The Last Twelve Miles
As if Elizebeth Smith Friedman and William Friedman, the most sought-after cryptanalytical minds in US Military Intelligence, and Elizebeth’s work for the US Coast Guard aren’t enough of a draw, Robuck has added the rumrunner, ‘Spanish’ Marie, into the mix to craft a tightly plotted thriller, set upon the high seas between Miami and the Bahamas, and Key West and Cuba in the 1920s.
Twelve miles (increased from three) was the limit beyond which the Coast Guard could not exert its authority. This meant the rumrunners had to be faster and savvier to race those miles without being caught, and more deceptively inventive, outpacing anything the Coast Guard could come up with. Spanish Marie was remarkably good at strategic planning, using multiple boats as decoys, but the ace in the Coast Guard’s hand was Elizebeth, whose exceptional mind went far beyond decoding messages. Robuck begins her story aboard a Coast Guard vessel which comes across a rumrunner, who has his baby daughter aboard! —an intriguing introduction to Elizebeth and the dilemmas she often faced.
The spotlight here shines on three formidable women: Elizebeth, a codebreaker who was also a loving wife and mother; Marie, who recognised and embraced her ruthless nature, yet cared deeply for her children; and assistant DA Leila Russell, a beauty coupled with a brilliant mind and a private pilot’s license. Told in third person, chapters alternate between Marie, who fought her way to the top of her game and Elizebeth, always mentally several steps ahead. We get glimpses of how Elizebeth’s mind worked, in a story of three women fully capable of excelling in a man’s world. Extensive author’s notes are well worth reading and include how, after liquor smuggling had run its course, Elizebeth worked to curb narcotics smuggling and human trafficking. An eye-opening and compelling read.
