Bootleggers Daughter (edition 1992)

When I heard that Margaret Maron had passed away, I knew I needed to reread (in some cases read) her books again. I decided to start with Bootlegger's Daughter. I remembered it fondly, and how could I go wrong with a book that won the 1992 Agatha Award and the 1993 Anthony, Edgar, and Macavity awards for best novel.

Back in the 1990s, I loved the book because Deborah Knott, the main character, was about the same age as I was. I related to her problems, her thoughts, her career choices. Now I love the book because of the insights about the land and the people in the fictional Colleton County. I *know* those people, have lived in that area, and understand the ebb and flow of life. The mystery is a bonus.

The author does play fair with the reader in this book. You can put together clues and perhaps figure out the person who murdered in the past. You might figure out who is murdering people now -- the clues are there. But in some ways, this is a novel that happens to be a mystery.

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys well-crafted books. If you like mysteries, this should be on your "to read" list. So stop reading this review and start reading the book! ( )

investigating an old murder leads to two more, all caused by hiding homosexuality

I was not wildly impressed with this first book in this series despite the fact it won the Edgar and Anthony Awards for best novel. I listened to it because the author had recently died and online comments mentioned this series as being her best. I found the prime character, Deborah Knott, to be too good to be believed; she's smart, beautiful, unmarried but not without many suitors, good at fishing and other outdoor pursuits and able to juggle multiple calls on her time without ever wearing herself down. Not my cup of tea. ( )

It seems key to Attorney Deborah Knott's identity that when she gets fed up with the abuses of racist judges she chooses to run for the office rather than support the qualified black man who is already in the race. And if it weren't for the fallout of her investigation on behalf of the girl she once babysat she might have a better chance. None of the men who is interested in her can attach her feelings, though women don't seem to interest her. The rare southern novel without a chorus of heat and sweat. ( )

Thoroughly enjoyable, Deborah Knott is indeed the daughter of a (former) bootlegger and has six older brothers, so you bet, she's a tough one. Works in the 'family' law-firm (cousins) and has decided to run for a district judgeship when all hell breaks loose. Deborah's asked by a young woman for whom she used to babysit to look into, one more time, her mother's murder and reluctantly agrees. Every bit of the work is solid, characters, dialogue, setting and plot. The first three are what I like best in mysteries, so I was happy. I'll be continuing! **** ( )