A Pair of Aces

by Marie Benedict, Victoria Christopher Murray

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.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical, Book Club, Mystery, Crime

399 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 2, 2026

About the author

Marie Benedict is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Daughter of Egypt, The Queens of Crime, The Mitford Affair, Her Hidden Genius, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, Carnegie's Maid, The Other Einstein, and the novella, Agent 355. With Victoria Christopher Murray, she co-wrote the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian, the Target Book of the Year The First Ladies., and the Reese's Book Club Pick A Pair of Aces. With Courtney Sheinmel, she co-wrote the first in a middle grade historical series, The Secrets of the Lovelace Academy.

Her books have been translated into thirty languages, and selected for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, Costco Book Club, Indie Next List, and LibraryReads List.

Up next is her March 2, 2027 release, THE WITCH OF WALL STREET, about the richest woman of the Gilded Age, a self-made one with holdings that rivaled those of men like J.P. Morgan -- the brilliant and controversial Hetty Green whose legacy was erased by her fellow tycoons.

Reviews

[MarilynW · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pair of Aces
By Victoria Christopher Murray, Marie Benedict

Real life Eunice Carter, assistant district attorney for the City of New York and Manhattan’s first Black female prosecutor and Polly Adler, madam of one of New York City's high class brothels, have much in common while also being very different. In this book, they also have some discussions about who has had things worse and will continue to have things worse. Eunice will never be able to shed her Black skin while Polly can always leave her frowned upon occupation. At the same time, Polly was a Jewish immigrant in a strange country, all alone at the age of twelve, and she has had to fight to exist and feed herself and her family back home ever since that time. Eunice has had options and opportunities, despite her color, that never were available to a starving Jewish girl from another country.

This story is historical fiction and for all the real history and real famous and infamous people in this story, there is so much that is fictional. I wish that my copy of the book contained an author's note so that I might have a better idea of what was embellished and fictionalized in this story but the author's note should be in the final copies of the book. Instead, I did some research on both women and from what I can tell, these two women never met each other. For that reason, I think of this story as "based on" these women rather than actually about the real life figures.

It's 1930s New York City and organized crime families have a stranglehold on businesses big and small, legal and illegal. Murder is a way of doing business with these families and they are squashing the life out of the citizens of New York City with their fights with each other and for total control of the city. When Lucky Luciano gains the top rung of the mobster ladder, everything he touches is turned into his business with a ruthless aim to get as much work and money out of each human in the cog of his horrific empire.

Other brothels have lost their women to Luciano and however bad their lives were with their respective brothels before, being on the assembly line of Luciano's service of women's bodies to men is much worse than ever. Polly has always prided herself in taking care of her employees, of putting herself between her women and clients who don't treat them right. But with Luciano taking over the crime world, everyone is suffering unless they can get away or hide from the mob.

Being a woman and being Black, Eunice is given the equivalent of serving coffee to her co-assistant district attorneys. She knows of the corruption in the brothel business but this particular crime is not considered important or worthy enough to actually spend time on and that's why it's been given to Eunice to work the cases. But Eunice sees that the brothel business can be a way to bring big crime bosses down. Between Polly and Eunice, they know enough to do just that if only Eunice can get Polly to help her and if only Eunice can get her superiors to listen to her and take what she is saying seriously.

The story is very interesting but I'm aware that so much of what these women say or think has to have been made up to make the story. I do know that Polly wrote her autobiography years after this time but I haven't read it and Eunice's grandson wrote her biography, which I have not read either. Someday I'd like to read both and this story will be forefront in my mind when I read those books. Mob life and what they did to the people of New York City was horrible and deadly and it's so very sad that it had such a control over an entire city. There was so much to discuss about these two women with DeAnn, as we buddy read this story.

Publication June 2, 2026

Thank you to Elisha, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC

[Teres [on hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pair of Aces is the story of Eunice Carter, the first Black female assistant district attorney in New York State, and Polly Adler, New York city’s most notorious high-society madam, who form an unlikely, off-the-books partnership to bring down mob kingpin Charles "Lucky" Luciano.

The first quarter of this historical novel builds a slow-burn tension that pulls you straight into the grit and glamour of 1930s New York, as both women realize they’re up against the same monster.

Eunice and Polly are two aces in a deck stacked against them, playing their hand at exactly the right moment.

Not gonna lie, the slow investigative buildup in Part One tests patience, but once the raid sequence begins, the momentum rarely lets up.

The narrative tightens into a legal thriller as the trial approaches, and Eunice faces death threats, a fractured marriage, and the constant strain of having her work dismissed by colleagues who can’t see past her skin color nor her gender.

The courtroom drama becomes the stage for everything the two women have risked.

Witness intimidation, political maneuvering, and the sheer audacity of putting a crime boss on trial create a tense, propulsive finale.

A Pair of Aces is a worthwhile read and introduced me to two remarkable women, all but forgotten by history.

[Dee (in the Desert) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just three outlier stars for me - interesting from a historical perspective but slower than I cared for in places - I skimmed some to get to the pay off & didn't feel like I missed much. Honestly, neither of the FMC's held my interest much, but I think that was me, perhaps, as I'm sure other reviewers have loved this one

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical fiction novel was both brilliant and powerful! This is set in New York in the 1930’s and features a diverse cast and plenty of drama! I found this book to be informative, tense, inspiring, emotional, and adventurous. The characters were lovable and well-developed. This book started on the slow side, but really began building up towards the middle, and ended perfectly.

Two completely different women get together and take down a well known mob boss! The elements that this book has are phenomenal. It comes with strong female leads, real history, and a newfound sisterhood! I highly recommend this book if you love historical fiction and powerful women! It gave me the movie, Gangster Squad” vibes! Overall, I give this book a 4 star rating!

Thank you to NetGalley, authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, and Berkley Publishing Group for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is set to be published on June 2, 2026!

[Stephanie · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

I wanted to enjoy this SO much more.
I was bored halfway through. Just didn’t push a historical fiction book along the way I wished it did.
There was a serious lack of character development and despite the importance of the two main characters, I didn’t connect with them at all.

While I love Murray’s writing, Marie Benedict is never above a 3.75 star read for me.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written, immersive historical fiction novel which is told from the point of view of two engaging female protagonists. The lives of Eunice Carter, an intelligent attorney, and Polly Adler, an enterprising brothel owner, intertwine in a quest to bring down mobster Lucky Luciano and his crime syndicate in 1936 New York. I enjoyed learning about these inspiring women. The authors' notes are interesting and enlightening, and I truly appreciated the added historical context. Robin Miles and Barrie Kreinik do an outstanding job bringing the characters to life.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

… Eunice Carter, THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK in 1935 and Polly and her Whore house bringing down the MOV BOSS. This was a great immersive read.

[Madeline Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by Manhattan’s first Black prosecutor and an immigrant madam, this gripping story pairs two formidable women in an unlikely alliance to take down an untouchable mob boss. A Pair of Aces is a thrilling story of power, justice, and remarkable women, expertly written by a duo of masterful authors.

[Sharon Orlopp · Rating 2 out of 5]

My ratings on Marie Benedict's books range from raving 5 stars to a disappointing 1 star. The Personal Librarian was five stars for me. Carnegie's Maid and The First Ladies were strong four-star books. Disappointing two-star reads were The Queens of Crime and Daughter of Egypt. I rarely, rarely rate a book one-star but that is how I rated The Other Einstein.

I began reading A Pair of Aces due to many high ratings from friends on Goodreads. It is Benedict's highest rated book. There were Goodreads friends' warnings that it starts out slow. Slow is very tough for me. Pace is my biggest predictor on whether I am continuing with a book.

Unfortunately, I couldn't keep reading to get to the faster paced section of the book.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Stars

This Book came together so well. It’s set in 1930’s Manhattan. The District Attorney’s Office is determined to bring down mob boss, Lucky Luciano. Enter, Eunice Carter, Manhattan’s first black female prosecutor. She comes up with many different ways to connect with those close to Lucky. She knows prostitution is an area that the mob is heavily involved in. Yet, the male District Attorney’s play this down. She forms an unlikely alliance with Polly Adler, who runs the highest class brothel. As a Madam looking to keep herself and the women who work for her free from Luciano’s pressure to have him oversee her business. Two smart women working together ultimately leads to a nail biting trial, as it has not been possible to entrap Lucky Luciano and many of the higher ups working for him.

I loved that this book highlights the intelligence of two women living very different lives, but both are making changes that are unexpected of them. Since, it’s assumed a woman would not know the best way to handle her business or position, this works to her advantage. This is based on actual history. I really enjoyed reading this book.

This is the third collaboration between Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. The Personal Librarian and The First Ladies are the other two books written. Each is a unique look at history and the collaboration adds to the success of the books.

I would recommend A Pair of Aces to anyone interested in a fascinating look at how a case was built against The Mob and all the unconventional ways a woman can change history. It was such an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews of books I write.

[Lee-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Russian Jewish immigrant turned Madam and the first black female assistant district attorney in 1930s NYC pair up to fight the mob. A story about this unlikely and interesting duo should have been captivating, but alas, it was lacking.

Five stars for bringing these women's names and stories alive. I was absolutely enamored with the story of Eunice Carter. Can you even imagine being a black female assistant district attorney in the 1930s??? The work she put in, the discrimination she faced, the strength and courage she must have summoned each and every day – what an amazing, powerful woman! To be as decorated and accomplished as she and then not be able to have lunch with your coworkers at a local tavern become segregation was still alive and well. Boggles the mind.

Two stars for the writing. It reads like a textbook with lots of facts awkwardly and unnaturally inserted into the story. I have read a lot of phenomenal historical fiction that was able to integrate the drama of the story and facts about the time, place, and people flawlessly, but this was not one of them. I was disappointed and had to struggle through some of it just to finish.

[Sherwood Smith]

What could a madam and a Black female lawyer in the 1930s have in common?

Putting abusive, corrupt gangster kingpins behind bars. (Relevant to today, sadly, so very relevant.)

Meticulously researched and absorbingly written. The authors take their time building the world as well as the characters, so that the reader really gets into their well-worn shoes. It can get grim at times, but it's very well done, avoiding the merely salacious detail and keeping the eye on the prize: women who work for agency, and attain the goal. In spite of the fallout in a men's world.

A very gripping read.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
The duo of Benedict and Murray as writers of historical fiction are two for two in my world. The Personal Librarian was one of my favorite books of the last few years and this new one that I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of, did not disappoint. They have a knack for telling biographical stories with incredible depth and description that makes you feel like you know the characters intimately.

In this case, they recount the two women who took down one the most notorious New York gangsters of the era, Lucky Luciano, at a time when women were primarily relegated to background roles.

I turned a lot of people on to The Personal Librarian and I will recommend this book to those same people with equal enthusiasm!

[Grandma Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Pair of Aces

By Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars

Format: Audiobook borrowed through Libby
Narration: Excellent

What an outstanding book! I thoroughly enjoyed this fascinating historical novel based on the lives of two remarkable women. I wasn’t entirely sure this would be a five-star read for me, but by the time I finished, it had absolutely earned every one of those stars!

Eunice Carter was a groundbreaking Black female prosecutor working in New York City during a time when the legal profession was overwhelmingly dominated by men. Not only did she face discrimination because she was a woman, but she also had to overcome tremendous racial prejudice. I admired her intelligence, determination, courage, and perseverance. She had worked so hard to earn her law degree and establish herself professionally, yet she constantly had to prove that she belonged.

When traditional efforts to bring down notorious mobster Lucky Luciano were unsuccessful, Eunice developed the idea of pursuing him through his involvement in prostitution. This eventually brought her into contact with Polly Adler, a successful madam who operated a brothel.

I found both women absolutely fascinating! They came from entirely different worlds, yet each possessed remarkable intelligence, strength, and determination. Their unlikely partnership was one of my favorite aspects of the story. I especially appreciated the respect that developed between these two very different women. They didn’t have to agree on everything or share the same values to recognize each other’s abilities and work together toward a common goal.

Another aspect of the story that particularly interested me was Eunice’s relationship with her husband, Lisle. He struggled with the dangers associated with her work and wanted her to leave her position. Their differences created considerable tension within their marriage. I found myself questioning his motivations and wondering whether his concerns were entirely about her safety or whether her independence and accomplishments also played a role. As the story progressed, I found my perspective changing, and I appreciated the thoughtful way the authors developed their relationship.

I also loved learning about the historical events surrounding these women. Historical fiction becomes even more meaningful to me when it is based on real people and actual events. Knowing that Eunice Carter and Polly Adler truly existed made their stories all the more compelling. I especially enjoyed learning about their individual accomplishments and the unlikely circumstances that brought their lives together.

The audiobook narration was excellent! The narrators brought the characters and their world to life, making this an immersive and thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.

This is a powerful story of courage, determination, perseverance, and two extraordinary women who found a way to work together despite their differences. It also reminds us how much women, particularly women of color, had to overcome to be recognized for their abilities and accomplishments.

A remarkable book that I highly recommend! Five well-deserved stars!

[zoë ˗ˏˋ ♡ ˎˊ˗ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book! it was such an easy read. i really enjoyed the dual author/dual pov. i had of course heard the stories of eunice carter, but its always amazing to see a black woman win. the book was beautifully written by both of the authors and i felt myself wanting more! i am looking forward to reading the other book collabs that these two authors have together!

[Aggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest novel from Marie Benedict didn’t hold much weight with me. While the underlying premise of women uniting against a notorious mob boss was enticing, the execution fell flat.

The narrative acknowledges that a 1936 legal strategy was brilliantly complex for its time—especially without modern tools like DNA or cell phone tracking—but the courtroom drama completely lacked tension. The defense simply didn't try hard enough, making the prosecution's victory feel too easy.

Given that this is historical fiction, the author missed a prime opportunity to inject flavor and color into the plot. They could have leaned into the historical reality of the mob's signature tactics, like violently threatening Polly or intimidating witnesses.

Without that critical layer of suspense, the story loses its punch. If the author was hesitant to invent that necessary tension, they would have been better off writing a straight non-fiction biography and sticking strictly to the truth.

[Cecily - MillennialBookGal · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I began the novel, I wasn't sure if this story was going to be for me but as it got going I was sucked deeper and deeper into the characters world and loved the combo of a Madame and a Black Attorney working together in the 1930s to bring the mob down.

The story is pretty well written though I noticed a few errors that could have been taken care of during editing.

Overall, it was much better than I was expecting and was completely invested by the end.

Good read.

[Ink_Drinker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it when a book not only pulls me into a story but also teaches me something new!

A Pair of Aces did exactly that. I was completely captivated by 1930s New York and flew through this fascinating story inspired by real people and events. The unlikely connection between Eunice Carter, New York’s first Black female prosecutor, and Polly Adler, a well-known madam, made this such an intriguing story as their paths came together in the effort to bring down Lucky Luciano.

I loved getting to know these two very different women and seeing their determination and courage unfold against the backdrop of a city where organized crime had such a powerful presence. The historical details made the setting feel incredibly vivid, and the story had just enough suspense to keep me turning the pages.

I also really enjoyed the Author’s Notes at the end. I always appreciate getting that extra glimpse into the real history behind a fictionalized story, especially when it introduces me to women whose contributions I may never have known about otherwise.

This was such an engrossing read, and I can definitely understand all the love this Reese’s Book Club (@reesesbookclub) pick has received!

🎙Narrators Spotlight: Along with reading, I occasionally listened to the audiobook narrated by Robin Miles and Barrie Kreinik. I loved having two narrators for Eunice and Polly, it made the alternating perspectives easy to follow and gave each woman her own distinct voice and personality. Their performances added another layer to this already fascinating story!

[Shantha (ShanthasBookEra) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great historical fiction based on a true story. Starring a madam, a mob boss and a Black female prosecutor in the 1930s this propulsive story will keep you entertained and in suspense. Great character development and an intriguing premise. A story of two unlikely, strong women who respected each other enough to become allies working towards a common goal. "A Pair of Aces". We could learn a lot from their example about reaching across the aisle and befriending those different from us.

The audiobook performance by Robbie Miles and Barrie Kreinik is exceptional. They bring the characters and their personalities along with the tension to life.

Many thanks to PRH Audio for the gifted advance listening copy. All opinions are my own. 🎧

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These two authors really work well together in historical fiction to show two women facing very different issues based on race and culture and power. I thought it was incredibly well done. Marie Benedict (and also her works with Victoria Christopher Murray - she is a favorite of mine, and I have read her entire canon as well. I greatly enjoyed it.

[Taury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger Warnings:

* Organized crime
* Murder
* Violence
* Corruption
* Sex work
* Sexual harassment
* Racism
* Sexism
* Domestic abuse
* Death

A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is a fascinating blend of historical fiction and crime drama centered on two remarkable women whose lives intersect during the effort to bring down notorious mob boss Lucky Luciano. Inspired by the real-life prosecutor Eunice Carter and the infamous madam Polly Adler, the novel explores how two women from vastly different worlds each use their intelligence, determination, and influence to challenge a system dominated by powerful men. The courtroom intrigue, political corruption, and organized crime create a compelling backdrop, while the authors do an excellent job of highlighting the limited opportunities available to women in the 1930s. Although the story occasionally slows under the weight of historical detail, the strong character development and the little-known true history make it an engaging and worthwhile read. Fans of historical fiction featuring real women who changed history will likely enjoy this one.

[Jeimy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I kept waiting for this novel to win me over. The premise alone—a Black assistant district attorney and a notorious madam joining forces to help bring down Lucky Luciano—was enough to make me overlook several early missteps. I wanted this to work.

Instead, I found myself increasingly frustrated by how insistently the novel lionizes its protagonists. Rather than trusting readers to judge Eunice Carter and Polly Adler by their actions, the narrative repeatedly tells us how admirable they are. Benedict works hard to trying to present Polly as the madam with a heart of gold, distinct from all the others because she genuinely cares for "her girls." Eunice is portrayed as a brilliant prosecutor, yet her interior monologues often sounded less like those of a Black woman navigating New York's legal system in the 1930s than those of a twenty-first-century protagonist frustrated that the world refuses to recognize her talents. The characterization rarely felt organic; instead, it felt engineered to ensure there could be no ambiguity about who these women were supposed to be.

The breaking point came when I reached the authors' notes. Throughout the novel I had questioned the characterization, the heavy-handed moralizing, and the insistence on portraying both women as unquestionably virtuous. Still, I kept reading because I believed the central premise—that Eunice Carter and Polly Adler had somehow crossed paths in a way history had overlooked. Discovering that this relationship, the very foundation on which the novel rests, was entirely invented infuriated me. The story I had invested hundreds of pages in wasn't an imaginative reconstruction of an undocumented possibility; it was a fabrication.

Worse still, the authors go on to explain that many of the details of Carter's personal life were also invented for the narrative. By that point, the illusion had completely collapsed. I understand that historical fiction requires authors to imagine conversations, inner lives, and moments that were never recorded. I do not expect documentary precision. What I do expect is that the history serves as the foundation of the novel. Here, I came away feeling that history had become little more than a source of names onto which a largely fictional story had been grafted. The author's notes solidified what I was had thought throughout my reading experience: I felt I was reading a contemporary morality play dressed in period clothing rather than a novel genuinely interested in these historical figures.

What ultimately confirmed that impression was the closing line of Marie Benedict's author's note: "We hope this fictionalized tale of two women from different realms who come together for the common good inspires readers to come together with those like and unlike themselves for the betterment of us all." Suddenly, everything that had frustrated me clicked into place. This novel is less concerned with exploring the complexities of its historical subjects than with delivering a modern lesson about unity. That, in itself, is not a flaw. The problem is that the message overwhelms the history. Every difficult edge is sanded down, every flaw softened, every virtue underscored until the characters become symbols rather than people.

The tragedy is that the book didn't need to do any of this. The real Eunice Carter's contributions to Luciano's prosecution deserve recognition. Polly Adler's complicated life would have made for a fascinating portrait without turning her into a saint. A story about two deeply flawed women whose interests briefly aligned could have been riveting. Instead, I finished the novel feeling that the history had been reduced to scaffolding for a lesson the authors were determined to teach.

The idea behind this novel is outstanding. I only wish the execution had trusted both its historical subjects and its readers more.

[TAYA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pub date - 6/23/26
Author - Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Publisher - Berkley
Rating - 3⭐️

There’s more than one way to take down organized crime.

A Pair of Aces takes off from the start and doesn’t stop until it’s over. I really enjoyed the mystery and atmosphere of this novel. The writing is well done - precise and calculated.
I especially liked watching the friendship that developed between Eunice and Polly as this is the basis of the story. It was an unlikely covert friendship, but at the same time necessary, even risky. That careful dance of trust was portrayed perfectly. Going up against the mob is a particularly difficult thing to do on your own. Watching their friendship flourish through the most difficult circumstances showed determination and trust.
I recommend this to all those who want an easy read that’s not hard to follow. Clean, historical mob fiction.

[Marilyn (not getting notifications) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray was another powerful and fascinating journey into a piece of history that I was unaware of until I read this book. It was the second book that I had the pleasure of reading where these two masterful authors collaborated, using their unique talents, to create a book together. Although, A Pair of Aces was written by both authors, it flowed seamlessly. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by both Robin Miles and Barrie Kreinik. I was completely drawn to Eunice Carter and Polly Adler, two very different women, who found an unlikely connection and joined forces to take on Lucky Luciano and the mob. Both women possessed determination, integrity, intelligence, the ability to think outside the box and drive.

What touched me the most was Eunice’s and Polly’s commitment, courage and determination. They were faced with a world that was male dominated. Both these women faced racism and prejudice in some way or another and yet they were determined not to let that stand in their way of succeeding. Even though they found others often ignored them or underestimated them they were determined to make their voices heard and to be given credit for their contributions and discoveries. They would not allow others to silence them just because they were women. Their strengths, sacrifices and willingness to risk everything for what they believed was right stayed with me long after I finished this book. I always enjoy when historical fiction brings strong women to the forefront who history tended to forget. A Pair of Aces did exactly that. It was a compelling, emotional and inspiring read that I highly recommend.

[RoseMary Achey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should have checked my previous review of Marie Benedict novels. This story did not flow for me and I struggled to finish. the dialogue was off, too many boring details-recommend skipping this one.

[Olivia's Cpt 2 Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Bookish Baddie ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 starsssssss

[Stephanielikesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

Another excellent historical fiction novel by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray!

Based on real historical figures, this tells the story of an unlikely alliance between Eunice Carter, the first Black female prosecutor in Manhattan, and Polly Adler, a madam of a brothel, who came together to help bring down a notorious Mob boss running, among other things, a prostitution ring in New York in the 1930s.

As with their previous collaborations, the writing was so smooth and seamless and it read as if the novel was penned by a single author, which is impressive as the story unfolded from the alternating perspectives of Eunice and Polly. The setting and period details seemed authentic and clearly based on extensive research. I went down the google rabbit hole while reading this book.

I liked the parallels of the two women’s lives, both fighting to forge their own path in a society controlled by men and with clear roles based on race and gender. Both on opposite sides of the law and from different backgrounds (one from a loving, activist Black family, the other a Russian Jewish immigrant sent by her father to the US when she was twelve to earn money for the family back home), but both imbued with courage and determination. Both women were so interesting to read about.

I was absorbed by this novel throughout. I liked that the story had a mix of the personal lives of Eunice and Polly, the unfolding of how the two worked together to find the evidence for the case, and that it included courtroom scenes.

Historical fiction lovers will enjoy this compelling read by this dynamic writing duo. I will read anything these authors put out!

Thanks to Berkley for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.

[Glenn Tanner · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love Marie Benedict. In fact, I thought that the Personal Librarian is one of the better books in this genre. Despite starting with such promise about a mobster and a tawdry profession, the books intensity never matched the plots intrigue. There are some interesting characters that you root for, but again there’s a lack of depth, passion and urgency to the writing.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Thank you to @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook. #PRHAudioPartner

Title: A Pair of Aces
Author: Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Audio 🎧
* Audiobook Length: 12 hours and 30 minutes, narrated by Robin Miles and Barrie Kreinik
* Release Date: June 2, 2026
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In the 1930s, Eunice Carter, Manhattan's first Black female assistant district attorney, and Polly Adler, a high-class madam, team up to take down notorious mob boss Lucky Luciano.

Eunice and Polly cross racial and social divides to share case evidence, resulting in a historic trial.

The story sucked me in from the very beginning. Both of these women fought very different battles in their lives. However, they both wanted what was best for their families and loved ones and fought to protect them.

I loved Polly’s character. She had so much depth. You never know what decisions you will make when faced with impossible circumstances.

🎧This audiobook kept me engaged throughout. I loved the alternating POVs, and I loved both of these narrators. Robin Miles and Barrie Kreinik really brought the story to life.

Be sure to check out both of the author notes at the end of this story. I am always fascinated by how much research goes into a historical fiction novel.