The author nails colorful mob anecdotes and even my teenage son wanted to know more about “the razzle-dazzle” of the Cuban casinos. The X-rated underground well-endowed star by the name of “Superman” is also a colorful character. However, it’s hard to hear about Frank Sinatra’s involvement in the mob scene (I’m a huge fan) and Castro comes off looking too saintly at times, braving those shark-infested waters and writing “History Will Absolve Me!” while starving in prison. Sometimes the “fidelistas” sound as overwrought as the dialogue in the Jack Palance movie Che!, in which Palance sported a fake nose as Fidel Castro. Immortal dialogue: “No time for chiropady! The buzzards are circling!” The psychological portrait of Lansky is interesting throughout the book, but I was a bit disappointed in the photograph of Batista, whom the author describes as being extremely handsome. He’s no Desi Arnez. And it’s a hoot to hear an author explaining Ginger Rogers’ career to readers who may not know her from Lady Gaga.

Great book that dives into the conjoined history of the Mob and the revolution in Cuba. A must read for history and cultural buffs alike.

It keeps you reading, it is well researched, though some of the author's claims seem thin. Also, the gangster lingo sprinkled throughout the book doesn't add credibility, it just seems phony. You don't actually need to used the word "whacked" to talk about a killing. Oh and I'm tired of publishers not putting images in the ebook version. There is no reason I need to google images separately. If images are in the paper version put them in the ebook version!