Mark Harmon, widely recognized for his long run on NCIS, will make a public appearance tied to the release of a new historical investigation into wartime intelligence. The book, which examines a controversial World War II alliance between naval spymasters and organized crime, is published the same day as the signing — a coincidence that sharpens its news value.
The authors will appear at Books & Greetings in Northvale, New Jersey, on April 14 at 6 p.m. Harmon will be joined by retired Naval Intelligence specialist Leon Carroll Jr. to sign copies of their latest title, Ghosts of Sicily, which is scheduled to hit shelves that day. Organizers say each attendee must hold a ticket and a copy of the book; tickets are currently available through the bookstore.
What the book investigates
The narrative reconstructs a little-known chapter of 1942 New York, when the Office of Naval Intelligence reportedly enlisted help from underworld figures to guard American ports and assist wartime operations. The authors trace missions led by naval agents, the administration’s dealings with figures tied to organized crime — including Charles “Lucky” Luciano — and the campaign’s broader effects on both the war effort and the postwar development of transnational crime.
- Event: Book signing with Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr.
- Date & time: April 14 at 6 p.m.
- Location: Books & Greetings, Northvale, New Jersey
- Book release: Ghosts of Sicily — publishes April 14
- Ticketing: Each attendee must have a ticket and their own copy of the book
Harmon told PEOPLE that his interest in World War II history drew him to the project; he said the story deepened as the authors uncovered previously hidden or destroyed records. Carroll, who joined Naval Intelligence Service in 1980, framed the book as a further contribution to the agency’s recorded history and connected it to earlier volumes in the same series.
This is the pair’s third collaboration: Ghosts of Honolulu appeared in 2023 and Ghosts of Panama followed in 2024. Together those books and the new volume aim to illuminate episodes where naval intelligence intersected with unexpected partners and fraught legal and moral choices.
Why this matters now
Beyond celebrity interest, the book raises questions about how democratic institutions balance expediency and accountability during crises. The ONI’s alleged arrangements with organized crime touch on themes still relevant to historians, legal scholars and the public: the trade-offs governments accept in wartime, the long-term consequences of keeping operations secret, and how those decisions shape modern intelligence practice.
For readers and NCIS fans alike, the April 14 signing offers a chance to hear the authors discuss primary sources, the research process and the decisions that shaped their narrative — including why some files were reportedly destroyed after the war. Attendance will be limited by ticketing and the bookstore’s capacity.
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