Blood Rivalry: A Southern Novel of Power, Deceit, and Rebirth

"...a fast-paced, beautifully sophisticated political and family thriller. Very highly recommended." -Readers' Favorite

"...a compelling Southern saga that masterfully weaves together themes of power, family legacy, and the pursuit of redemption.... a must-read for fans of Southern Gothic and intricate legal dramas." -Seattle Book Review

"Attaway's command of character and finely evoked milieu over eras...fascinates and convinces, keeping the pages turning as this character-driven political thriller builds toward an urgent and satisfying confrontation." -BookLife

"Fans of legal thrillers with as much bite as Blood Rivalry will not want to put this book down. Attaway has delivered one of the best installments in this genre.... emotionally satisfying, yet morally unsettling, and that's what makes it so intriguing." -Reader Views, 5 Stars

Perfect for fans of Robert Bailey's Legacy of Lies, John Grisham's The Boys from Biloxi, Greg Iles' Natchez Burning trilogy, and James Lee Burke's A Private Cathedral.

Blood Rivalry, the third book in the Atkins Family Low Country Saga series, finds Walker and Eli Atkins, living in Charleston, South Carolina, fifteen years after the conclusion of Eli's Redemption. Eli, a celebrated chef, and Walker, a lawyer, are brothers, building families and careers, each affected by the gruesome murder twenty years ago of Eli's high school sweetheart. The hunt for the killer, in the public's eyes, cemented Eli and Walker in roles neither wanted-Eli as the savior and Walker in need of a savior-thus casting a chill over their relationships.

Walker sees a chance to play the hero when, through his representation of two clients, he takes on the Governor of South Carolina, Johnny Dunsmore, the eldest son of Colin Dunsmore, the patriarch of a politically powerful family. For fifty years, Colin Dunsmore carefully crafted an image for the family, intent on placing Johnny in the White House. But Walker uncovers a history of deceit and murder that defines the family, and as he pulls at strings, Colin Dunsmore's tapestry of lies begins to unravel.

Confronted with the Dunsmore's ruthlessness and the knowledge that they will stop at nothing to win, Walker turns to Eli and together they embark on a cross-country race with the Dunsmores to secure the secrets, that if revealed, would upend their empire.

Author: Paul Attaway
Publisher: Linksland Publishing
Published: 03/10/2026
Pages: 410
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.91d
ISBN: 9798899890833

About the Author
Attaway, Paul: - Paul and his wife, Lyn, live in Charleston, South Carolina. Paul retired from a thirty-year career in Phoenix, Arizona, where they raised three children together. When Paul isn't writing and working on his next book, he guides walking history tours around Charleston. Learn more about Paul, upcoming appearances, and his next novel at www.paulattaway.com.