OMERTÁ
MARIO
PUZO

25th August 2001

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Omertá is the Italian word for Silence, and the Mafioso term for not betraying anyone's trust. A code of honour which has lasted for centuries. Can you keep a secret?
 
 

The Cast
Don Vincento Zeno - 82 year old Former Great Mafia Don
Astorre Zeno - Main Character and son of Don Zeno Born with the Heart and Soul Of a true Mafioso

The Don's Former Followers
Don Raymonde Aprille - Bank Owner
Octavious Bianco - Sicilian Mafia Cosca Boss
Benito Craxxi - Mafia Boss in Chicago

The Assasins
The Sturzo Twins - Franky & Stace

John Heskow - Getaway Driver, Broker and Florist
Jocko Heskow - Basketball Player & Son of John

Other Mobsters
Don Timmona Portella - less powerful rival Drug boss of New York
Bruno Portella - Timmona's Brother
Pietro Fissolini - Bandit & Mafia Boss in Cinesi, Sicily
Aldo Monza - Fissolini's nephew Cosca member and Vet and later Astorre's Personal Assistant
Tosci Limona - Corleonesci Leader, Sicily
Michael Grazziella - Mafia Boss Drug Baron & Uncle of Nello Sparra

Don Aprille's Children
Valerius - US army Colonel & Lecturer
Marcantonio - TV network executive
Nicole - Corporate & Human Rights Lawyer

FBI People
Kurt Cilke - Successful Mob buster & NY city Chief
Bill Boxton - Cilke's Deputy
Captain Sestak - Special Forces Commander

Frank Viola - Advisor To Don Aprille and Adoptive Parent of Astorre
Tommy Liotte - Construction Company Boss & subordinate to Don Aprille
Caterina - Sicilian widow, Mistress & Housekeeper at Don Aprille's Sicilian Retreat
Zu Priola aka Mr Pryor - Banking Expert and Advisor to Don Aprille Former Mafia Assassin
Marizza Priola aka Mrs Prior
Erice & Roberto - Mr. Prior's Nephews

Rosie Conner- High class working girl
Buji - Palermo Club Dancer & Hostess
Nello Sparra - Palermo Nightclub owner and Musiscian
Marriano Rubio - Worldwide Drug trade controller, Consul General in Peru with diplomatic immunity in US, and close personal friendship with Tulippa and dealings with Portella
Inzio Tulippa - South American Drug Supplier and refiner, and wants a Nuclear Device
Detective Aspinella Washington- NYPD cop and Man Hater (Bent)
Paul Di Benedetto - NYPD chief of detectives (Bent)
Helene - Nicole Aprille's Female Bodyguard
Georgette Cilke - Kurt's (F.B.I.) wife and Human rights campaigner
The Lion Of Palermo - Very corruptible Sicilian high rank Magistrate

Introduction - And Plot Outline

    Astorre Zeno is born to the Great Don Vincento Zeno in his 80'th year to a young girl in her early 20's who dies in childbirth. Even though he is only a toddler, Don Zeno saw that his son was his true aire. He was destined to become a great leader and powerful man. The don knows he must make provision for his son, as his cosca will collapse under his rivals on his death. So he arranges for his 3 most important followers, who have since set up in legitimate buisiness, to choose one to take on his son.
    He chooses Don Raymonde Aprille, who Looks after Astorre and has him trained in the old ways to be a Mafioso assasin/negotiator/strategist. Don Aprille is retired from crime for three years when he is executed, in front of his family by some hired Assasins in a carefully planned operation.
    Astorre knows his mission is to get to the bottom of it, punish the people concerned, and solve the tension which is causing the Aprille family increasing problems with the Rest of the Mob Bosses, the FBI and the NYPD.

REVIEW

    This book is a pageturner from the very first page. The plot is thick, the characters are juicy and memorable. This book is extremely well written by a gifted author, in 410 pages not one is wasted. The suspence is kept up throughout the book, and the twists and turns are as original as you would expect in real life itself.
    As a reader, you can't skip a page, as they are all so rich with clues, in addition what the pages don't tell you about the story is as gripping as what they do.

This would make a fantastic film.