PETER J. BARNETT &
ANDREW B. KOSKI
PRAISE FOR RUM RUNNER
Review in goodreads.com
Rum Runner Prohibition - Post by Janet at West Coast > 21 Apr 2024 - 5 out of 5 Stars
A fabulous romp through history in this action and adventure novel set in the times of Prohibition. It reminded me of Indiana Jones meets James Bond meets Boardwalk Empire. The writing is sharp and smart and I also enjoyed how it doesn't rely on tired old tropes. It's fresh and fun: women are well represented as strong characters, people of color command power, and some fascinating historic figures who should be household names are brought into the spotlight. It's offers a throughly modern and much-needed revamp of this genre. Bravo! I hope it gets made into a Netflix series or a feature film!
Review of Rum Runner (onlinebookclub.org)
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Post by Laney K » 15 Mar 2024, 12:03
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Rum Runner" by Peter J. Barnett & Andrew B. Koski.]
5 out of 5 stars
Rum Runner by Peter J. Barnett and Andrew B. Koski takes you on a trip into Prohibition-era America. Jack Lyons, a pilot, has taken to smuggling rum from Canada into Detroit at night and running an aviator company during the day. While the money is good, Jack faces the threat of being caught by the police and the growing presence of the Purples, a Jewish gang. The Purples wish to stop any independent rum runners so they can be the sole provider of illegal alcohol. To top it all off, Jack meets Ava, a female pilot and lawyer. The two hit it off, though Ava has high standards. Will Jack be able to meet them? Will the Purples put a stop to his rum running? Grab a copy of Rum Runner and find out!
The characters in this book were the highlight, in my opinion. Jack was a compelling protagonist. He had trauma from his past that continued to haunt him. His brother, who was also a pilot, had been gunned down by a German pilot, and Jack's hatred for Germans is a recurring theme throughout the book. The characters were consistent with themselves, which made them seem quite realistic. I also enjoyed reading about Ava's struggles as a female lawyer and pilot. It was interesting to read about her attempt to break into male-dominated roles.
I did find that there were a lot of characters introduced rather quickly, which I found to be a little confusing. The point of view changed frequently, so a character would appear and then not be mentioned again for a while, so it was slightly tricky to keep track of them all. However, this did not detract from my reading experience too much. However, readers who don't enjoy multiple points of view may want to pass on this book.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and despite a little confusion with the characters, I see no reason to take off a star. Fans of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy reading about the Roaring Twenties, would enjoy this book. The romantic subplots might also appeal to fans of romance. Given the strong language, I believe this book is only suitable for adults. It is a thrilling ride from start to finish, and I highly recommend it!
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Rum Runner
This was a really fun page turner that I couldn't put down. I learned so much about the Prohibition and Detroit during that fascinating period of history. I am an avid historical fiction reader and this book seemed to nail the era with colorful characters, good guys and bad guys and strong women. Lots of action with many historically accurate details. As a woman, I appreciated the fact the authors made the female characters relatable and strong with their own struggles of being a woman in that era. I hope there will be another book soon as I want to continue to follow the adventures of Captain Lyons and his friends.
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Authors created an outstanding blend of history and fiction to create an enjoyable adventure. Character development was very good and the protagonist Captain Lyons reminds us of some of the best of human nature, while still keeping him very human. Loved the supporting cast and can’t wait for next chapter!!
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After, the first several chapters, I was all in, looking forward to discovering ”what was next.” 1927 Detroit had a lot of players and schemes. The central characters’ battle to outflank Detroit’s gangsters as they smuggle in Canadian liquor and dodge an alluring Latina customs agent kept my nose in the book. And it was all to help their less fortunate brothers in arms. The multiple storylines featured well-developed and diverse, strong characters. The dialogue moves along at a brisk pace. Rum Runner- Prohibition takes you back to the Roaring Twenties where booze and money flowed freely. Overall, a terrific read; with adventure, romance and old-world thuggery, draped with a subtle elegance. This is your must read “vacation - summer beach book!”
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K. Estes
Being a huge American history fan and also a boat builder , rum runner prohibtion hooked me immediately. I caught myself “fact checking” several times and to my amazement this fiction book was very accurate and fun reading. Looking forward to the authors promise of more to come!
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WHAT READERS SAY
“Rum Runner transports us to post-WWI America, a world we think we know from history and literature - but do we really? A rollicking adventure that speaks to eternal truths about the nature of men and women under extreme pressure while entertaining us from start to finish." - John Feeley, USMC Aviator, former U.S. Ambassador
“As a big fan of action novels and historical fiction, I enjoyed being immersed in a place and time I knew very little about. Detroit, during prohibition, was humming with activity and makes a great backdrop for Rum Runner’s expansive cast of unique, diverse, and well-drawn characters. Packed with multiple well-integrated plot lines and filled with nuggets of information about technology and contemporaneous society, it is classic storytelling.” - Terry Kelly, USMC Aviator, History Enthusiast
“It seems as though gun smoke rises from the text as muzzles flash between the pages. Rum Runner is Indiana Jones on steroids. Speed boats, airplanes, fast cars, cops, gangsters, tycoons, good guys, flappers, and hot ladies make for a steamy, fast-paced ‘can’t put it down’ page turner." - Jim Nunn, CDR USN (Ret.) NAVY Fighter Pilot and Test Pilot
"I read an advanced copy of Rum Runner; while I normally choose nonfiction, this book was a delightful surprise. I'm a woman & enjoyed the engaging romance story as well as the fast-paced action-adventure. After the first two chapters, I found myself all-in, looking forward to my daily book time, discovering "what was next" in the lives of each character.
Overall, a terrific read; it had elements of adventure, romance, and old-world thuggery, all mixed with a subtle elegance. Perfect & unique for my book club. Highly recommend!"
Celeste Luke - World traveler - Businesswoman