The Devil Himself: A Novel

by Eric Dezenhall

In late 1982, a spike in terrorism has the Reagan Administration considering covert action to neutralize the menace before it reaches the United States. There are big risks to waging a secret war against America's enemies---but there is one little-known precedent.

Forty years earlier, German U-boats had been prowling the Atlantic, sinking hundreds of U.S. ships along the east coast, including the largest cruise ship in the world, Normandie , destroyed at a Manhattan pier after Pearl Harbor. Nazi agents even landed on Long Island with explosives and maps of railways, bridges, and defense plants. Desperate to secure the coast, the Navy turned to Meyer Lansky, the Jewish Mob boss. A newly naturalized American whose fellow Eastern European Jews were being annihilated by Hitler, Lansky headed an unlikely fellowship of mobsters Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Frank Costello, and naval intelligence officers.

Young Reagan White House aide Jonah Eastman, grandson of Atlantic City gangster Mickey Price, is approached by the president's top advisor with an Discreetly interview his grandfather's old friend Lansky about his wartime activities. There just might be something to learn from that secret operation.

The notoriously tight-lipped gangster, dying of cancer, is finally ready to talk. Jonah gets a riveting---and darkly comic---history lesson. The Mob caught Nazi agents, planted propaganda with the help of columnist Walter Winchell, and found Mafia spies to plot the invasion of Sicily, where General Patton was poised to strike at the soft underbelly of the Axis. Lansky's men stopped at nothing to sabotage Hitler's push toward American shores.

Based on real events, The Devil Himself is a high-energy novel of military espionage and Mafia justice.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 19, 2011

About the author

Eric Dezenhall is a journalist and author of twelve books, including three non-fiction texts on crisis communications. Other areas of expertise include organized crime and the intelligence community. He is the Chairman and co-founder of Dezenhall Resources, One of the country's first crisis communications firms. He lectures in academic and business circles and appears in international media including NPR, CNN, FOX, CNBC, MSNBC and the History Channel. He has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today.

Eric’s work is widely cited in business, media, and academic circles. His book, Best of Enemies with Gus Russo, is being made into a feature film. He is also the author of seven novels, including The Devil Himself, based on the true story of the U.S. Navy’s collaboration with organized crime in WWII. His latest non-fiction book, Wiseguys and the White House, documents when mobsters and presidents traded favors -- and double crossed each other. Eric graduated from Dartmouth College and lives near Washington, D.C., with his family.

Reviews

[Harold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent novelization of a true story. Real people and historic events tied together with a fictional narrative that hews very close to the truth. Eric Dezenhall had to do a lot of research to accomplish this. In 1943 the US Navy needed help on the NYC docks. They needed the cooperation of longshoremen and other dock workers, but the docks belonged to the mob. After some unsuccessful attempts to obtain cooperation they were advised that only Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, at that time serving a long prison sentence is upstate New York, had the "juice" to order the cooperation. And the way to contact Charlie Lucky was to enlist the aid of Meyer Lansky. The contact was made, a deal struck, and the Government goal was achieved, but it seems that elements in the Government didn't really didn't want to live up to their part of the deal. This book is a very close to truth novelization of that, at times, difficult process. Dezenhall has a deep (imho correct) understanding of the personalities involved and that comes through in the writing.

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the sixth adventure of Jonah Eastman, a pollster/spin doctor for hire. (The author is a crisis management/damage control consultant in “real life”.) Jonah lives in New Jersey, but unsurprisingly spends a lot of time in Washington, D.C. He is also the grandson of Mickey Price, a well-connected Atlantic City mobster. And although maybe not the “deepest” of books, the series is highly entertaining and at times laugh out loud funny.

The Devil Himself is somewhat of a departure in that it’s a story about another story. Let me explain. Current-day Jonah takes us back to when he was a young pup working as an aide in the Reagan White House and “given” an off the books assignment. Utilizing his “family connections” Jonah is to root out the true story behind the mob’s covert involvement in World War II. Since Jonah’s grandfather and Meyer Lansky are pals, our hero packs a bag and heads to Florida and the story begins – although taking a somewhat convoluted path to get there – as Meyer spills the 1940’s beans.

I’m a big fan of historical fiction, and this book combines WWII and gangsterdom, a daily double for me. The good news is that the story here is a good one – and although not necessarily provable, is probably in essence, true. The bad news is the lack of character development. Along the way, besides Lansky, the reader meets Lucky Luciano, Paul Costello, Bugsy Siegel – interestingly Vito Genovese is not here - and a few other gangsters - who are all pretty much indistinguishable. (Luciano uses “dis” and “dat” and “speaks” with an accent. Lansky – the brains - provides us with a few not so poignant quotes, such as, “Freedom exacts a helluva vig.”) And although in “real-life” these gangsters were life-long hardened criminals, they are portrayed here as misunderstood tough guys, who if given the chance, i.e. fight the Nazis, are more than willing to do the “right thing”. The “Nazis” encountered are all cowardly buffoons. So, The Devil Himself is simplistic and unfortunately – at times - cartoonish.

An admirable effort here that falls short in the execution.

[Bonnie_blu · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story of "organized crime's" contributions to exposing Nazi spies in the New York / New Jersey area and preparing Sicily for the Allied invasion is a fascinating story that would have been much more riveting if told by a more gifted author. However, I found Dezenhall's writing to be awkward, clunky, and herky-jerky (meaning it did not flow smoothly from one point to the next). In addition, I feel using President Reagan to set up the story was an obvious plot construct used in an attempt to "hook" the reader and make the story relevant to modern times. Unfortunately, it stuck out as an obvious manipulation and actually detracted from the tale. Meyer Lansky is an enormously intriguing character and a historically important one (Miami, Las Vegas, Havana, etc.). However, he does not come to life in this tale, and as a result, neither does the book.

[Melsene G · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This is quite a story and because it's historical fiction, you're not totally sure what is fact and what is fiction. The story revolves around Meyer Lansky, the Jewish mobster, and fellow Italian mobster Lucky Luciano, among others. Jonah Eastman is an intern in the White House for Pres. Reagan, 1982. He was raised by his grandfather Mickey Price who was an Atlantic City mob boss and friend of Meyer. Jonah's boss asks him to interview Meyer, his 'uncle' and find out his story before he dies.

Meyer's story is fascinating and as an American he felt obligated to help defeat the Nazis. Apparently, the ship Normandie was sunk in the NY harbor and the govt asks the 'folks' running the docks for help. Navy Commander Haffenden gets involved and asks Lansky for help. The ferret squad is formed and the gangsters/mobsters help the govt and try and find Nazi moles. Reporter Walter Winchell is involved. Lots of Yiddish used and some Italian. The topic is not a pleasant one and if you don't like reading about evil people, you will have a problem. So, did these folks help out the war effort? If so, why was it covered up?

This is simply a fascinating story that I was unaware of. The author actually worked as in intern for Pres. Reagan so he's got the inside scoop. Nice short chapters which I like! OH, and I loved the mention about Otto Kahn, a fascinating character who built Oheka Castle on Long Island. Check out "Behind Every Great Fortune" for more on him.

[Mark Krekeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting and well told tale about the Mafia's helpful role to the US military during World War II. This historical fiction novel moves along quickly. Definitely a good read.

[Michael Hite · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Devil Himself" is a novel based on real events about how Meyer Lansky and some of his mobster associates cooperated with the US Navy during WWII to help in surprising ways with the war effort. In addition to being a great read, it is an enlightening insight into the nature of patriotism, loyalty, friendship, prejudice, media, mobsters, and bureaucracy. From the book: "Some things you do in your life because it's your job, but other things you do in your life because you believe you are doing a mitzvah, a good thing." It is a book worth owning and reading.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling historical fiction work, with a topic still timely for today's politics. Meyer Lansky comes across as a complex and sympathetic soul, who views his life and actions with an unvarnished perspective. Will appeal to both espionage and military history fans alike.