The Blue Line Down

by Maris Lawyer

From debut novelist Maris Lawyer, The Blue Line Down is a breakneck tale of betrayal, loyalty, and unexpected homecoming. Jude Washer wants to run: away from the coal mines where he is destined to work, away from his father’s abuse of his little brother, away from the prison-like confines of his village. Whispers of unionizing ripple through the small West Virginia mining town. When the mines take Jude’s brother away from him, Jude takes matters into his own hands. With nowhere else to go, Jude joins the Baldwin-Felts Agency, a band of violent men dedicated to stamping out unionizers across the mountains. It is 1922, and the Baldwin-Felts are poised to raid a mining town in Virginia. When the coal miners fight back against the agents, Jude, now twenty-four, and Harvey, a new recruit, take an opportunity to flee amid the bloodshed. With the Baldwin-Felts on their tail, Jude and an injured Harvey make their way down the mountains, where they are intercepted in South Carolina by a ragtag gang of bootleggers who put them to work to pay off a debt. Jude is desperate for a place to call home, but can he find it in these hardscrabble hills among strangers?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Southern, Fiction

268 pages, Paperback

Published June 22, 2021

Reviews

[Taylor Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE BLUE LINE DOWN never lets up. Maris Lawyer has spun a tale of violent grace and surprising warmth that moves at the pace of a thunderbolt, carrying the reader right into the troubled heart of the Appalachian coal wars and Carolina bootlegging days. Thanks to Hub City Press for the ARC!

[Meg Sanders · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Well written, and incredibly researched. The characters were complex and interesting, and every scene was incredibly vivid. I couldn’t put it down!

[Kathy Mabry · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the get-go, the reader is pulled into the emotional rawness of Jude Washer’s circumstances. Laced with tidbits of the little-known Baldwin Felts agents, this story has you hanging on to the very end for its redemptive conclusion.

[Elizabeth Bjornson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fast paced and artfully intertwines several impactful pieces of history that impacted the East coast in the early 20s. It’s easy to care about these characters and difficult to put the book down.

[Karen Clements · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this and appreciated the opportunity to read Lawyer's debut. Set in Depression-era West Virginia and South Carolina, the story follows Jude Washer, first in the losses of his mother and younger brother, and then through cruel treatment by his father. Not being one to endure this passively, Jude turns in his father as a union organizer to the mine owner and runs away. He lives a hard life, working with a union-busting group called the Baldwin-Felts agency, then going on the run when they harm his protégé, Harvey. Together they escape south and start over. The difficult days and places were depicted well, and while Jude isn't always easy to understand, he is an intriguing character who held my interest.
Recommended

[Dana Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 Stars - Action-packed historical fiction set in South Carolina

I mean it in the nicest way possible when I say that I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. Long story short, I picked up Maris Lawyer’s The Blue Line Down at a used bookstore, planning on using it for a future blind date with a book endeavor. Then, the other day, I was looking at my bookshelf and figured, “Why not give it a try?”

I’m not a big historical fiction girlie, so I was a little out of my element at first (there was a lot of exposition in the prologue, and I had no idea what the heck Baldwin-Felts were), but once the story got going, I was all in. The Blue Line Down is packed with action but also has compelling character arcs. The more I read, the more I found myself invested in Jude’s personal arc.

While I did enjoy the first half of the story, my favorite part has to be the second half. As a South Carolina native, it was cool to read about bootlegging that used to take place (I won’t say much more to keep this review spoiler-free).

Another thing I really appreciated was the realism (gunshot wounds were serious business in this book). I may not be a history buff, but I will say that everything felt very realistic and down-to-earth.

I think that my only real issue with this book was how often Lawyer used the word “was.” It’s a pet peeve of mine to see “was” used so often. In my opinion, it comes off as very telly. However, that’s a minor thing, especially considering how many pieces of killer description Lawyer had in this book. And, as I said, my disdain for the word “was” is quite personal, and it is likely that other readers won’t notice/have any issue with it at all.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I am blown away by this book.
It caught my eye at the library, the unusual cover and title. When I read the blurb and author information, I was thrilled to discover author Maris Lawyer actually lives in the county next to mine! And that this book is the winner of the 2020 South Carolina Novel prize.
Set a century ago in the Appalachian regions of West Virginia and South Carolina, the story explores the coal mining life during the time of unionization and the brutality with which unionizers were threatened, attacked and even killed in order to stop their efforts. It also dips into bootlegging in the Carolinas. Lawyer doesn’t pull any punches in portraying the violence, addiction, poverty and oppression that characterized these areas.
Her characters were immediately interesting and sympathetic; the protagonist, Jude, was developed well and the process of him coming to grips with his family losses and betrayals was perfectly paced.
Speaking of pacing, this little book was hard to put down. I felt very invested in Jude and his journey, much of which was fleeing those who were after him. The suspense was almost constant, and kept the story moving.
I will definitely read whatever this young author comes up with next. Kudos to her for a well-done and serious debut novel about a piece of Appalachian history I’d not known.

[Rebecca Bezuyen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting Maris in person at a local author's event and obtaining a signed copy of her book and I'll be the first to tell you - I've never been much of a historical fiction type of reader, so I wasn't really chomping at the bit to read this one. But "The Blue Line Down" is one of those books that moves quickly and keeps the reader interested the whole way thru, so I was shocked when I finished it within a few hours and found myself craving more.

Maris has a beautiful writing style and offers just enough details to see the image in your mind without getting weighed down by miniscule attributes to the characters and the setting of her story. I would love to see a second story come out of this one explaining what happens past this book because the author did such a fantastic job painting the picture for me, but it's still great as a stand-alone (and my feelings won't be hurt if it doesn't get a sequel).

Since this book wasn't something I'd typically reach for, I can't give it a rave review because I will probably put it on my shelf and not touch it again for years, but it was still such a well-written book and a worthwhile story that it gets a 4 star rating from me.

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jude has only ever known a harsh life, growing up in Virginia coal mines with an abusive father. After his father and the mines kill his younger brother, Jude signs up with the union-busting Baldwin-Felts, continuing the same violence and cruelty he’s always known. But when the opportunity arises to escape, and more importantly save the newest recruit Harvey, Jude and Harvey hide on a train heading south, wind up in South Carolina, and caught up with a group of bootleggers who might actually have hearts of gold. Jude doesn’t even know how badly he needs redemption, to forgive himself, and to experience a life that is more than just scraping by. The story, through Maris Lawyer’s writing, feels honest - never over-pitying or critical of its characters. They are who they are in this snapshot. It’s an intimate glimpse into the quiet dignity of all.

[Bethany (whatsbethanyreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by this one! Historical fiction is not my favorite genre, but I thought I’d give it a try. I’m so glad I did! I was immediately sucked into the sad story of Jude Washer. The preface alone was enough to make me shed a tear. I loved learning about a piece of history I’ve never heard of before - the Baldwin Felts and the miners unions. I cannot believe such awful things happened just 100 years ago. I really loved how my home state was represented in the second half of the book. I feel like South Carolina is often overlooked, so I found it really interested to read about the business of bootlegging there in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Overall, this was a quick and enjoyable read!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read and a wild ride of a story! I couldn’t put it down (but did…because work, food, shower and sleep are all necessary things). This had me on the edge of my seat with nonstop action and a gritty tale of miners, bootleggers, fugitives on the run for their lives, and compassion. Blue Line Down is, at its center, a story about chasing hope, no matter how thin and fragile that hope may be. I may have cried a few things…ok, I definitely cried a few times. Highly recommend for both adults and high school kids who want a supplement for history lessons!

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gritty, rough and tumble story set in the 1920s. The protagonist has an ugly family tragedy that sets the course of his life, revealed as the novel begins. He works for a violent, union-busting employer at coal mines in Virginia and then after a grueling journey, moves on to bootlegging in South Carolina, his early family life shaping his adventures. This is not a complicated but but it's gripping, nevertheless.

[Michel Sabbagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review for the book can be read on The Southern Review of Books's website:

https://southernreviewofbooks.com/202...

In a nutshell: At 216 pages, The Blue Line Down parallels Jude’s lean and mean physique and character — unafraid to get coal-mine dirty, nimbly moving from one order of business to the next, and revealing spirit through action.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Just finished the book and loved it. A hard-to-tell story of a little known part of Appalachian history, about complex
people in complex circumstances with
impossible choices, told with the grace
of a true southern writer. Thank you for
NOT reducing this rich and complicated
heritage into the caricature depiction of
moonshiners and coal miners that is so
prevalent today.

[Jake Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowzers! I didn’t even know such historical violence existed in Appalachia like this. It was a great read that moves along at a quick pace. The setting and attention to the world this story belongs to really did it for me. I can’t wait to see what Mrs. Lawyer adds next to her Appalachian Legendarium.

[Kozbi BC · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Blue Line Down, Maris Lawyer flawlessly portrays prohibition-era Appalachia. I was fascinated by the history woven throughout the novel! It took me a while to warm up to the characters due to the action-packed opening scenes, but I grew a soft spot for the protagonist over the course of the story.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent read. Maris Lawyer wrote a wonderful debut novel. The characters and storyline move together in a thrilling story of how a young man's life evolves through dark times by the choices and relationships he makes. I loved it.

[Cameron Newton · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s pretty hard to understand how this book is so packed with action and emotion in such a short page count. And it’s paced so masterfully! Lawyer’s storytelling ability is enthralling–I hope this is made into a movie someday.

[Beth Ledford · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a treasure! I love reading historical fiction and books about the south. The fact that the author is from the upstate and is an Anderson University grad made it even better! I would love to read more from her!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that quickly hooks you into the plot. I loved learning about the Baldwin-Felts, an aspect of history I was previously unaware of, through the eyes of Jude Washer - a perfectly flawed and realistic protagonist. Clearly well-researched and smoothly written.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written book of redemption that is also filled with action. I enjoyed the fast pace nature of the pros and I think this would be a great read for book clubs/reading groups.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast moving and holds your interest. I was impressed that it was Ms. Lawyer’s first novel.