Bootlegger's Daughter

By: Margaret Maron

Narrated by: C.J. Critt

With a steamy Southern plot and a sassy new heroine, this Edgar Award-winning novel debuts an exceptional new series. Attorney Deborah Knott is North Carolina's answer to V.I. Warshawski, a legal sleuth with a knack for sniffing out the most baffling crimes. Deborah has just done the unthinkable: entered the heated race for judge of old-boy-ruled Colleton County. The only female candidate, she's busy reeling in voters and giving campaign speeches. There couldn't be a worse time for Gayle Whitehead to beg Deborah to investigate the 18-year-old unsolved murder of Gayle's mother, Janie. Gayle wants the busy attorney to poke around for any new clues the police may have missed all these years. Unlikely, thinks Deborah; until she discovers that not all the details of Janie's case made it out of confidential police files.

Filled with the patter of Southern voices and populated with a cast of colorful characters, Bootlegger's Daughter expertly unwinds a funny, cunningly-crafted tale of mystery and deceit in North Carolina's backwoods.

Critic reviews

• Edgar Allan Poe Award Winner, Best Novel, 1993

"Filled with good-ole-boy pitter patter and detailed local color, the story flows smoothly." (Publishers Weekly)
"A fine start to a promising new series." (Kirkus Reviews)

It was o.k.

Narrator was great. Story ok. Struggled to finish. No suspense, predictable. Character development only ok.

very likeable

not quite in love with this book but sure like it a bunch. interesting characters I care about and want to know better. a decent murder mystery with a few twists. straight forward writing.

I loved this book

There were a few initial issues with the recording quality. But that smoothed itself out and I was drawn into the book. I loved how it emersed you into the world of the protagonist. Interesting plot. Great characters.

Hard to finish.

Great narrator which is why I chose this book. However, it was excruciatingly slow to develop, boring and super predictable. I kept hoping it would get better, but sadly it didn’t.

The story takes too long to get interesting

What did you like best about Bootlegger's Daughter? What did you like least?

Sorry, nothing to say. I can from the "if you can't say something nice" era

What could Margaret Maron have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Faster pace, I usually listen as I drive, and the story did not hold my intrest

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

You can only read the book as written. The narration was adequate, maybe just not my cup of tea

Was Bootlegger's Daughter worth the listening time?

No, I love mysteries, legal thrillers and medical thrillers. It's getting harder to find a series that is worth no only the money but my time.