The Corporation

T.J. English chronicles the rise and fall of a Cuban American criminal empire that stretched from Havana to New York to Miami. The story begins with the Cuban Revolution, which scattered an entire underworld diaspora across the Americas, and follows the key players as they rebuilt their networks in exile.

What makes this more than a crime book is the geopolitical backdrop. The CIA, the Bay of Pigs, the cocaine trade, the Mariel boatlift—English weaves all of it into a narrative that shows how organized crime and Cold War politics were deeply entangled.

At 640 pages it's a commitment, but English keeps the pace. If you're interested in the intersection of crime, politics, and American history, this is essential.