Finished We 6/7/17
This was one of my hardback books that was on the book cases in my bedroom. It is a large book and part of a trilogy called ELMORE LEONARD'S DOUBLE DUTCH TREAT. Also contains, GOLD COAST and CITY PRIMEVAL.
Set in 1931 in a rural area of Kentucky near Marlett, Kentucky.
Prohibition lasted from 1920 to 1933.
Son Martin lives with his man servant/partner, Aaron. His wife and daughter died in the Flu Pandemic of 1918 while Son was overseas in WWI.
Son and his father were known for their excellent moonshine whiskey. Son is rumored to have a couple of thousand gallons of whiskey that has aged for seven years and would be worth a lot of money.
Frank Long was in the service with Son. Long is an prohibition agent who learned of Son's hidden whiskey and he decides to take it. He'll do one wrong thing and live a happy life.
Long teams with Dr. Taulbee, an ex dentist who served time for bootlegging and sex offences. Miley is his girlfriend. She is a hooker. And, Dual a sadistic gunman.
The gang tries to negotiate with Martin, but he refuses, and the novel becomes the story of this standoff at Martin's home.
Nobody knows where the whiskey is hidden or if it is a fact. Son has a light above his father's grave. This is where Son has buried the whiskey. It is also wired with explosives.
In the final scene Son lures the gang above the gravesite to 'see' all the kegs of liquor and he blows them all up. And, losing his fortune.
The writing by Leonard is superb, and according to the flyleaf I've read the other two novels in the trilogy, but it was over ten years ago. I plan to reread them soon.
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