Paul Attaway's
Debut Novel
About The Book
Step back in time a bit. The year is 1973, and by all appearances, Monty Atkins has a wonderful life. Along with his wife, Rose, the girl of his dreams he met in college, they are raising two boys, Eli and Walker. Humble but competitive, Monty is slowly but steadily building a profitable and well-respected law practice in beautiful Charleston, SC. His hard work, steeped in a deeply ingrained Protestant work ethic, is paying dividends in the form of a second home on Kiawah Island and membership in the exclusive Wappoo Country Club.
Rose, an aspiring socialite, chairs committees and works tirelessly for her church and the school their boys attend.
So, yes, Monty Atkins has a wonderful life, until he doesn’t. In a flash, everything changes when a brutal murder and a shocking betrayal turns their world upside down. Brewing beneath the surface lurks a conspiracy of lies about who they are and what they believe.
The wellspring of deception and ensuing dysfunction that threatens to destroy all they have built is Rose’s past, a past she can’t outrun.
In the hunt for the killer, Monty draws the ire of one of Charleston’s most prominent businessmen, who sets out to destroy him.
Monty now faces a multi-front battle, one to save his family, one to save his business and one to save his life.
So, yes, step back in time and immerse yourself in a taut, tension-filled thriller where the genteel veneer of life in the
South lived by those for whom Sunday Brunch at the Club is as holy as that morning’s church service is stripped away.
Monty's World
Monty is the protagonist in Blood in the Low Country. He’s a good man. Loves God and his wife and kids. But he also loves the Lowcountry, Charleston specifically, golf, baseball, college football and Shrimp ’n Grits.
The story takes place in the 1970s so Charleston today is a bit different than it was when Monty and Rose were raising their two boys, Eli and Walker.
A Sneak Peek...
CHAPTER 1
Kiawah Island, South Carolina; October 1977
The crisp morning sunlight pierced the amber mist that blanketed the horizon like a gentle, cotton shawl. Gone was the haze that accompanied the oppressive heat of a low country summer, replaced by the cool fragrance of damp salt air dancing off the marsh.
Walker, kneeling to retie his shoes, spied his father in the distance. Why did he have to come? Walker thought. He said he was going to play golf. But there he was, shaking hands with Eddie’s dad. Walker fed off his father’s approval, but it came at a steep price.
His father never hesitated to tell him he loved him, but it was always in the same breath in which he told him how proud he was of him. Were the two thoughts severable? Could he love him if he weren’t proud of him? If Walker didn’t perform? If he didn’t win? The pressure. The pressure to succeed weighed on every moment of every day, and the cost of losing far
surpassed the joy of winning.
And then there was Eli. Always, Eli. Eli was counting on him.
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Book Reviews
The Book Commentary
"For a debut novelist, Paul Attaway establishes himself as a great storyteller, crafting a tale that is a spellbinding thriller and a story with characters that readers will adore.”
The Prairies Book Review
“Set in Charleston, SC, in the 1970s, Attaway’s electrifying latest effortlessly incorporates themes of faith and redemption into a tale of revenge, murder, and betrayal to deliver a page-turning suspense thriller.”
Donovan’s Literary Services
“As Paul Attaway carries readers through the life-changing series of events that lead Monty to question everything he's ever done, a fine mystery unfolds that is steeped in Southern traditions and religious perceptions. The thriller thus hits hard, on many levels.”
Dr. Cassandra Hawkins, Mississippi Bookworm Diva
When reading Blood in the Low Country, I felt like I was experiencing the plot. Attaway made me forget my reality and transport me into the plot of the story. The twists and turns kept me engaged. At times, I was immersed in the text. The characters felt so real to me.
Chanticleer Book Reviews
The characters’ reactions to their situations as the plot moves forward is compelling and heartbreaking. In short, those who enjoy their Southern Mysteries with an intricate plot and highly relatable characters will line up for more. Blood in the Low Country is one mystery we highly recommend.
People are saying...
Paul Attaway’s riveting debut novel introduces readers to the genteel South of the mid-twentieth century and then rips off that façade to reveal a treacherous underbelly of greed, deceit, violence, and bigotry. Attaway’s gripping tale unfolds through richly drawn characters that will engage readers and keep them enthralled through one suspenseful chapter after another. This is a story that will stay with you long after you close the final page.
Jeff Andrews,
author of The Freedom Star and The Gandy Dancer
Aspiring southern socialite Rose Atkins adores her adolescent son Walker — but views older son Eli with contempt. Try as he may, good-hearted dad Monty can’t keep his family’s dysfunction from spiraling out of control. The result is an emotional psychological drama, a compelling murder plot, and enough twists and turns to keep us riveted.
David Aretha,
award-winning author and editor
Paul Attaway's novel, Blood in the Low Country, is nearly flawless. His smooth, crisp writing style, richly layered characters, and superbly constructed plot leave the reader breathless to the end. A masterpiece of modern writing.
Andrea Vanryken,
writer/contributor for Popsugar
Blood in the Low Country is an impressive novelistic debut. It’s a good ‘read’, a crime novel with a plot that propels you forward. Its characters are smartly drawn. Its themes are resonant, provoking. And there’s an authorial intelligence throughout that reminds you time and again that this will not be Paul Attaway’s one and only book. Not if we’re lucky.
Jay Boyer,
Professor Emeritus, Creative Writing Program, Arizona State University, Author and Playwright