This was a compelling read. You can tell the author put in a lot of research for this book. I absolutely loved the cat and mouse game. The two fmc although on the opposite side of the law during the Prohibition Era they were both badass. I love how the author brought both ladies to life in her writing. I recommend this book. to all my historical fiction friends

I love historical fiction books about strong women and this is just that! During prohibition, in the 1920s, these two women are on opposite sides of the law. Both have families they are trying to support. Marie is a rumrunner and Elizebeth is a code breaker. Based on true stories, this is a subject that would make some fascinating research. The first part of the book was a little hard for me because I was trying to keep all the characters straight but the second part was perfection. Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book! I really enjoyed it.

Very interesting and intriguing historical fiction based on real life codebreaker Elizebeth Friedman and smuggler "Spanish" Marie Waite. The author does a great job of drawing on history and infusing fiction into the lives of these women during prohibition. I loved the details and main setting in South Florida. The characters and feelings were brought to life very well. The pace of the story was slow at times but picked up at others. The book overall was easy to read though it dealt with several very tough subjects. I had read a book about Mrs. Friedman during WWII before so it was interesting to see this period where she worked with the U.S. Coastguard.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

It's 1926 and prohibition is in effect. But this doesn't stop the legions of smugglers from bringing alcohol from the Bahamas and Cuba into the United States. The Coast Guard has its hands full trying to catch all the illegal traffic coming into the Keys, Miami and other ports. To help them crack the seemingly unbreakable codes used by the top rumrunners, Elizebeth Smith Friedman, a brilliant codebreaker working for the Feds, is brought in to help. She soon finds herself up against Marie Waite, a young woman who is determined to become the most successful smuggler on the high seas. A cat and mouse game ensues between the two clever women, both wives and mothers, who are trying to make better lives for their families - but in very different ways.

Author Erika Robuck is a talented storyteller who does excellent research for her historical novels. Her last two books, Sisters of Night and Fog (2022) and The Invisible Woman (2021) were fictionalized stories of actual women who exhibited incredible bravery during WWII. These are the type of books that have you doing your own research after you're done reading. Get ready to keep Googling as The Last Twelve Miles will leave you wanting to keep reading about Elizebeth and Marie ("Spanish Marie"). While there is plenty of murder and mayhem to be found in this book, it is lighter than Robuck's last two books. The speakeasys, clubs and resorts of the day are vividly brought to life. Told in each woman's alternating points-of-view, you may find yourself not only rooting for the good guys.

Rated 4.25 stars.

Thank you @netgalley @sourcebookslandmark #partner for the free book.

Two women. Two very different goals. One is fighting to make the world a safer place by cracking codes and stopping the rum runners during the prohibition. She’s whip smart, a bad ass, a wife, a mother and invented cryptanalysis which allowed her to decode and analyze information that was hidden in text without using an actual key. Meet Elizabeth Smith Friedman.

The other is Marie Waite who will not let anyone….and I mean anyone, stop her from rising to the top in the rumrunning world. She is ruthless, extremely charming, charismatic, intelligent, and winning in this dog eat dog world. Unfortunately for Marie, as the stakes rise, Elizabeth has her sites set squarely on Marie and will not stop until she brings her to justice. Who will win in this insanely dangerous cat and mouse game?!

Wheeeewie! This was such a wild book! I think because I have a lot of knowledge of the history of Key West and having read a lot of books about Hemingway I found myself immediately invested in the story of these women and the locale. Rum, sun, lies, and two legendary women. Yes. Yes. Yes. I LOVED that this is based on their real lives and of course that they were both women. 💪🏻 I am sure Marie felt invincible being that she was not very likely to be suspected…at first. Of course you can’t help but root for Elizabeth too because her intelligence and quit whit made her outshine everyone in her day. I truly wanted them both to win. 🤣 You can tell Erika researched their lives very well! If you are a lover of women’s historical fiction I encourage you to grab yourself a copy of this one! It was awesome!

The Florida Keys, Cuba, Bahamas - love the settings. Great idea for characters, Elizebeth the government code breaker and Spanish Marie the newest Queen rum runner set against each other. I am intrigued by the two strong, intelligent women battling it out from both sides of the law. Although I enjoyed the story and it had a lot of action, I wanted more clever banter from these women! Sometimes the narrative feels forced and falls flat. I loved the main characters but did feel like Elizebeth talks as much about her pregnancy as codebreaking and Marie about growing up in poverty as rum running. They held my interest but could use additional character development. Give us more specifics of the codebreaking and insights into the life of a female rumrunner. It was clear a lot of research went into this but it wasn’t conveyed well and left me wanting more.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Erika Robuck brings readers back to the Prohibition era and recounts the tale of two women: cryptographer Elizebeth Friedman and rumrunner Marie Waite. Although both women are mothers and wives, life has led them down different paths, which are about to intersect in a classic cat-and-mouse game.

I liked the novel. Marie's chapters were my favourite and I was cheering for her to get the best of those pursuing her. That could have made Elizebeth Friedman raise her eyebrows but I cannot help it. Erika Robuck just wrote her to be that compelling of a character. I appreciated the author's notes at both the beginning and the end of the book.

As another reviewer wrote, this book would make an exciting movie.



Expected Publication 04/06/24
Goodreads Review 20/05/24

3.5 stars

Almost ten years ago, I went on an Erika Robuck binge and read almost the entire backlist she had available at the time. I hadn't picked up any of her recent releases since I'm a bit burnt out on World War II novels, but The Last Twelve Miles seemed like the perfect synthesis of what I loved in those books: evocative settings, well-written female relationships, and a deep look into a little-known aspect of history.

While the blurb refers to this book as a deadly game of cat and mouse and they are in fact on opposing sides of the Rum War, our two protagonists exist fairly independently of each other for the majority of the book. The focus for most of the novel is more on how each woman is balancing their ambitions with their domestic lives, which is personally not the most interesting thing when their respective jobs are bootlegging and codebreaking. The scattered crumbs of high-stakes action that we get are absolutely delicious, but I wish that we had gotten more of a meal out of the concept and characters.

While this book did not completely win me over the way Robuck's previous works did, I did thoroughly enjoy the ride of learning about these two women. It's a book that I imagine will be read by many a beachgoer come summer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Elizebeth Smith Friedman along with her husband, developed the science of cryptoanalysis, and used it to give the US an advantage, both in WWI and WWII. In between the two wars, when Prohibition was enforced, she worked with the Coast Guard to catch rum runners. These modern day pirates brought rum from the Bahamas or Cuba to America, where the Coast Guard had jurisdiction 12 miles from shore.
In this historical fiction novel, Robuck focuses in the rivalry between Friedman the federal cryptanalyst, and Marie Waite, the queen of the rum runners. Each admired the skills of the other, but each woman was also determined to win.

What an enjoyable read! Yes - women are complex - neither fully “good” nor fully “bad”. This was my first book by Erika Robuck and I’d welcome the opportunity to read her work again. Loved the differing POVs - one from each side of the “rum run” - the Spanish queen and the Cypto-genius. The book moved along through both their stories at a solid pace and both characters were likeable - and neither perfect. This book would make for a lovely lazy long weekend read. Enjoy! I did.

“The Last Twelve Miles” by Erika Robuck is a historical fiction about two strong women during the 1920s prohibition era. It takes place between the Bahamas, Cuba and Miami in the 12 miles off the coast where bootlegging was rampant and the coastguard had jurisdiction. The two main characters one a code breaker for the government and the other an infamous rumrunner were well developed and interesting. The story however, lacked excitement and was mostly about the two women’s families and their relationship to each other. For me a big part of the storyline was missing thus the 3 star review.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Twelve Miles is a book that I had trouble putting down from the beginning to the end.

The story is told from a dual point of view from two very strong, smart and tenacious women during the 1920's.

Prohibition is here and rum running is a big business.

Elizebeth Freidman, who is a cryptanalyist for the U.S. government is on the side of the law and she is on the trail of "Spanish" Marie equally as infamous for being a successful rum runner.

They may be opponents but both are determined to win as they battle wits.

The suspense is palpable.

I absolutely loved this well researched and well written book that made me feel like I was right there.

The Last Twelve Miles is a read I will think of often and wont soon forget.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the privilege of reading and reviewing.

I love historical fiction and have enjoyed Erika Robuck’s previous novels, so I was excited at the opportunity to read an ARC of her latest novel, “the Last Twelve Miles.” This book involves two real life protagonists: Elizebeth Friedman, a code breaker during the First World War, who was hired by the Government to decipher coded messages between rum runners during Prohibition, and Marie Waite, a rum runner who is trying to set herself up as the leader in smuggling alcohol into Miami Beach and Key West area.

The novel’s portrayal of two strong females in male dominated roles pitting their wits against each other is compelling. While Elizebeth tries to decipher Marie’s codes to uncover the names and routes of her rum running boats by discovering as many personal details about her life as possible, Marie is trying to stay one step ahead of both the coast guard and her treacherous rum running competitors to forge an empire and a fortune. Well-drawn characters and period details bring the Prohibition era to life. Exciting chase sequences and bloody turf wars keep the reader engaged.

I highly recommend this novel to those who loves historical fiction, particularly one that brings to life lesser known strong historical female characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing me an ARC of the book in exchange for my honest review.

'Brilliant women are always intriguing, especially those who inhabit men's worlds'.

It's 1926 and America is slap bang in the middle of its Prohibition era, but of course that hasn't stopped people from drinking - it's only helped build a prosperous black market, a market that Marie intends on ruling as Queen of the Rumrunners. Whether it's ferrying alcohol from the Bahamas or Cuba, to Miami of the Keys, she's going to make enough money to live the life she's always dreamed. She only needs to allude capture for the last 12 miles of each run. Elizebeth Friedman is also zealous about rum-running, but working as a code cracker for the US Coast Guard, her ambition is to intercept the illicit runs and take out the criminals. Both are women, both are wives, both are mothers, both obsess over their work but neither can get what they want without sacrifice.

Erika Robuck's latest novel is told from a dual POV. I am often ambivalent about dual storylines as usually one is more enticing than the other. However, here, both stories are just as fascinating. Whether we're reading about 'Spanish Marie' clawing her way to the top, only to be increasingly corroded by power and paranoia, 'She doesn't consider how...power and money make one a slave..' Or, whether we follow Elizebeth's ingenious mind, 'There can be no high like codebreaking...it's the thrill of hunting, of catching one's prey..of power...', the reader is absorbed right into their life and time.

Although I think many may be familiar with Al Capone and mobsters during this era, I had no knowledge of the rum-running in the Caribbean, and I loved learning about a couple of key women right amongst it all. I'm confident many historical fiction lovers will enjoy reading this.

'Never underestimate women. Especially those with ambition'.

Mrs. Elizebeth Smith Friedman is one half of the husband-and-wife pair who invented cryptanalysis. Marie Waite, a savvy businesswoman longs to establish herself as the Queen of the rumrunners to improve her family's future. These two intelligent women play an intriguing game of cat and mouse during Prohibition. Elizebeth's struggle to balance home and work, Marie's determination to overcome her troubled past made both characters very relatable especially in their daily conflicts working in a typically male dominated profession. I also loved the descriptive passages about sights and sounds of life in Cuba, Miami, and the Florida Keys during Prohibition. A fascinating blend of history and fiction, I highly recommend this book!

4.5 stars
This is, hands-down, one of the best historical fiction books I have read in a very long time. I was already a fan of the author after her book Hemingway's Girl (which is one of my absolute favorites), and since this book was again set in Key West and included rumrunners, you can count me in!
This is a fascinating book about people who actually existed, which is my favorite kind of historical fiction. Two smart-as-hell women trying to best each other, and what a ride at that. I finished this book in two sittings. It was un-putdownable.
I will not hesitate to recommend this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!

I was provided the opportunity from Netgalley, the publisher Sourcebooks Landmark and the author to read an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this novel, and I am so thankful for that opportunity. This novel was really good, and kept me engaged throughout the entirety of the novel. I found myself cheering on both females in this novel honestly.

This novel focuses on Elizebeth Friedman, the first woman to head an intelligence group within the Coast Guard. Elizebeth was a cryptoanalysis and had a huge role in counteracting Prohibition agencies, and also went on to crack codes of German Spies attempting to access the US during WWII. Elizebeth worked hard, sacrificed a lot including time with her young family to ensure her job role was fulfilled. Elizebeth caught Marie several times throughout her life, however Marie kept getting away.

Marie Waite, becomes determined to provide for her family and to rise them out of the debts they have by becoming a famous rumrunner. Marie’s plan and operations become very sophisticated and take over her own personal life, and quickly she finds the Feds involved. Will she be able to escape being caught??

This novel is one of both women working hard to provide for their families, their own well beings and ensuring that they are successful in their chosen paths. This novel is one where they both win, and both lose. This book goes over a lot of personal struggles and battles during this time.

I loved that Erika focused on this topic as I had never thought about rumrunners between the US and Cuba, nor have I heard any discussion surrounding this topic. I highly recommend his novel to all historical fiction fans, and those fans of strong female characters.

I am a huge fan of Robuck’s writing and couldn’t wait to read her latest about Prohibition-era rum running in southern Florida. Wow, I loved this book! Robuck makes her characters come to life, and her story-telling makes the reader empathize with both Elizebeth and Maria even though they are on opposite sides of the law. I can’t decide which character I like more as they both are well-developed and realistic. I didn’t know much about this part of history, and as always, Robuck’s extensive research shines through, enhancing the story. No info dumping, just a well-written and propulsive cat-and-mouse game that leaves the reader guessing until the end! I highly recommend it for historical fiction fans and those who want to learn about this sordid yet exciting time in history. It’s a five star read for me!

I cannot say enough good things about this book. As a self-professed historical fiction lover this was my first book by this author as well about the Prohibition. As a Canadian, I am not as familiar with Prohibition nor what the USA looked like at that time. Robuck does an amazing job of setting the scene and I can picture it when I close my eyes.

I loved that this book was from the perspectives of two very established and strong women in their own rites. I cheered for Elizebeth as well as Marie. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that pretty well everyone in the book was a real person, which made the book that much better in my opinion.

I look forward to reading more of Robuck’s works as her writing style is phenomenal and hooked me immediately.

This is a great historical fiction book about the women who played key roles in the Prohibition Rum War. Elizebeth invented cryptanalysis and is the lead behind cracking the codes of the smugglers and uncovering run smuggling routes and plans. "Spanish Marie" is a smuggler who wants to be the top rumrunner and is taking advantage of every opportunity she can find. The two women are stretched and challenged by each other as they both are determined to find success in their roles. I enjoyed learning a lot more about this aspect of history, as it was fictionalized in this story.