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Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery
Last Known A Southern Mystery
Sue Anger
1923 was the year for boats and booze and rag and jazz.
And the occasional missing sailor.
Set in the seaport town of Beaufort, North Carolina at the height of Prohibition, Last Known Port has all the elements of a page-turning a waterfront setting, lawless greed, foul play and romance. Anger’s knowledge of the Carolina coast, intimate familiarity with small-town life, and detailed research into 1920s Beaufort bring this colorful tale of intrigue to life with a winningly authentic voice.
- Bland and Ann Simpson, author and photographer, North Land of Water, Land of Sky
In Last Known Port, Jake Parson, a shell-shocked World War I veteran, is determined to find his missing brother, who was last seen off the waters of Beaufort, North Carolina. Jake investigates how his brother became immersed in the tangled web of rum-running and smuggling during the frenzied days of Prohibition. Racing against time as the danger of discovery piles up around him, Jake faces characters who must make hard choices when their love and loyalty are tested. Anger’s debut novel is fearless, entertaining and heartbreaking—sometimes all at once.
- Alice Osborn, author of Heroes without Capes, North Carolina Writers’ Network, Board of Trustees
About the Author
Sue Anger grew up in Beaufort, North Carolina, where the past is always present. As a child, it was easy for Sue to walk around Beaufort’s windy streets, sail her waters and imagine the folks who had passed before her. And she never tires of listening to the stories of the land and the sea.
Sue Anger
1923 was the year for boats and booze and rag and jazz.
And the occasional missing sailor.
Set in the seaport town of Beaufort, North Carolina at the height of Prohibition, Last Known Port has all the elements of a page-turning a waterfront setting, lawless greed, foul play and romance. Anger’s knowledge of the Carolina coast, intimate familiarity with small-town life, and detailed research into 1920s Beaufort bring this colorful tale of intrigue to life with a winningly authentic voice.
- Bland and Ann Simpson, author and photographer, North Land of Water, Land of Sky
In Last Known Port, Jake Parson, a shell-shocked World War I veteran, is determined to find his missing brother, who was last seen off the waters of Beaufort, North Carolina. Jake investigates how his brother became immersed in the tangled web of rum-running and smuggling during the frenzied days of Prohibition. Racing against time as the danger of discovery piles up around him, Jake faces characters who must make hard choices when their love and loyalty are tested. Anger’s debut novel is fearless, entertaining and heartbreaking—sometimes all at once.
- Alice Osborn, author of Heroes without Capes, North Carolina Writers’ Network, Board of Trustees
About the Author
Sue Anger grew up in Beaufort, North Carolina, where the past is always present. As a child, it was easy for Sue to walk around Beaufort’s windy streets, sail her waters and imagine the folks who had passed before her. And she never tires of listening to the stories of the land and the sea.
- GenresMystery
354 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 4, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 25, 2023
It’s May 1923. Jake Parson and his Labrador retriever, Pilot, have pulled into the port of Beaufort, North Carolina. He is only a week late, and he is eager to see his brother, Wade, who is waiting for him. Upon his arrival, he learns that Wade left a week ago aboard his boat, but never made it to his next port. There are no signs of him in Beaufort except that his dog, Yawg, is there. Jake knows something is wrong; Wade would never leave Yawg behind. Jake begins to do some investigating around town, talking to anyone who knew him.
Beneath the surface of Beaufort, things are not what they seem. The idyllic coastal town harbors some big secrets. Jake, a World War I veteran suffering from shellshock, discovers rum-running and smuggling are the biggest trades in the area.
As he meets the town’s inhabitants, Jake is drawn to jazz musician Nell Guthrie. Unfortunately, Nell is already engaged, but the two do become good friends. Bottom line is that Jake learns that “local rum runners are piloting small boats in the open ocean to collect illegal booze from ships traveling the “Whiskey Road,” that stretches from Nassau to New York City’s Rum Row.”
This novel was more about the booze than it was about finding Wade. He was a secondary plot point. Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery gets 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
Beneath the surface of Beaufort, things are not what they seem. The idyllic coastal town harbors some big secrets. Jake, a World War I veteran suffering from shellshock, discovers rum-running and smuggling are the biggest trades in the area.
As he meets the town’s inhabitants, Jake is drawn to jazz musician Nell Guthrie. Unfortunately, Nell is already engaged, but the two do become good friends. Bottom line is that Jake learns that “local rum runners are piloting small boats in the open ocean to collect illegal booze from ships traveling the “Whiskey Road,” that stretches from Nassau to New York City’s Rum Row.”
This novel was more about the booze than it was about finding Wade. He was a secondary plot point. Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery gets 3 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
August 25, 2023
Sue Anger's "Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery" transports readers to Beaufort, North Carolina, during Prohibition. With meticulous historical research and vivid storytelling, Anger crafts a riveting tale of Jake Parson's quest to find his missing brother amidst rum-running and romance. The authentic small-town setting, authentic characters, and engaging prose create an immersive experience. Seamlessly blending history with compelling narrative, Anger's debut novel is a fearless, insightful exploration of a captivating era, leaving readers eagerly anticipating her next literary venture.
January 25, 2024
Sue Anger's "Last Known Port: A Southern Mystery" transports readers to Beaufort, North Carolina, during Prohibition. With meticulous historical research and vivid storytelling, Anger crafts a riveting tale of Jake Parson's quest to find his missing brother amidst rum-running and romance. The authentic small-town setting, authentic characters, and engaging prose create an immersive experience. Seamlessly blending history with compelling narrative, Anger's debut novel is a fearless, insightful exploration of a captivating era, leaving readers eagerly anticipating her next literary venture.
June 12, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. It would make a great movie!
August 13, 2023
Good suspense and excellent human interest aspect. I loved it
July 6, 2024
The author introduces many minor story lines, but doesn’t develop them. The inconsistent dialogue was glaring. The basic plot was interesting however.
December 6, 2023
This book really brings its prohibition-era setting to life and uses beautiful description to situate readers in the Southern coastal town of Beaufort where to mystery takes place. The story follows World War 1 veteran, Jake, as he searches for his missing brother and gets entangled in the complex small-town issues that connect and divide Beaufort's residents. As much as I enjoyed the rich historical setting, my favorite part of this book were the relationships between the characters. The writer uses vivid dialogue and storytelling to create complex characters who feel like real people with their individual flaws, dreams, and idiosyncrasies.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews