The Smuggler's Daughter

by Claire Matturro

"This no-holds-barred, tell-Florida-like-it-is tale is as rich as buttery lobster. Brilliantly drawn characters, totally believable dialogue, suspense until the very end...." (Southern Literary Review's September Read of the Month)

"...a tightly-paced thriller with authentic and engaging characters that the reader will find it hard to say goodbye to. Reminiscent of the work of novelists like Carl Hiaasen and Tim Dorsey, it's a can't miss for fans of old Florida noir...." (Dennis Maley, The Bradenton Times)

Ray Slaverson, a world-weary Florida police detective, has his hands full with the murders of two attorneys and a third suspicious death, all within 24 hours. Ray doesn’t believe in coincidences, but he can’t find a single link between the dead men, and he and his partner soon smash into an investigative stonewall.

Kate Garcia, Ray’s fiancée, knows more than she should. She helped one of the dead attorneys, just hours before he took a bullet to the head, study an old newspaper in the library where she works. Kate might be the only person still alive who knows what he was digging up - except for his killer.

When Kate starts trying to discover what’s behind the murders, she turns up disturbing links between the three dead men that track back to her family’s troubled past. But she has plenty of reasons to keep her mouth shut. Her discovery unleashes a cat-and-mouse game that threatens to sink her and those she loves in a high tide of danger.

Genres: Mystery

Audible Audio

Published November 30, 2021

About the author

Claire Hamner Matturro, a former lawyer and college teacher, is the author of four legal mysteries with a sense of humor. Her books are: Skinny-Dipping (2004) (a BookSense pick, Romantic Times’Best First Mystery, and nominated for a Barry Award); Wildcat Wine (2005) (nominated for a Georgia Writer of the Year Award); Bone Valley(2006) and Sweetheart Deal (2007) (winner of Romantic Times’ Toby Bromberg Award for Most Humorous Mystery), all published by William Morrow. After her romantic suspense legal thriller, Trouble in Tallahassee (KaliOka Press 2017), Claire turned more serious with her newer book, The Smuggler's Daughter (Red Adept Publishing July 2020) and she returns to the Gulf Coast of Florida that she knows so well in a gripping mystery.

And look for her newest book Wayward Girls, her joint-writing adventure with Penny Koepsel, which was released in August of this year.

Claire remains active in writers’ groups, teaches creative writing in adult education, and write reviews for Southern Literary Review.

Visit her at www.clairematturro.com

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As we travel into the fall and winter seasons, kick back and enjoy the feel of the sand and sun of Florida’s Gulf coast as Claire Matturro’s THE SMUGGLER’S DAUGHTER unfolds as a strong mystery with some serious twists. People are dying, three seemingly unrelated murders in a row have Detective Ray Slaverson hunting for what connects them. What he doesn’t know is that his girlfriend, Kate Garcia may actually be the missing link and her past may be on a collision course with her present.

We are taken back into Kate’s life, her father’s fishing career was secretly covering his career as a smuggler. Has the sharp-witted Kate discovered why her past is connected to the present? Will the horrors of that fateful night come roaring back with a vengeance? How will Ray react?

Taut, sharp, yet extremely readable, Kate is a powerful character, fitting together with Ray like two puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit, but for them, it seems to work.

Claire Matturro has done a wonderful job of keeping things moving, mixing things up and dropping just enough crumbs to have us turning the pages to the very end. You may even smell the salt in the air!

I received a complimentary copy from Red Adept! This is my honest and voluntary review.

Publisher : Red Adept Publishing, LLC (July 7, 2020)
Genre: Mystery
Print Length : 272 pages
Available from: https://www.amazon.com/Smugglers-Daug...
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[Lulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book that's been on my bookshelf for a while. I'm not even sure where I got it from, but it wasn't a bad read at all. Nice suspense.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.The Smuggler's Daughter by Claire Matturro is a brilliantly written mystery with believable characters in a time when people came before technology. 
Will Kate's past return to haunt her, or will she stand up for herself this time?
Kate Garcia
Kate is intelligent, witty, and speaks her mind. She is also funny and realistic. Kate named both her dog and her cat "Maggie" because it is easier and they don't come when called anyway. She is involved with a police detective named Ray, but I am not sure if they are made for each other. As I am sure, you deduced from the title that Kate's father, Tank was a smuggler. He was a fisherman, but when that dried up, he turned to fish for "square groupers." 

The story takes us through Kate's life, the good and the bad. However, it looks like after twenty years, that most horrific night of her life is coming back to haunt her. She tracks down her friends from that time, but it seems for some she is too late and others she doesn't fit in with any longer. Forgetting and forgiving come hard to Kate, and letting go of the grief is harder. 
Police Detective, Ray
Ray is a cop through and through, not only does he enforce the laws, he believes in them. However, Ray loves hard, and at this time, he loves Kate, but will he look the other way when it comes to her past transactions? That is the question that he finds himself asking. 

Ray is one of those people that I would reserve my right to like until I got to know him better. He has good qualities and bad, like most of us. The thing with Ray is I think he does what feels right to him, and the rest of us can screw off. Ray has his integrity, and he can't turn it or his cop mind off. It took me a bit, but I like Ray by the end of the book.
The Story
The story is set in the past; it kind of bounces around a bit, but I love the way that Ms. Matturro tells the story. There is smuggling, murder, running, death, love, and of course, family. I was rooting for Kate throughout; she is such a dynamic character. The story doesn't have a happy ending, but I don't think I would have believed it if the ending was happy. 
Five Stars 
I was so drawn into this Florida coast drama, that it seemed like it was unfolding in front of my eyes. Ms. Matturro's writing has edge, thoughtfulness, and it puts you right in there with the characters. My rating for The Smuggler's Daughter is five stars. I recommend this book to anyone that likes mature mysteries, with suspense and realistic scenes. 



Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of  The Smuggler's Daughter by Claire Matturro.

Until the next time,



 

This Guest Review is for Baroness' Book Trove. 

This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Arnela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not enough detectiveness for me personally. I would’ve liked to be more involved in the investigations and looking into suspects instead of the characters personal lives - that’s just a preference though. The ending was a bit abrupt, and also I felt like the middle of the book was disconnected from the beginning and end? I don’t mean it wasn’t relevant to the story, just that I would’ve preferred the flashbacks to be intertwined maybe? I didn’t like how the flashback took up the middle part of the book and then the story went back to present day - just didn’t feel cohesive. Also, and this is also a personal preference, I didn’t like the whole section dedicated to flashbacks because it took away from the mystery aspect. I didn’t know who was behind the murders from the people involved in present day but I knew what happened so it didn’t really hold my attention. I enjoy thrillers, especially thrillers that keep me at the edge of my seat the whole time, and this just wasn’t it.
Also, drug crime isn’t really my thing in books. It wasn’t all that interesting to me if I’m honest.. I found Kate really annoying as well for some reason 😂 she didn’t really have a developed personality and her relationship with Ray was all over the place like the author didn’t know where she wanted to go with it so kind of had them together for plot purposes but also not together because there didn’t really seem to be any feelings involved. Like the first part she’s all into him and as soon as another guy comes along she’s all “I really would like to sleep with him because he’s much nicer to me than Ray but I won’t because I love Ray.” Make up your mind hun.
So yes, I didn’t enjoy it all that much but I didn’t hate it so it gets three stars.

[Gordon Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are two kinds of detective novels. The first is a detective novel that gives us a bit of the soap opera of the detective’s life to add flavour to the story. The second is a soap opera that uses the detective story for the same purpose. This book is a strange combination of the two.

It starts out heavily leaning in the soap opera direction, with very little detective work going on. Unfortunately, one of the characters makes an emotional decision that would be just fine for soap opera, but would never fly in a detective novel. This detracts from our respect for the character and lowers the suspense in the rest of the novel. Then there is a tense, action-filled middle section, a flashback involving criminal activities by a whole new cast of characters, and no policemen at all. The last section draws it all together like a traditional detective story, with suspense and action mounting to a tense climax.

The saving grace of the book is that the main characters are likeable and empathetic, and we really care that their lives will work out. I rather liked the ending. It’s difficult to expect “happily ever after” when people’s lives are that complicated.

A good book for those who want a lot of human interest in their detective stories and are willing to delay gratification of their need for action until later in the book.

[Betanda Shanam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Smuggler’s Daughter is a colourful thriller based around the Florida coast. Claire Matturro shows us a snapshot of Kate’s childhood in the Prologue. Leaping forward 33 years, the reader sees Kate, a grown woman, who is holding down a good job and on the threshold of marriage, when two murders and a suspicious death stir up Kate’s past. Claire then takes the reader back 20 years to discover the secret Kate has been trying to hide. Back in present day, it becomes apparent that Kate’s past has caught up with her.

The Smuggler’s Daughter is a worthy narrative. It took me the first few chapters to get into the book, and I felt there was too much detail in some of the supporting descriptions, which meant I really needed to concentrate on what I was reading. Despite this I feel The Smuggler’s Daughter is a good read if you want to immerse yourself in a book.

I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Brett McKay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A smart, intelligent thriller. I applaud Claire Matturro for creating a visual world that made me feel the heavy humidity of Florida. She is a writer who has done her research and writes with the law intelligence of John Grisham. The drug smuggling trade depicted in this tale is gritty and feels authentic so that when plans go awry, it puts the reader on the edge of their seat. The action is strategically placed where it should be and doesn't feel forced, and the characters and dialogue are written so well that you feel like you know them. I highly recommend this book.

[Darlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story as treacherous and tangled as the backwater swamps of the Florida coastal setting. Set in the 1990's with flashbacks to the 70's, this thriller and the secrets long thought buried, rises up from the muck and sets those involved on a chase to find the truth, risking their own lives in the process. Drug-running, deceit, and murder from the Florida coast told in a fast-paced, engaging, and entertaining fashion. Perfect summer read.

[Sally Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another audiobook which I enjoyed. I felt the ending was rather weak but satisfying as the really bad people got just desserts.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
 

Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

One could look at this as a police procedural as two police homicide detectives, Luke and Ray,  are two of the main points of view. The other main point of view is Kate, who is Ray's girlfriend.  There are some murders which the detectives are having trouble finding connections, but think there must be one.  Kate was one of the last people to work with one of the attorneys at the library but can't figure out what he was researching.

Kate also is against a phosphate mine coming to town. She does some research and contacts the man running a protest group in a nearby town, who ends up being one of the men who is killed.  She gets his research papers from his widow.  She holds a meeting to try to get people organized against the mine.  The main local contact invites her out for coffee or dinner and she reluctantly goes out for coffee to learn what she can about the project.

Kate has a shady past which she is hiding. So we get several flashbacks to her late teen years and the drug running her father did.  She fled town to go to college at the time he was dying of lung cancer.  It felt to me like Kate was a bit TSTL researching things which were very dangerous, knowing she had violent men from the past who might be after her. She goes looking for her two childhood friends which lets her gather enough data to know her past might be connected into the current murders. I didn't like the casual attitude some characters had about adultery either.

I guessed the main villain pretty early on in the story. Kate did share some information with Luke finally.   Luke and Ray figured things out separately but almost too late.   There are some aspects left a bit vague in the end but the main cases are all solved.

[Maureen · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me...

[Rebecca Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are people to whom life happens. Their course through the years is the ebb and flow of the currents created by those around them. Ruby is such a person.

Claire Matturro has created a psychologically complex character in Ruby. The reader is given an image of a young, female attorney, competent, self-assured, in charge. But slowly, layer by layer, Ms Matturro peels away the façade to reveal a woman controlled by everyone who enters her life: her powerful husband, the felon ex-boyfriend, her mentor, and even the police detective with whom she’s having an affair. Whenever Ruby attempts to take charge, wrest control from those around her, she ends up deeper and deeper in the morass of deception and secrets that is the ultimate control over her life and actions.

Privilege is a legal thriller that brings to mind the film Basic Instinct, and hints at Out of Time starring Denzel Washington. As the story is unveiled the reader is kept off balance by the gritty characterization of Ruby Randolph. Is she a victim? Or is she the orchestrator in this intricate web of misdeeds and manipulations that threaten to destroy the law firm she works for?

Everyone wants Gardner Randolph dead. He’s a powerful man, a master manipulator, a control freak, and cruel. Ms Matturro deftly captures all this with her astute use of dialogue and action. Gardner’s marriage reflects these aspects of his personality as does his machinations to oust the founding partners of the law firm. When he is found shot to death, there are plenty of suspects but the police zero in on his wife, Ruby.

Theirs was not a marriage made in heaven. Nor has the relationship improved over the sixteen years they’ve been together. Evidence of this is apparent to the detectives working the case not only in Ruby’s battered face, but in the office gossip that reaches their ears. The detectives suspect there’s a darker reason for Ruby to want her husband dead but she’s not talking. Matters are further complicated by the fact that she is having an affair with one of the detectives, Hank Rider.

The character Ms Matturro has created in Ruby is complex and at time unlikable. But there is a realism in this story that rings true. Ruby struggles against the forces that have shaped her and that now bind her. She is very realistic in that she is able to see how she’s been manipulated and controlled but fails to see how she, in turn, has used her sexuality in much the same way.

Ms Matturro also did an excellent job in developing the character of Luther, one of the detectives. As the partner to Ruby’s love interest, he is fully developed and very believable. It is his desire to protect his friend from his involvement with their chief suspect while he is driven to resolve the mystery of who killed Gardner Randolph that allows the reader to see his true character.

This is an excellent story, well written, and with complex and satisfyingly flawed characters. The intricacy of the plot will keep the reader spell bound to the end.

[Victoria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Matturro’s crime thriller takes you to Florida’s Gulf Coast where you can soak up the beachy atmosphere while her protagonist, Kate Garcia, gets into some mighty deep waters.
Kate has a boyfriend who wants to marry her. Raymond Slaverson is a detective with the Concordia, Florida, police department, and he and his partner are investigating the fatal shooting of state attorney Alton Weaver.
She is the head reference librarian at the county library and the fifth generation of her family to live on the Gulf Coast. She’s up in arms about a phosphate mining operation’s plans to open up a major facility likely to become an environmental disaster. An environmental activist working against the mine turns up dead around the same time Weaver does. These bodies are barely cold when a local real estate lawyer is murdered in his garage. Are these deaths related? If so, it isn’t easy for the investigators to spot any connections. As the investigations lurch along, Matturro does a good job describing the characters involved and their peculiarities, both good and bad.
Kate learns that the murdered state attorney had been using the library’s newspaper archive the day before he died. And he isn’t the only one lately who’s been accessing that same old microfiche reel. Curious as to what Weaver and others are looking for in a 1972 Tallahassee newspaper, she narrows it down to the story of a young couple murdered at a remote spot on the shore called Bald Point. Back then, Florida’s Gulf Coast was prime marijuana smuggling territory, and speculation at the time was that the teenagers had stumbled upon a gang of drug smugglers, but the case was never solved.
The past has become inescapable for Kate and maybe even dangerous, as people interested in those old murders have become targets. The recreation of the events of 1972 is strong and full of tension. The callous, desperate people involved seem just the type to have long memories and a strong sense of self-preservation, using the violent means they know best.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and its interesting, well-developed characters. The plot is strong, and she does a great job with the setting. The lesson here is, if you’ve got some significant skeletons in your closet, keep that door shut!

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Red Adept Publishing and Library Thing for giving me an advance copy of this book. Set in the Florida Panhandle, the novel evoked a strong sense of place, and the author did a good job of portraying the police detective characters.
I had trouble getting into the story because it jumps around in time, introduces a lot of characters, and then jumps to another time with different characters. It is told from multiple viewpoints.
In the most recent time period, 1992, two lawyers are murdered and another man is mysteriously run off the road, where he abandons his car, takes off into the swamp, and dies from a snake bite. Ray and Luke, the detectives investigating the cases, are certain there must be a connection.
Kate Garcia, Ray's girlfriend, works as a librarian and remembers both lawyers had recently looked at the same microfiche article about an unsolved murder that took place 20 years earlier. She's in no hurry to share this information with the police, however.
I was slow to figure out that Kate Garcia and Kitty Pettus (from the 1959 Prologue) are the same person. Her best friends from the Prologue, Nicky and CeCe, are now estranged, but we don't know why.
Almost midway through the book, we get a long flashback from 1972, about Nicky's involvement with drug smuggling, along with Kitty's dying father, Tank, and a number of other thugs. Bobby, the ringleader, lusts after Kitty, much to the chagrin of Nicky and Tank. Kitty and CeCe were only peripherally involved in the operation, but the men sometimes used Kitty's van to transport their contraband. One night, a marijuana deal goes terribly wrong, resulting in the murders of four people; two bodies were stashed in Kitty's van and driven into a sinkhole.
Apparently, the group all went their separate ways after that incident.
But after the 1992 lawyer murders, the 1972 tragedy is revived, and Kate/Kitty walks straight into a trap.
Except for a few parts where I had to suspend disbelief, this was a compelling mystery.

[Shirley Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a solid 4 for me until about 1/2 way through, and then I'm afraid it fell off for me. I loved the premise of the story about how a crime committed 20 years before impacts the lives of the people who were involved in that crime 20 years ago. Kate (Kitty) was there for both time frames, but in 1972 she was 18 years old, living without her mother who had died a few years before, and her drug-smuggling father Tank.who was such a surprise in the book Tank knows he's doing something illegal smuggling marijuana in the Florida panhandle, but his motivation is to make money so that his daughter can go to college. He's probably the most likeable drug smuggler you'll every meet. He know he is dying from lung cancer when he forces Kitty to leave and to take the money he has saved for her and go make a life for herself elsewhere. On her way out of town, Kitty catches the tail-end of a drug deal that went horribly wrong, and then hightails it out of there as soon as she sees what has happened. We meet her again 20 years later where she is a qualified research librarian with a cop for a boyfriend. Then lawyers start getting killed in her hometown, and Kate knows that it has everything to do with what happened 20 years ago in her old hometown. This book had me riveted up to this point. Then the plot seems to fall down a bit and things appear to happen haphazardly and the tight plot disappears into a shambling mess that just seems jammed together to get a whole bunch of action in before the book ends. Another thing that downgraded if for me is the unresolved ending. I received an early review copy of this book from the publisher (Red Adept Publishing) in return for an honest review, and I'd like to thank them for giving me the opportunity to read it. The book would be enjoyed by anyone that enjoys a quick and suspenseful read with a bit of a twisty plot.

[NoNo JoJo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Preface: I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This novel is a weird mixture of new and old. The characters, unfortunately, aren't all that interesting. Once you've seen one depressed alcoholic cop, you've seen 'em all. Kate has a lot of potential - she's a librarian and an activist, with a mysterious past - but she becomes hard to sympathize with once she starts cheating on Ray. We understand why she does it - their relationship isn't healthy, they're not really in love - but it takes away most of her sympathetic qualities, and aside from that plotline, she's really not in the book very much until the last quarter or so.

The plot is a little more ambitious. We have a string of murders that appear to be connected somehow to the phosphate mines, though it's difficult to find a true connection. Then, we have two murders that took place years ago. Are the murders related to one, or the other? Or could it be...both?

Unfortunately, the answer was a little convoluted, and parts of it were just too unrealistic for me to enjoy. A particular reveal of a certain character's identity made me roll my eyes. There is also an on-page rape scene, and lots of violence, so be aware of that.

Overall, this wasn't my cup of tea. I didn't care enough for the characters to root for them or find them interesting, and the plot kinda falls apart at the end. If you like police procedurals, you might enjoy this, but it's nothing special.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My "Christmas in July" gift to myself was the discovery of Ms. Matturro. I voluntarily requested an ARC of "The Smuggler's Daughter" because I was intrigued by the title and the beautiful cover design. I assumed that Ms. Matturro was a "new author," what a mistake! She has written several other novels which I have now added to my "to read" list. "The Smuggler's Daughter" is a classic mystery and EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN! I have never visited the Gulf Coast of Florida, but I have now been taken there by Ms. Matturro. Rest assured, you will not be disappointed if you purchase this book for yourself, family or friends! I don't feel a review should include the details of the book nor any spoilers, so I am not including that detail. I do feel that if you have never read a book by Ms. Matturro you should do so NOW! Once you start "The Smuggler's Daughter" you will not be able to put it down and it will keep you guessing until the very last page. I plan to read "Privilege" in the near future and I expect it will be as wonderful a read as "The Smuggler's Daughter!" ENJOY!

[Susan Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Claire Matturo’s new novel, The Smuggler’s Daughter, you encounter complex characters that seem so real you can go to your local police station or library and meet them. The author follows her characters in a multi-decade adventure which puts the reader in the middle of a panhandle criminal conspiracy the likes of which you could not have envisioned on your own.
The author incorporated the theme of fighting phosphate mining in Florida, a cause I agree with and in which other Floridians should join.

Ms. Matturo is a master of suspenseful mysteries, and this novel verifies that fact. As I was enjoying this book, I was imagining aspiring authors of mysteries studying the author’s plot as if in a writing seminar. In addition, it’s always nice when I encounter new words as I did when I had to look up “jackleg.” It means unskilled and untrained. A character’s father was a “jackleg preacher.”

[Jay Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts a little slow as three murders are described. As the initial seeds are planted, the characters begin to be better defined. They are realistic and very representative of their ages. A 20 year old unsolved double murder slowly emerges as the link driving the present day events. Without too much description, the author develops good images of the Florida Panhandle and the people who live there. The writing is clear and direct, with a light touch on the actual violence. I got so caught up in the story I had to stay up and finish it before I could sleep. The plot displays the effects of time on the people and their personalities. There's no storybook ending, but it is quite realistic. The reader is left to imagine the end results. I will definitely put this one on the "read-again" shelf. The author gifted me with a copyfor feedback. I liked it enough to add a review.

[Susan Yawn Tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Smuggler's Daughter by Claire Matturro opens with a one-two punch that will send readers scrambling to connect the dots between three murders. Ms. Matturro has crafted a complex and intriguing story peopled with characters who are altogether believable and whose choices will linger with you after the story ends. The threads of the story begin when teen-aged Kitty, struggling to survive in a harsh world, slips into events she can’t even begin to realize are life choices. The consequences impact every aspect of grown-up Kate’s life, particularly her relationship with police detective lover, Ray, who wants very much to be her fiancé. Ray has no idea what he’ll unravel when he tugs at the threads of the past. But Kate knows and finds herself in a race with the law, and her lover, to uncover—or hide—the dangerous truths that haunt her. I gave this one five stars!

[Scott Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "The Smuggler's Daughter", Claire Matturo weaves a mystery that spans generations and she deftly portrays characters who make bad choices in their youth that come back to haunt them later. Florida bleeds from every page, from drug smuggling to environmental chicanery. from flawed detectives to redneck rowdies. You can hear the cicadas sing and the smell the salt tang of the ocean.

Matturo paints a tale of how one's past can lay submerged for years, like an alligator in a swamp, always lurking, coloring your behavior and ready to explode out of the water when you least expect it.

Highly recommended for those who like a well-plotted mystery set against the steamy swamps and tidal currents of that most quirky, oddly diverse and too often despoiled state.

[Bruce Ballister · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read!

The tale starts off with an even measured pace, drops back to develop back story then races toward the heart-stopping finish. The author has produced a gem of a crime novel while painting with broad strokes, the beauty and charm of the Florida Gulf coast. The region’s past as a favorite off loading locale for the Colombian cartels is well known, but her portrayal of the process is as believable as a State’s witness’s account. Kate, her protagonist, is a no-foolin’ strong female lead with an attitude and a strong sense of self-preservation. You’re going to enjoy this one.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and the ARC was provided by Hidden Gems. The story hops around in time starting in 1959 and then going to 1992 and then back to 1972. In the process you discover how crimes from twenty years ago might have something to do with the murders of lawyers in 1992. As the police detectives, Ray and Luke try to determine who killed these attorneys, Kate, Ray’s girlfriend is reminded of her past on the gulf coast of Florida. The mystery keeps you guessing to connect the events in the past with the characters now.

[Jennifer Shepard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read from this author and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The ending of this book.. come on! I just didn´t expect it! Can´t wait to read other books from this great writer! Amazing job! a must-read! A fantastic book that has it all! I happily endorse this story to any and all who are looking for a thriller enjoyable read and a completely different experience than anyone could imagine on their own. ¡Great book!

[Carrie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The smuggling which occurs at the heart of this engrossing, gritty thriller, is so hard hitting, it's almost impossible to believe that the very elegant author conjured up these characters! WOW. I read Ms. Matturo's previous book, Privilege.... this time, she takes us down toward Apalachicola, where times are difficult, and formerly successful fishermen have got to scramble to provide for their families. This story is dark and its real and speaks to an era some thirty years ago when when peoples' lives were being snatched out from under them, and through no fault of their own.
I thoroughly recommend The Smuggler's Daughter.

[BookNerdette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok 🎧 Audiobook.
I listened on the Everand app.
Narrated by Alicia Kelly, and Kevin Stillwell
Let me say Alicia is dry as a narrator. But you will surely love Kevin as I did. His parts of the book held my attention.

So with what I said about the narrators... I'm not sure if it was that or the story that made this an okay book.

[Pat Spears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Claire Matturo is a wonderfully talented writer. In The Smuggler's Daughter, she gives us a very appealing protagonist in the Kate character, a plot with enough twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, and a surprising twist at the end with her villain. All this, plus some nice exploration of family dynamics. A great read for mystery fans.

[Rachel Cacek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engrossing tale of great cops trying to stop the killimgs

Fast-moving, realistic tale of drug-running murder and mayhem. Good cops with a tough case, people lying, add up to a story you won't put down til the end. Enjoy!

[Trisha Gagnon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was a little slow in the beginning. I enjoyed the story once it got going, but then was disappointed with the unresolved ending. It's like the author didn't know how to finish it for the characters and gave up.

[Patty S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed a whiteboard to keep track of all the characters. It was almost too much especially the minute details of the smuggling itself. Then…they went and got their names changed! Good, but not great.