Nadine Nettmann is a sommelier by training and a crime writer by passion. Inspired to blend her two interests, Nettmann’s first series was a cozy-esque trilogy featuring Katie Stillwell solving cases in and around wine country. Now, with her new novel—The Bootlegger’s Daughter—she is weaving in more of her interests, including the prohibition era and the history of Los Angeles.
The Bootlegger’s Daughter is set in 1927 and features two strong women who break traditional gender molds at every turn, despite the number of obstacles—both external and internal–standing in their way.
Letty Hart is determined to forge a path for herself while honoring the legacy of her father and the winery he built. New prohibition laws are proving to be impediments at every turn, so Letty decides to bootleg the secret stash to stay afloat.
It was an inspired choice to recount the exploits of a female in the bootlegging trade. Nadine Nettmann gives Letty the formidable will to be a success without overshadowing the personal insecurities that society foisted upon women of the time. Watching as she navigates each of her challenges is one of the many delights in the first half of The Bootlegger’s Daughter.
Meanwhile, women on the police force are still a relatively new concept and those that are hired are typically relegated to less critical positions. But Officer Annabel Forman is determined to make a name for herself—serving a society that clings to the notion that women need to stay in their place. When she uncovers a series of unsolved murders, she sees the independent investigation as a way to stake her claim and prove her worth.
The fact that those murders are seemingly tied to the bootlegging racket around Los Angeles lets readers know that Letty and Annabel are soon to cross paths—leading to a second half of the novel that will keep readers flipping pages long into the night. The changing points-of-view add to the dramatic unfolding of events as readers watch these two women circling the killer and getting closer to danger with every step.
In addition to knowing her background on wine and the business angles of that industry, Nadine Nettmann brings 1920s Los Angeles alive in a very visceral manner. Without overdoing the details, she transports readers to its past and in the process shows how that reflects on the city as it exists today. That said, this is crime fiction, so while the background setting is vital to establishing mood, it is the investigation(s) that really shine, largely because Letty and Annabel are both such relatable characters.
If you are looking for a fun and fast read set in the not-so-distant past, pick up The Bootlegger’s Daughter by Nadine Nettmann. The short chapters keep things moving and a few well-placed twists will ensure that readers don’t stop until the satisfying end.
BUY LINKS: The Bootlegger’s Daughter by Nadine Nettmann
Disclaimer: A print galley of this title was provided to BOLO Books by the author. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
