Bootleggers Daughter by Margaret Maron

I saw a review of this series of books set in North Carolina, and I was instantly attracted to it, so I sourced the first few in the series.

This is the first book, and the main character is Deborah Knott, an attorney in Coleen County. An unconventional lady, daughter of the county’s biggest producer of moonshine – or so the rumours go! She is unmarried and a working woman, not at all as she was supposed to turn out and so an on going source of contention between her and her father.

Deborah is approached in this book, by the daughter of a friend of hers, to help her discover the truth behind the murder of her mother which happened when she was only 3 months old. Reluctantly Deborah agrees to try and do what she can, at the same time as she decides to apply for the position of District Judge for the County, to try and take some of the power away from the ‘good old boys’ of the area.

This is a gentle story (in the sense of not loads of blood and guts) of the investigation, and the truths that begin to be uncovered. While at the same time she has to engage in the rituals of going for public office, and all that it entails.

I found this to be an enjoyable read, it was interesting as apart from the story as such, there was a peek into small town living in that part of the world, which was so atmospheric.

If you are a fan of murder/mystery book, and enjoy a gentler take on it, and set in a small town in the South, do give it a go. I did, and now I have another new series to delve into, plus she has another series going, which I am about to investigate also.