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Tom & Lucky
FINALIST FOR THE HARPER LEE PRIZE FOR LEGAL FICTION 2016FINALIST FOR THE MACAVITY AWARD 2016The year is 1936.Charles 'Lucky' Luciano is the most powerful gangster in America, Mob overlord and bootlegger millionaire. Thomas E. Dewey is an ambitious young prosecutor determined to bring him down, and Cokey Flo Brown - grifter, heroin addict and sometime prostitute - is the witness who claims she can do it.Only a wily defence attorney named George Morton Levy stands between Lucky and a life behind bars, and between Dewey and the New York Governor's mansion.As the Roaring Twenties give way to the austere reality of the Great Depression, four lives, each on its own incandescent trajectory, intersect in a New York courtroom. The events of this seminal Mob trial will introduce America to the violent and darkly glamorous world of organised crime, and leave its culture, laws and politics for ever changed.
- GenresFiction
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1865
About the author
C. Joseph Greaves
7 books9 followersSee also Chuck Greaves
Charles Joseph Greaves is an honors graduate of both the University of Southern California and Boston College Law School who spent 25 years as a Los Angeles trial lawyer before turning his talents to fiction.
HARD TWISTED (Bloomsbury), Chuck's debut historical/true-crime novel, was called "a taut and intriguing thriller" (London Sunday Times) and "a gritty, gripping read, and one that begs to be put on film" (Los Angeles Times.)
TOM & LUCKY AND GEORGE & COKEY FLO (Bloomsbury), Chuck's second historical/true-crime novel, recounts gangster Lucky Luciano's colorful and controversial 1936 vice trial and was named by the Wall Street Journal to its year-end uulist of the "Best Books of 2015." Tom & Lucky was also a finalist for both the Macavity Award from Mystery Readers International and the 2016 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction.
CHURCH OF THE GRAVEYARD SAINTS (Torrey House Press), Chuck's third work of literary fiction, was selected by six U.S. cities to launch their "Four Corners/One Book" regional reading program in 2019-2020. Of its central premise, Publishers Weekly wrote: "Can one go home again? Greaves explores this question with both passion and compassion, taking readers on a lyrical, vivid tour of the West."
In addition, Chuck publishes mystery fiction as Chuck Greaves. He has been a finalist for numerous national honors including the Shamus, Lefty, Reviewers Choice, and Audie Awards, as well as the New Mexico-Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma Book Awards. He is also a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the book critic for the Four Corners Free Press newspaper in Colorado, where he currently lives. You can visit him at www.chuckgreaves.com.
Charles Joseph Greaves is an honors graduate of both the University of Southern California and Boston College Law School who spent 25 years as a Los Angeles trial lawyer before turning his talents to fiction.
HARD TWISTED (Bloomsbury), Chuck's debut historical/true-crime novel, was called "a taut and intriguing thriller" (London Sunday Times) and "a gritty, gripping read, and one that begs to be put on film" (Los Angeles Times.)
TOM & LUCKY AND GEORGE & COKEY FLO (Bloomsbury), Chuck's second historical/true-crime novel, recounts gangster Lucky Luciano's colorful and controversial 1936 vice trial and was named by the Wall Street Journal to its year-end uulist of the "Best Books of 2015." Tom & Lucky was also a finalist for both the Macavity Award from Mystery Readers International and the 2016 Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction.
CHURCH OF THE GRAVEYARD SAINTS (Torrey House Press), Chuck's third work of literary fiction, was selected by six U.S. cities to launch their "Four Corners/One Book" regional reading program in 2019-2020. Of its central premise, Publishers Weekly wrote: "Can one go home again? Greaves explores this question with both passion and compassion, taking readers on a lyrical, vivid tour of the West."
In addition, Chuck publishes mystery fiction as Chuck Greaves. He has been a finalist for numerous national honors including the Shamus, Lefty, Reviewers Choice, and Audie Awards, as well as the New Mexico-Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma Book Awards. He is also a member of the National Book Critics Circle and the book critic for the Four Corners Free Press newspaper in Colorado, where he currently lives. You can visit him at www.chuckgreaves.com.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 20, 2015
I won this book through the giveaways. It is an excellent mix of politics, gangsters, courtroom drama, etc. Great read!!
January 14, 2020
Hard to read at times.
January 23, 2020
Very interesting account. Only criticism is sometimes it's hard to tell who is speaking in some of the dialogue in the book.
November 26, 2016
I loved the writing. The language was both clear and colorful. The 20's and 30's slang added authenticity. The story itself - the Lucky Luciano 1936 trial for running the prostitution business in New York - was fascinating, all the more so since Mr. Greaves had access to original source material that had not been previously available.
So why only 3 stars? There is a wonderful scene in the book where an experienced trial attorney is providing advice to a young Thomas Dewey, who will be the prosecutor in the Luciano trial. "But in front of a jury, you need to forget all the hours you've logged and all the facts and figures you've gathered and collated and committed to memory. You need to need to step back for just a moment and ignore those trees and take a good, hard look at the forest." In short, the attorney was telling Dewey that his research was showing. That the emotional connection with the jury was as important as the details.
I felt that Mr. Greaves was guilty of the same thing. Yes this is historical fiction, and yes he picked a very interesting and sympathetic woman (Cokey Flo - heroin addict, prostitute, etc.) to be the first person voice of the story. However, the details sometimes overwhelmed the story. At least they did for me. As a particular example, I'll point to names and characters.
Mr. Greaves' first dozen or so chapters is a series of vignettes, perhaps apocryphal, perhaps not, which introduce the main characters and provide insight into their lives and the forces that shaped them. However, since I wasn't really sure who was who at the beginning, I found myself, after six or seven chapters, rereading, starting on page one, with pen and notepad, keeping track of the names. It made a Russian novel look unpopulated. In the first six chapters, we meet nearly fifty characters by name.
At that point, I quit counting, but that rate of introduction of new names continues for perhaps another six chapters. Fortunately, by then, I felt fairly sure I knew who the main characters were and which names were just for atmosphere. Which names were important and pushed the story ahead, and which simply showed off the depth of Mr. Greaves research. For example, there is a scene at the Dempsey/Firpo heavyweight fight where Greaves calls out the names of a dozen or more A-listers of the day. Did any matter? Did they figure in the story later? I assumed not, and began just glossing over them so as not to loose track of the essence.
Still more confusing was the (authentic) use of multiple names for many of the characters. In Chapter 1, we meet Salvatore Lucania, who is also called simply Lucania, or Sallie, or Charlie Lucania, or just Charlie, or Charlie Luciano, or Lucky Luciano, or Charlie Lucky, or.... Get the idea? Also confusing was that there was a criminal defendant in the book with the last name of Enright. And the Police Commissioner (at the Dempsey/Firpo fight) was also named Enright. Related? Don't think so, but it was confusing. And there were others - Irving Wexler is Waxey Gordon.
All of this was authentic, but nevertheless confusing. Chuck Greaves! Your research is showing!
So, I reduced a 5-star story and 5-star writing to a 3-star book simply because, even for historical fiction, it seems unreasonable that I should have to track characters with pen and paper, and especially that I shouldn't realize this until chapter six and then have to go back and reread the first six chapters.
So why only 3 stars? There is a wonderful scene in the book where an experienced trial attorney is providing advice to a young Thomas Dewey, who will be the prosecutor in the Luciano trial. "But in front of a jury, you need to forget all the hours you've logged and all the facts and figures you've gathered and collated and committed to memory. You need to need to step back for just a moment and ignore those trees and take a good, hard look at the forest." In short, the attorney was telling Dewey that his research was showing. That the emotional connection with the jury was as important as the details.
I felt that Mr. Greaves was guilty of the same thing. Yes this is historical fiction, and yes he picked a very interesting and sympathetic woman (Cokey Flo - heroin addict, prostitute, etc.) to be the first person voice of the story. However, the details sometimes overwhelmed the story. At least they did for me. As a particular example, I'll point to names and characters.
Mr. Greaves' first dozen or so chapters is a series of vignettes, perhaps apocryphal, perhaps not, which introduce the main characters and provide insight into their lives and the forces that shaped them. However, since I wasn't really sure who was who at the beginning, I found myself, after six or seven chapters, rereading, starting on page one, with pen and notepad, keeping track of the names. It made a Russian novel look unpopulated. In the first six chapters, we meet nearly fifty characters by name.
At that point, I quit counting, but that rate of introduction of new names continues for perhaps another six chapters. Fortunately, by then, I felt fairly sure I knew who the main characters were and which names were just for atmosphere. Which names were important and pushed the story ahead, and which simply showed off the depth of Mr. Greaves research. For example, there is a scene at the Dempsey/Firpo heavyweight fight where Greaves calls out the names of a dozen or more A-listers of the day. Did any matter? Did they figure in the story later? I assumed not, and began just glossing over them so as not to loose track of the essence.
Still more confusing was the (authentic) use of multiple names for many of the characters. In Chapter 1, we meet Salvatore Lucania, who is also called simply Lucania, or Sallie, or Charlie Lucania, or just Charlie, or Charlie Luciano, or Lucky Luciano, or Charlie Lucky, or.... Get the idea? Also confusing was that there was a criminal defendant in the book with the last name of Enright. And the Police Commissioner (at the Dempsey/Firpo fight) was also named Enright. Related? Don't think so, but it was confusing. And there were others - Irving Wexler is Waxey Gordon.
All of this was authentic, but nevertheless confusing. Chuck Greaves! Your research is showing!
So, I reduced a 5-star story and 5-star writing to a 3-star book simply because, even for historical fiction, it seems unreasonable that I should have to track characters with pen and paper, and especially that I shouldn't realize this until chapter six and then have to go back and reread the first six chapters.
August 24, 2016
I won this book in a Goodreads.com giveaway.
Not much is known about Thomas E. Dewey, except for the fact that he was Governor of New York for 12 years, and ran for President of the United States three times, as the Republican nominee, only to be declared the winner in 1948 by the Chicago Daily Tribune, but then have it taken away by Harry S. Truman.
But how much do we know about Dewey in his personal and professional life? In C. Joseph Greaves’ “Tom & Lucky and George & Cokey Flo,” we learn about Dewey and his time as prosecutor and his personal life, and his rise to the Governor’s Mansion.
“Tom & Lucky” is set in the 1930s, right as the Roaring 20s gave way to the Great Depression, four lives, on their own path, come together in a Manhattan courtroom during the trial of Charles “Lucky” Luciano, introduces America to the violence and dark glamorous side of organized crime and prostitution, leaving our laws and politics forever changed.
Dewey, is a young, energetic and an ambitious prosecutor who has been hired to bring down Lucky Luciano. He is determined to do so, along with the help of his staff and Cokey Flo Brown, an addict and sometime prostitute.
George Morton Levy, along with Moses Polakoff and their staff, try their damnest to defend Luciano. By prying into the witnesses lives, they uncover something very wrong, but only to be shut down by Judge McCook.
Based upon newly discovered documents, Greaves’ puts together the most wonderful novel, along with elements of a great political thriller that reveals the most possible true story of a singular trial in the history of America, Dewey versus Luciano. This becomes a battle of strengths between a hard-nose, hard-lined district attorney and a well-dressed and a powerful mob boss, with the help of a judge who leans towards reform and the law.
C. Joseph Greaves brings together a lost history and a well-developed plot. With all of the twists and turns, you can still keep track of the characters, major and minor, and never lose sense of the plot. The descriptiveness that Greaves uses brings you the sense of Manhattan during the Great Depression. The pictures that are developed in your mind, from the descriptive story line, makes you feel like you are right there, along with Cokey Flo, and in the courtroom when the trial of the century is taking place. The characters are rich in flavor, as well as the scenes.
Greaves also gives you a lot of background information leading up the climax of the novel. Without it, you would be floundering and lost throughout the novel.
As a former trial lawyer from California, Greaves gives you the insight of a true courtroom setting. He is able to take his experience, weave it into fact and fiction, and give us the best political thriller ever.
A historical fiction worth the read.
Not much is known about Thomas E. Dewey, except for the fact that he was Governor of New York for 12 years, and ran for President of the United States three times, as the Republican nominee, only to be declared the winner in 1948 by the Chicago Daily Tribune, but then have it taken away by Harry S. Truman.
But how much do we know about Dewey in his personal and professional life? In C. Joseph Greaves’ “Tom & Lucky and George & Cokey Flo,” we learn about Dewey and his time as prosecutor and his personal life, and his rise to the Governor’s Mansion.
“Tom & Lucky” is set in the 1930s, right as the Roaring 20s gave way to the Great Depression, four lives, on their own path, come together in a Manhattan courtroom during the trial of Charles “Lucky” Luciano, introduces America to the violence and dark glamorous side of organized crime and prostitution, leaving our laws and politics forever changed.
Dewey, is a young, energetic and an ambitious prosecutor who has been hired to bring down Lucky Luciano. He is determined to do so, along with the help of his staff and Cokey Flo Brown, an addict and sometime prostitute.
George Morton Levy, along with Moses Polakoff and their staff, try their damnest to defend Luciano. By prying into the witnesses lives, they uncover something very wrong, but only to be shut down by Judge McCook.
Based upon newly discovered documents, Greaves’ puts together the most wonderful novel, along with elements of a great political thriller that reveals the most possible true story of a singular trial in the history of America, Dewey versus Luciano. This becomes a battle of strengths between a hard-nose, hard-lined district attorney and a well-dressed and a powerful mob boss, with the help of a judge who leans towards reform and the law.
C. Joseph Greaves brings together a lost history and a well-developed plot. With all of the twists and turns, you can still keep track of the characters, major and minor, and never lose sense of the plot. The descriptiveness that Greaves uses brings you the sense of Manhattan during the Great Depression. The pictures that are developed in your mind, from the descriptive story line, makes you feel like you are right there, along with Cokey Flo, and in the courtroom when the trial of the century is taking place. The characters are rich in flavor, as well as the scenes.
Greaves also gives you a lot of background information leading up the climax of the novel. Without it, you would be floundering and lost throughout the novel.
As a former trial lawyer from California, Greaves gives you the insight of a true courtroom setting. He is able to take his experience, weave it into fact and fiction, and give us the best political thriller ever.
A historical fiction worth the read.
July 7, 2015
Law and Order circa 1936
If you can manage to just go with the constant shuffling dates, locales and storylines- this book can show you a good time and remind you of Law & Order circa 1936. To be honest, I was looking for more of a Goodfellas, The Godfather, Once Upon a Time in America or Road to Perdition type of read but Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) is more of a subdued drama playing both sides of the deck of crime and punishment that really stays true to actual history complete with authentic slang from the eras presented. Told by revolving perspectives each chapter follows one of the main characters and shows how they ended up on either side of the stage of the courtroom that then becomes the novel’s closer and sits the reader down in the thick of the cross-examinations of the trial that changed everything in 20th-century American judicial system and who exactly was considered untouchable when it came to the law of the land.
Although true to the events of the monumental 1936 trial of vice, this book tended to fold on strict storytelling and put down a more nonfiction “state the facts” style of writing toward the end and to be honest that disappointed this reader. I was hoping for more creative accounts of known events and didn’t expect the nonfiction switch with pages of questions and answers from the courtroom and long definitions of different terms. To be fair I can see why this novel did this, to move the story along and aid the unfamiliar in understanding the court procedures and this particular cases' inner-workings but after the arresting first half of this novel; it just became too restrained for me and sadly even Lucky Luciano just faded into the wallpaper by the end. I believe the beginning chapters saved this book’s final impression for me though, they just perfectly matched what I wanted to see when I picked up this novel. Some scenes reminded me of cinematic favorites but mostly I loved the character and side stories of Cokey Flo, her sections stood apart from the rest as she was giving a deposition and her colorful chapters kept me reading. I may not have ended up being the exact target audience for Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) but I still enjoyed the time spent in this period of history and would recommend this novel to those who are looking for presentations of authentic period sounding fiction or to anyone intrigued by machinations of varying degrees and loves the second half hour of Law & Order episodes.
* I would like to thank Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo)
~*~for more reviews see: http://www.asthefinalpageturns.blogsp...
If you can manage to just go with the constant shuffling dates, locales and storylines- this book can show you a good time and remind you of Law & Order circa 1936. To be honest, I was looking for more of a Goodfellas, The Godfather, Once Upon a Time in America or Road to Perdition type of read but Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) is more of a subdued drama playing both sides of the deck of crime and punishment that really stays true to actual history complete with authentic slang from the eras presented. Told by revolving perspectives each chapter follows one of the main characters and shows how they ended up on either side of the stage of the courtroom that then becomes the novel’s closer and sits the reader down in the thick of the cross-examinations of the trial that changed everything in 20th-century American judicial system and who exactly was considered untouchable when it came to the law of the land.
Although true to the events of the monumental 1936 trial of vice, this book tended to fold on strict storytelling and put down a more nonfiction “state the facts” style of writing toward the end and to be honest that disappointed this reader. I was hoping for more creative accounts of known events and didn’t expect the nonfiction switch with pages of questions and answers from the courtroom and long definitions of different terms. To be fair I can see why this novel did this, to move the story along and aid the unfamiliar in understanding the court procedures and this particular cases' inner-workings but after the arresting first half of this novel; it just became too restrained for me and sadly even Lucky Luciano just faded into the wallpaper by the end. I believe the beginning chapters saved this book’s final impression for me though, they just perfectly matched what I wanted to see when I picked up this novel. Some scenes reminded me of cinematic favorites but mostly I loved the character and side stories of Cokey Flo, her sections stood apart from the rest as she was giving a deposition and her colorful chapters kept me reading. I may not have ended up being the exact target audience for Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) but I still enjoyed the time spent in this period of history and would recommend this novel to those who are looking for presentations of authentic period sounding fiction or to anyone intrigued by machinations of varying degrees and loves the second half hour of Law & Order episodes.
* I would like to thank Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and enjoy Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo)
~*~for more reviews see: http://www.asthefinalpageturns.blogsp...
September 23, 2015
As an attorney, I generally avoid fictionalized legal dramas. First, this is what I do every single day. I read to escape my reality and don't want to read about my job. Second, if the book was written by a non-attorney it tends to be wildly inaccurate as to legal procedure, etc., and it makes it impossible for me to enjoy it. Third, if the book is written by an attorney it tends to be boring. I know lots of attorneys. None of them are particularly gifted writers. Most of them struggle to even draft pleadings. That being said, it's probably fortunate that I was not aware that Joseph Greaves is an attorney before I started this book because I might have been less inclined to read it. That would have been a sad day for me because I really enjoyed it. Part way through the book Greaves gave an explanation of hearsay. It seemed very well-informed considering that it is one of the most complicated evidentiary concepts in law. I flipped to the back to see what Mr. Greaves's day job is. Lawyer. Of course, that explains it.
Aside from the incredible accuracy with which Mr. Greaves portrays the legal process, the book itself is wonderful. He did a spectacular job of narrating these events in a way that was both informative and entertaining. I had to keep checking the front piece to remind myself that this was in fact a novel and not a work of non-fiction. I have no idea whether Mr. Greaves is a successful attorney but as a writer he is smashing. He should probably quit his day job.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aside from the incredible accuracy with which Mr. Greaves portrays the legal process, the book itself is wonderful. He did a spectacular job of narrating these events in a way that was both informative and entertaining. I had to keep checking the front piece to remind myself that this was in fact a novel and not a work of non-fiction. I have no idea whether Mr. Greaves is a successful attorney but as a writer he is smashing. He should probably quit his day job.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 1, 2015
Disclaimer - I received this book for free from Goodreads Giveaways.
I'm glad I finished this book. When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure I could finish it. All the talking in old slang felt too forced. It kept jarring me out of the book and making me figure out what was actually being said. It felt like a parody of Al Capone. And it went on for quite some time. But don't let that stop you from reading. The author settled in and found his voice about a third of the way in. And then the book really sucked me in. I was intrigued by Dewey and his team, disgusted by McCook, impressed by Cokey Flo, and cheering on Levy and Luciano. Lucky was a likable character, probably because the author didn't delve into the violence that was no doubt part of the gangster's life. I ended up feeling sickened by Dewey and team, and thinking Luciano got screwed.
I'm glad I finished this book. When I first started reading this book, I wasn't sure I could finish it. All the talking in old slang felt too forced. It kept jarring me out of the book and making me figure out what was actually being said. It felt like a parody of Al Capone. And it went on for quite some time. But don't let that stop you from reading. The author settled in and found his voice about a third of the way in. And then the book really sucked me in. I was intrigued by Dewey and his team, disgusted by McCook, impressed by Cokey Flo, and cheering on Levy and Luciano. Lucky was a likable character, probably because the author didn't delve into the violence that was no doubt part of the gangster's life. I ended up feeling sickened by Dewey and team, and thinking Luciano got screwed.
January 23, 2016
I received this book as a free giveaway from goodreads and once again, I am continually amazed at the quality of the books offered as advanced reading copies. This "true story" account of the main characters involved in the "trial of the century" and what led up to this event seems to reinforce the old adage that "truth is stranger than fiction." I was particularly amazed by the tactics employed by the chief prosecutor, Thomas E Dewey in dragging Lucky Luciano and a host of minor hoodlums before the justice system. I guess even heros have their flaws. Don't want to spoil the story here so I won't go any further with the storyline other than to say that this book is definitely a "must read" for anyone who is interested in true crime, law enforcement, and the justice system during the Great Depression.
November 28, 2015
A hugely entertaining take on the rise and fall of Lucky Luciano, featuring four key figures. As with 'Hard Twisted', C. Joseph Greaves explores the criminal underworld of Depression-hit America in the 1930s. However, whereas 'Hard Twisted' was more intimate, 'Tom & Lucky' is a fast-paced, hard-boiled entertainment, where the 'bad guys' - a notorious gangster, and a junkie prostitute - are rather more likeable than the self-professed guardians of law and order.
April 23, 2016
Too much historical, not enough novel. A fascinating trial that I had never read about, but the book read too much like a documentary for my taste. I would like to read other novels by this author to compare.
October 21, 2015
An interesting account of the tral of "Lucky" Luciano the infamous gangster of 1920's America.
I received this digital copy from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
I received this digital copy from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
January 2, 2016
Good historical Fiction. An entertaining story.
April 16, 2016
Captivating tale of the mid-depression prosecution of organized crime - Lucky Luciano and the key people that were part of his trial
March 28, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways, thank you!
This tale of the massive court case against Charlie "Lucky" Luciano was an intriguing look at depression era gangsters and their way of life.
The story follows the main four characters. Tom (Thomas Dewey) is the prosecuting attorney, Lucky is Mr. Luciano the gangster, George is the defense attorney, and Cokey Flo is a witness. The trial of the century takes place with the press attention of the nation.
I particularly liked the character of Flo Brown, AKA Cokey Flo. Which is a nickname she hates, but it is one that fits. She's an addict and prostitute who testifies while going through withdrawal. The court allows her to have a little brandy when she's feeling weak during testimony. She testifies against Charlie Lucky because she has made a deal with the prosecutor's team and wants to be famous. She is a major force because the jury finds her to be highly believable.
This book is one of those that allows you a glimpse into an alternate lifestyle and shows you a behind the scenes look at the judicial system. It does seem a little flawed, due to the fact that the only thing Charlie Lucky swears he's never done is take money from a prostitute. The evidence seems to support his claims because the witnesses for the prosecution are mainly making up their tales of dealings with Mr. Luciano. Since the author is or was a lawyer, he definitely knows the legal system. A great read, one I found vastly entertaining and enlightening.
This tale of the massive court case against Charlie "Lucky" Luciano was an intriguing look at depression era gangsters and their way of life.
The story follows the main four characters. Tom (Thomas Dewey) is the prosecuting attorney, Lucky is Mr. Luciano the gangster, George is the defense attorney, and Cokey Flo is a witness. The trial of the century takes place with the press attention of the nation.
I particularly liked the character of Flo Brown, AKA Cokey Flo. Which is a nickname she hates, but it is one that fits. She's an addict and prostitute who testifies while going through withdrawal. The court allows her to have a little brandy when she's feeling weak during testimony. She testifies against Charlie Lucky because she has made a deal with the prosecutor's team and wants to be famous. She is a major force because the jury finds her to be highly believable.
This book is one of those that allows you a glimpse into an alternate lifestyle and shows you a behind the scenes look at the judicial system. It does seem a little flawed, due to the fact that the only thing Charlie Lucky swears he's never done is take money from a prostitute. The evidence seems to support his claims because the witnesses for the prosecution are mainly making up their tales of dealings with Mr. Luciano. Since the author is or was a lawyer, he definitely knows the legal system. A great read, one I found vastly entertaining and enlightening.
April 10, 2017
Very good - fascinating novelisation of the pursuit of Lucky Luciano, and a modern take on the main actors in this fascinating story. I like Greave's approach - not a historical novel, but far closer to the real thing. Detailed historical and primary research lend his books a depth and accuracy that has the weight of authoritative history, and combined with a gripping writing style this makes for compelling reading.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews