Don’t Let the Devil Ride, the new stand-alone thriller by Ace Atkins, takes its name from an old tune with a Memphis beat — a beat that pounds through this sprawling story of intrigue, betrayal, and greed. Atkins stays busy from his Oxford, Mississippi, base: The former Auburn football player and Florida crime reporter has written 11 books in his Quinn Colson series, ten in the iconic Spenser series (after the death of Robert B. Parker), four true crime historical novels, and several earlier books. Yet this novel may be his most ambitious.
Addison McKellar’s wealthy husband has gone missing from their stately Memphis home, and with the help of private eye Porter Hayes, a Black Vietnam veteran and former Memphis police officer, she soon learns that her husband’s life was a lie. Dangerous people, both at home and abroad, are searching the world for him. Meanwhile, the murder of a shady Memphis antiques dealer creates opportunity for a host of criminals with surprising connections to Addison’s husband. Atkins answered questions from Chapter 16 by email.
Chapter 16: Memphis is so richly portrayed in this novel that it nearly becomes a major character. What does the city mean to you? How did you select so many of its details?
Ace Atkins: When you live in north Mississippi, Memphis is the unofficial capital and where you spend a ton of time. I’ve been writing about Memphis since my very first novel, Crossroad Blues, and have always found it to be the cultural epicenter of America. Blues, soul, rock ‘n’ roll, Elvis Presley, Al Green. Great barbecue and soul food. I love the city for all the good, the bad, and the ugly. Its grit and rich history make this place unique.
Chapter 16: The story appears to take place about 15 years ago. Why this time period?
Atkins: For this novel to work, I wanted it set during desperate times for many during the recession. I also wanted to use Porter Hayes as a major player. I’ve been forming this character in my mind and wanting to tell his story for years, but since he’s a Vietnam vet, that placed some constraints on our timeline. He still has to be able to kick some butt, so it just made sense to set the story in 2010.
Chapter 16: The title is a classic gospel tune (which I happened to hear on local WEVL when I drove through Memphis last month). How important is the Memphis sound to the novel?
Atkins: Great question! The Memphis sound is everything! All I had to do was pull up some classic music from Stax or Hi Records and I got right into the groove of this story. I had the great fortune to meet and hang out with the legendary producer Willie Mitchell sometime back. His deep charisma and intelligence are definitely represented in Porter Hayes.
Chapter 16: What’s the source for Joanna Grayson, the long-ago Elvis co-star?
Atkins: Over the years, you see so many of Elvis’ costars showing up at Graceland for book signings and meet and greets. Some have even relocated to Memphis as their full-time jobs. Joanna isn’t based on just one leading lady but more than a few. I find them both fascinating and tragic; that short time working with Elvis on the set defining their entire lives. Joanna is kind of a mess but also so much fun.
Chapter 16: There are multiple plotlines and a large cast. Did you set out to create such a big book?
Atkins: Absolutely! The whole concept of this novel was a sprawling thriller set in Memphis but with connections across the globe. It was important to me to show all the many different facets of the city from multiple points of view. From Addison McKellar’s wealthy white Memphis to Porter Hayes and the strong Black community and all the way to the hustlers who work the Elvis trade along EP Boulevard like Joanna.
Chapter 16: Did you have any concerns when creating the novel’s detective — and really the heart of the story — as an elderly Black man?
Atkins: Not at all! Porter Hayes came first and then I built a story around him. And I don’t think he’d like you calling him “elderly.” LOL. Mr. Hayes is a true hero of Memphis and, like the city, is effortlessly cool and tough. He’s been around long enough to know all the secrets and connections to the long past. And as far as him being Black, that’s representative of the city. Memphis is a Black city and so should be its hero.
Chapter 16: With a city so rich for modern noir, will we see Porter Hayes again?
Atkins: I definitely hope so. I have half of a Porter Hayes prequel already written and hope to finish it very soon. Memphis is a city with a lot of secrets, heartbreak, and so many great stories to tell. I can’t think of a better man to guide us through than the legendary Porter Hayes.
Michael Ray Taylor is the author of Hidden Nature and other books. He was recently awarded a fellowship in novel writing by the Arkansas Arts Council.
Tagged: 2024 Southern Festival of Books, Fiction, Q&A
