Mafiosa storytelling by one of the most prolific authors of the 20th Century.
When a notorious mob boss is assassinated in New York, it unearths a complex web of crime, deceit, and Omertá (the Italian code of silence). The investigation into the murder splits into two camps, one led by the FBI, and the other by the nephew of the mob boss, but both face uncooperative suspects and stony silences. Once the trail begins to reveal a dangerous plot that involves organised crime, law enforcement, and innocent victims, the story develops into a climactic race against time.
Puzo has written some outstanding work in the crime genre, but this novel lacks the authenticity that came with The Godfather or the beautiful language of The Sicilian. It fails to develop that richer experience that has become expected with his writing, and the characters remained shadows compared to previous iconic mafioasa. Omertá seems more like a mediocre TV show, while Puzo's other works are like all-time classic films, a serious let down.
I would argue that this book is worth reading for the hard-core Puzo fan, but not as an introduction into the man's outstanding back catalogue of work. Start with the classics and read this if you want to complete his repetoire.
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