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Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite
Woodville Bill by Micky Emerald is set at the dawn of the 20th century, where a group of orphans comes together to rob a train. As Oklahoma enforces Prohibition, Billy develops a reputation for outrunning law enforcement and becomes known for racing in his striking 1913 Mercer car. While some members, like Daniel and his family, focus on building respectable lives through the church, others engage in illegal moonshine production using equipment Billy provides. Conflicts arise as Billy’s complicated relationships affect the group’s cohesion, especially involving Willow, Daniel’s wife. Throughout their journey, Billy’s daring actions attract powerful figures in the bootlegging business. When he enters a perilous race designed for bootleggers, the risks increase, threatening not only his future but also the stability of those around him.
Micky Emerald’s Woodville Bill showcases excellent writing marked by brilliant and authentic voices that immediately pull readers into Emerald's gritty world. This novel is among the best I've come across in its use of vernacular language and local idioms, and gives the characters distinct, memorable personalities and a conversational tone that is thoroughly immersive and dripping with texture. Emerald branches the arcs over a period of time, and the development of the characters is deliberate and organic. Interestingly, the most fascinating character to me is Willow, and her complicated role shift. The setting is richly and cinematically drawn, with careful references to places, events, and customs that are rooted in real history, be it the feel of the Oklahoma wind or the ins and outs of moonshine brewing. Overall, this is a pitch-perfect read. Recommended.
