A Pair of Aces: Reese's Book Club
REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK • A gripping novel about two trailblazing women on opposite sides of the law—a prosecutor and a madam—who team up to bring down notorious Mob boss Lucky Luciano in 1930s New York, from the New York Times bestselling authors of the million-copy bestseller The Personal Librarian.
Eunice Carter, assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, has her sights set on the one and only Lucky Luciano, head of New York City’s five largest organized crime families. Other prosectors have tried to bring down Lucky, but they’ve all focused on the crime syndicate’s traditional businesses—bootlegging, gambling, loan sharking, and drug dealing—or tax evasion. No one has thought to approach the mob through its role in prostitution. Until Eunice. But she can’t get Luciano alone.
Polly Adler has worked long and hard to build up her high-class brothel business. Her client list is filled with well-known names, both the famous and the infamous, who all know her booze is top-notch, her music first-rate, her food exquisite, and her girls the best. But Lucky has gone too far, putting her girls in danger, and Polly finally sees the chance to end his reign once and for all.
Together, Eunice and Polly fashion a case utilizing a network of women. Bridging the enormous divide between them and risking their own lives, they assemble evidence bit by bit, under the nose of the man they’re trying to convict. It is this very alliance—of two women from vastly different worlds—that launches the most sensational trial New York City has ever seen.
Eunice Carter, assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor, has her sights set on the one and only Lucky Luciano, head of New York City’s five largest organized crime families. Other prosectors have tried to bring down Lucky, but they’ve all focused on the crime syndicate’s traditional businesses—bootlegging, gambling, loan sharking, and drug dealing—or tax evasion. No one has thought to approach the mob through its role in prostitution. Until Eunice. But she can’t get Luciano alone.
Polly Adler has worked long and hard to build up her high-class brothel business. Her client list is filled with well-known names, both the famous and the infamous, who all know her booze is top-notch, her music first-rate, her food exquisite, and her girls the best. But Lucky has gone too far, putting her girls in danger, and Polly finally sees the chance to end his reign once and for all.
Together, Eunice and Polly fashion a case utilizing a network of women. Bridging the enormous divide between them and risking their own lives, they assemble evidence bit by bit, under the nose of the man they’re trying to convict. It is this very alliance—of two women from vastly different worlds—that launches the most sensational trial New York City has ever seen.
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Community Reviews
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️✨
A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is a well-written historical novel told from two compelling perspectives.
One perspective follows Eunice, a Black prosecutor in 1930s New York whose family fled segregation in Atlanta, Georgia, in search of better opportunities. The other follows Polly Adler, a well-known madam and Russian immigrant who came to America alone at just twelve years old.
After experiencing firsthand the cruelty and control of mob boss Lucky Luciano, whose actions threatened the women she worked hard to protect, Polly becomes determined to help bring him down. She teams up with Eunice and the district attorney’s office, providing critical information that helps build the case against Luciano and other members of organized crime. Although Polly never takes the stand herself, her knowledge and cooperation prove invaluable to the prosecution.
As a Black woman and the only woman on the DA’s team, Eunice faces significant barriers despite her intelligence and legal expertise. While she is not allowed to lead the trial, she works closely alongside her boss, helping prepare the case and contributing to Luciano’s prosecution from behind the scenes.
This novel does an excellent job of highlighting the challenges women faced during that era while showcasing the courage and determination of two women from vastly different backgrounds who played pivotal roles in seeking justice.
A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is a well-written historical novel told from two compelling perspectives.
One perspective follows Eunice, a Black prosecutor in 1930s New York whose family fled segregation in Atlanta, Georgia, in search of better opportunities. The other follows Polly Adler, a well-known madam and Russian immigrant who came to America alone at just twelve years old.
After experiencing firsthand the cruelty and control of mob boss Lucky Luciano, whose actions threatened the women she worked hard to protect, Polly becomes determined to help bring him down. She teams up with Eunice and the district attorney’s office, providing critical information that helps build the case against Luciano and other members of organized crime. Although Polly never takes the stand herself, her knowledge and cooperation prove invaluable to the prosecution.
As a Black woman and the only woman on the DA’s team, Eunice faces significant barriers despite her intelligence and legal expertise. While she is not allowed to lead the trial, she works closely alongside her boss, helping prepare the case and contributing to Luciano’s prosecution from behind the scenes.
This novel does an excellent job of highlighting the challenges women faced during that era while showcasing the courage and determination of two women from vastly different backgrounds who played pivotal roles in seeking justice.
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