A Pair of Aces

A Pair of Aces is about two women on opposite sides of the law. Eunice Carter is a groundbreaking Black prosecutor in 1930s New York, working hard to fight organized crime. Polly Adler is a clever, resourceful madam whose illegal business puts her in the same struggle. Eunice is driven and smart, but she often feels alone and must constantly prove herself in an era that does not accept her because she is Black. Polly is glamorous and street-savvy, with a cautious approach to life, but lives in a world of greed and power.

Their relationship is unexpected and grows slowly as they learn to trust and respect each other, making their connection feel authentic. I loved both of them and the way they played off of each other.

I also loved that you can really empathize with Eunice's struggle to be accepted and respected, and feel Polly's anxiety and hesitancy when she trusts Eunice. But beneath the mob drama and courtroom action lies a compelling story about being underestimated and what women can achieve when they unite, despite their different backgrounds.

It's a fast-paced, engaging read that inspires admiration for these women while highlighting the reality that history has not fully recognized their contributions.

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.

From the publisher Penguin Random House / Berkley | Jun 02, 2026 | 400 pages | ISBN-139780593637937 | Historical Fiction / Literary Fiction

1. As an assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan's first Black female prosecutor, Eunice Hunton Carter achieved incredible success. What personality traits led her to achieve this success?

2. Polly Adler became the most infamous madam of her time. What life circumstances led her to that position? What qualities led her to thrive in that role? How does her profession reflect the limitations imposed on immigrant women in the early twentieth century, as well as the attitudes about them?

3. Eunice Hunton Carter and Polly Adler were well-known figures in 1930s New York. Were you familiar with either of them before reading A Pair of Aces?

4. Lucky Luciano was the most notorious mobster of his time, known as the boss of all bosses. Had you heard of him before reading A Pair of Aces? Lucky, Eunice, and Polly were all prominent figures in their time. Who do you think is the best known of the three of them today? Why do you think that is?

5. Both Eunice and Polly had to sacrifice a lot to achieve their positions. What trade-offs did they have to make? Do you think it was worth it?

6. Eunice and Polly both faced a lot of challenges in their lives. How were their struggles similar and different?

7. Eunice and Polly formed an alliance to achieve a common goal even though they were on opposite sides of the law. What characteristics helped them to set aside their differences and work together?

8. Do you think Eunice and Polly influenced each other's lives? Do you think they learned anything from one another? How did their relationship change over the course of the book? What factors led to this transformation?

9. At one point in the book, Eunice and Polly discuss whether race or class shaped their hardships more profoundly. Did you better understand each woman's perspective after this conversation? Did it shift your own view of race and class?

10. Special Prosecutor Thomas Dewey gave Eunice incredible career opportunities, like appointing her to his team, but he also initially didn't give her the same level of responsibility as the other lawyers on the team. How did you feel about Eunice's working relationship with Thomas Dewey? What did you think of his decisions throughout the book? Do you think his view of Eunice changed by the end? Do you think Eunice would face the same sorts of issues if she was in this role today?

11. How did you feel about Eunice's relationship with her mother? In what way did her mother's accomplishments influence Eunice's life choices? Did she inspire her? Or did Eunice feel more pressure to succeed because of her mother's achievements?

12. How would you describe Polly's relationship with her parents? Was her relationship different with her mother than with her father, and if so, how? Why did she feel more animosity toward her father, and do you feel that was justified?

13. Polly had a complicated relationship with the women, like Virginia, who worked for her. How did her relationship with these women influence Polly's decision to work with Eunice? Do you think the women like Virginia felt like they were family to Polly?

14. What did you think of Polly's relationship with the Lion? Why do you think the two women were so close?

15. How did you view Eunice's relationship with her husband? Why do you think there was so much tension in their marriage?

16. Did anything surprise you about the trial of Lucky Luciano? Why do you think Dewey didn't want to prosecute Luciano for running a prostitution ring? Do you think this perspective would still be in evidence today?

17. Eunice and Polly formed an unlikely alliance to take down Lucky Luciano. What qualities are required to make these kinds of alliances successful? Can you think of other situations where women from different backgrounds came together to achieve a common goal? What lessons can we derive from Eunice and Polly's relationship, and how can we apply them today? Have you ever formed this type of strategic alliance in your life? Can you envision a reason or issue that might inspire you to do so?

Book Club Talking Points:
A Pair of Aces gives book clubs so much to talk about. Eunice and Polly come from completely different worlds and don't always see things the same way, which makes their unlikely partnership especially interesting. And in 1930s New York, organized crime, women pushing against the limits placed on them, and the fact that real people inspired these women- you have plenty of natural conversation starters. It's also the kind of historical fiction that may have you looking up the real story after you finish.

"A page-turner that celebrates what women can accomplish when they work together - regardless of background - for each other."-NPR

"Two women from two different worlds - one dedicated to stamping out organized crime in 1930's New York City, one whose livelihood depends on catering to the illegal appetites of the City's famous and infamous. The ace writing duo of Benedict and Murray are at the top of their game in this fast-paced and fascinating novel of two underestimated women who risk their lives to bring down New York's most notorious mobster, Lucky Luciano. A Pair of Aces is a dazzling, page-turning work of historical fiction that crackles with life and suspense."-Marie Bostwick, New York Times bestselling author of The Book Club for Troublesome Women

"Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray prove once again that they are forces in historical fiction. Together, these two are masterful storytellers."-Kennedy Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of Score

"These masterful storytellers deliver a deeply satisfying courtroom drama that offers the rare pleasure of seeing justice done. The takedown of Lucky Luciano is exhilarating-but the novel's true force rests in two formidable women working in the shadows to build the case. With clarity, courage, and remarkable honesty, the authors explore the forces that silence the vulnerable. By giving us a glimpse into the soft heart of the infamous brothel owner Polly Adler, and by centering Eunice Carter-a towering legal mind and overlooked American hero-this novel delivers a powerful punch and a much-needed historical reminder of what can be accomplished with grit and determination. Smart fiction perfect for the times. Just terrific!"-Stephanie Dray, New York Times bestselling author of Becoming Madam Secretary

"A thrilling story of power, justice, and remarkable women, expertly written by a duo of masterful authors."-Madeline Martin, New York Times bestselling author of The Secret Book Society

"Cinematic and riveting!"-Nancy Johnson, bestselling author of The Kindest Lie

"A propulsive, inspiring crime story of two unsung women of history carving spaces for themselves in a violent, patriarchal world that wants them silent and docile. Eunice and Polly are a pair you can't help but root for, and figures from history I'll never forget. Set against the dangerous yet glamorous criminal underbelly of 1930s New York, Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray have masterfully written another must-read for 20th century historical fiction lovers, or anyone who's had to fight against the odds for justice and respect."-Erin Crosby-Eckstine, author of the Good Morning America Book Club pick Junie

"A monumental feat... a novel that does not shy away from both the trials and beauties of being a woman."-The Post and Courier

"Riveting."-Woman's World

"Another detailed and dazzling exploration of an unlikely alliance between two women often overlooked by history but whose contributions to real-life events were pivotal... Lively and lasting portraits of two heroic women."-Booklist

"A Pair of Aces is lush with the era's atmosphere, enriching the story of two bold women who changed history."-Shelf Awareness

"The plot is engaging, the main characters are brave and relatable, and the pacing is brisk."-Library Journal


Praise for the novels of Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

"Historical fiction at its best."-Good Morning America

"The book's narrative is seamless...I became hooked."-NPR

"A fascinating story!"-Real Simple

"Benedict and Murray bring their knack for historical fiction to a story of the women's unlikely alliance and the ways their bond and efforts forged the beginnings of the modern civil rights movement."-Entertainment Weekly