This is the first book I have read by Atkins and I really liked it!

A good thriller, question maker and fast read! A main character with charm, wit and drive. Determine to solve the problem and enough character development (for all the characters) to be really good. I will look for other books by him and recommend this to friends.

I didn't know Ace before he did the Robert B Parker books but have gone back and read his books and thoroughly enjoyed his latest. A very twisty tale with so many connections! It'll keep you on your toes! Great characters (per usual), a fast paced fun read.

Ace Atkins delivers another top notch novel with Don't Let the Devil Ride. This is a stand alone novel that is set in the city of Memphis and Ace describes scenes in his books that make you feel like you are inside the novel. HIs character development is superb and although it is deviation of his Quinn Colson series, this book is just as good in my opinion to that series. I hope Ace will keep writing about these characters in the future. Thanks NetGalley for my ARC in return for my honest review!

It’s been a week since Addison has heard from her husband. His secretary won’t tell her anything and Addison is convinced she is hiding something from her. After Addison drops her kids off at school, she drives to the building where her husband’s office is. However, when she gets there, she finds another company is in her husband’s office space….and they’ve been there for two years. He’s done this before but has never been gone this long. Addison hires Porter Hayes, an old-school Memphis PI, to investigate her husband’s disappearance. Porter learns that her husband was involved with some shady international characters. We also meet Joanna Grayson, an aging co-star of Elvis in this mystery.
While I enjoyed reading the book, I didn’t love this book. I did, however, enjoy the character of Porter Hayes. Not sure it’s enough to read another book.

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Dean McKellar is missing, and his wife Addison doesn’t know what to do. Dean just vanished from her life, his friends ignore her, and the police are dismissive. Frustrated, Addison McKellar turns to her father’s friend, elderly private investigator Porter Hayes for help.

As Porter investigates Dean’s affair, it seems his whole life was a lie. Together with Addison, they open up a can of international intrigue, connections to mercenaries, con men, billionaires, and.. one of Elvis’ co-stars.

I have enjoyed many of Ace Atkins’ books, and Don’t Let the Devil Ride is no exception. It’s a twisted, somewhat crazy, noir story where gaslighting takes center stage.

The narrative is told by eight 8 characters, but they’re so different and their voices are unique that it didn’t confuse me. Mr. Atkins errs on the side of the narrative, so some of them are not fleshed out. he can do that in a series, like The Ranger, where side characters can be focused on in a different book, but this one seems to be an independent story. If it’s not, I’m not sure who the protagonist would be unless it’s Porter.

I thought that the gaslighting factor in this book is outlandish, but it made the first part enjoyable. Reading how Dean/Peter gaslights not only his wife, but all their friends was amusing. The scary part is that it’s

I loved the humor in this book, my favorite is Jack Dumas, a one-armed mercenary hunting the Dean/Peter, but he makes himself a meal whenever he’s in someone’s house trying, and succeeding, to intimidate them. While the book isn’t a comedy, it’s not a serious drama either. I read it on vacation and enjoyed it immensely.

The cast of colorful and unique characters is part of a gritty, and multi-layered story. Mostly dark, but made palatable by the author’s excellent storytelling.

The book is a wild ride, part detective story, part con, part insane action. There are scary, funny, graphic, and crazy scenes – but it all works. The pace was entertaining and sound, with good writing and story-line.

And bonus points for somehow incorporating Elvis into another one of Ace Atkins’ books.

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.)

Don't Let the Devil Ride is Ace Atkins' new novel. And what a ride it is! Atkins hits the ground running and the action, twists, turns and more just never stops.

The starting point? "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."

There are many characters and each is given a voice. I really liked Addison, but my hands down favorite was legendary Memphis PI Porter Hayes. I swear the music from "Shaft" started to play in my head. (In a good way!)

The narrative bounces from plotline to plotline in each chapter - a style that always keeps me up late for just one more chapter. At first, I thought it was a bit far-fetched, but I changed my tune as the seemingly disparate elements started to weave themselves together.

The dialogue is short, snappy and adds to the overall feeling of the book. I quite enjoyed Don't Let the Devil Ride and was a bit surprised by some of the other reviews. I was with S.A. Cosby on this one. "An instant Southern noir classic".

I like the vibe of our private investigator, Porter Hayes, longtime friend to our female lead, Addison McKellar whose husband has disappeared. A parallel story involving a retired Hollywood starlet who continues to attempt to cash in on her minor movie role alongside Elvis. A most stories go, follow the money, right? Addison is trying to uncover her husband’s whereabouts and what he was doing prior to his disappearance as the more she learns the more lies she uncovers. Enjoyable noir mystery

Addison McKellar’s husband frequently traveled for his business. When he disappears for a week with no contact she is sure that something is wrong. A trip to his downtown office reveals that a different company has occupied the address for the last two years. At her father’s suggestion she hires Porter Hayes, a former police detective who is now a private investigator. Addison thought that she knew her husband, but what Hayes discovers shows that her life as Mrs. McKellar is a sham. Ace Atkins introduces a has been actresss who appeared in an Elvis movie. She survives by making appearances for Elvis fans and selling stolen items. There is also a Russian gangster who feels cheated by a bad arms deal and a bogus FBI agent who is looking for a stolen antiquity. Each of these stories come crashing together when Addison’s husband suddenly returns.

Addison is not an easy character to like. She has been sliding through life with a drink in her hand. She has never questioned the source of the money that has allowed them to travel and own several homes. Dean McKellar is the name of someone who died years ago, so who is her husband? Porter Hayes, quickly approaching seventy, is a wonderful character. Even though he is fired after Dean’s return, he is caught up in learning the truth and watches over Addison, coming to her rescue when Dean puts her life in danger. From the very beginning the action never stops and no one can be trusted. This kept me guessing to the very end and definitely made me an Ace Atkins fan. I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow Publishers for providing this book.

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.

The strength of Ace Atkins new novel is its characters. Set in Memphis, Tennessee, Addison McKellar is caught up in her moneyed life and raising her two children. After the second time her husband Dean disappears, Addison begins to wonder more about her husband and the money he brings to the family. Once she learns her husband's construction company is only a shell, Addison, on the advice of her dying father, hires Porter Hayes, a private investigator, to search the trail her husband has left behind. Book discussions groups will enjoy discussing Addison as an easily duped wife happy to have her credit cards and wine. Recommended for Tennessee libraries and readers who enjoy Southern noir--and Elvis.

Don't Let the Devil Ride by expert and prolific writer Ace Atkins is an unpredictable and serpentine thriller that keeps the reader guessing. The client, Addison, has a husband who cannot be found. Her last hope is Porter Hayes and old-time Private Detective, the only person who believes foul play is involved. The story unfolds as readers are introduced to many characters, including a wealthy religious huckster, a weapons salesman, and a Russian gangster. Are they connected to the missing husband, and if so, how and why? Don't Let the Devil Ride is another beautiful novel by the author, who has already proved that he is one of the best in the mystery/thriller genre.

What a disappointment, actually was looking forward for this one and fell a sleep reading this one.

You have eight characters, give or take a few, but the storyline gets flipped back and forth between the characters. It's a tedious slow read, with the typical interesting characters, some support ones that all added to the story and never really like any of them.

Unlike his Quinn Colson or Nick Travers series books, 'Don't Let The Devil Ride' the exact opposite, would have rather had a new Quinn Colson or start a new series with Deputy U.S. Marshal Lillie Virgil.

“Don’t Let the Devil Ride” by Ace Atkins is a gripping Southern noir standalone thriller set in the atmospheric backdrop of Memphis. The story kicks off with Addison McKellar, whose life takes a dramatic turn when her husband, Dean, vanishes without a trace. Desperate and determined, Addison enlists the help of veteran private investigator Porter Hayes to unravel the secrets behind her husband’s vanishing act.

Atkins skillfully crafts a fast-paced narrative filled with suspense and dark humor, drawing readers into a world of deception, resilience, and toxic relationships. As Addison and Porter dig deeper, they uncover a web of international intrigue involving a faded movie star, a billionaire Bible salesman, a French arms dealer, and a Russian gangster, among others. The plot’s complexity and the constant twists keep readers on the edge of their seats, guessing until the very end.

The novel’s strength lies in its well-developed characters and the vivid portrayal of Southern life. Addison emerges as a compelling protagonist, defying the initial impressions of a rich, alcoholic housewife. Her intelligence and determination shine through as she navigates the dangerous waters of her husband’s secret life. Porter Hayes, nearing 70 and primarily chasing cheating spouses, is a charming and resourceful PI whose past connections add depth to his character.

The multiple perspectives employed by Atkins enrich the story, though they may pose a challenge for some readers. The narrative gains depth from each character’s perspective, weaving together interconnected lives and concealed motives. However, the large cast sometimes leads to superficial character development for some players.

Despite this, “Don’t Let the Devil Ride” delivers a satisfying blend of intense action, dark comedy, and poignant moments. Atkins’ storytelling prowess ensures a steady pace and engaging plot, culminating in a thrilling finale that leaves readers wanting more. This novel is a standout for fans of Southern noir and suspense, showcasing Atkins’ talent for weaving intricate, compelling tales.

*Don't Let the Devil Ride* by Ace Atkins captivates readers with its intense plot and richly atmospheric setting in Memphis. Addison McKellar, faced with her husband's sudden disappearance, enlists the help of veteran PI Porter Hayes. As they delve into Dean's secretive life, they uncover a perilous network of international intrigue, putting Addison and her children in grave danger. Atkins masterfully weaves a fast-paced, suspenseful narrative filled with well-developed characters and dark humor. The novel explores themes of deception, resilience, and the impact of toxic relationships, all while vividly portraying Southern life. This compelling thriller is a standout for fans of Southern noir and suspense.

A complex twisty thriller that kept me guessing. Told by multiple players, it's the story of what happens when Addison realizes her husband has been missing from Memphis for too long and that he, well, doesn't exist. She hires Porter Hayes, an older PI and the chase is on. Porter is the only one who believes her and he's intrigued. Dean is also Peter, who is involved in- what exactly? There's a faded movie star, a billionaire Bible salesman, a French arms dealer, a Russian gangster, and others, all of whom are somehow linked. But how? I liked the different perspectives, liked that it wasn't all laid out neatly at first, and liked the atmospherics. Addison is great (she's smarter than everyone seems to think she is), her son Preston is aces, and her brother, well, he's a slug. No spoilers from me because you should read this as it unfolds to fully appreciate it. And it's funny. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It's a real page turner.

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

Ace Atkins new novel “ Don’t let the Devil Ride” is a Southern noir novel set in Memphis with a new cast of characters from his Quinn Colson novels. If you like this novels, I suggest you read this “ Don’t Let the Devil Ride.”
Memphis is an unlikely setting to find Russian mobsters,international arms dealers and bogus FBI men. All are searching for a recently arrived Conex container which all the bad guys thinks is full of valuable goods: weapons and bombs, either germ, nuke or any combination thereof, or some ancient religious artifacts - all thing for which various buyers willing to pay millions .
One of those dealers is Dean Mc Kelllan a.k.a Peter Collinson, among other names. He is being sought by the FBI, Russian gangsters and a one- armed hired killer , and his wife. She knows nothing much about the man .she knows as head of an international construction firm.. But when the one armed man shows up in her kitchen one night, looking for McKellan. She finds out her husband is a man of many names, a wealthy beyond her dreams merchant of death. This late night visitor with a hook on one arm and a turkey sandwich in the other, scares her enough to hire Porter Hayes , a seventy year old black PI, who is well known and respected in Memphis.to find, and find out who the man she knows as her husband really is.
Mr. Atkins has written a thriller that channels the late Elmore Leonard.. Smart, sharp and often funny dialog,.Quirky characters like the Russian gangster named Zub, who dresses in cowboy clothes , loves western movies quotes from them and carries a nickel-plated si gun ( among other weapons.) There is also the sister- in law who is living off a few movie appearances in Elvis flics as well as minor roles as a semi-nude cutie in some exploitati9n flics. In this streaming flow of trouble- inviting narcissists, Porter Hayes is the only strong and sane character..
“Don’t Let the Devil Ride” is a rousing , violent thriller that is very much worth reading for the fun. Mr . Atkins talent as an author with more than one arrow in his literary quiver and this one is right in the mark.
Note: Language and violence might offend the sensitive. Sexual activity is referred to but not graphically described ( The two- headed dragon , for example)
Net Galley awarded me a free digital copy of this book to read and review. Happy to have read it.

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.

What a ride! There are more twists and turns than Elvis has hips. A wonderful thriller based in Memphis with local characters and Elvis references. At times I was struggling to keep all the characters in line but the author brings it all together in the end. Do we really know who we marry?