Attaway continues his exploration of family, power, and consequence in the third entry in the Atkins Family Low Country Saga. Walker and Eli Atkins have spent years living with the fallout of a violent past that shaped both their family and their public identities. While Eli is celebrated as a hero, Walker remains defined by what others remembers his survival. When Walker, now a respected attorney, challenges the carefully protected power of South Carolina Governor Johnny Dunsmore, long-buried crimes begin to surface.
Charleston functions as an active force within the story rather than a simple setting. Its preserved charm, insulated elites, and quiet networks of loyalty underscore the divide between polished appearances and ethical compromise. Legal offices, private clubs, backcountry paths, and neglected stretches of water form a layered landscape where privilege and power quietly intersect.
At the center is the uneasy connection between Walker and Eli, brothers shaped in opposite ways by the same formative violence. One is driven by caution, the other by a need to finally be seen. Their dynamic gives the novel its emotional weight. While the shifting timeline can interrupt narrative momentum, Attaway’s grasp of atmosphere and personality never wavers. In the end, this is a sharp, character-focused reflection on inheritance, authority, and what it costs to challenge systems designed to endure. Strongly recommended for fans of the genre.
***
BookView Review 
Leave a comment