Book three in the Kinship series is here! Happy publication day to THE STILLS by Jess Montgomery
Thanks to TLC Book Tours and Minotaur Books for the free copy in exchange for my honest review
THE STILLS – Jess Montgomery (Releasing March 9th, 2021)
You can see my thoughts on THE WIDOWS (here) and THE HOLLOWS (here)
Book Description:
The third in Jess Montgomery’s exquisitely written Kinship series, The Stills is a triumph of storytelling by an extraordinary new talent in crime fiction…
Ohio, 1927: Moonshining is a way of life in rural Bronwyn County, and even the otherwise upstanding Sheriff Lily Ross has been known to turn a blind eye when it comes to stills in the area. But when thirteen-year-old Jebediah Ranklin almost dies after drinking tainted moonshine, Lily knows that someone has gone too far, and–with the help of organizer and moonshiner Marvena Whitcomb–is determined to find out who.
But then, Lily’s nemesis, the businessman George Vogel, reappears in town with his new wife, Fiona. Along with them is also her former brother-in-law Luther Ross, now an agent for the newly formed Bureau of Prohibition. To Lily, it seems too much of a coincidence that they should arrive now.
As fall turns to winter, a blizzard closes in. Lily starts to peel back the layers of deception shrouding the town of Kinship, but soon she discovers that many around her seem to be betraying those they hold dear–and that Fiona too may have an agenda of her own.
My Thoughts: 4/5 stars
Another installment in the Kinship series is here! THE STILLS is the third book in this mystery series and Jess Montgomery brings us another beautifully written historical fiction novel. Even if you haven’t read the other two books I think that you’ll be just fine starting here. However, I highly recommend the rest of the books!
The research and detail that go into these books is part of why I love them. The author drops the reader right into that small Ohio town in 1927. You can feel the autumn air turning colder, you can almost see the rural town of Kinship and the moonshine stills running in secret. Sheriff Lily Ross is back and while Prohibition is still in effect, she tends to turn a blind eye to the moonshiners in her county. When a teenager dies after drinking some tainted moonshine, her attitude changes and she must now track down those responsible.
I love the progression of this series and seeing Lily Ross continue to grow and succeed in her position as sheriff. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with strong female protagonists, then you need to pick up the Kinship series. I can’t wait to see how it continues from here!
About the Author:
JESS MONTGOMERY is the Literary Life columnist for the Dayton Daily News and former Executive Director of the renowned Antioch Writers’ Workshop in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Based on early chapters of her novel The Widows, Jess was awarded an Ohio Arts Council individual artist’s grant for literary arts and the John E. Nance Writer-in-Residence at Thurber House in Columbus. She lives in her native state of Ohio.
Jessicamap Reviews 