Leadfoot: A Rumrunners Novel

Set in Iowa in 1971, Beetner’s prequel to 2015’s Rumrunners combines brutal violence with sympathetic characters. Calvin McGraw, a gifted driver whose talents are much in demand, can’t shake his affiliation with the Stanleys, “a family who would call themselves a criminal empire.” The Stanleys are enmeshed in a blood feud with their hated rivals, the Cantrells, and the bodies have begun to pile up. Hugh Stanley, the clan’s leader, assigns Calvin to pick up a package in St. Louis that’s actually a young woman, Joni, who’s 20 years old at most, but circumstances force Hugh to pass that duty on to his 19-year-old son, Webb. This is the first solo mission for Webb, who finds it more challenging than he anticipated once he develops feelings for Joni. The stakes rise after Joni gives Webb the slip. Various characters display unexpected but plausible depths, and Beetner effectively balances action scenes with quieter moments. Readers, especially fans of the TV series Fargo, will want to seek out his other work. (Nov.)