Jan Walker is an author from my home town of Gig Harbor Washington and this is the second book I have enjoyed of hers. I really liked this story, and admire Jan for her self-published works and her love of writing. Here is my book review The Whiskey Creek Water Company by Jan Walker

Pacific Northwest

Last summer I enjoyed Jan’s book Rain Shelters and Ghost Gods which was based in two places I love; Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest. This novel, The Whiskey Creek Water Company is also based in the Pacific Northwest, and in fact in the small county where I grew up.

Set during prohibition, the small fictional town of Burke Bay is loosely based on the area of Kitsap County called Brownsville. The people of Burke Bay are primarily of Scandinavian heritage and work off the land and sea for their livelihood.

Small Town

The heroine of the story is local school teacher Maeva Swanson. Determined and hardworking Maeve keeps herself and her mother afloat with her teaching salary. But the small town has new residents in bachelor brothers Hauk and Lang Nordlund, and another new more sinister guest Farley Price. Though Farley’s wife Eleanor and his daughter Hannah are warmly welcomed by the community, Farley is an angry firecracker on the verge of exploding. And when he does, all hell will break loose.

The character development in this story is really well done, from illegal distillery operator Orval Blevins to arrogant brother Jonas and all the cast of people who make Burke Bay the friendly town it is. How will all these folks come together to keep everyone safe when violence erupts? Find out in The Whiskey Creek Water Company by Jan Walker.

And if you are from Kitsap County and of Scandinavian heritage, I think you will particularly enjoy this story. Thanks for reading my book review The Whiskey Creek Water Company by Jan Walker.

See last week’s book review Less is Lost by Andrew Sean Greer.