The Sicilian is the natural successor to Mario Puzo’s outstanding novel The Godfather. It includes a smattering of characters from the original story in particular Michael Corleone in exile until his father Don Corleone deems it safe for his return. In the meantime he is to prepare the way for resident bad boy Salvatore Giuliano to be smuggled out of Sicily and given safe passage to New York. Giuliano is involved in a turf war with local Capo Don Croce and events are fast approaching a bloody conclusion. The Sicilian is not a bad book, it contains all the ingredients that make for a good “mob” read. The usual elements of family loyalty, honour, explosive action, duplicity, treachery are all here. However, in the final analysis, it is nowhere near as entertaining or captivating as its predecessor but useful for an account of Michael's years in exile.
This was Mario Puzo’s sequel to 'The Godfather', written in 1984 and later made into a movie starring Christopher Lambert, Terence Stamp and Joss Ackland. Set on Sicily in 1950, it’s the story of a young Sicilian bandit called Salvatore Giuliano, a modern-day Robin Hood who is defying the Cosa Nostra. I actually listened to this as an eAudiobook but it was completely gripping and I can't imagine the book is less so. It's a story that’s well written with lots of suspense and heroic action – a thriller with lots of crimes. I had never read anything by Mario Puzo before now and I'd thoroughly recommend this.
Review by: Juno, Oundle Crime
