Hang the Moon
Fiction
Scribner
March 28, 2023
Advance reader copy
368
Free from publisher
Sallie Kincaid is the daughter of the biggest man in a small town, the charismatic Duke Kincaid. Born at the turn of the 20th century into a life of comfort and privilege, Sallie remembers little about her mother who died in a violent argument with the Duke. By the time she is just eight years old, the Duke has remarried and had a son, Eddie. While Sallie is her father’s daughter, sharp-witted and resourceful, Eddie is his mother’s son, timid and cerebral. When Sallie tries to teach young Eddie to be more like their father, her daredevil coaching leads to an accident, and Sallie is cast out.
Nine years later, she returns, determined to reclaim her place in the family. That’s a lot more complicated than Sallie expected, and she enters a world of conflict and lawlessness. Sallie confronts the secrets and scandals that hide in the shadows of the Big House, navigates the factions in the family and town, and finally comes into her own as a bold, sometimes reckless bootlegger.
My review:
I've read a few books set during Prohibition, but it's been a while, so this was very entertaining for me. I love a feisty woman and Sallie Kincaid was that and more. From the time she was a young daredevil riding her wagon, to hanging with bootleggers later in life, she was a fantastically written character! Throughout the novel the shadow of her larger than life father (known as the Duke) looms large. She is also very protective of her younger half brother, who doesn't quite fit into the family mold as well as Sallie seems to. There are some humorous parts to this story, as well as lots of drama and sadness. The only part I was a bit bored with were the fights among the various bootlegging factions, however they did add to the authenticity of the story (and were based on real life events). I should point out that my violence level tolerance is very low so take that with a grain of salt. I was totally invested in this story and can imagine it making a great movie someday. The characters and setting were very well drawn, and the parts about bootlegging made for interesting reading (minus the fights 🙂 ). There is lots of drama in this one to push the plot along, and I appreciated that Sallie had a different perspective on things by virtue of being a woman in those times.
A really well written historical fiction set in the Prohibition era, with a protagonist you will want to root for. Issues of inheritance, class, loyalty, and gender inequality are prevalent throughout.
