THE BOOTLEGGER’S DAUGHTER by Nadine Nettmann

This review originally appeared in the February 2024 edition of the Historical Novels Review.

After being abandoned by her father, Letty and her mother struggle through hard times in the rural San Fernando Valley during 1920s Prohibition by selling sacramental wine until the church stops buying. The only way to survive is for Letty to enter the dangerous and shadowy world of bootlegging in nearby Los Angeles. Letty’s journey takes her through the seedy reaches of the city; into lively speakeasies with their quick knocks and passwords, tommy guns and flappers; and to the tony enclaves of the wealthy.

Letty’s first-person account of the beginnings of her bootlegging career drives the story, and is interspersed with third-person accounts of a female cop trying to make it in a misogynistic environment and a crooked cop who revels in providing muscle for the bad guys. Crisp dialogue propels the tale forward and suspense builds until Letty’s inevitable reckoning with the cops. The female protagonists are quite memorable with grit, courage and determination that likely would have been uncommon in the rum-running rackets. Early 20th-century Los Angeles noir is well-drawn and authentic.

The author is a certified sommelier who provides interesting detail on winemaking and Prohibition. A well-paced historical mystery with plenty of twists and an action-packed and surprising conclusion.