The Lost Ones

Written by Ace Atkins

Narrated by MacLeod Andrews

Fresh from ten years as a U.S. Army Ranger, Quinn Colson finds his hands full as the newly elected sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi. An old buddy running a local gun shop may be in over his head when stolen army rifles start showing up in the hands of a Mexican drug gang.

At the same time, an abused-child case leads Quinn and his tough-as-nails deputy, Lillie Virgil, deep into the heart of a bootleg baby racket and a trail of darkness and death. And when the two cases collide, Quinn and his allies are forced to realize that, though they may be home from the war, they are now in the fight of their lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705089804

Ace Atkins

Ace Atkins is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-seven books, including ten books in his Quinn Colson series. Handpicked by the Robert B. Parker Estate nearly a decade ago to continue the Spenser series, he's written nine novels about the iconic private eye. He lives and works in Oxford, Mississippi.

Reviews for The Lost Ones

[perednia_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good sophomore book in a series in which it is clear the author knows how to tell a story.

[brakketh-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Far fetched and wild west but an enjoyable read.

[shelleyraec · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Lost Ones is the second novel in Ace Atkins new series featuring former Army Ranger Quinn Colson, now Sheriff of Tebbehah County in rural northeast Mississippi.A contemporary western might be an apt description of this novel, with the Sheriff, Colson, trying to maintain law and order in an insular southern town run by redneck good ole boys. It begins with Colson, along with his deputy Lillie, investigating a horrific case of child abuse that then reveals a baby trafficking scheme run by two locals. The suspects have gone on the run with the infants but Colson is determined to track them down despite being distracted by a gorgeous ATF agent informing him that someone in his town, someone Colson knows well, is suspected of supplying military grade weapons to a Mexican cartel.Inevitably, the two cases collide and Colson is caught in a pitched gun battle to save the children. There isn't any real mystery here, the guilty are identified at the outset, but finding the culprits isn't easy and there is time pressure involved as both groups are readying for a run to the Mexican border.On a personal front, Quinn's life is complicated by the return of his newly sober sister who is determined to make him relive the past he would would rather forget, his attraction to his now married and pregnant high school sweetheart, Anna-Lee and his friend's struggle with readjusting to civilian life after the loss of his arm.Though sometimes reinforcing stereotypes, I can't help but picture Johnny Stagg, for example, as a 'Boss' Hogg (from the Dukes of Hazzard) look alike, the characters of The Lost Ones are often more complicated than they appear. Few are entirely all bad, or all good, gun running Donnie is just interested in making a quick buck and Mara is as much a victim of her mother as are the children Janet sells.The dialogue is genuine, the humour quick and there is enough action to keep things interesting. The rural setting is well drawn and the details authentic.The Lost Ones is an enjoyable crime thriller, and though I didn't find it especially compelling I would happily read the next book in the series already released in the US, The Broken Places.

[nmele_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I've read most of Ace Atkins' previous books, but not "The Ranger" which is, I guess, the first book in this new series. Atkins has written a page-turner that I devoured in huge gulps over the course of a few days. The plot concerns Mexican drug cartels, gun-running and the search for justice, along with several sub-plots. Really enjoyable reading, I especially appreciate that Atkins can keep the action going and the body count climbing without writing graphically or leeringly about the violence.

[maneekuhi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

"The Lost Ones" is the second in Ace Atkins Quinn Colson series, about a small town sherrif in rural Mississippi, truck stops and all. This is another very well written Atkins book and is nominated for an Edgar Best Book award this year, right along with Gone Girl. Quinn Colson is a ten year Army vet, a Ranger, and he sports a buzz cut and says "ma'am" a lot. I liked the book for the environment and feel of country south. I disliked the book for the climactic shootout at the end, similar to the ending of the first book - I couldn't keep track of who was shooting whom, where everybody was hiding, who was sneaking up on whom, nor could I picture what a ridge looked like, and I couldn't tell when the shooting ended. I liked the characters particularly Deputy Lillie and Agent Dinah (will we see more of her?). Interesting plot about gun-running, Mexican drug cartels and its expansion into the southern US. A few stretches of credibity like the guy who gets beat to a pulp and is driving an 18-wheeler 15 minutes later. And there's a rather improbable adoption. Lots to like, but c'mon, Ace, enough with the shootouts.

[norinrad10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a Edgar Award nominee this year but I'm not quite sure why. Don't get me wrong, there is a lot to like here. Quinn Colton is a very interesting character in a very interesting place with a very interesting supporting cast. This episode concerns an old classmate who gets wrapped up with a beautiful Mexican gunrunner. Of course things go bad. The only problem is that Atkin's is no Elmore Leonard when it comes to dialog. All too often you get the jarringly wooden phrase that knocks you out of the story. Atkin's is a gifted writer that continues to improve. Perhaps the next book will be the one that puts it all together.

[msf59 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Quinn Colson is a former US Army Ranger. Despite being barely thirty years old, he is now sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi. He quickly finds himself waist-deep in a gun-running operation, which may involve a childhood pal and a baby-selling ring. Both of these may have connections with a dangerous Mexican cartel, who revel in leaving a trail of dead bodies behind, like an insidious snail.This is the 2nd in a new series by Atkins and it’s a solid entry. He captures the rural feel of this southern town and it’s inhabitants. There is action, violence and romance. Dark secrets from Colson’s past, also rise to the surface, involving his father, sister and uncle. This may not be top tier crime but it’s still a worthy read.

[zmagic69 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Even better than the debut in this series. Ace atkins pulls you in from the first page and has you dreading the time when you will be finished with the book!

[susegordon · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A new Quinn Colson novel set in Tibbehah County where he is sheriff. Donnie Varner, a childhood friend has come back from the Nat'l Guard with a stash of guns that he sells to a possible mexican cartel. In addition, and possibly connected to the cartel is a husband and wife that are "fostering" mexican children in a less than safe manner, which leads to the death of one of the children... Quinn has his plate full with trying to get his department up and running and out from under the unsavory control of Johnny Stagg, finding the "lost" children and dealing with the FBI regarding the gun running issues, in bed and out of bed!

[tymfos · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I received an Advance Reader's Copy of uncorrected proofs through the LT Early Reviewers program, and this review is based on that copy.Quinn Colson comes home from service as an Army Ranger, and winds up elected to his late uncle's old office, as Sheriff of Tebbehah County, Mississippi. Several of his friends are ex-military, too, and suffered damage of various kinds in the war. Then there's his family: a recovering alcoholic mother who still mourns over Elvis Presley's death; and his sister Caddie the Prodigal Daughter, welcomed back by Mom, who has found religion and is intent on pushing it onto her brother. (I can't quote from this copy because it's uncorrected proofs, but there was one exchange between brother and sister I wish I could quote, because it is priceless.)Quinn is dealing with a case of serious child and animal abuse, gun runners, and federal agents, while coming to terms with incidents from his and Caddie's childhood. In the process, there are lots of shots fired, figurative and literal.This book is second in a series. There were references to the previous book (and some were likely spoilers) but the book was easy to follow without having read the first book.I had some style issues with the book, POV issues. It was written in third person, but the author would still often write for a spell rather like he was in the character's head (not always Standard English, ya know) and then throw in a line that was clearly not reflecting the POV character's attitude at all, IMO. I don't know. It was a good enough story, but it felt choppy at times. There were some sections that were in the past, and I didn't feel that the transition to those sections was effective at times.It was a decent read, but it didn't really grab my attention and hold me until a little too close to the end. It took a long time for me to warm up to any of the characters, but I eventually did. I think my luke-warm reception may have simply been a matter of taste.

[kathleen5heady · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The principal characters in The Lost Ones are soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan to rural Mississippi, soldiers who have not yet learned to put their guns down. One of them, Sheriff Quinn Colson, has become the chief law enforcement officer of Tebbehah County. Another, Donnie Varner, runs a gun shop and shooting range, and is not averse to making a sale to buyers on the wrong side of the law, a dangerous business, especially when he becomes involved with members of a Mexican drug cartel.At the same time, Quinn and his deputy, Lillie Virgil, are on the trail of another group of unsavory characters who are in the business of selling Mexican babies. Their crimes become even more serious when one of the babies dies, and the couple last seen with the child have disappeared along with several other children. They have left a filthy trailer, clear evidence of the treatment the children received, as well as abused dogs penned outside in even worse filth. The sheriff seems to just miss this notorious group every time they reach a new hideout. The characters in The Lost Ones are as real as your next door neighbors. They live in an economically depressed region of the South, where poverty and political corruption are a way of life. But a novel populated with as many unsavory characters as this one only becomes a great novel when it is clear that even the best characters have their weaknesses, and the worst just may have a “good” quality or two.Author Ace Atkins takes the reader through many twists and turns as the plot barrels to its dramatic conclusion. The Lost Ones will keep you up until the last page is turned, and leave you satisfied and waiting for the next novel in the Quinn Colson series.

[souleswanderer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stepping out of the gate a little more subdued than his first novel, the Ranger, the second offering in the Quinn Colson series finds the now Sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, confronted with two major issues seemingly unrelated. There’s an illegal child adoption ring, discovered after a youngster is beaten to death, and the activities of a local gun-runner, with possible ties to the Mexican cartel, supply the framework for the story, but it’s the relationships that hook the reader. Along with the backstory of Quinn and his sister Caddy’s relationship, there is the boyhood friend Donnie, choosing to push the line between right and wrong, Boom, the one-armed military buddy finding his way in between bouts of boozing and fighting, a new love/hate relationship with an FBI agent, and his ongoing battle with the corrupted political powers. With the support and ever present conscience of his deputy Lillie Virgil, and following an unspoken code of ethics, Quinn embodies the steadfast and rock solid style of law enforcement that stands for justice, with minor unorthodox means. Ace Atkin’s Quinn Colson is one to add to your shelf. The books offer a strong sense of place, and characters to believe in and root for.

[samsattler · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was a little skeptical when I first heard that the Robert B. Parker estate had chosen two writers to continue his popular Stone and Spenser series. It is not that I had anything against either author chosen for the jobs; I always fear that the original work will somehow be tainted by what follows in these situations. When I saw that one of the writers (who was new to me at the time) has a name that sounds more like a character from a Spenser novel than a writer, I really started to wonder. No more. Ace Atkins is a writer, a good one, and he proves it again in his second Quinn Colson novel, The Lost Ones.Quinn Colson, a former Army Ranger, is the new sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi. To call Tibbehah County “backwoods” would not be stretching the point. Sheriff Colson and his small group of deputies have to deal with more than outright criminals; they have to find ways to overcome the rampant cronyism that taints the way public funds are spent there. The county’s good old boys are experts in the art of scratching each other’s backs, and they want to keep it that way.But now, the Tibbehah County Sheriff’s Department has much bigger problems. A Mexican drug cartel is setting up shop in rural Mississippi and is, at the same time, shopping for military-grade weapons to ship back to Mexico. Almost simultaneously, Quinn learns that a baby-selling operation involving imported Mexican babies has also taken root in the county. When the two investigations begin to intersect, and it appears that one of Quinn’s childhood friends is a key player in the gunrunning, things get complicated.Ace Atkins does a fine job of developing characters and their interrelationships by including enough backstory to explain how they became the people they are. Particularly effective is the revelation of what happened to Quinn and his sister, Caddy, when they were just children – an event so traumatic that Caddy still fights the demons that were created that day. She has come home – yet again – and wants Quinn to talk about what happened all those years ago but he cannot force himself to revisit that part of his past. The Lost Ones is filled with memorable characters, good guys and bad guys. In addition to Caddy, there are Chief Deputy Lillie Virgil, a strapping young woman who is pretty much training Quinn on the job; Boom, Quinn’s one-armed, veteran friend, a black man battling demons of his own; and Caddy’s mixed-race son for whom Quinn is gladly serving as father-figure. Along the way, too, we learn about Quinn’s uncle, the now deceased County Sheriff who helped the children cover up what happened to them. Other interesting characters are Donnie Varner, the old running-buddy of Quinn’s now involved with the cartel; a seductive FBI agent with whom Quinn “bonds;” and County Commissioner Johnny Stagg, the man who still runs Tibbehah County as if he owns it.This is good stuff, and luckily for those of us just becoming aware of Quinn Colson and his crew, we have only missed one previous book – and, with luck, there are many to come. Rated at: 5.0

[lchav52_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this second book, Quinn Colson, ex-Ranger, is now sheriff of Tibbehah County, Mississippi, and settling into the job. Receiving a call about an injured child, Quinn and his department investigate, to find themselves uncovering a convoluted conspiracy involving gunrunning and baby-selling, to say nothing of Mexican narcos, the brutal drug lords of the border. On top of it all, Quinn's wayward sister has hit town again, determined to confront the evil that played a major role in shaping her life's course, a confrontation Quinn wants no part of.Atkins continues to build on the characters established in THE RANGER, with great success. The characters are likeable and real, the action is tense and satisfying, there is even a splash of romance here and there. All in all, THE LOST ONES is one of the better books of the year, so far.

[crazy4reading · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is my first time reading Ace Atkins and I will be checking out some more books by him. This was an uncorrected proof and I did find some mistakes but I was able to look past that as I read.The Lost Ones is a Quinn Colson Novel. Quinn is an ex Ranger and he is now Sheriff of the small town he grew up in. I found Quinn very likable. The supporting characters such as his female deputy were wonderful additions to the cast of characters.If you like mystery, action, suspense etc then give Ace Atkin's The Lost Ones a try.

[bjkelley · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Second book in Ace Atkin's Quinn Colson series. A great story with great writing. The only weak part of the book, in my opinion, were the flashbacks to some bad things that happened to Quinn and his sister when they were young kids. These sequences slowed the pace of the book down, thankfully those chapters only consumed a small part of the book and were for the most part brief.

[tjm568 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I should start by saying that I had never read Ace Atkins when I requested this book from Early readers. I also didn't realize it was the second book in a series. So to better follow the story, I went and picked up"Ranger" the previous book in this series and read that first."The Lost Ones" was a well written, exciting story. It opens with Quinn Colson, the hero we first meet in "Ranger", back in Tibbehah County as the recently elected sherrif. He doesn't really know how to do the job and relies on his deputy to fill in the finer points of law and procedure. There is also some sexual tension between the two. The story is primarily aboutgun running and human trafficking and is written in the same spare style as "Ranger". I found it somewhat similar to the Craig Johnson books, which is high praise from me. Fans of the crime thriller genre will enjoy this series. I was particularly happy to be introduced to an unknown author who already has a body of work out there. I have already picked up another of his books.

[jsharpmd · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ex US Army Ranger Quinn Colson returns home from the Afgan war to be elected as the new Sheriff of Tibbeha Co winning the election over politician/ex sheriff Johnny Stagg. The setting is in the town of Jericho, Mississippi. Quinn's childhood friend Donnie Varner is selling guns (legally and otherwise) to a Mexican Cartel.Quinn's sister Caddy has returned once again to Jericho to be with her Mother and son Jason. She is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict.This is an exciting story which makes it difficult to lay it aside to get things done. Lots of action along with the emotional content of a family with a difficult history.

[twink_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I first 'discovered' Ace Atkins with last year's release of The Ranger - the first book featuring Quinn Colson. I loved it and have been eagerly awaiting the next in this series. The Lost Ones is newly released and is just as good (or better) as the first one! After ten years as an Army Ranger, Quinn Colson returned to his home town of Jericho in Tibbehah County, Mississippi. He's now the new sheriff in town. When a local doctor calls him about a child brought in with a head injury, Quinn and his chief deputy Lillie Virgil head out to investigate. What they find is an empty, filthy house. It looks like the residents were running a puppy mill...and a baby trafficking outfit. Donnie Varner, an old friend of Quinn, is doing his own trafficking as well - in guns. As Quinn and Lillie investigate, it looks like the two cases might have something - or someone - in common. Atkins draws his characters so well. I have a firm picture in my mind of Quinn - a tough, loyal, cagey lawman who knows his county well. And umm, did I mention he's kind of (okay a lot) sexy too. Kind of that holdin' out for a hero vibe. Lillie is firmly planted in my mind as well - she's a female version of Quinn, although we see some vulnerability this time round. We also get to know some of Quinn's back story with flashbacks to his younger days with his sister Caddy. The supporting cast is equally well drawn, with one-armed Boom standing out for me. In fact I found myself rooting for one of the 'bad guys', hoping he would get a break. The dialogue really fleshs out the mental pictures I've created. A lot of it is short and snappy, and quite humourous at times. Anything more involved would detract from the atmosphere Atkins has created. The setting is just as much of a character. Stark and gritty, Atkins brings to life a county beset by poverty, abuse and corruption. The plotting is excellent, zigging just when I thought it would zag. Lots and lots of action, kept me frantically turning pages until I finished the book far too quickly. So pull up a rocker, grab a glass of sweet tea, put your feet up on the railing and be prepared to set a spell. It's a hell of a read - one you won't want to put down. Fans of television's Justified and Raylan Givens would enjoy this character, as would Jack Reacher fans.

[sandylee_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Quinn Colson is a former Army Ranger and now sheriff in a small town in Mississippi. His father has been gone for years, off in Hollywood somewhere while his mother lost herself in a bottle. His sister has a young son she barely sees because she’s always off in search of herself. Donny Varner is a friend from Quinn’s high school days, always in trouble and always looking for a way to make a quick buck. Dealing in weapons and supplying a Mexican drug cartel seems like easy money to him. But he’s in way over his head as he deals with crooked politicians and the girlfriend of one of the Mexican drug runners. Whereas most books I am drawn to are more intense, THE LOST ONES is a lazy ride down the Mississippi or a slow swing on a front porch. I had to stop midway and pick up a Nelson DeMille book just to make sure my heart was still pumping. After finishing that book in a quick two days, I returned to THE LOST ONES. Quinn is soft hearted. He tries to help another friend, Boomer, by offering him a job fixing the county vehicles. Boomer gets drunk and destructive most nights as a way to try to forget his army days and how he lost an arm. Quinn has a lot of family angst with back story about how he and his sister tried to run away from home, how his high school sweetheart got tired of waiting for him to return from the Army and married another guy. She is now pregnant but the attraction is still there. And then an FBI agent following the gun smuggling case gets close and personal with Quinn. Fans of the TV show, JUSTIFIED, will see an uncanny similarity in the characters and theme.

[maureen61_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A thoroughly enjoyable story of the deep south,Mexican drug cartels, a hometown sheriff and the continuing fallout from America's wars. Very well written storyline with credible dialogue, plot twists and unexpected outcomes. I will now go and find the author's other novels!

[ckgs_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Quinn Colson, former Army Ranger back from Afghanistan, and newly elected sheriff on Tibbehah County, doesn’t waste any time going up against a Mexican cartel running guns, a corrupt city father, Johnny Stagg, and an illegal adoption ring.Colson, young in years, nevertheless, is able to run a nine man department with many county miles to cover, while succeeding the previous sheriff who just happened to be Colson’s uncle. Colson, now living at his uncle’s old farmhouse with the dog Hondo, returns to his family and friends to start a new chapter in his life.Lillie Virgil, the only holdover from the previous regime of slackers and crooked deputies, steers him through the murky waters of county politics while watching his back as the chief deputy for Tibbehah County.When the doctor husband of Colson’s previous girlfriend stops by to give him a heads up on Janet Torres, a former daycare provider, who brought in a 3 year old child with too injuries to attribute from falling out of a shopping cart, Colson investigates. The farmhouse is deserted with thirteen empty cribs and many cages of sick and dying dogs. Torres, on the run, was operating a puppy mill and supposedly a daycare out of her home. At the same time, the ATF sends a representative to meet with Colson investigating Donnie Varner, discharged and also back from Afghanistan. Varner brought back guns he liberated from the U. S. Army hoping to sell to a Mexican cartel. Soon the two cases merge when Colson finds out Torres’s boyfriend has ties to the cartel. Second in the Quinn Colson series, we see plenty of action and eagerly wait for the next book featuring the former Army Ranger, now sheriff in the wilds of Tibbehah country, Mississippi.

[boobalack · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

After I read the first book in this series, The Ranger, I had hoped this one would be as good. It did not disappoint. Quinn Colson is back in his hometown of Jerico, Mississippi, and is now the sheriff, after having left the US Army as a Ranger.Still on hand are his tomboy deputy, Lillie; his friend, Boom, who lost an arm in the service; his sister, Caddy, who has a habit of leaving her son with her mother and leaving for long periods of time; and Donnie Varner, along with several more of his friends and acquaintances. Added to the mix this go ‘round is an FBI Agent, Dinah, and a number of unsavory characters.It seems that Quinn and Lillie care a little more for each other than either one of them is willing to admit. Lillie becomes jealous of Dinah, when Dinah makes a play for Quinn. Quinn’s highschool sweetheart is now married to a doctor and is pregnant. She and Quinn still have feelings for each other, though they try to hide it. Her husband treats an abused child and informs Quinn. An investigation leads to a child trafficking operation. Once again, the author’s descriptive ability is excellent.In another plot line, Donnie, the owner of a legal gun range and gun sales establishment becomes involved in illegal gun running. He falls in love with a Mexican woman, Luz, and she protects him from the head honcho in the cartel. Through a twist of fate, Donnie sees the people who are selling children and reports them. This book is very well written and has a plot twist that you’d never suspect. Very interesting. I hope there’s another “Quinn Colson” book, as I want him and Lillie to realize that they love each other.

[tomray_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Definitely another winner.I read the first Quinn Colson and was lucky enough to get this as a early reviewer. Ace is also the new Spencer taking Robert Parkers place because of his untimely death.I read his first Spencer and it was also very good.I plan to read some of his older books as I travel the country this summer.I'm looking foward to the next Quinn Colson book.

[groundedforlife · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second in a series and not having read the first book introducing us to the character of Quinn Colson I thought I was hoping that this book would stand on it's own and I wouldn't feel left out not knowing what was going on with the characters. It did and I now want to go back and read the first book just to enjoy another story by Ace Atkins.I really enjoy books that are based in the South with a couple of my favorite Authors being Greg Iles and Karin Slaughter and was hoping that I would enjoy the book but never thought it would live up to the expectations of Iles and Slaughter. It did and it caught me off guard. I read through this very captivating book in just two days. Interesting characters that grabbed my attention from the start and held my interest all the way to the exciting finish. Characters both good and bad that you find yourself wanting things to somehow work out for them. And the setting of the book if your familiar with the Delta section of the South was as richly written about as well almost becoming a pivotal character in the story itself.I look forward to more in this series from Ace Atkins.

[cdhtenn2k10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second in a series featuring Quinn Colson, a former Army Ranger and now small town sheriff. There is a lot to like in this book. The characterization is excellent, the dialog is natural and witty, and the action is cleanly portrayed. Atkins does a very nice job of capturing the south, especially a part of the deep south with its particular set of problems, such as poverty, drugs, and the criminal aftermath that disasters like Katrina create.Atkins keeps the novel moving at an engaging pace, even when focussing on the bad guys. Sometimes novels slow down when the focus shifts away from the main characters, but this isn't the case here. The bad guys are every bit as interesting and engaging as the main characters.Also, Atkins isn't afraid to change the dynamics of the main characters. We see real growth and change, and learn about the main character's history which adds nicely to the development of both Quinn Colson and his sister, Caddy.Atkins has created an interesting new series and populated it with interesting, living characters. His writing is tight, and compels the reader to the very end.