he narrative, a sweeping epic covering the 1920s and 1930s, begins in Boston where Joe Coughlin, the son of a prominent police captain, progresses from a small-time thief to a formidable figure in organized crime. A pivotal early plot point involves his ill-fated love affair with Emma Gould, the mistress of a powerful Irish mob boss, which forces Joe to leave Boston and eventually join a rival Italian gang.

His journey takes him to the Latin Quarter of Tampa, Florida, and later to Cuba, where he becomes a successful rum runner and oversees a large criminal empire. The story explores themes of family, loyalty, betrayal, and redemption, placing Joe in a world of violence, crooked cops, Klansmen, and real-life crime kingpins like Lucky Luciano. The novel is critically acclaimed for its rich character development, engrossing plot twists, and atmospheric depiction of the Prohibition era.