Preview
  • The Moonshine War

  • By: Elmore Leonard
  • Narrated by: Mark Hammer
  • Length: 7 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (389 ratings)

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The Moonshine War

By: Elmore Leonard
Narrated by: Mark Hammer
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Publisher's summary

It was Prohibition, and a big, hell-raising Son Martin had himself something special: $125,000 worth of Kentucky's finest home-made whiskey, no one was going to steal it. Because when it came to shooting, fighting, and outsmarting the Big Boys, Son Martin wasn't just good. He was bad . . .dangerous. . . and deadly.

©1969 Elmore Leonard (P)1996 Recorded Books Inc.
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What listeners say about The Moonshine War

Average customer ratings
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Excellent Story

The Moonshine War checked all the boxes for being an engaging, entertaining book, It contains no woke nonsense or political correctness. It is what stories are meant to be,

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Just Great

My first Elmore Leonard and I plan to read many more. The characters are so well written and the story’s unputdownable. And it’s subtle in perfect & surprising ways.
Mark Hammer’s narration is exactly right for this story.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not one of Elmore Leonard’s best

I’ve read-and loved-almost all of Leonard’s works. This one was just fair. I enjoyed the narration.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Dialogue! Super Cool!... in other words, Elmore Leonard!

Elmore Leonard kills, as always! Mark Hammer nails the nuance of a redneck dialect. I usually bank on George Guidall and Frank Mueller’s readings of Leonard but this makes me want to listen to another Hammer strike!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Story draws you in, great narration

This was my first Elmore Leonard novel, and I think I'm hooked. He takes a fairly simple premise and keeps drawing you in further to the different nuances to the plot and characters. The narrator was perfect. I've disliked his narration in some other books he's done, but this one was brilliant. The gravelly voice, the voices and accents, and the cadence all added to the story. I never knew a moonshine war could be so interesting.

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Awesome

Would you listen to The Moonshine War again? Why?

i loved the dialogue. It is so clever and witty.

Any additional comments?

It was a great listen. I love Mark's performance his accent. Leonard is such an intelligent writer and I love his work.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Mark Hammer captures Leonard's essence.

Elmore Leonard weaves his tale of bad guys and worse guys again in this artfully written and masterfully performed story of life in depression era rural Kentucky. The hero is a lovable rogue, the lawmen are outlaws and the bad guys make you cheer each time one of them dies. Classic Elmore Leonard.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

I ALMOST DIDN'T MAKE IT

This was the longest 7hrs and 22 minutes I've ever had to spend listening to a book. I mean Mark Hammer was totally in the moment for 7 hours. The drawl was unending. There was not one character that spoke at a quick pace. It was sleep inducing. .....

But I have to say it's a good story ...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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So good

Elmore Leonard never disappoints with his books . This was a surprise, because I have never heard of this book. Just terrific

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Classic Elmore Leonard

The Moonshine War is the story of Son Martin a Prohibition Era bootlegger in rural Kentucky. Son's father hid over $100,000 of top grade moonshine. Now Frank Long, an old army buddy of Martin's is looking for it. Long is now a prohibition agent and wants the whiskey for himself. Long brings in some bootleggers to help him and things get hot.

This book was published in 1969, but like all great books, still holds up to repeated readings. This has Leonard's classic style. Heavy emphasis on dialogue, interesting characters, and sudden explosions of violence.

Mark Hammer gives a wonderful reading of the text. His voice captures the sound of the hills and the rhythm of Leonard's prose.

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6 people found this helpful