A Pair of Aces, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray (Review by Kristin Kurek)
Rating: 5.0/5 Stars
Historical fiction fans rejoice! Victoria Christopher Murray and Marie Benedict, authors of The Personal Librarian return with another compelling read set in 1930’s New York.
Eunice Carter is a trail-blazing black female assistant district attorney in New York. She is a part of a task force assigned to take down organized crime. Enice feels that they may be able to take down mob boss, Lucky Luciano through crimes associated with his prostitution ring.
Polly Adler is a high-end madam serving upper class clientele. She finds herself unable to protect her livelihood and the girls in her employ as the mob enhances involvement in the sex worker business.
Together, Enice Carter and Polly Adler work to build a case against the most dangerous man in New York.
A Pair of Aces is a beautifully written account of two very different women. The book reads like a movie script and beautifully describes the New York of the 1930’s. Many don’t enjoy a dual POV narrative, but this book handles the transitions seamlessly. The two authors must have collaborated so closely to achieve the consistent storytelling style throughout. I could not stop turning pages.
It was an empowering experience to read A Pair of Aces in which two very different women form an extremely unlikely alliance to build a case against the mob as only women can. Eunice tackles discrimination due to her race and gender. She struggles with her desire for professional success when society (and her husband) expect her to be more concerned with domesticity. Further, she continues to pursue justice against the mob even if they threaten her and her family. Polly overcomes the struggles of leaving her home and her family to immigrate to a cruel new country. She has built an empire from meager and lonely beginnings. She has developed a “found family” for herself and others to experience the love that they cannot get from their families.
It was a joy to read about these intelligent, courageous, and enterprising women. Historical fiction fans will love this one!