Erika Robuck is an author that writes phenomenal books. The twists and turns throughout the story kept me on the edge of my seat wanting to see what was happening next. I love that this was an American Historical Fiction book, which is something I am trying to read more of.



I love that both main characters are strong women. They are on opposite sides of the law but they both have skills that keep them at the top of their game. They both work with their husbands, but there is no doubt who is in charge. I love that Marie, the rumrunner, let her husband believe he was the boss and how that played out in the story.



The history of rumrunning is new to me and I learned so much while losing myself in The Last Twelve Miles. Even the title of the book has history attached to it.

What an incredible novel! I truly enjoyed the dual character storyline (which I don't do on a regular basis) -- highly recommended! Erica Robuck has done it again!

Yes! Yes! Yes!
You have to strong gutsy woman and an era that I was born for…..yes please. This is the type of book that you never want to put it down.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I originally thought I would. That's because I'm not typically a fan of historical fiction, but this author did such a great job crafting this story that it completely sucked me in.
From the very first page I loved the characters, I love that our main characters are two very strong women. Both women couldn't be more opposite and are trying to outsmart each other the entire time.
I really enjoyed how the author gave us an inside look into their home life, I think that's one of the main things that really had me sympathizing with both sides and getting to know/like each of them.
The story line was explosive, exciting and fast paced. I never wanted to put this book down, because anytime I did I found myself wondering what would happen next.
The author did a great job of really pulling the reader into the book, while I was reading this I hardly payed attention to anything going on around me.
I loved the concept of rum running and was usually routing for them to make it. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more!
Thank you so much Netgalley & Sourcebooks for my gifted copy, I am leaving this review on my own.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for my complimentary eARC of The Last 12 Miles. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I devoured this book in a day. It highlights the lives of Elizebeth, a code breaker and Marie, a rum runner. An engaging game of cat and mouse begins on the first page. Set against the backdrop of Miami and Cuba during Prohibition, Marie is climbing the dangerous ladder of success of running run. Elizebeth is hard at work breaking “unbreakable” codes in Washington DC. You know an inevitable meeting is in the cards.

Told in dual POV, this is fast moving and never boring.
If you enjoy historical fiction, Lessons in Chemistry and Chanel Cleeton, you are going to want to read this one.

Another fantastic novel by Erika that has two strong and fierce women who are on opposite sides of the law. I never knew about rum running or about the 12 mile law off the coast.

This is a novel about two women protagonists. Elizebeth Friedman is a special agent in the Coast Guard and its best codebreaker. She works hard to be the best agent as well as a good wife and mother. Marie Waite is a smuggler. She works hard and often violently to become the best she can be in her profession, smuggling. She has trouble with relationships but does also try to be a good mother, if not wife, marrying several times. These two women are so similar but so different. Both women work hard at their respective occupations and to achieve their goals. They work against each other, one to stop smuggling, the other to keep working at it. While Elizabeth will manage to catch Marie, she will manage to escape and continue at her work. Elizabeth’s endeavors will cause Marie to remain a criminal. A good novel.

Two strong and adventurous women, one great historical story and the differences of the ways each woman lives her life. One a U.S. Coast Guard and one a rumrunner but how do their paths cross and what happens when they do? This is a book you will want to read. So interesting, intriguing and entertaining. I just couldn't put it down.

It is well researched and written and love the way each of these women are portrayed. This is a book you can really get stuck into and once you do you won't stop reading. It held my interest throughout and I like when a book does that. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

“I would think all rummies are the same to you.”
“Don’t be silly. Brilliant women are always intriguing, especially those who inhabit men’s worlds.”

I really enjoyed this story set during prohibition of two women, one a code breaker working with the coast guard to catch run runners, and the other being a run runner herself.

Aside from a few typos and an overused phrase (she didn’t realize she was holding her breath 😂), this was a fun story. I loved that both of the women in this cat and mouse story were multi dimensional. They were both experts at what they were doing, while also mothers and wives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Source Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Twelve Miles tells the story of two women on opposite sides of the 1920's Prohibition movement in Southern Florida. Both were working in a male dominated world trying to make a name for themselves. Elizabeth Smith Friedman was a real life crypto-analyst who worked for multiple government agencies during her career. SHe was able to break many coded war messages during both World Wars and Prohibition. Spanish Marie, on the flip side, worked with her husband to become one of the forefront female rum runners between the Bahamas, Cuba and Florida. Each woman wanted to make her mark in the history books. The 12 miles in the title refer to the water area around Florida able to be legally searched by the US Coast Guard for illegal liquor without cause.

Overall, Erika Robuck writes a wonderfully novel rich in historical facts and imaginative storytelling. Robuck's descriptions of Key West made me want to hop on a plane immediately to experience some of the bright colors and rich social scenes described in the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebook Publishing for the opportunity to read this novel.

I was actually disappointed that there was not more drama and excitement in this book. It was there, but told in a more flat way, in my opinion. I also did not love the two perspectives in this book, oddly enough I enjoyed the "bad guy" perspective significantly more than the "good guy" - despite being a rule follower in real life. I just felt that it was a more exciting read and a much better created character. This was based off of a true story, based during the Prohibition. Marie wants to become the "bahama queen" as a rumrunner. Elizabeth is a codebreaker for the feds trying to intercept the rumrunners. The story tells the story of Elizabeth's work to catch Marie. I truly loved the historical fiction aspect of this book - especially to very strong and powerful women. I just wanted a little more mystery and intrigue to keep me on my toes.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

Two women. Two sides of the law. Which one will win? Or, will either?

Erika Robuck brings readers a work of fiction inspired by real women and real events during a tumultuous and fascinating time in U.S. history. I recently learned about Elizebeth Smith Friedman while reading a historical fiction novel written by another author. When I heard about Robuck's book, which focuses on Friedman's work during Prohibition with the Coast Guard in Florida's coastal waters and the Caribbean, specifically matching wits with the notorious smuggler, Spanish Marie, I was all in.

There's plenty of high seas action and suspense in this novel but I love the amount of time Robuck also spends developing the characters, especially codebreaker Elizebeth and rumrunner Marie. The story is told from each of their perspectives which gives us unfettered insight into their thoughts, fears, and motivations, enabling the reader to really get to know each of them. There are so many layers to these strong, determined women, each a mother, wife, and brilliant strategist making a name for herself in a man's world, albeit in very different ways, while also trying to balance that with being a good mother and supportive partner.

You would think it would be clear who is in the right and who is in the wrong, and in some cases it is, but all is not black and white. I had no trouble being invested in Elizebeth's character as well as those who worked with her in their battle against the rumrunners. But there are also characters with shades of gray within both the Coast Guard and the smuggling community. Marie, in particular, is someone who is difficult to put in one box. There are many layers to this woman that may have readers on the fence about what they want to happen to her. Kudos to an author who can fashion such a complex character who even though she does bad things is still able to garner sympathy and support. I was on pins and needles to the very end, waiting to discover how things would play out with Elizebeth and Marie while still not sure how I wanted them to play out (Be sure to read the author's notes at the end of the book to discover what happened to the real Marie).

Sense of time and place is also an important facet of this book and something Robuck does very well. She nails the descriptions of Miami, the Keys, and Cuba, drawing readers into a lush, tropical paradise, sultry and beautiful on the surface while only slightly hiding its corrupt underbelly. Prohibition was a unique time in the country's history and its many layers are captured well in this story.

4.5 stars
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review

During the Prohibition era two women on opposite sides of the law match wills.

In the mid 1920’s, the US Coast Guard is working to keep smugglers from bringing alcohol into the country in defiance of the 18th Amendment. One of their most powerful weapons is a woman named Elizebeth Smith Friedman who, along with her equally brilliant husband William, developed cryptanalysis….simply put, she is extraordinarily proficient at breaking codes. When she is tasked with breaking those used by the rumrunners who operate out of Florida, she is able to provide the Coast Guard with the clues needed to catch those attempting to illicitly bring alcohol from the Bahamas and Cuba into the US. For the rumrunners, the most treacherous part of their operation is when their boats are within 12 miles of the US coast, because that is the area in which the Coast Guard has legal authority to board and search vessels which they suspect are engaging in unlawful behavior. There are plenty of individuals and gangs who are engaged in this illegal but highly profitable enterprise, and many otherwise law-abiding citizens are more on the side of the rumrunners than of the authorities. Marie Waite was one of the rumrunners, a beautiful young woman from an impoverished background who alongside her husband Charlie went from being low-level employees of Red Shannon, “The King of Rumrunners”, to establishing their own far-reaching enterprise, looking to make enough money to fund a legitimate enterprise and leave the world of crime behind them. While Marie focuses her energy on manipulating the people around her to become a powerful force, Elizebeth is obsessed with bringing Marie and her crew to justice.
Based on the lives of two real women, The Last Twelve Miles is a fast paced tale of the cat-and-mouse game that played out during this colorful chapter of US history. The reader meets two fascinating characters, first the married (and pregnant) Elizebeth who is balancing her relationship with William, being a good mother to her young daughter Barbara, and using her unique skills to decipher patterns and break codes, all while continually having to prove her value to the male-dominated groups with whom she works. The other is the more flamboyant Marie, also married and a mother, but it is her ambitions and ruthlessness which fuel her rise from a hardscrabble existence to the heights of Floridian society, using her beauty and her theatrical background to hone her desired image. With two such formidable women working to best one another, this is an adventurous tale for readers of Paula McLain, Susan Elia MacNeal and Allison Pataki, and for anyone fascinated by this era in US history. I found it hard not to root for both women, and was not sure who would prevail in the end. Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me early access to this gripping read,

Another captivating book by Erika Robuck! This book has so much adventure and intrigue in it that you're pulled in right away. Elizebeth is a code breaker during prohibition for the Coast Guard and her job is to track rum runners and intercept them. Her nemesis is Spanish Marie, a whip smart rum runner who is constantly avoiding the Coast Guard with great success. Elizebeth becomes obsessed with finding and catching Marie. This book is a big game of cat and mouse between the two headstrong women. I really enjoyed the two main characters as well as a number of the minor characters.
*4.5 stars*

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for the ARC of this novel.

"The Last Twelve Miles" by Erika Robuck is a captivating historical fiction that plunges readers into a riveting cat-and-mouse game between two formidable women amidst the tumult of prohibition-era America.

"What is good? What is bad?
She was"

Elizebeth Friedman, alongside her husband, pioneers cryptanalysis during WWII, utilizing her skills to combat illegal alcohol trade. Robuck skillfully portrays the complexities of her character as she navigates the roles of motherhood, wife, and codebreaker, all while supporting a husband plagued by nervous breakdowns.

On the flip side, Maria Waite emerges as a cunning rum runner, orchestrating illicit alcohol runs while managing her familial duties. Robuck paints a vivid picture of Maria's dual existence as a mother and a woman embroiled in dangerous schemes.

The cat-and-mouse game between Elizebeth and Maria is electrifying, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Robuck's meticulous research shines through, bringing these historical figures to life with authenticity and depth.

With a satisfying conclusion and an intriguing Author's note, "The Last Twelve Miles" leaves me yearning for a sequel. Robuck's ability to breathe life into her characters and vividly evoke the era they inhabit is a testament to her storytelling prowess. A must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone who enjoys a tale of intrigue and suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

I love it when a historical fiction book sends me down the research rabbit hole and I end up learning more about some interesting individuals. The Last Twelve Miles introduces us to not one but two interesting women for two very different reasons. Elizebeth Friedman is a code breaker and works for the government helping the coastguard combat prohibition and the rum running industry in Florida. Marie Waite is a self made and tenacious woman taking the rum running industry by storm dubbed Spanish Marie. Interestingly, both women are mothers struggling with different aspects of their lives while also striving to leave a legacy behind. Elizebeth is determined to catch Marie and Marie is determined to get away; their strategic game of cat and mouse creates an exciting read about two women in two very different male dominated environments.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learned so much from it. I was in awe of Elizebeth and intrigued by Marie- both are two very different women and equally impressive in their own regard. A must for historical fiction fans!

Thank you @bookmarked and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback

The Last Twelve Miles is the story of two women who play important roles in the Prohibition Rum War in the 1920's. Elizabeth is a wife, mother, and a codebreaker. Codebreaking is a new weapon to crack codes and track down smugglers. On the other side of the war is Marie who is in the rum running business to help her family. These women are at odds but they also have some things in common.

The story alternates between their perspectives. Although this book is about codebreaking and rumrunning it's just as much about their personal lives. I feel not enough attention is given to the codebreaking and some opportunities are missed.

The book takes a while to get into. The subject matter is interesting but I would have enjoyed it more if it was presented differently.

This book was a DNF for me. Altough the story felt like it had potential, I had a hard time getting into it. The characters seem interesting but again it didn’t quite grab me.

In The Last Twelve Miles that goes on sale today, Erika Robuck begins with the true story of two women on opposite sides of the Prohibition Rum Wars in the early twentieth century and weaves a compelling novel around them. The “Bahama Queen,” Cleo Lythogoe, announces her rumrunner retirement with Marie Waite chomping at the bit to take her place and make her own name at the top of the heap. On the opposite side of the prohibition wars, Elizebeth Smith Friedman masterminds a codebreaking operation to help the Coast Guard put a stop to the illegal activity.

Chapters rotate between Marie and Elizebeth. The two women have much in common including their family roles as wives and mothers and their struggle to be taken seriously as women in a man’s world. Differences come in their relationships and interactions with their families. In one chapter, tension comes as Marie builds ways to hide her alcohol business, a fleet of vessels, and signal codes for her partners in crime. In the next chapter, Elizebeth works on breaking the codes in time for law enforcement partners in the Coast Guard to intercept the illegal shipments. The law enforcers are not helped by the fact that public opinion is often on the side of the bootleggers.

Ultimately, the challenge becomes personal between the two women. I found the suspense kept me reading, no more able to leave Marie at the end of her chapter than Elizebeth at the end of hers. There is an author’s note at the end giving explanations for a few liberties she has taken with reality, the completion of the story for both women, and a bibliography for further reading if the topic intrigues you, which it may.

Set in the midst of Prohibition era, THE LAST TWELVE MILES by Erika Robuck is wonderfully well-wrought, high-stakes breathtaking story featuring a criminal mastermind rum runner Marie striving to build her enterprise and save her family facing down intelligent, talented Elizebeth, a code breaker intent on bringing criminals to justice while taking care of her own family. I deeply enjoyed the writing and the story of these two powerful women intent upon succeeding against all odds. Robuck's story is as satisfying and deeply engaging as all her earlier stories -- a genuine pleasure. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.