I don’t think there’s been a Sandra Brown book I didn’t like. I have read everything by the author and just can’t get enough.

Sandra was my first adult favorite author. She is still at the top of my favorite list.

Blind Tiger was a good story with strong characters. Some you will love and others not so much.

A must read for sure.

Set in Texas in the 1920’s at the start of prohibition the book profiles the greed and corruption of the small Texas town. The length of the book, 502 pages, might be a turn off for some but it is definitely one worth reading. Sandra Brown keeps you intrigued with a bevy of great characters along with an interesting plot and the pages fly by.

What is a blind tiger? By reading Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown, I learned that the term blind tiger is another name for a speakeasy, coined during Prohibition. Brown has written a page-turning story of hardscrabble people just trying to survive. If that means making and selling moonshine during Prohibition, then so be it.
Laurel Plummer, now a mother, and her husband, a WWI vet, return to her husband’s home in Foley, TX. This move is made without input from Laurel. Derby Plummer, Laurel’s husband, tells Laurel she will “thank me later” for bringing her to Foley after they arrive at his father’s rundown shack. Soon afterwards, Derby puts a gun “beneath his chin and pulls the trigger.” Laurel is standing in front of Derby as he pulls the trigger. What a devastating blow to see her husband die before her. Now, what?

Fortunately, Irv Plummer, Derby’s father, is willing to take Laurel and baby Pearl into his ramshackle home. He becomes like a father to Laurel, and he is delighted with baby Pearl, his granddaughter. Laurel and Irv fall into a routine in the home. Laurel tidies up the place and sets up a sheet to afford herself some privacy.
Laurel is hanging sheets on the line when a stranger wanders onto the remote property. Thatcher Hutton, a WWI vet himself, has just jumped off a moving train a few miles from the Plummer home. He asks Laurel for a drink of water and directions to the nearest town. His first and lasting impression of Laurel is that she is a woman to be reckoned with. Readers naturally expect there will be additional meetings between the two, but what will unfold exactly?

The day Thatcher Hutton arrives in the town of Foley, the doctor’s wife goes missing. As the latest stranger in town, Hutton is accused of abducting her. Only, what motive would he have for abducting this stranger, especially one who had been kind to him and given him freshly made shortbread from her kitchen?
This mystery of a missing woman is only one of the occurrences in Foley that warrants investigation. Readers will quickly realize other issues include prostitution, moonshine making and selling, and other nefarious happenings. As I read, I wanted very much to know what happened to the doctor’s wife. Then Laurel and Irv get mixed up in making and selling moonshine so my fears increase for their safety.

The sheriff quickly determines that Thatcher Hutton has had nothing to do with the doctor’s wife’s disappearance. In fact, the sheriff wishes to deputize Hutton because the sheriff recognizes Hutton’s innate ability to read people and also Hutton’s strength of character. Just because the sheriff feels Hutton is innocent, that doesn’t mean suspicion has disappeared.

Too, Thatcher and Laurel continue to cross paths in various ways. Each time they see one another, Thatcher becomes more intrigued with this strong-willed, attractive woman. Clearly, Laurel is attracted to Thatcher as well, but she keeps her emotions tightly under control.

As the story unfolds, more serious crimes occur. Who is behind these crimes and why? Are so-called solid citizens to blame? If so, who is the mastermind? Blind Tiger provides readers with true villains and true heroes; one simply has to read to the end to know which is which.

My book club discussed Blind Tiger in our first return to in-person meetings. And quite the discussion we had too. There is plenty of fuel for discussion: the characters themselves, Prohibition, the law, poverty, mistreatment of women, and redemption along with a bit of romance to offset the crimes.

Rich with historical detail, Blind Tiger is a story woven together by many threads: the widow of a troubled WWI veteran has no choice but to remain living with her father-in-law after the death of her newborn. The little town in which she finds herself seems rife with scandal: a local doctor's wife has gone missing, another drifting WWI soldier stands accused, and there are moonshine stills dotting the countryside.

Although that cowboy-cum-soldier, Thatcher Hutton, clears his name, his place is set at the table: the sheriff has taken a liking to him personally and has a profound appreciation for Thatcher's many skills. He takes Thatcher under his wing while the search for the doctor's wife continues--and as a moonshiners' war is baking.

Laurel Plummer has finally landed herself a decent house and enjoys the company of her father-in-law, even if he is a bit odd. When she discovers by accident that he's moonshining himself, Laurel's initial reaction is horror. This is closely followed by the desire to catch up on her bills, and she finds herself managing--and growing--the business. But once Laurel becomes a problem for the locals, her concerns about the law lessen as her fears about her and Erv's lives bloom exponentially.

Can she trust Thatcher--a law man--to help her? He's one of the few people with whom she's familiar, and his interest in her is clear. But Laurel's been down a long, hard road, and trust doesn't come easily, especially since she now has several others under her care.

I loved the historical aspects of this story, the richness of the characters. It did drag a bit in the (lengthy) introduction, but overall it had a hell of a Prohibition-era Texas ambience that kept your nose in the novel. And, though I liked both Laurel and Thatcher, their romance never seemed all that compelling. Actually, Laurel's father-in-law, Erv, was my favorite character. However, the entire cast of characters is colorful and very individualistic; and even if the length of the book is a bit daunting, it's well worth it to step out of Sandra Brown's usual arena and into something new, dark, and interesting.

I loved this book! I mean, I've loved many Sandra Brown books but this one was so different from her usual romantic suspense that I often forgot it was her. That's not good or bad... I just applaud her for stepping into the roaring 20s and doing something a bit out of pattern for her. If you love speakeasies, flappers, and the illegal businesses of the prohibition era, this book is right up your alley. It has a complicated and well-laid-out plot with two characters I loved.

Laurel is a smart, brave widow, and I'd say a woman with grit who does what needs to be done to protect and support her daughter (as women do). Then there's Thatcher, a former soldier who hitched a ride across country on freight trains only to find himself in a town where he just needs to make money to get home. The two have chemistry that is slow and believable but also there's so much going on that you don't feel forced to focus on their romance.

Altough this book as all the Brown hallmarks and her smooth writing, I definitely felt it was fresh and new and I loved it. I think new readers may find out why she's so popular and old ones like me gained a new spark for her writing.

And, this author, yet again, got me with the "gotcha" moment in this book.

It's a different setting, which I loved as there aren't a lot of books set in the 20s...I loved Thatcher and Laurel, the supporting characters were interesting...it was overall a fun read.

As always with this author, I recommend the title.

This story takes place in the 1920s during the Prohibition period. Thatcher Hutton is a war-weary soldier returning home to his cowboy life. In order to avoid trouble he jumps from a moving freight train and ends up in Foley, Texas. His first encounter when he arrives into town will make him suspect. When a local woman goes missing he is suspected of abducting her or worse. This town is occupied by a corrupt mayor, a crooked sheriff, a notorious madam and bootleggers and moonshiners and an intriguing widow with a steel will. Thatcher finds himself reluctantly working with the local sheriff even though he is very intrigued with the young widow Laurel.

Instead of a fresh start for Laurel Plummer she is faced with tragedy. Being left destitute leaves her with few choices. So she engages in the lucrative business of bootlegging and moon shining -- making her a competitive enemy to the good ole boys. When violence erupts Laurel finds herself in the middle of a moonshine war that will put her on opposite sides with Thatcher.

Regardless of what side Laurel finds herself on Thatcher is determined to keep her safe.

Sandra Brown never disappointed with anything she writes. I watched a clip of her introducing this book and I was super excited to get to read Thank you Net Gallery because she had stated that the bringing was the story of her grand father which is great I enjoying the book with all the characters that are both lovable to not so lovable. My hope as a lover of reading your enjoy this book as much as I have.

Laurel moves to a small Texas town with her returned army husband only to find moonshiners, trouble and more. ARC from NetGalley.

If I had to live during the prohibition, I'd be a bootlegger.

If I heard a campus was dry, I wouldn't even consider going there.

If there was no booze at a party, I'd bring my own roadie.

This may lead one to think I have a problem with alcohol.

This is not true.

I have a problem with people, which leads me to alcohol.

Growing up, Sandra Brown was one of my favorite authors. Per @goodreads, this is my 10th Sandra Brown book.

I've always loved the mystery element in Brown's novels and have found her to be a great storyteller.

This book takes place in the 1920's during the prohibition and is full of cowboys, bootleggers, lawmen, murder, mayhem and an old time speakeasy.

Little bit of mystery, little bit of romance.

However, at 500 pages this book was just too long for me. I found myself rushing through the pages and not in a good way.

I liked the characters, but never did get a good old mystery out of this one.

Thank you @netgalley for the eARC! I'll probably still buy all of Sandra Brown's books, but this one wasn't my favorite.

Overall, the book was good, just a bit slow. I am glad I went with the audiobook over physically reading it. Some storylines are better as an audio. The narrator did an excellent job with the characters, I would love to listen to something else he has read.

I liked the setting of this book. It still had the trademark twists and turns that the author is known for but the time period lent itself well to a story. I appreciated the timeline of this book. Normally the author packs everything into a matter of days but the events in this book built to such a boiling point. There wasn't a big gotcha moment at the end because it was pretty obvious who had done what but it was an engrossing story throughout.

I love Sandra Brown's books and am always eager to read one. This one felt different than her other reads with the main focus being bootlegging in the 1920s. The romance felt like it took a backseat compared to other novels. That said, it was interesting, and some things at the end really surprised. It's not quite five stars for me because it did feel long at times.

As a long-time fan of Sandra Brown, I was eager to read this. It did not disappoint. It was a rollicking romp through the days of prohibition with a WWI soldier accused of a murder he didn’t commit. And a highly charged relationship with a straight-laced strong woman in Foley, TX. It was delightfully addictive 5-star read.

I was excited to get my hands on this historical fiction by this talented author. The Prohibition era was a book that appealed to me because this time period is not often written about. Although it was well researched, it seemed to move along slowly and was too long. It would probably make a great movie or mini-series. Sorry to say I abandoned it at 60% #BlindTiger #NetGalley

Blind Tiger was full of historical madness and fun... Prohibition bootleggers, moonshiners, madams, and dirty lawmen, there is a story for everyone in this book.

I am typically not a Sandra Brown reader but I was totally into this book. Well written and researched. I enjoyed the story of Laurel and her family.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced ebook copy.

Blind Tiger creates an intricate tale involving loss, reinvention, murder, mayhem, lies, corruption, whore houses, grimy speakeasies and rivalries among moonshiners and bootleggers in wild cat country in Texas in 1920. The book was definitely slow growing in parts, which caused me to skim through some chapters. I’ve read quite a few of Sandra Brown’s novels and typically find them enjoyable. To me, Blind Tiger seemed a bit flat with secondary characters far more interesting and likable than the protagonists. My favorites: Irv, Ernie & Corinne. The book was also peopled with a few cardboard stereotypes. But, a nice way to spend a leisurely Sunday.

I have been reading and enjoying Sandra Brown books for many years now. And over the years I come to expect a certain story. Her novels are always entertaining, have great romantic suspense, and a good amount of sexual tension between the couples.

But when I picked up BLIND TIGER I didn’t realize that this book would be vastly different to what I come to expect form this author. Different but GOOD!!! BLIND TIGER is set in the past. The roaring 20s. A time when making moonshine was a dangerous way of making a living.

Laurel, young but already going through one life lesson after another, was such a strong women, that became more obvious with each chapter. She was feisty, smart and brave. And didn’t hesitate to do what needed to be done in a very resolute and capable way.

Thatcher hitchhiked his way through the US on trains and had to literally jump off to safe his skin. That alone was already such a great start to the book. Right after he jumped off, he made his way to Laurel’s ranch and from the very first moment he and Laurel met, there was something in the air.

Thatcher was someone who handled everything in a very analytical way. He was calm under pressure, which helped him more than one time. He was assertive when needed. Always supportive and understanding, and never overbearing. Especially when it came to Laurel. Their relationship was a semi-slow burn, nicely paced, especially in regards to the circumstances and time period. Their connection felt authentic and real.

AND MAYBE BECAUSE I DIDN’T EXPECT THIS KIND OF STORY, I ENJOYED IT EVEN MORE SO.

In retrospect, what I loved the most about this book was that the author decided to write something completely different from her usual genre. Sometimes authors get into a rut, and books start to sound the same. They become repetitive along the line of cookie cutter stories. But with this novel the author changed it up. Also the book was really well researched, and thanks to the research the novel was rich in detail and felt very authentic to the time period. The tension because of the territory wars between the different moonshine producers and the ruthlessness that always an issues when it comes to money making kept me flipping pages. Then there were the speakeasies, the hidden bars, which were a well kept secret because of the prohibition at that time and the people who risked their lives by making a living brewing illegally in hidden camps.

All of it made for a fascinating story.

All in all, I had a fabulous time reading BLIND TIGER!!! And would love to read more stories like this in the future.

This book is set in the 1920's during Prohibiton. Blind Tiger is another word for Speakeasy. A speakeasy is a place where alcohol beverages are sold illegally. A place of business would have a backroom that only certain people would know about. Reading about all this I did learn a few things.
Thatcher Hutton is a war soldier and on his way home he stows away on a train and this is where his life becomes complicated.
Laurel Plummer is married to a man who was in the war and came home a different person. He uproots her and their baby to go live with his dad, who didn't even know if his son was alive or dead.
The town in Texas is full of a lot of criminals. A corrupt mayor, a crooked sheriff, a cathouse, and moonshiners, which makes this full of adventure.
I loved the sheriff, even though he is crooked. He doesn't want to be and we learn more about him throughout the book.
Laurel and her father in law made me chuckle a few times and the interaction between them was of a great relationship.
Thank you to Grand Central and NetGalley for the ARC to review.

Wow!! The Blind tiger was absolutely a stunning book to read! I mean really murder, lust, moonshine, greed, romance and Sandra Brown what more can you ask for? We read this as a group and that was a wonderful experience but even reading this book without a group makes for a great read! I can't think of any other historical fiction books by Sandra Brown, but man did she hit the nail on the head! If you like Sandra Brown's books then you are going to absolutely love this one! It has her signature touch suspense and romance adding that with the historical fiction and you have a absolute must read! Thank you Galley match and Grand Central Publishing for allowing us to read Blind Tiger!