1st book in the series of 20 titles Deborah Knott mystery
This book was ....A mighty fine read of a story .. I can see why Maron was nominated for so many awards for this book...and...I do believe, some of which she won. (Edgar Award winner for first novel ) Won other awards for it too.
But.. the sppl paperback I got wasn't large print; It was just a regular paperback.
This is the first title in a series of 20 titles, ... by Margaret Maron.

Maron's other series, Sigrid Harald, woman detective, is also an excellent series.

Brought in Daddy too late in the narrative but the flow was good. Nasty folks there "down South" with a lot of axes grinding. Still the same today there is just a certain atmosphere that anyone not from there will get that creepy feeling when they stop in one of those small southern towns. The author is obviously "from there" and captures that feeling. A bit too much detail occasionally but she will improve I am sure.

Great book- Comment from Omaha area book club.

This is the first Deborah Knott book, and you learn how Deborah becomes a judge. I love her large family and how her father always knows what is going on in the county. In this first book, you meet the characters that continue through the other books which include her large family of brothers, their wives, and children. In this novel, Deborah, looks into an old murder with a surprising ending. My only complaint is the poor editing. I found many grammar errors and this why it didn't get more stars.

An Edgar Award winning first novel in a current and long-running series, Bootlegger’s Daughter introduces attorney Deborah Knott as she embarks on a run for district judge in Colleton County, North Carolina. Not just for mystery readers; wry wit, local colour, family relationships, issues of ethics, race and sexuality feature in this beautifully descriptive Southern novel.

What a fantastic series beginning. Fortunately, I discovered this series several years after this book was published so that I didn't have to wait for the second book! The stories are well written and Deborah is a compelling character. Southern hospitality and the chaos that often exists in a large family add realism and humour to Deborah's life as a judge in a small town. I recommend the whole series but this first book is still my favourite.