Moonshine Over Georgia by Chris Skates

C.E. “Kid” Miller may have only been a passing character in the now-famous book Murder in Coweta County, but the Georgia Revenue Agent was anything but a minor player in the whiskey-soaked bootleg crime world of rural Georgia in the 1940s. 

Miller spent his career as a Georgia lawman taking on dangerous bootleg empires, most notably going toe to toe with the infamous John Wallace and working tirelessly to bring down his criminal enterprise known in Merriwether County as The Kingdom. 

Miller’s grandson, author Chris Skates, has taken firsthand accounts of his grandfather’s career and woven the stories into a remarkable historical fiction entitled Moonshine Over Georgia. Do not assume, however, that this is just a story about bootleggers and backwoods stills. This gripping work takes a thoughtful and in-depth look at a dangerous period in our state’s history, when violent gangs terrorized entire communities, and illegal liquor production was often lethally tainted, putting people at serious risk. 

Moonshine Over Georgia not only takes us into the heart of this time period, but it is also an incredible portrayal of complex characters who are being tested by corruption, greed, and fear while searching for their own inner moral compass. 

This book is highly recommended for those who enjoy Southern history and true crime and should be required reading for anyone who takes an interest in the characters and myths surrounding the Murder in Coweta County saga. 

Georgia native Chris Skates is an award-winning author, columnist, and former speechwriter. After almost 30 years working as a chemist, Skates began work as a writer, serving as a policy advisor and speechwriter for state and federal leaders. He has published hundreds of articles and several books that are inspired by Southern history.