The Last Twelve Miles; A Novel

A Battle of Wits, A Fight for Power—Two Women on Opposite Sides of the Law

"Set against the backdrop of the Prohibition Rum Wars, Robuck has brought two real-life figures to the page with heartfelt intimacy and crackling suspense. A fascinating read!" — Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling author of The Cuban Heiress

1926. Washington, D.C.
The Coast Guard is losing the Prohibition Rum War—but they have a secret weapon: a brilliant 5'2" codebreaking mastermind in heels. Mrs. Elizebeth Smith Friedman, a wife, mother, and co-inventor of cryptanalysis, is tasked with cracking smuggler codes, intercepting messages, and dismantling the rum trade one skiff at a time.

The Bahamas.
Marie Waite sees an opportunity. With the legendary rumrunner Cleo Lythogoe stepping aside, Marie is determined to claim the throne for herself, running an operation sleek enough to pull her family out of debt. But the bigger her empire grows, the more she catches the attention of the feds—and of one woman in particular.

As Elizebeth tirelessly deciphers intercepted messages and testifies in courtrooms, the battle becomes personal. She soon realizes that her most formidable opponent in this high-stakes war is none other than Marie herself.

From the covert intelligence halls of Washington, D.C., to the treacherous waters of the Florida Straits, The Last Twelve Miles is a gripping, real-life story of two brilliant women—one determined to uphold the law, the other willing to break it—all in a thrilling game of cat and mouse.