The First Emma

By: Camille Di Maio

Narrated by: Nancy Peterson

Camille Di Maio's novel The First Emma is the true story of Emma Koehler, whose tycoon husband, Otto, was killed in a crime-of-the-century murder by one of his two mistresses - both also named Emma - and her unlikely rise as CEO of a brewing empire during Prohibition. When a chance to tell her story to a young teetotaler arises, a tale unfolds of love, war, beer, and the power of women.

©2020 Camille Di Maio (P)2020 Tantor

Summary

This book is a very good outlook of the owners of the San Antonio Pearl Brewery.

A very enjoyable book

This author is a very talented writer. I like her writing style as well as her brilliance in developing this story with very few facts available. I enjoyed reading about Eric and Mabel. The ending was the icing on the cake. I plan to listen to this recording again as I read along with this wonderful book. I plan to read all of this author's books. Thank you to Camille Di Maio for creating this very special book.

Wonderful historical fiction

Camille does a wonderful job of filling in the gaps of an amazing San Antonio woman and her legacy. Well done.

Excellent

Enjoyed this book from beginning to end and I am picky! Great historical fiction very interesting.

A Remarkable Story with a Sweet Twist

I did not necessarily choose this book intentionally but it was well worth my time and captured my heart.

In a time when the roles of women and even their feelings were of little consequence to society an amazing woman rose above the status quo to endure a painful, unfaithful marriage and become a matriarch for her community.

This was a wonderful retelling of a pieced together life of a truly amazing woman, Emma Koehler. I loved the way that Camille Di Maio wove the little that is known about such a monumental person into a story that is compelling both in its tragedy and its triumph. The use of a young girl to come and be a means of this story unfolding was beautiful and brilliant. It allowed her to create the fairy tale that we all want to have while also sharing what is known, a beautiful symphony of literary music.

I have also read The Beautiful Strangers by Do Maio and although I liked that one I loved this one. I love how she takes subject matter and individuals that are not well known or well written about and bring those things to life once more. After reading The Beautiful Strangers I had to see The Coronado Hotel and now I am anxious to some day see the Pearl District in San Antonio. I believe the mark of a great historical fiction is to lead your reader to want to know more and I was definitely led on this path.