"The Last Twelve Miles" by Erika Robuck is set in a fascinating historical period: the Prohibition era's Rum Wars. The novel ambitiously attempts to weave a tale of intellectual rivalry between two brilliant women—one a codebreaker for the Coast Guard, the other an aspiring rumrunner in the Bahamas. It's a unique angle on this tumultuous time in American history, promising a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse in a world where brains trump brawn.

The concept alone is what initially drew me to this book. The idea of two resourceful, ambitious women navigating and attempting to dominate in male-centric fields—federal intelligence and organized crime—is genuinely compelling. Add to that the glamorous yet dangerous settings of 1920s Washington D.C. and the sultry Florida Straits, and you have all the ingredients for a gripping historical thriller.

However, despite my enthusiasm for the premise, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the narrative. As someone with ADHD, I often need a book's pacing and character development to capture my attention quickly and hold it. Unfortunately, "The Last Twelve Miles" didn't quite manage this for me.

The story's pacing, especially in the beginning, felt slower than what I typically enjoy. While the author's attention to historical detail is commendable, providing a rich, authentic backdrop of the Prohibition era, it sometimes comes at the cost of narrative momentum. I found myself easily distracted, struggling to stay immersed in the world and invested in the characters' journeys.

This isn't to say the book lacks merit. The author has clearly done extensive research, painting a vivid picture of a time when illegal liquor created a booming smuggling economy, and everyday citizens openly defied the law. There's also an undeniable allure to the clash between a meticulous government codebreaker and a cunning, ambitious rumrunner. The potential for a tale driven by intellect, ambition, and rivalry is certainly there.

Yet, for readers like me who require more immediate character connection and brisker storytelling, "The Last Twelve Miles" might prove challenging. I didn't find myself deeply invested in the main characters early on, which made it harder to stay committed to their story. The narrative's pace didn't align well with my need for quick engagement and sustained interest.
That said, I'm still curious about how their conflict unfolds. The idea of these two masterminds trying to outwit each other in a high-stakes game is still appealing, and I may return to the book when I'm in a mindset better suited to its pacing. For now, though, I've had to set it aside.

While "The Last Twelve Miles" offers an innovative historical premise and richly detailed settings, its measured pace and gradual character development doesn't align well with my reading preferences. Readers who enjoy thoroughly historical fiction and don't mind a more measured narrative build-up may find much to appreciate here. However, those who, like me, need quicker pacing and immediate character engagement might find it a bit of a challenge.

Note: As a reader with ADHD, my experience is quite personal. Other readers, especially those who enjoy slower-burn historical fiction, may have a very different and more positive experience with this book.

The Last Twelve Miles is an interesting historical fiction read that is based on the true story of two women on the opposite sides of the law during Prohibition (1920s) in the USA. Elizebeth is a leading code breaker for the US Coast Guard and Marie is a rum runner and they are both strong, intelligent women who want to be the best at their respective crafts. The novel, told from both of their perspectives, is an intriguing cat and mouse game of one upmanship and a fascinating look at rum running and code breaking.

At one point in the novel, there is a line that says that “brilliant women are always intriguing, especially those who inhabit men’s worlds”. That is the case with both Marie and Elizebeth. They are interesting women who are similar in some ways and who are worthy adversaries. Both are likeable, even Marie, whose pursuit of being the top rum runner at whatever cost is driven by the poverty and neglect of her childhood. The author does a good job of showing both women’s vulnerabilities. I was rooting for both of them throughout the book.

The novel is well-written, the pacing is steady and even, and both female characters are well-developed and their respective chapters equally compelling. It was a nice change to read a historical fiction novel not set in WWII. Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this one.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you Sourcebooks for my #gifted ARC and thank you Libro.fm and Tantor Media for my #gifted ALC of The Last Twelve Miles!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐫𝐢𝐤𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐤
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐲 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

★★★★★

The Last Twelve Miles was an absolute delight! I went into this one completely blind and absolutely loved it! I have not read many books set during the Prohibition Era, and this one was so interesting to me. The amount of research that went into this book was so evident and I loved learning more at the end with the Author’s Note. Elizabeth and Marie were both such well-developed characters and I enjoyed my time reading about each of them. This book was so well done and I felt like it just went by so quickly because I could not put it down. This is one of those historic fiction reads that I will be recommending to everyone!

🎧I started with the physical book, but eventually switched to the physical book, narrated by Romy Nordlinger. I really enjoyed my time listening to Nordlinger and felt like she did a great job switching between the two main characters. She was dynamic and just a joy to listen to and I would highly recommend this one on audio if you are listening for a great historical fiction to get lost in!

🌴Dual POV
🌴Code Breaker vs. Rumrunner
🌴Strong Female Protagonists
🌴Set During the Prohibition Era
🌴Fast Paced

Posted on Goodreads on June 3, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around June 4, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on June 4, 2024
**-will post on designated date

This story is told in the alternating voices of two formidable women - Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Marie Waite. Elizebeth & her husband William were known as America's first cryptographic couple, and Elizebeth used cryptanalysis to break codes for the Coast Guard during the Prohibition Rum Wars . Her biggest target, and the one that she spent the most time playing a cat and mouse game with, was Marie. Both women were masterminds in their respective fields. Marie started out as just the wife of a rumrunner and mother of two little ones, but ambition and desire for wealth drove her to take over the operation and expand it into an empire.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was fascinating to read about two women who were such unlikely adversaries,, trying to outwit each other. Both of their stories were captivating, and even though Marie was on the wrong side of the law, you had to admire how she took over the business from her husband, and what she accomplished versus what he had accomplished. Elizebeth's skills were amazing, and all of her victories were impressive. If you are a fan of historical fiction, then you will definitely want to put this on the top of your TBR pile. You are going to love it!

If you’re looking for a non WWII historical fiction novel with not one but TWO strong female leads, look no further than Erika Robuck’s THE LAST TWELVE MILES. These ladies are smart and strong-willed and on opposite sides of the prohibition movement. Elizabeth Smith Friedman is a cryptanalyst who cracks codes to allow the US Government to catch alcohol smugglers and Marie ‘Spanish Marie’ Waite, who is a legendary rumrunner who desperately wants to get out of poverty, make a name for herself, and have enough money to support her family. The back and forth narrative between the two women let us into each of their lives. And, while their lives are completely different, they have a lot in common.

The characters are well written with distinct voices and each chapter had me going back and forth with who I was rooting for. I loved them both and if they’d been on the same side, they’d have been unstoppable. More is known about Elizebeth than Marie, but the author did a fabulous job telling her story and making it feel completely real. It’s well researched and I highly recommend it for anyone who is interested in this era, loves tenacious female protagonists, or just wants to get lost in a damn, good book.

Thanks to Sourcebooks for an advanced copy of The Last Twelve Miles by Erika Robuck. I've loved other books by Erika Robuck so I was excited to see she was writing about Elizebeth Smith Friedman, who is absolutely fascinating! I've read other historical fiction about her, and have some non-fiction on my TBR .

I LOVED that this was just focused on her time in the 1920s when she was working as a code breaker for the Coast Guard. The dual perspective of Elizebeth and Marie a rising smuggler trying to bring alcohol to south Florida. The juxtaposition of these two strong women trying out outsmart each other was fascinating.

The author's note at the beginning and end were both strong and part of the reason I love Erika Robuck's books so much! If you're into Historical fiction and want a fast paced book set between Washington DC and Florida with strong female characters you'll enjoy this book.

A fascinating look at a little-known piece of history. I haven't seen this time period covered too much in novels, ESPECIALLY from a woman's point of view. In it, we see two female adversaries, who have both made their own choices in life, and are both ahead of their time, face off in the famed era of prohibition, each working to outsmart the other in a game of cat and mouse. Alternating between moments of page turning tension and moments of deep character development, THE LAST TWELVE MILES is sure to please historical fiction fans who are looking for a new era to dig their teeth into!

Erika Robuck's latest historical fiction, THE LAST TWELVE MILES, is a masterpiece, from the captivating front cover to the meticulous research, glamour, intrigue, danger, exotic locales, and suspense.

Inspired by a true story, this gripping novel unfolds a dangerous, electrifying, high-stakes game of cat and mouse between two brilliant women on opposite sides of the law.

About ...

1920s Prohibition Era and the Rum War: Involving plenty of illegal booze, organized crime, greed, money, violence, rum-running, bootlegging, smuggling, danger, and desperation.

Special Agent Elizebeth Friedman is headquartered in Washington, D.C. She is one of the few women assigned to the Key West area, where smuggling is high. At 34 and pregnant (that she keeps a secret), she has her eye on the King of Rumrunners and then Marie Waite, known as 'Spanish Marie'—married with children.

What drives these women? Is it the thrill of the chase, the desire for adventure, or something deeper? Will they use their powers for good or evil, or will their paths blur in the gray areas of morality? Who will win the game?

Marie Waite is a real-life bootlegger. She facilitated a fleet of boats that moved illegal liquor between Miami, The Bahamas and Cuba. Named, Spanish Marie, she loved nothing better than being at the helm while bringing home the goods while escaping the Coast Guard. Marie deceives others with her false image.

Elizebeth Friedman, along with her husband, was a code breaker hired by the government to help bring down Marie. Told from the perspectives of Elizebeth and Marie. Are they both heroes?

From the glamorous world of D.C. Intelligence to the sultry shores of the Straits of Florida, there is non-stop action, glamour, and suspense.

My thoughts...

Erika Robuck's skill shines through in her creation of two fascinating women, set against the backdrop of the Prohibition Era. Elizebeth, the lone woman in her field, grapples with the pressures of a male-dominated profession, while Marie, born into poverty, yearns for wealth. Both women are complex, intriguing, and multi-faceted, navigating a world that often underestimates them, much like the modern world of today.

We also see the compelling differences in the relationships (Elizebeth and William) compared to (Marie and Charlie).

THE LAST TWELVE MILES is a delight with a colorful cast of characters. Rich in character, the author's third novel using women protagonists as foils for each other is electrifying and engrossing. Each woman has to balance and compartmentalize their personal and professional life.

Richly woven and riveting! As a South Floridian, I enjoy books set in my area and the Keys. With strong takeaways from good versus evil, for better or worse, walking the line between darkness and light is a balancing act, and addiction can be deadly. It is all about how we use those powers.

Recs...

Well done! I highly recommend it for fans of the author's war novels and Hemingway's Girl, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and those who enjoy well-researched, smartly written historical fiction and strong female protagonists. I enjoyed the Author's notes, references, reading group guide, and conversation with the Author.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for a gifted digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 4, 2024
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From Washington, D.C. to the beaches of Florida to the Bahamas and Cuba, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙏𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 tells of one woman’s mission to bring down a ruthless female rumrunner during the days of Prohibition.

Told in alternating perspectives by Elizebeth Friedman, a brilliant codebreaker, and Maria Waite, a rumrunner known as “Spanish Maria”, it is a story of “𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞, 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝, 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬.”

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙏𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 is unlike anything else I have read and I think it is historical fiction at its best. The title was perfect and I thought the story & the characters were fascinating - I could read more books about each of them.

I think 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙏𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚 𝙈𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙨 will be one of my favorite books this year. Now, excuse me while I go read all of this author’s backlist.

This was about two strong women. The chapters alternate back and forth telling the story. I found some parts a little more interesting than others. It’s another good book based on historical facts.

The Last Twelve Miles
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow this was a great book & story. I really enjoyed it. I wanted more & more so I couldn't put it down. It was very interesting and cool. I learned alot. Super Cool read! Thank you NetGalley!!

In books, you always want the good characters to win out. You simply have to wait things out and hope for the best since sometimes it's difficult to predict what will happen. There are two sides to this story: the honest criminals and the decent men. The conclusion is quite suspenseful.

Elizebeth frequently expressed gratitude for her wonderful existence, which included a devoted husband, two endearing kids, hired help, and a fulfilling career. She was employed by the US Coast Guard to look for rum runners who could be dangerous. Renowned for her ability to crack codes, she was a cryptanalyst during the Prohibition era, which began with a new law passed by Congress in the early 1920s. She excelled at job.

Marie was focused on one thing. She desired a large estate with all the bells and whistles. She saw it everything. Even if she were to amass all the gold in the world, I doubt it would enough. She was constantly seeking more. She rose from almost little to become a rum smuggler in the southern coastal regions because to her cunning and cleverness. She enjoyed the taste of money.

It felt like two women were playing chess. Who would triumph? The way Elizebeth and Marie were aching to be the ones grinning at the conclusion of the story was fascinating. Could Elizebeth's understanding of codes enable her to defeat Marie?

The significance of the final twelve miles, where the Coast Guard was on, was discussed in this interesting account. the tragic hunt for human trafficking and any boats carrying rum. Although Prohibition was intended to benefit society, it instead made organized crime more prevalent. I had another ending in mind for the tale. Isn't it the case for a lot of things in life?

I haven't read any of this author's books before. It won't be the final one. It is comparable to losing track of time when completely engrossed in a book. I suppose the impact of her other books is comparable.

Another good one by Robuck.

A portrayal of two women. One a rumrunner and the other a Code Breaker for the US Coast Guard. Both so courageous and smart. This is a well written book. One that will teach you a few things about the time period. Set during prohibition.

Two women. Married with children. Each outsmarting the other.
This book is unputdownable.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC. This is my own thoughts about this book.

Five big stars.

A historical fiction story based on two real life women both intelligent and determined and on opposite sides of the law. Set during Prohibition, Elizabeth Friedman is an expert code breaker working to catch smugglers for the government. Marie Waite is the mastermind behind a family business of rum running from the Bahamas and Cuba to Florida.

Smugglers' routes from these locations are mostly in international waters. It is only the last twelve miles from the United States that US laws are enforceable; hence the title. The narration alternates between the two women’s stories and covers the world of DC intelligence, Florida’s shores and the busy life of Havana. The author weaves an intriguing plot based on facts and folklore as the two women’s paths ultimately cross. Set during the 1920s amid the world of code breaking and crime bosses, The Last Twelve Miles is perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Beatriz Williams and Chanel Cleeton.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy.

"Best ideas come while sipping rum." (Paval Kazimir)

The Last Twelve Miles involves more than a sip. It's the 1920's during the Prohibition Era and the Rum War involves the lawabiding alongside the lawbreakers. The illegal booze industry depended on smuggling wrapped in a culture of violence and desperation. Just perfect elements for growing organized crime and to those who wished to get a pocketful of cash during small runs.

Special Agent Elizebeth Friedman is headquartered in Washington, D.C.. She's one of the very few women assigned to the Key West sector where smuggling is rampant. Thirsty people. Thirsty times. Elizebeth knows that her work on Prohibition will be limited as time passes. She's thirty-four and pregnant. She's kept the pregnant part under wraps.

Elizebeth has her eye on Red Shannon who is King of Rumrunners. She's not afraid to jump aboard speeding boats in pursuit. Rumrunning has always been a man's sport until Elizebeth gets wind of a new up and coming boss. in Key West.

Meet Marie Waite also known as Spanish Marie. Her husband, Charlie, is as weak as all ice and no rum. Marie mops up after him when he's too drunk to manage his runs. Marie begins to take on more and more responsibility even though she is married with children. It's the thrill and the adventure that grabs her.

The Last Twelve Miles is based on a true story with these female characters at opposite ends of the Rum War. Erika Robuck does a fine job of unfolding the casings wrapped around these women. It's an era where J. Edgar Hoover, director of the FBI, fired agents for simply being women. Both of these women are multi-faceted and complex. Elizebeth and her husband actually made great inroads into cryptoanalysis (codebreaking) while they worked for the government. And Marie developed skills to keep her business afloat in a man's world.

The Last Twelve Miles is an enticing read from an era where one simply had to accept the unacceptable. And if not, send a woman to get it done. Bravo, Erika Robuck, just bravo.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and to Erika Robuck for the opportunity.

I love a historical fiction novel about women who break convention. The Last Twelve Miles has an interesting premise, following two women on opposites sides of the law during prohibition. Elizebeth Friedman is a code breaker working with the Coast Guard working to capture rum smugglers. Marie Waite sees an opportunity to rise as rumrunner royalty, so she does. This game of cat and mouse between the women is based on real women and real situations.

This is told over a long span of time, and in dual POV alternating between the women. While I found both characters interesting, I thought Marie's side was more thrilling. She has a lot at stake and I think if we dove deeper just a bit, we could have had a very compelling story just focused on her. Elizebeth felt like a catalyst to tell Marie's story because I don't feel like we really dove into her side. The story focuses on her pull of being a working mother in the 1920's, which was definitely not the standard but her side felt incomplete. Her side felt more narrative non-fiction rather than historical fiction.

Overall, I enjoyed the story but didn't feel like we dove deep enough. There was some mention in the authors note about events outside the story that I thought could have really added to the storyline.

It's the era of Prohibition in the US, when liquor was illegal but the demand was still high. To meet it, smugglers (also known as rumrunners) snuck it into the country from offshore, under the watchful eye of the US Government. Some, like Marie Waite and her husband Charlie make a fortune from the risky trade, always one step ahead of the law with ever-evolving tricks and codes to communicate. Others, like Elizabeth Smith Friedman, work with the US Government to fight rumrunning and the systems it is built on, which (as they always have) exploit the most vulnerable. Elizebeth is a code cracker for the Coast Guard, and it was even odds whether she and the US Government would win in the end, or whether the illegal liquor/drug/human trafficking trade would.

I recently learned about Elizebeth and her husband William in another work of historical fiction, and I enjoyed this one much more. The Friedmans worked for the US Government in World War I, II, and the years between, to help win wars of all kinds. I hadn't heard about "Spanish Marie," though, and she was an amazing force to be reckoned with. Both women were powerful, skilled, and used to being the only woman in any room full of peers. I really appreciated the mental health rep (William has and is treated for crippling anxiety, and Marie might very well be a sociopath). Most of all, I found myself in the uncomfortable position of cheering for both Elizebeth and Marie in equal measure. Life isn't always black and white, and I appreciated the nuances of gray as the topic of Prohibition was handled. And I thoroughly enjoyed Robuck's way of creating a fictional narrative at once a glimpse into history and simultaneously eminently readable and engrossing.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I’ve read from Erika Robuck before, although she’s not one of my must-read authors. But The Last Twelve Miles caught my interest, and I’m always game to read more about the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition. I particularly liked how this book focused on two different interconnected sides: the rumrunners selling illicit alcohol and the cryptographers trying to crack down on the illicit trade of alcohol. And finding out that the characters involved were fictionalized versions of real people enhanced the appeal for me.
Elizabeth and Marie are both very vibrant, multifaceted women in an era where sexism was very much present. While they are on opposing sides and have little else in common, I love how the story highlights how, whether in rumrunning or codebreaking, the men in the field don’t take them seriously. Both are also married women and mothers, and while the family dynamics are another point where they differ, both defy the odds by being both working women and wives and mothers, and their respective influences over their families is very pronounced.
I did feel the writing style resulted in a sense of distance between the characters and the reader at times, as it’s in third person, so it felt less intimate. However, the usage of present tense also amped up the sense of immediacy, giving the story an air of suspense. With the story focusing on a confrontation between Elizebeth/the codebreakers and Marie/the rumrunners, this ultimately works out in its favor, even if it results in the loss of some character development. The story is fast-paced and suspenseful, and while the ending felt a tad anticlimactic, it suits the historical context of the characters’ lives outside the episode the book chronicles.
I enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to readers looking for historical fiction with a thread of suspense.

Erika Robuck’s The Last Twelve Miles is a thrilling, compelling, fascinating, fun and intelligent tale of two women during the “Rum War” sparked by Prohibition - a brilliant pioneer of cryptography, Elizebeth Smith Friedman, and the cunning rum runner known as “Spanish Marie,” both based on real people. Like Kate Quinn, Allison Pataki, Marie Benedict and others, Robuck admirably shines her spotlight on women whose contributions seem to have largely been left in the shadows.

In The Last Twelve Miles, both Robuck’s protagonist and antagonist are vividly drawn and well developed, as were a large cast of secondary characters. The intriguing story kept me flipping pages so swiftly, I read the novel in a day. And as is typical of Robuck, the tale was obviously meticulously researched and its sense of place ever so strong, especially when set in Florida or Cuba.

Though I think Robuck is one of the finest historical fiction authors writing today, this novel isn’t quite perfect. The pacing seemed slightly off from time to time, and I noticed a few threads (e.g., with respect to Elizebeth’s sister Edna) introduced but not quite tied off. That said, the novel is so richly crafted otherwise, these issues are relative nits.

Highly recommended to fans of smart historical fiction. 4.5 stars, rounded up for the intelligent writing, complete with references to Shakespeare and an informative author’s note!

Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher Sourcebooks for the privilege of a complimentary ARC. Opinions are my own.

Intriguing historical fiction about two women facing off during Prohibition. Elizebeth Friedman, a renowned codebreaker figures out how to track the rumrunners bringing alcohol to Florida. Marie Waite is one of those rumrunners, a woman who wants much more than she's got and will do what she believes she must to achieve it, regardless of others, including her husband. This alternates between their third person POVs. Elizebeth's is a light treatment of a national resource with a much longer career who has recently received the attention she's long deserved while Marie's is unique. The atmospherics of South Florida, of rum running, of code breaking are terrific and you, like me, might learn a bit. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a good read. Don't miss Robuck's intro and afterword.