Omertà (novel)

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Omerta is a novel published by Mario Puzo in 2000. It was first published by Ballantine Books. Omerta follows the story of Don Aprile's adopted "nephew" Astorre Viola. This is the final book in Puzo's mafia trilogy. The first two were the Godfather and The Last Don.

Plot summary

The book starts out with dying Don Zeno in Sicily. He leaves his infant son, Astorre, to Don Raymonde Aprile. Don Aprile lives in New York, where he is known as a fair but merciless ruler. The Don is a widower who does not want his children to go in to the 'family business'. To save them, he sends them to private boarding schools and only sees them on holidays. Astorre is the Don's favorite, above his children, but Astorre is picked as the one who must protect the family after he dies.

Don Aprile decides to take Astorre to Sicily one summer. Astorre is still a young child, but very bright. One day while the Don and his "nephew" are walking the streets of Sicily, when a small cosca kidnapps them. The captors treat the Don and Astorre very nicely, they just wanted the ransome. Don Aprile warned the kidnappers to let him go. "The rest of your lives will be miserable if you do not." The cosca did not realize how powerful the Don was. In the middle of the night, Bianco, a friend of the Don, rescues Aprile and Astorre. Don Aprile wanted to kill the kidnappers, but Astorre asked him not to. The don gives in, but makes the men his loyal servants.

When Astorre turns 16, he has a romantic affair with Nicole, the Don's youngest child and only daughter. Don Aprile orders the boy move London where he will attend college to stop the affair. Nicole is very upset about the whole thing, but Astorre immediately obeys his uncle. Astorre stayed in London for a year and them lived in Sicily for ten years.

When Astorre comes back he has completed his training. Don Aprile decides it is time to retire from his dangerous business. He settles all his accounts and pays off all of his associates to make everyone happy. The only thing the retired Don keeps are his 10 international banks, which are completely legit. Aprile tells Astorre, and only Astorre, that when Aprile dies no matter what the banks should not be sold. Aprile wrote in his will that Astorre owns 51% of all voting stock in the bank, with the Don's children owning the rest. The interests from the bank will go to Astorre and the children evenly. In the meanwhile, Aprile starts a macaroni importing business for Astorre, which is also legit.

Vin, the Don's oldest son, invited his family to his son's communion. When he is trying to get closer to his kids. After the communion was over, a car pulled out infront of the Don. Two men got out with Uzis. One shot Aprile twice, while the other shot over the crowd. The shooters went back into the car and drove away.

References

Puzo, Mario. Omertà (2000). New York, Ballantine Books

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