Operation Underworld by Matthew Black

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Taking you to the start. In 1942, in New York City. Pier 88, where fears were mounting up due to the sabotage of the SS Normandie. Operation Underworld began at that moment. Commander Haffenden and Mafia boss, Charles “Lucky” Luciano, worked together to help win World War II. This book tells you all about how these two individuals worked together. Haffenden and Luciano, two men, with different lives worked together for their love of a country.

Image of Charles "Lucky" Luciano
Charles “Lucky” Luciano

This did not sit well with Naval officials. The evidence, proof of this joint collaboration, was incinerated and denied. A smear campaign on Commander Haffenden also ensued. Author and Historian, Matthew Black knew of one investigation that would tell us what took place, the Herlands Investigation. The Herlands Report, once classified, represented the vast majority of what took place in Operation Underworld. It seems silly because of the Mafia Boss who had much to do with Operation Underworld. We are lucky, no pun intended, to have this book.

Matthew Black ties the stories together and makes you really stand in the place of these two men (Haffenden and Luciano). Hard to not push boundaries, honors, and codes when you mix U.S. Government and the Mafia. A country they worked together to protect but denied them the praise and merit for what they did. Operation Underworld is a true story of espionage and crime, you will definitely learn so much about the history of World War II.

This book was an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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