobody seems to care or want to help her. Addison turns to her dads friend Memphis PI Porter Hayes. I thought it was an ok read, it would of been much better without the vulgar language
July 6, 2024
Don’t Let The Devil Ride
Ace Atkins
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Jump on board for a twisty roller coaster ride of a gritty, dark, but frequently humorous narrative of international intrigue and deceit. Ace Atkins, well known for his Southern noir, turns his genius to a standalone tale of tangled motivations and multiple identities, populated by a cast of unique and colorful characters. Addison McKeller is suddenly confronted with the realization that her husband, Dean, is gone. He has been absent for several weeks without a word, and her credit cards are now being rejected.
Perhaps too frequent a drinker, she had no reason to explain why her husband would abandon her and their two children. She is stonewalled when confronting their friends and colleagues and rebuffed after contacting the Memphis Police Department. To make matters worse, she goes to his office, only to find out there was never a McKeller Construction company at this site, nor is there the frequently mentioned secretary, Amanda. At her wits’ end, she turns to her father’s longtime friend, Porter Hayes. Referred to locally as the “Black Sherlock Holmes,” he accepts her case based on his friendship with her ill and dying father, Sam Hassan. Porter is a dapper, wily old sly fox of a private eye, somewhat of a legend with Memphis law enforcement.
He quickly and resourcefully uncovers the falsehood of not only Dean’s secretary but also the deceit in his identity and the nature of his income. His name comes from a dead Persian Gulf War veteran, instantly killed in an auto crash. Dean actually appears to be a rogue military contractor dealing in illegal arms and contracting for hordes of mercenaries. This globetrotting adventure initiates after he has run afoul of multiple dangerous people, who think nothing of killing to achieve their objectives.
Atkins weaves a cast of multiple charismatic and colorful characters into this complex and twisted narrative. The puzzle involves washed-up actress Joanna Grayson, who played a bit part in a movie with Elvis Presley. She has used this minor role to glom onto Elvis’s popularity and eke out monetary benefits from the fans of the “King.” She has even gone as far as penning a book: One Night With You: The Joanna Grayson Story, which she brings along and signs at obscure venues. But her real money-making venture involves acting as a “go-between” to facilitate transactions of dubious legality. Her main customer is billionaire Leslie Grimes, who owns, as a front, a chain of Christian gift shops. She facilitates the overseas shipment of stolen objets d’art for him, utilizing notoriously dangerous and crooked sources. The transactions involve the “one-armed” Jack Dumas, a noted violent arms dealer who feels he has been double-crossed. Not to be outdone, the French arms dealer Gaultier is implicated in the transaction by the Russian oligarch Anatoliy Zub, along with his cadre of bodyguards. Gaultier has multiple aliases and is wanted by Interpol; he says he works to support his wife, six children, and two mistresses.
Ace Atkins weaves together a cast of unique and colorful characters into a multi-layered, gritty, and dark narrative punctuated with his signature lyrical and authentic prose that rivals that of James Lee Burke. This intricate globetrotting adventure escalates to a harrowing and exhilarating denouement as the pieces slowly meld together. Atkins’s craft makes it a necessity to further explore his oeuvre.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
... published at MysteryAndSuspenseMagazine.com ....
Ace Atkins
reviewed by Lou Jacobs
readersremains.com | Goodreads
Jump on board for a twisty roller coaster ride of a gritty, dark, but frequently humorous narrative of international intrigue and deceit. Ace Atkins, well known for his Southern noir, turns his genius to a standalone tale of tangled motivations and multiple identities, populated by a cast of unique and colorful characters. Addison McKeller is suddenly confronted with the realization that her husband, Dean, is gone. He has been absent for several weeks without a word, and her credit cards are now being rejected.
Perhaps too frequent a drinker, she had no reason to explain why her husband would abandon her and their two children. She is stonewalled when confronting their friends and colleagues and rebuffed after contacting the Memphis Police Department. To make matters worse, she goes to his office, only to find out there was never a McKeller Construction company at this site, nor is there the frequently mentioned secretary, Amanda. At her wits’ end, she turns to her father’s longtime friend, Porter Hayes. Referred to locally as the “Black Sherlock Holmes,” he accepts her case based on his friendship with her ill and dying father, Sam Hassan. Porter is a dapper, wily old sly fox of a private eye, somewhat of a legend with Memphis law enforcement.
He quickly and resourcefully uncovers the falsehood of not only Dean’s secretary but also the deceit in his identity and the nature of his income. His name comes from a dead Persian Gulf War veteran, instantly killed in an auto crash. Dean actually appears to be a rogue military contractor dealing in illegal arms and contracting for hordes of mercenaries. This globetrotting adventure initiates after he has run afoul of multiple dangerous people, who think nothing of killing to achieve their objectives.
Atkins weaves a cast of multiple charismatic and colorful characters into this complex and twisted narrative. The puzzle involves washed-up actress Joanna Grayson, who played a bit part in a movie with Elvis Presley. She has used this minor role to glom onto Elvis’s popularity and eke out monetary benefits from the fans of the “King.” She has even gone as far as penning a book: One Night With You: The Joanna Grayson Story, which she brings along and signs at obscure venues. But her real money-making venture involves acting as a “go-between” to facilitate transactions of dubious legality. Her main customer is billionaire Leslie Grimes, who owns, as a front, a chain of Christian gift shops. She facilitates the overseas shipment of stolen objets d’art for him, utilizing notoriously dangerous and crooked sources. The transactions involve the “one-armed” Jack Dumas, a noted violent arms dealer who feels he has been double-crossed. Not to be outdone, the French arms dealer Gaultier is implicated in the transaction by the Russian oligarch Anatoliy Zub, along with his cadre of bodyguards. Gaultier has multiple aliases and is wanted by Interpol; he says he works to support his wife, six children, and two mistresses.
Ace Atkins weaves together a cast of unique and colorful characters into a multi-layered, gritty, and dark narrative punctuated with his signature lyrical and authentic prose that rivals that of James Lee Burke. This intricate globetrotting adventure escalates to a harrowing and exhilarating denouement as the pieces slowly meld together. Atkins’s craft makes it a necessity to further explore his oeuvre.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
... published at MysteryAndSuspenseMagazine.com ....
January 18, 2024
Ace Atkins’ latest novel begins with an intriguing story of a missing husband in Memphis where his wife hires an investigator in an attempt to find him. There are a wealth of major characters in the novel - the husband, the wife, 2 children, the wife’s father, brother and sister in law, the investigator, a former movie star (in a picture with Elvis Presley) and her daughter, assorted Russians and Frenchmen, a former business partner and FBI agents. It is all very confusing and difficult to follow. There are many murders along the way to a not particularly satisfying conclusion.
I thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
I thank NetGalley and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
July 27, 2024
Addison McKellar has a problem on her hands. Her husband Dean has vanished, and it’s been a week since she or their children have heard from him. Dean did this once before - he ran off for five days, leaving her frantic. But the last time it happened, he promised it would never happen again. She keeps calling his office, but all his secretary Amanda will say is that he’s in the UK.
Finally, Addison goes to Dean’s office at McKellar Construction, trying to get some answers. She hits the elevator button for his floor, but when the doors open, all she finds is a decorating business that has been there for two years. They’ve never heard of Dean, or his construction company. That’s when Addison decides to hire a private investigator, Porter Hayes.
The part of the book I just wrote about was great, but soon after, the book completely unraveled for me, with way too many plot lines, way too many characters, some with multiple names, and several government agencies that get involved. Addison and Porter are great characters, but the rest of the disjointed book steeped in international crime took away from their stories. I don’t think I’d call this a thriller; this is more a slow burn action/crime book. It definitely has an audience, but unfortunately, not with me. 2.5 stars, rounded up.
(Thank you to William Morrow, Ace Atkins and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
Finally, Addison goes to Dean’s office at McKellar Construction, trying to get some answers. She hits the elevator button for his floor, but when the doors open, all she finds is a decorating business that has been there for two years. They’ve never heard of Dean, or his construction company. That’s when Addison decides to hire a private investigator, Porter Hayes.
The part of the book I just wrote about was great, but soon after, the book completely unraveled for me, with way too many plot lines, way too many characters, some with multiple names, and several government agencies that get involved. Addison and Porter are great characters, but the rest of the disjointed book steeped in international crime took away from their stories. I don’t think I’d call this a thriller; this is more a slow burn action/crime book. It definitely has an audience, but unfortunately, not with me. 2.5 stars, rounded up.
(Thank you to William Morrow, Ace Atkins and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
July 23, 2024
Ace Atkins - the author of the Quinn Colson series and ten “Spenser” novels following the passing away of Robert B. Parker – is back. This time he has a new southern, Memphis style novel – “Don’t Let the Devil Ride – combines Elmore Leonard humor and sarcasm, quirky and flawed Carl Hiaasen characters, S.A. Cosby’s edginess, with Atkins own rich storytelling voice.
“Don’t let the Devil Ride” is told through the eyes of multiple characters.
Addison McKellar, whose husband, Dean, vanishes without any communications whatsoever. She thought her marriage was okay, but she’s getting stonewalled by his administrative assistant as well as push back from his friends and associates who keep insisting that he’s just fine. Even the police dismiss her concerns as delusional and send her home.
Porter Hayes, legendary Memphis private investigator, gets a call from an old friend, Sami Hassan, asking him to help his daughter, Addison, find her missing husband. Sami has never liked Dean and doesn’t trust that his son-in-law isn’t up to something bad. He wants Porter to find out the truth…
Joanna Grayson, aging Hollywood actress whose big claim to fame was starring with Elvis Presley in a musical movie that kicked off her b-actress career. She’s working with Omar, a local antiques dealer, to fence illegal items. That is, until she finds Omar brutally killed and some mysterious international shipping documents hidden in their secret hiding place…
As Addison and Porter try to find Dean’s whereabouts, surprises pop up. Dean’s construction business doesn’t really exist. A large one-armed man with a hook shows up in Addison’s house and threatens her. Then a man shows up in Porter’s office claiming to be an FBI agent and demanding that the PI turn over everything that he has on Dean.
What starts out as a local disappearance turns into an international situation with several different groups of dangerous people racing to find Dean first. Dangerous people. The kind who kills and are found on INTERPOL lists. The type who won’t be stopped, even if it means coming after Addison and her children to flush Dean out, as well as taking out any local PI who gets in their way.
As you can tell I didn’t want to give too much away regarding the plot so that you can have the pleasure of finding out for yourself. I think that it will be worth it to read and find out.
Coming off of his successful run of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser novels as well as his own Quinn Colson series, this was a worthy stretch for Atkins. It felt like a stand-alone novel. A one-off rather than the start of a series. Although I wouldn’t mind seeing Harry again, my gut says that Atkins pretty much said all that he had to say about the characters in this one. And that’s okay for me. It had a beginning, middle, and end that resolved pretty much everything that I needed to know about the characters and their storylines. Atkins gave me the full meal deal and ended things on a high note that provided a satisfying closure.
Atkins combined characters, plotting, setting, and even history into a savory reading experience. I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Pacing and delivery was strong, and there were several surprising twists and turns along the way. This was a great summer read for those who love the mystery genre with a huge influence of Southern noir, along with Atkins heavy duty sarcasm filled storytelling style.
There were a lot of things that I liked, most of which outweighed some of the things I struggled with. For some strange reason I found myself drawn to Addison. It was hard not to feel empathy for her as everyone around either ignored or ran over her. She was in an unbelievable situation. I wanted to pick her up, encourage her, and cheer her on in her many struggles. She even came across as attractive, even when broken down in a drunken state of ignorance.
However, at the same time, she was extremely frustrating to deal with because she made some of the stupidest decisions that I have ever seen. Every time you thought she was going to do the smart thing; she would do something so unwise that I almost had to put the book down and hold back from yelling at her. I don’t think that I have ever been more frustrated with a fictional character in all of my life. How can you like someone and want them to make the right decisions, then watch them be so ignorantly blind to what was going on around them and pretty much take every absolute wrong decision possible? It was so incredibly frustrating…
In contrast, I really liked everything about Porter Hayes – his character, history, relationships, and his style as a private investigator. He is an experienced, full of wisdom elder statesman that brings a level-headed subtle heroism that provides a needed balance in this book. He is smooth and witty, reflective of being past his physical prime and needing to rely on his lessons learned to get the results he desires. He has a larger network to rely on, that includes contacts on both sides of the law. He is the grandfather or uncle we all wished we had to give us that honest feedback when it is most needed. No sugarcoating it, just tell me the truth.
I was also drawn to Joanna’s daughter, Tilly. Don’t ask me why, there was just something quirky and weirdly attractive about her that caught my interest. She was a smart survivor, looking out for herself, even while taking care of her struggling-to-get-by-mother. She wasn’t necessarily a good person, but my interest was drawn to her storyline and the role she played in the outcome.
Overall, this was a very good read with one caveat. Atkins hammered on the southern Memphis theme pretty hard. The history, the culture, and society. He did it with an extremely sarcastic voice that might not be everyone. Although I found it entertaining and amusing, some others may not.
In addition, his plotting was complex, and the characters had depth (some in very trashy ways) to a much higher degree than his either of his Spenser or Roger Coulson books. This novel involved a multitude of characters, several connecting storylines, and a lot of moving parts. Just the kind of novel I enjoy; one in which you peel the onion one layer at a time like a challenging Sudoku puzzle. Once he got the characters and plotlines introduced in the first third of the book, the last two-thirds moved right along, building to several dramatic and violent outcomes. For me, Atkins combined various Memphis settings along with international locations (London, Paris, and Dubai) as a canvas for intriguing and intricately built storylines that delivered an engaging reading experience.
It’s simple. Atkins is a very smart writer that treats his readers with that same respect. For me, this was an intelligent read that not only provided several hours of fun escapism reading, but also examined some of the our most internal drivers – selfishness, survival, and the drive for personal financial gain. Atkins is not afraid to address Joseph Conrad’s “heart of darkness” that resides in each of us.
4.5 out of 5 stars (and yes, I know that Goodreads does not round off, ugh…)
“Don’t let the Devil Ride” is told through the eyes of multiple characters.
Addison McKellar, whose husband, Dean, vanishes without any communications whatsoever. She thought her marriage was okay, but she’s getting stonewalled by his administrative assistant as well as push back from his friends and associates who keep insisting that he’s just fine. Even the police dismiss her concerns as delusional and send her home.
Porter Hayes, legendary Memphis private investigator, gets a call from an old friend, Sami Hassan, asking him to help his daughter, Addison, find her missing husband. Sami has never liked Dean and doesn’t trust that his son-in-law isn’t up to something bad. He wants Porter to find out the truth…
Joanna Grayson, aging Hollywood actress whose big claim to fame was starring with Elvis Presley in a musical movie that kicked off her b-actress career. She’s working with Omar, a local antiques dealer, to fence illegal items. That is, until she finds Omar brutally killed and some mysterious international shipping documents hidden in their secret hiding place…
As Addison and Porter try to find Dean’s whereabouts, surprises pop up. Dean’s construction business doesn’t really exist. A large one-armed man with a hook shows up in Addison’s house and threatens her. Then a man shows up in Porter’s office claiming to be an FBI agent and demanding that the PI turn over everything that he has on Dean.
What starts out as a local disappearance turns into an international situation with several different groups of dangerous people racing to find Dean first. Dangerous people. The kind who kills and are found on INTERPOL lists. The type who won’t be stopped, even if it means coming after Addison and her children to flush Dean out, as well as taking out any local PI who gets in their way.
As you can tell I didn’t want to give too much away regarding the plot so that you can have the pleasure of finding out for yourself. I think that it will be worth it to read and find out.
Coming off of his successful run of Robert B. Parker’s Spenser novels as well as his own Quinn Colson series, this was a worthy stretch for Atkins. It felt like a stand-alone novel. A one-off rather than the start of a series. Although I wouldn’t mind seeing Harry again, my gut says that Atkins pretty much said all that he had to say about the characters in this one. And that’s okay for me. It had a beginning, middle, and end that resolved pretty much everything that I needed to know about the characters and their storylines. Atkins gave me the full meal deal and ended things on a high note that provided a satisfying closure.
Atkins combined characters, plotting, setting, and even history into a savory reading experience. I enjoyed this one quite a bit. Pacing and delivery was strong, and there were several surprising twists and turns along the way. This was a great summer read for those who love the mystery genre with a huge influence of Southern noir, along with Atkins heavy duty sarcasm filled storytelling style.
There were a lot of things that I liked, most of which outweighed some of the things I struggled with. For some strange reason I found myself drawn to Addison. It was hard not to feel empathy for her as everyone around either ignored or ran over her. She was in an unbelievable situation. I wanted to pick her up, encourage her, and cheer her on in her many struggles. She even came across as attractive, even when broken down in a drunken state of ignorance.
However, at the same time, she was extremely frustrating to deal with because she made some of the stupidest decisions that I have ever seen. Every time you thought she was going to do the smart thing; she would do something so unwise that I almost had to put the book down and hold back from yelling at her. I don’t think that I have ever been more frustrated with a fictional character in all of my life. How can you like someone and want them to make the right decisions, then watch them be so ignorantly blind to what was going on around them and pretty much take every absolute wrong decision possible? It was so incredibly frustrating…
In contrast, I really liked everything about Porter Hayes – his character, history, relationships, and his style as a private investigator. He is an experienced, full of wisdom elder statesman that brings a level-headed subtle heroism that provides a needed balance in this book. He is smooth and witty, reflective of being past his physical prime and needing to rely on his lessons learned to get the results he desires. He has a larger network to rely on, that includes contacts on both sides of the law. He is the grandfather or uncle we all wished we had to give us that honest feedback when it is most needed. No sugarcoating it, just tell me the truth.
I was also drawn to Joanna’s daughter, Tilly. Don’t ask me why, there was just something quirky and weirdly attractive about her that caught my interest. She was a smart survivor, looking out for herself, even while taking care of her struggling-to-get-by-mother. She wasn’t necessarily a good person, but my interest was drawn to her storyline and the role she played in the outcome.
Overall, this was a very good read with one caveat. Atkins hammered on the southern Memphis theme pretty hard. The history, the culture, and society. He did it with an extremely sarcastic voice that might not be everyone. Although I found it entertaining and amusing, some others may not.
In addition, his plotting was complex, and the characters had depth (some in very trashy ways) to a much higher degree than his either of his Spenser or Roger Coulson books. This novel involved a multitude of characters, several connecting storylines, and a lot of moving parts. Just the kind of novel I enjoy; one in which you peel the onion one layer at a time like a challenging Sudoku puzzle. Once he got the characters and plotlines introduced in the first third of the book, the last two-thirds moved right along, building to several dramatic and violent outcomes. For me, Atkins combined various Memphis settings along with international locations (London, Paris, and Dubai) as a canvas for intriguing and intricately built storylines that delivered an engaging reading experience.
It’s simple. Atkins is a very smart writer that treats his readers with that same respect. For me, this was an intelligent read that not only provided several hours of fun escapism reading, but also examined some of the our most internal drivers – selfishness, survival, and the drive for personal financial gain. Atkins is not afraid to address Joseph Conrad’s “heart of darkness” that resides in each of us.
4.5 out of 5 stars (and yes, I know that Goodreads does not round off, ugh…)
June 15, 2024
Addison McKellar's husband Dean goes on a business trip but doesn't return to their Memphis home. She's worried about him, but nobody - including the police - is taking her concerns seriously. She turns to her father's old friend, PI Porter Hayes and he is able to dig up several secrets that many dangerous people want to stay buried.
This book starts out really good and I liked Addison and Porter, both separately and when they're working together. If the book would have kept the focus on them, I would have liked this book so much better. Instead, we're not just introduced to several different quirky (and unlikable) characters, but are given many chapters told from their points-of-view. Although everything is connected, these details of these side-characters slow the pace and take away from the main characters of Addy and Porter. International espionage isn't my favorite type of story, but for a while the humor in the book made this an engaging story. Unfortunately, the plot got too over-the-top and confusing, and the gaslighting that takes place was disturbing to me. This didn't end up being my kind of book, but I appreciate the opportunity to read the advance copy from NetGalley, William Morrow Books, and Scene of the Crime.
This book starts out really good and I liked Addison and Porter, both separately and when they're working together. If the book would have kept the focus on them, I would have liked this book so much better. Instead, we're not just introduced to several different quirky (and unlikable) characters, but are given many chapters told from their points-of-view. Although everything is connected, these details of these side-characters slow the pace and take away from the main characters of Addy and Porter. International espionage isn't my favorite type of story, but for a while the humor in the book made this an engaging story. Unfortunately, the plot got too over-the-top and confusing, and the gaslighting that takes place was disturbing to me. This didn't end up being my kind of book, but I appreciate the opportunity to read the advance copy from NetGalley, William Morrow Books, and Scene of the Crime.
June 28, 2024
Man...all of these characters were a hot mess and really hard to like, with the exception of Porter. It made it really hard to read because I didn't care what happened to them and frankly most of them got what they deserved. I almost dnf'ed the book multiple times, not sure what kept me reading, maybe because I wanted to know more about Dean, who he was, why he became who he did, but we never did learn that. In the end, I'm glad to be done with the book, most to walk away from these characters who, for the most part, are train wrecks.
May 12, 2024
The book was very difficult to follow because the writing style was very amateurish. There were too many characters in the story and they jumped around not really making a smooth sequence to the storyline. I wish they had all jumped in the toilet and rid themselves from the page in front of my eyes. The murders were subpar, lacking any type of thrill, or excitement. Bland. I feel the story could have been much more appealing had the character all have been eating a big salad. Definitely not an entertaining, edge of your seat, thought-provoking thriller.
May 29, 2024
Received as an ARC via my employer Barnes & Noble. Started 5-19-24; finished 5-28-24. Many interesting characters--most of whom have no socially redeeming values, But the plot is to locate and identify a woman's missing husband; determine his true identity; and his true occupation since human trafficker and gun runner appears to be his claim to fame. Most of the loose ends are found in the last 2 chapters and I'm still not certain they were all resolved. It's like the author threw them all in a box and hoped that the reader could make them all fit. Not a satisfying ending.
January 11, 2024
I really enjoyed Ace Atkin’s most recent book. I love the Quinn Colson series…this is different. I liked the main character Addison. I was cheering for her. Loved the Memphis setting and all the Elvis inspirations…one of the main characters was using her past history in an Elvis movie as a way to still make money.
Anyways, great characters and good dialogue that had me laughing out loud at times. Didn’t want the book to end so highly recommend.
Anyways, great characters and good dialogue that had me laughing out loud at times. Didn’t want the book to end so highly recommend.
January 20, 2024
I had read several of Atkins’ Quinn Colson books and really enjoyed them. I was excited to get an advanced copy of this new book from the publisher and NetGalley and I really enjoyed it. The central story has a few tentacles that were fun to follow. The main characters were interesting and I particularly enjoyed the glimpses of Memphis through Porter Hayes eyes. Definitely look forward to finding out of there are more mysteries coming his way!
January 22, 2024
Well I hope Atkins is taking a short break from his outstanding Quinn Colson series.
But do not worry, Don't let the Devil Ride is a powerhouse novel.
Shortly after finding her husband disappeared and her little bank account empty Addison asks her father for help and he recommends a PI to find him. Know Atkins prose we all know where this is going and boy does he.
Outstanding stand alone novel. Must read
But do not worry, Don't let the Devil Ride is a powerhouse novel.
Shortly after finding her husband disappeared and her little bank account empty Addison asks her father for help and he recommends a PI to find him. Know Atkins prose we all know where this is going and boy does he.
Outstanding stand alone novel. Must read
July 16, 2024
Started this book with a generous degree of skepticism, since the existence of DON'T LET THE DEVIL RIDE meant there won't be a new Quinn Colson book out this summer. Heck, I'm still impatiently awaiting the next "Nick Travers" mystery. My bad. DON'T LET THE DEVIL RIDE is a tremendous read. Different than previous books by Ace Atkins, but deliciously so.
Atkins is always an adept storyteller but in this novel he adopts a quicker pace and a comedic edge, with a broad range of larger-than-life characters. The body count is still high and the bad guys are really out there, but there are also striking satirical jabs at contemporary culture (the book is set in 2010) and gossipy snark about famous folks from the past. An international spy thriller comes to Memphis, Tennessee.
At the heart of this story is Porter Hayes, a 71-year old private investigator in Memphis. Hayes keeps the story centered, so that it's many arcs don't go careening off-plot. Hayes is an example of the author's ability to created fully-nuanced characters in just a short time. We soon know his history and his character.
The other lead, Addison McKellar, is less developed, but that may be purposeful. Addison is a rich Memphis suburbanite living an insubstantial life. When her husband disappears she discovers what little she did hold true is fiction. That is when she reaches out to Hayes, who has a longstanding connection to Addison's father, a father now dying a slow death from cancer. Adding to the mix, there are plenty of secondary and tertiary characters who add to this story in real (not just convenient) ways. Two that stand out are Joanna Grayson, a down-on-her-luck, grasping actress with tenuous ties to Elvis Presley, and Libby (Addison's sister-in-law). Libby is a well-meaning yet ultimately tragic figure, draped in superficiality.
The story comes full circle, with no obvious threads hanging loose. But, it would be nice to visit this Memphis again. If only to see how Porter Hayes is doing. Addison too, though her future is more worrisome.
Porter Hayes is a
man with stories he could tell.
Memphis resonates.
Atkins is always an adept storyteller but in this novel he adopts a quicker pace and a comedic edge, with a broad range of larger-than-life characters. The body count is still high and the bad guys are really out there, but there are also striking satirical jabs at contemporary culture (the book is set in 2010) and gossipy snark about famous folks from the past. An international spy thriller comes to Memphis, Tennessee.
At the heart of this story is Porter Hayes, a 71-year old private investigator in Memphis. Hayes keeps the story centered, so that it's many arcs don't go careening off-plot. Hayes is an example of the author's ability to created fully-nuanced characters in just a short time. We soon know his history and his character.
The other lead, Addison McKellar, is less developed, but that may be purposeful. Addison is a rich Memphis suburbanite living an insubstantial life. When her husband disappears she discovers what little she did hold true is fiction. That is when she reaches out to Hayes, who has a longstanding connection to Addison's father, a father now dying a slow death from cancer. Adding to the mix, there are plenty of secondary and tertiary characters who add to this story in real (not just convenient) ways. Two that stand out are Joanna Grayson, a down-on-her-luck, grasping actress with tenuous ties to Elvis Presley, and Libby (Addison's sister-in-law). Libby is a well-meaning yet ultimately tragic figure, draped in superficiality.
The story comes full circle, with no obvious threads hanging loose. But, it would be nice to visit this Memphis again. If only to see how Porter Hayes is doing. Addison too, though her future is more worrisome.
Porter Hayes is a
man with stories he could tell.
Memphis resonates.
July 23, 2024
Memphis is its own character in this book set in this unique southern city. Porter Hayes, an aging private investigator, steals the show in this overcrowded book of unlikeable, except Porter mostly, first person perspectives. Once you get past these two great things, however, the rest is a chore to read, which is really saying something given how fast paced the narrative is. There is a lot going on in this book. Too much? It's the kind of story that if you saw it on a Dateline episode would seem unbelievable, but the unbelievable happens everyday so why not? I would absolutely read another book featuring Porter Hayes. I love Ace Atkins' Quinn Colson series. Start with it to try him out. This one is just too much.
July 27, 2024
This had moments of greatness, but also at many times very convoluted. I’m willing to give more Atkins a try, because this wasn’t a total dud.
July 13, 2024
Ace Atkins really knows how to do sleaze. And yet, as a reader, it’s impossible not to find the humanity in his quirky characters—well, all but one, who could be the biggest liar ever created by an author. Here, one of the most interesting characters is the city of Memphis with its Elvis obsession and cast of shady characters, some working behind the veil of religion and morality, others just purely out for themselves. When Addison’s husband goes missing, her attempt to track him down opens wide a Pandora’s box of dirty dealings. There are Russian thugs who come to call, a one armed man with an appetite, a French arms dealer, a former actress who once costarred with Elvis, and a former cop turned PI who is not to be underestimated. Quite a romp.
March 16, 2024
Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Addison is worried when Dean goes missing. His friends aren't saying anything. She turns to an individual who may have the answers she needs. This book kept me guessing.
June 27, 2024
"Don't Let the Devil Ride" is a novel set in Memphis, Tennessee, that delves into the suspenseful tale of Addison McKellar, a woman who employs a private detective to locate her absent spouse. The investigation reveals a perilous network of global intrigue, posing a threat to her family's security. The story provides an intense journey through a high-stakes conspiracy, merging the allure of the South with an international predicament.
The author, Ace Atkins, skillfully develops characters with significant depth and intricacy. His writing in this work is often referred to as an "instant Southern noir classic," characterized by its clever humor and vivid portrayal of misconduct, resulting in a lively and engaging narrative. The book's appeal is attributed to its blend of an exciting plot with a humorous undertone, captivating readers until the conclusion.
The tempo of the narrative is swift, driving the plot forward rapidly and maintaining a high level of excitement. The book's structure is coherent, allowing readers to easily comprehend the intricate storyline.
This novel is highly recommended for enthusiasts of the thriller genre and Southern noir, offering a unique combination of regional allure and elements of international espionage.
To summarize, "Don't Let the Devil Ride" stands out as a remarkable work in the thriller category, solidifying Ace Atkins' reputation as a proficient author in the field. The novel's well-crafted characters, compelling writing, and engaging themes ensure a memorable experience for its audience.
The author, Ace Atkins, skillfully develops characters with significant depth and intricacy. His writing in this work is often referred to as an "instant Southern noir classic," characterized by its clever humor and vivid portrayal of misconduct, resulting in a lively and engaging narrative. The book's appeal is attributed to its blend of an exciting plot with a humorous undertone, captivating readers until the conclusion.
The tempo of the narrative is swift, driving the plot forward rapidly and maintaining a high level of excitement. The book's structure is coherent, allowing readers to easily comprehend the intricate storyline.
This novel is highly recommended for enthusiasts of the thriller genre and Southern noir, offering a unique combination of regional allure and elements of international espionage.
To summarize, "Don't Let the Devil Ride" stands out as a remarkable work in the thriller category, solidifying Ace Atkins' reputation as a proficient author in the field. The novel's well-crafted characters, compelling writing, and engaging themes ensure a memorable experience for its audience.
April 27, 2024
READ MY FULL REVIEW AT Best Thriller Books
Make sure to check out the full review
Make sure to check out the full review
July 31, 2024
Hold onto your cowboy hat! This one is a fast-paced, lane-changing, twisty, mélange of international intrigue, arms dealers, antiquity smugglers, religious zealots, Southern Belles, good ole detecting, and family drama and that is just to start. Atkins blends the Memphis roadways with Graceland and Elvis trivia, suburban class warfare, homespun wisdom, longtime sorrow, the trials of aging, grit, and bloodshed. Addison, our plucky and brave Southern suburban housewife, has a missing husband, Dean McKellar, and three children, a dying father, a selfish brother, a ditzy friend, and finally goes to the police with little satisfaction, and then to Porter Hayes, a former detective with a renown reputation, now a PI, to find him. Things get murkier pretty fast and this is a roller coaster ride of a journey you want to experience yourselves as a former starlet, Russian mobsters, and assorted cronies and villains complicate the evocative scenery to great effect as the search for Dean becomes a search for his identity and a missing shipping container that many, many people want for various reasons. Most of the CHs are well-developed, especially Porter, Addison, Gaultier the French “fixer,” and Joanna, the aging actress. Their stories weave in and out of each other’s and dialogue contributes to the Pace, as do the short chapters and the swift changing of 3rd POV. Tone and Pace also benefits from humor from Elvis to aging to a Russian love of cowboys and the polished, urbane villain Gaultier’s distaste of the tacky and his longing for Parisian civilization. The differences between Black and white Memphis is starkly painted in both economic and social details. Some of the predictability is offset by the humor and quirkiness of some CHs, like the ever-hungry One-Armed man. This is a bloody and violent Plot but that violence is not always too graphic and often assumed rather than described. RED FLAGS: Graphic Violence; Vulgar Language; Misogyny; Danger to children and dog; Patriarchal Nonsense. I may want to see more of tough, pragmatic Porter Hayes and his posse. Readalikes may be George Pelecanos, Joe Ide, and S.A. Cosby.
Read
July 13, 2024Thought this might be a domestic suspense meets PI book, but it leaned a little too much toward Jack Reacher territory for me. It's a multi-POV thriller about a Memphis wife who finds out that her husband is definitely not who she thought.
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Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
Subscribe to my amazing newsletter HERE at JenRyland.com Let's be friends on Bookstagram!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
July 8, 2024
Not my cup of tea. The characters were awful, and half of them were underdeveloped. The story was just ok, but nothing to write home about. Basically it was kind of like those movies that go on and on and on but never really go anywhere.
July 5, 2024
Disappointing.
August 14, 2024
Great characters, bad and good ones, annoying and dumb ones and an intriguing story with motels, murder and madness with a hero not letting it go from glad to sadness.
Good ride.
Good ride.
August 25, 2024
I've read a couple of books Ace wrote, following someone else's format and I've enjoyed his writing. This book is set in Memphis and the author describes the city by neighborhoods and mentions the names of well-known Memphis locations as well as some nationally known brands. The cast of characters is varied, from France and Russia to Arkansas and Tennessee. The author takes a lot of time to develop the characters, then he takes most of them out at the end of the book, don't see a sequel in the future.
July 17, 2024
Disappointing. Too long. Too all over the place. No real resolution. I kept reading because I wanted to see how it ended, but feel like I wasted my time
July 17, 2024
Very enjoyable and entertaining
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