I'm not sure what to make of this. I've read other works by Ace Atkins and enjoyed them, but I didn't like reading this one. The story is decent, but the writing seemed cumbersome. ( )

Make no mistake about one thing: Mr. Atkins can write. This book was not really my dish (perhaps because I currently work with people a little too much like the novel’s antagonists),hence its three-star rating. That said, if I were ever to give a genre novel five stars, it would be this one.

The Ranger is a book that takes place in the poor south with Confederate flags, skinheads, small towns, crack makers and users, lots of guns and more. It was hard to follow because there was a lot of shifting from present to past years. The characters were not even likeable. Three and a half stars were given to this book. ( )

Others have summarized the plot effectively, so I won't try to improve on their efforts. I will say that Ranger with Quinn Colson is a great departure for Atkins after his blues-related Nick Travers series and the historical novels he's written in recent years.

Colson could have been just another version of a soldier returning home with defense skills that enable him to take on the bad guys, outnumbered as he might be, but Atkins makes him more than that. Colson has heart and an empathy for others that enrich the story and make him more interesting and believable.

Atkins also provided a fully-realized cast of characters that epitomized the rural nature of Jericho and the surrounding county, while mostly keeping in check the temptation to make them stereotypical or cartoonish.

Ranger is a solid story, with plenty of action, honest dialog and a serene setting set wild by some nasty people. It shows Atkins at his best and makes him a writer worthy of a wider readership. ( )

Deep and interesting characters. Wonderful book. ( )