The Last Twelve Miles

I initially chose this for a book club. The book sounds awesome based on the synopsis (the Florida Keys during prohibition isn't a topic I've seen covered anywhere else), but it falls flat in execution. An example of this is the “code breaking”, which often feels less like a real puzzle that helps drive the plot and more like character exposition.

An example code that Elizabeth cracks:
‘“Lunar,” she says. “Moon. Mooney Key.” The men's eyes open wide.'

This makes a relatively banal observation sound incredulously intelligent. And to call this a code feels a bit undeserved.

The other female lead mostly focused on how much disdain she has for her husband. I felt there was so much in the book about the husbands of the women (their virtues and faults), that the actual narrative felt like it took a back seat. After thirteen chapters, it felt like the book was still in exposition rather than meaningful plot that reveals deeper character values and guides their development. DNF.