Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) by Cortez author C. Joseph Greaves has a complex and lengthy title that reflects the book’s narrative.

This novel is based on real people and real events that took place during the Roaring ’20s and beyond. The 1936 trial of Lucky Luciano for “compulsory prostitution” is known as the most notorious trial of the era. Greaves, a former Los Angeles trial lawyer, has really done his homework. His exhaustive research is evident in the story’s extensive details and reflects the time and effort Greaves devoted to bringing the past alive.

There are four major players in this historical drama who come from divergent backgrounds. The star is Lucky Luciano, who was born Salvatore Lucania in Sicily in 1897. His family came to the United States when he was 9. In his teens, he became involved in the criminal life and worked his way though the layers of organized crime to become the boss of bosses over a national network of what was called “Cosa Nostra” or “The Mob.” His nickname of Charlie Lucky, or just Lucky, probably came from an event in 1929 when he was abducted and survived a severe beating and stabbing by unknown parties.

Another player was prosecutor Thomas E. Dewey, a hardworking, driven lawyer with large political aspirations. He was appointed as a special prosecutor to clean up the mob action in New York. He declared Lucky Luciano Public Enemy No. 1 and saw an opportunity to further his career by putting away one of the most well-known mob figures in the U.S. Some of the techniques he and his hand-picked crew of young attorneys employed to gather evidence was less than ethical, especially viewed by today’s standards.

Next, George Morton Levy was a well-respected defense lawyer with a sterling reputation. He never employed anything but well-reasoned arguments and facts to prove either reasonable doubt or innocence of his clients. No histrionics for him. Levy was brought in at the last moment to help in Lucky’s defense. The cards seemed stacked against the defense, especially with the judge, Philip McCook, seemingly prejudiced against the defendant. Then Lucky made the ill-informed decision to testify, which went against Levy’s wise council. It was the last-minute testimony of Cokey Flo Brown, born Florence Newman, that helped move Lucky into the witness box.

Cokey Flo was a grifter, working girl and madam about whom not a lot is known. She had at least six aliases. She was also a heavy addict who started early with opium, began injecting morphine and then moved on to heroin. After her arrest in the sweeping raids that targeted prostitution in February 1936, she went through withdrawal and was in very poor condition. At trial when she testified, her health caused concern to the prosecution, but her fragile state seemed to work in its favor.

The trial of Lucky Luciano has been the stuff of legends, which has led to hundreds, if not thousands, of previous articles, movies and books, both fiction and fact. Unfortunately, many “facts” are disputed. Author Greaves, through a contact in Los Angeles, had access to 15 file cabinets of previously undiscovered files created by George Levy in the case of the People vs. Charles Luciano. These files gave Greaves the unique opportunity to bring new elements to light about the trial.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) is the blending of fact and fiction. Greaves uses verbatim testimony taken directly from trial transcripts. Using his own experience, he weaves an entertaining and compelling tale of greed, compulsion and ambition.

Of note are the chapters devoted to Cokey Flo, whose story is told in first person. Her character is, in fact, the most elusive,with little known about what became of her after the trial. This lack of information gives Greaves a lot of latitude in creating her part of the novel. For readers interested in the criminal and legal aspect of our history, or colorful characters, Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) provides a fascinating tale.

Leslie Doran is a Durango freelance reviewer. Email her at sierrapoco@yahoo.com.

If you go

Chuck Greaves will sign copies of Tom & Lucky (and George & Cokey Flo) at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Maria’s Bookshop. For more information, visit www.mariasbookshop.com.