The Wettest County in the World. Matt Bondurant. 2008.
Crime fiction. Historical fiction.
Three brothers from the Virginia hills navigate a moonshine war waged by crooked prohibition-era cops while a fading journalist tries to convince the participants and their neighbors to reveal the truth about what is happening.
The main storyline is told through the eyes of the brothers while the subplot is narrated by the investigating journalist. This tension between participants and the investigator creates a behind-the-scenes vibe that puts the reader in a front row seat as witness to the events of a secret history.
The theme in both storylines is one of endings and past glories. For the journalist, it is the sunset of his career with its high points long behind him. For the brothers it is the end of an era. The glory days of the mountain stills—and the way of life that created them—are ending.
AUTHORS – I write short book reviews that focus on voice and vibe. They are useful to querying authors searching for comp titles. There are more like this on my website.