Account

Company

  Menu
Large Image

Tampa Vice

by

(6 reviews)

FREE £2.40 Save 100%

Share This

Description

Tampa Vice takes you deep into the smoky backrooms, crowded streets, and hidden gambling dens of early 20th-century Tampa, revealing a sprawling criminal underworld that shaped the city's destiny. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Ybor City -- where Cuban, Spanish, and Italian immigrants forged a thriving cigar industry -- this meticulously researched narrative peels back the layers of ambition, corruption, and cultural collision that fueled both Tampa's economic boom and its descent into vice.

At the heart of the story is the notorious bolita racket, a lottery-like gambling phenomenon that lured everyone from factory workers to prominent citizens. Author Donald Elton vividly details how bolita became a cultural fixture, powering fortunes, igniting rivalries, and weaving itself into the social fabric of Tampa's neighborhoods. Through this high-stakes game, you'll encounter the colorful personalities who built, battled for, and ruled Tampa's criminal empire -- none more emblematic than Charlie Wall, the charismatic "White Shadow" who fused Southern pedigree with back-alley cunning to dominate the city's underworld.

As the narrative unfolds, you'll witness the meteoric rise of the Trafficante family, who brought corporate efficiency and ruthless discipline to Tampa's rackets. Under the leadership of Santo Trafficante Sr. and his modern-minded son Santo Jr., the family embraced new criminal horizons, from Prohibition-era rum-running to lavish Cuban casinos, forging alliances with national syndicates and shaping an international network of vice. Their ascent radically transformed Tampa's underworld and collided with the city's political machinery, casting a long shadow over local law enforcement.

Yet this isn't merely a crime saga. Tampa Vice illuminates how immigrant labor, entrepreneurial ambition, and a swirl of multicultural influences birthed both a bustling port city and an intricate web of corruption. From Prohibition to the Cuban Revolution, from smoky casino floors to federal investigations, the book traces the forces that molded Tampa's identity. Drawing on archival records, court documents, and eyewitness accounts, Dr. Elton captures a hidden American epic -- one where power is bought in backrooms, legends are born in neon-lit bars, and fortunes ride on the draw of a single numbered ball. If you crave true-crime intrigue wrapped in rich historical detail, Tampa Vice delivers an unforgettable exploration of how a city built on cigars, ambition, and shadowy dealings left a mark still felt today.

Tag This Book

This Book Has Been Tagged
It hasn't. Be the first to tag this book!

Our Recommendation

Get It This book is free, possibly only for a limited time.

Notify Me When The Price...

  • If I'm already tracking this book

to track this book on eReaderIQ.

Track These Authors

to track Donald Elton on eReaderIQ.

  • to be notified each time the price drops on any book by Donald Elton.
  • to stop tracking Donald Elton.

Price Summary

  • We started tracking this book on February 11, 2025.
  • This book was £0.00 when we started tracking it.
  • The price of this book has changed 4 times in the past 172 days.
  • The current price of this book is FREE last checked 2 hours ago.
  • The lowest price to date was FREE last reached on July 30, 2025.
  • This book has been FREE 3 times since we started tracking it.
  • The highest price to date was £2.40 last reached on June 3, 2025.
  • This book has been £2.40 2 times since we started tracking it.
  • This book is currently at its lowest price since we started tracking it.

Genres

Additional Info

  • Publication Date: December 28, 2024
  • Text-to-Speech: Disabled
  • Lending: Disabled
  • Print Length: 143 Pages
  • File Size: 796 KB

We last verified the price of this book about 2 hours ago. At that time, the price was £0.00. This price is subject to change. The price displayed on the Amazon.co.uk website at the time of purchase is the price you will pay for this book. Please confirm the price before making any purchases.