Invisible tells the life of Eunice Carter- an extremely impressive and intelligent woman who was responsible for putting away one of New Yorks most notorious crime bosses. Although that part of the story was interesting, it was so short. The majority of the book is before and after the case.

What I appreciated about the book was how the author was fair in his assessment- she was an impressive woman but also flawed, especially when it came to her son and family life.

While the subtitle would suggest this is a true crime book focusing on the efforts and struggles of the prosecution during the Lucky Luciano case, Invisible reads more like a family memoir - because that's what it actually is. Stephen Carter clearly did a lot of research into his family's history and his writing is for the most part easy to read if a little convoluted at times, but this is not the book I was expecting to read. Carter does provide a thorough examination of his grandmother's life, her accomplishments as well as her failures but I can't see this book having a lot of appeal for the general public.

I received a review copy of this affectionate, well-documented biography free and early thanks to Net Galley and Henry Holt. This book is for sale now.

Eunice Hunton Carter was the author’s grandmother, and though her name is little known today, she was an exceptional woman, a scholar, political activist, and social diva that did extraordinary things during a time period when it was nearly impossible for women of color to rise professionally. Carter tells of her impact on what he calls “the darker nation” and in particular, of her role in taking down notorious gangster Lucky Luciano. She was largely invisible to the mainstream press; this was a time when Black people virtually never won acclaim, and women didn’t either, but it was she that devised the strategy that was needed to try to convict him.

The author is a Yale professor and has a number of successful books to his credit already. This biography is written with the professionalism one would expect; the tone is conversational and keeps the pages turning; transitions are buttery smooth; and the documentation is flawless and meticulous. Those interested in African-American history, or particularly in that of African-American women should read this book.

Carter was born into a well-to-do Atlanta family, leaders among the Negro petite-bourgeoisie. (The author uses the term “Negro” because it was the accepted, polite term during the period in which his grandmother lived.) However, the rise of terrorist groups like the Klan forced successful families of color out of the South, and so most of Eunice’s story takes place in New York City, and it is there that she became a famous woman.

Eunice was a die-hard Republican, and the author reminds us that in the early 1900s, it was still known as the party of Lincoln. Though she did not initially aspire to be politically active—a hat that her mother, Addie, already wore—she became involved in Dewey’s various campaigns after working with him in the prosecutor’s office.

The story is well documented and the voice is distinctive. Two things got in the way of my enjoyment of this biography. The first and technically most significant is focus. The author seems at times torn between his desire to write his grandmother’s biography and perhaps a desire to write about his entire family. I’ll be absorbed in the events that shape Eunice, but then her mother is mentioned—as is appropriate, since her mother is so influential in Eunice’s development—but then we’ll see more about her mother. More, more, more. Pages of Addie. When the author smoothly returns us to Eunice I sigh with relief, snuggle into my chair, and then a few pages later, there we are again. Numerous times I have typed into my reader’s notes, “Whose story is this, anyway?” Eventually I become so frustrated by Addie’s success in hijacking her daughter’s story that I stop making notes and highlight every transition, from Eunice to Addie, Addie, Addie, and ah, back to Eunice (and then to Addie again).

This irritating diversion, one that makes me feel as I am sitting in the parlor of some elderly, garrulous, lonely individual that has just poured me more lukewarm tea and picked up yet another photo album—Did I tell you about my cousin Rudy? Now there was a character, they say—mercifully abates about halfway into the story, as we move into the Luciano case. Here we are focused, and it’s a fascinating read. But during the last portion of the book, it is brother Alphaeus that needs editing down. Again, this brother has good reason to be here, since Eunice is convinced that her career suffers from his membership in the Communist Party USA; yet I feel as if a strong editor’s pen would be useful for this relative as well. Or better still: maybe let’s not read about Eunice. Maybe let’s have a biography of Alphaeus instead, since it is he that is driven to try to make the world a better place.

Because Eunice, it’s clear, is really out there for Eunice. The author makes no bones about this; yet his glee at her snobbery, social-climbing, and vast ostentatious displays of wealth is not inspirational.

When all is said and done, however, Eunice Hunton Carter deserves a place in history. Had she been born Caucasian and male, who knows? She might have become president, or at least governor of the state of New York. Her drive, talent, and energy seem to have been limitless.

As a read for general audiences, I’d say this is a 3.5 star read, rounded upward, but for those with a special interest in African-American history, or that are doing research for a more specific topic such as African-American women in politics or law, this is a must read.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading about this strong woman, Eunice Hunton Carter as written by her grandson Stephen Carter. Eunice is a child of affluent black parents who's story is not told until now. Overcoming color and society obstacles, she rises to prominence within our justice system. But no matter how smart and skillful she is, her brother Alphaeus stalls her progress.
Not only is this about a prominent lawyer during the 1940's and bringing down a notorious gangster Lucky Luciano, but the inter play with her family is a parallel theme.
This is a fascinating read about this time in our history. Stephen Carter writes how Eunice ties her fate with Thomas E. Dewey and his political rise. He interlaces her career with the Republican party and brings a very clear view of her struggles and how she rose above them.

This book is kind of a hot mess. Honestly, the idea of this book is amazing and I was excited to get it from Net galley. As a bit of a history nerd, I was excited to learn something about someone who was clearly overlooked. The problem here is that I have to keep stopping because I get seasick. I can read a long, convoluted book with a complex plot. I can read a book with a non-linear plot. However, non-fiction is not supposed to be those things. This book tells us how it ends in the introduction and then jumps from one time to another within the same paragraph. She did this, but then earlier she did this and then later she did this. Meanwhile, her brother did this. Do you care about him? I don't know. I don't. I wanted to read about Eunice. This amazing woman. I don't care if her brother took long walks with their father. I am not exactly sure when that happened because that part came in after we already found out the father had passed away. Also, there is a lot of admitted speculation here. Again, Mr. Carter is filling in gaps, but since he is, it would have been better to just fill them in, in a linear fashion with a story that begins and ends in order. Sorry. I wanted to love this.

I am a member of the ALA Carnegie Medal Committee. This title was suggested for the 2019 Award but it did not make the Longlist. See the complete longlist <a href="http://www.ala.org/awardsgrants/carnegieadult/longlists/"> here.

I was looking forward to this read because of Carter's notoriety as an author and his legal chops. And... that subtitle is what drew me to the book. While the contents are indeed fascinating, and the life of his "invisible" grandmother well-worth bringing to light, the book was dry and felt more like a textbook--nothing wrong there, I guess-- and less like creative nonfiction, which I prefer. So this reader, looking for the page-turning and arresting reading, was disappointed. Good material, though, and Eunice Hunton Carter belongs among The New York Times forgotten women in history series.

Stephen Carter’s grandmother was one of the most famous black women in America. She was a graduate of Smith college, a prosecutor and a granddaughter of slaves. Fascinating, well written and very interesting.

Despite travelling in the same circles as many notable names from history, Eunice Hunton Carter seems to have been largely forgotten by it, which is unfortunate. Her grandson Stephen Carter has set out to rectify that in this well researched volume which covers both her experience in the trial and conviction of well known mobster Lucky Luciano and her political and non-profit activities following. The tale is peopled with many well known names from Fiorello LaGuardia to Mary McCleod Bethune as well as organizations such as National Association for Negro Women, the United Nations and the Pan African Congress. While extremely detailed, the text can unfortunately by a bit dry. A worthy historical entry.

This was an excellent book. I have always been interested in learning more about Eunice Carter since first hearing about her at the Mob Museum in Las Vegas. This book brought her story and history to life.

I am a fan of Stephen L. Carter’s fiction and immediately jumped at the opportunity to preview this non-fiction biography of Eunice Hunton Carter, his grandmother. I was enraptured by every word. The narrative is full of small stories that help to build the picture of is family history. Such a rich story full of history. Highly recommend.

In the footsteps of Hidden Figures, this nonfiction book highlights the life of Eunice Hunton Carter, one of the first black, female lawyers in America, who was instrumental in prosecuting members of the Mob in the early 1930s in New York. Considering that time period, the early 30's, that is no small feat for a black woman. The book is written by her grandson and I had previously never heard of Eunice Carter but I'm glad to have had an opportunity to read about another historical leading figure for woman of color.