From the first paragraph, I was transfixed by the voice in Louella Bryant’s page-turning historical story of the Rum Running Queen herself: Willie Carter Sharpe, whose hardscrabble life in the southwest Virginia hills led her to riches in the only career she was destined to perfect. As a “pilot” (a decoy driver) for the souped-up Model-Ts hauling moonshine from Virginia to the surrounding states, the real-life Willie was already a teen-age natural at motor skills attributed to boys. Driving fast was her passion, and running moonshine gave Willie the opportunity to do it. In Bryant’s colorful recreation, Willie, Rum Running Queen, Willie is as wily as she was witty. By the court’s account when Willie testified at the Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1934 for tax evasion, she’d hauled two hundred thousand untaxed gallons herself. In her short career evading cops during Prohibition, Willie lived large and left a mostly forgotten mark until Bryant revived her colorful life with animated writing, bringing us the sounds and smells and sights of rural Virginia moonshine-making, a way of life for generations. I devoured Willie in one day, near as quick as she ran shine over the hills.

A great researched story of running moonshine during the depression. It was both serious and fun to read. Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read this ARC. The review is my own.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!