The last twelve miles A novel

This Prohibition-era historical-fiction novel dives into the world of codebreaking and Key West rumrunners. It is centered around the true story of two strong women on opposite sides of the law. Codebreaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman is one of the foremost experts in the field of modern cryptanalysis and signals intelligence. Married with a daughter at home and a baby on the way, Elizebeth breaks barriers in DC. Local law-enforcement agencies are always surprised when they find out Special Agent Friedman is in fact a woman. Marie is trying to claw her way into the rumrunning business, the fast fortunes made in smuggling due to Prohibition being too lucrative to pass up. Cold and calculating, Marie has never had much of a conscience, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to make it big. Danger and intrigue will come to a head as Elizebeth and Marie play a deadly game of cat and mouse along the Florida coast. Fans of Kate Quinn, strong female protagonists, and history-based storytelling will enjoy this read.

Set against the backdrop of the Prohibition Rum War, Robuck's (Sisters of Night and Fog) latest historical novel is the riveting story of two determined women on opposite sides of the law. Elizebeth Smith Friedman is a crack Coast Guard cryptanalysis expert whose codebreaking prowess is the bane of rumrunners smuggling liquor into the U.S. from the Caribbean. Marie Waite is making her mark as a successful rumrunner and is a mere hair away from becoming the undisputed queen of smugglers. The two engage in a harrowing game of cat and mouse, circling the 12-mile Coast Guard-controlled perimeter the smugglers have to cross before reaching U.S. waters. Romy Nordlinger dynamically narrates the two women, bringing them to life with evocative characterizations. Listeners may even find themselves drawn to ambitious, cutthroat Marie, who is no caricature but a layered character with complex motivations. Historical fiction fans should enjoy the glamorous locales and will be carried away by the plot and fast-paced action. VERDICT Suspenseful historical fiction for those who enjoyed Heather Webb's Queens of London or Chanel Cleeton's The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba.--Scott DiMarco