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Sons and Princes #2
Fifth Man
National bestselling author James LePore’s searing, intense novel SONS AND PRINCES riveted readers with its epic depiction of a man caught between crime and conscience. Reviewers were understandably awed:
“LePore had me hooked from the very first line, which is not hard to do when you’re asked to envision body parts showing up in a suitcase... . An absolute must-read!”
– The Celebrity Café
“LePore writes a captivating story nearly impossible to put down. His characters are both memorable and frightening... . This is an outstanding book, destined to be a classic.”
– Pick of the Literate
“If you have not read a book from Mr. LePore you are missing out...hard-hitting characters, a strong story line, and a craving for more!”
– Cheryl’s Book Nook
Now LePore returns with a sequel to SONS AND PRINCES. It is eight years later and life has changed overwhelmingly for Chris Massi and his son Matt. Chris now possesses more power than he ever could have imagined. But with power comes considerable, unremitting risk. And when Matt finds himself drawing the attention of the Russian Mafia, the risks become all too immediate and the reaction all too crucial. As the circle widens to include Chris’s daughter and the woman that has surprisingly captured Matt’s heart, Chris must make moves that could make him and his entire family vulnerable.
Rippling with tension, THE FIFTH MAN is a story of strength and consequences, of the price of the past and the perilous path to the future. It is James LePore at the height of his storytelling skills.
“LePore had me hooked from the very first line, which is not hard to do when you’re asked to envision body parts showing up in a suitcase... . An absolute must-read!”
– The Celebrity Café
“LePore writes a captivating story nearly impossible to put down. His characters are both memorable and frightening... . This is an outstanding book, destined to be a classic.”
– Pick of the Literate
“If you have not read a book from Mr. LePore you are missing out...hard-hitting characters, a strong story line, and a craving for more!”
– Cheryl’s Book Nook
Now LePore returns with a sequel to SONS AND PRINCES. It is eight years later and life has changed overwhelmingly for Chris Massi and his son Matt. Chris now possesses more power than he ever could have imagined. But with power comes considerable, unremitting risk. And when Matt finds himself drawing the attention of the Russian Mafia, the risks become all too immediate and the reaction all too crucial. As the circle widens to include Chris’s daughter and the woman that has surprisingly captured Matt’s heart, Chris must make moves that could make him and his entire family vulnerable.
Rippling with tension, THE FIFTH MAN is a story of strength and consequences, of the price of the past and the perilous path to the future. It is James LePore at the height of his storytelling skills.
236 pages, Paperback
First published February 12, 2013
8 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
James LePore
22 books52 followersI write what I like to read: novels and short stories with compelling, fast moving plots, in exotic venues, populated by flawed characters who, finding themselves caught up in situations of extraordinary stress and danger, are forced to face their own demons in order to prevail. The world is full of extremes: terrorism and the courage to fight it, love and hate, lust and tenderness, corruption and redemption, honor and revenge. You will find them all in my work.
I also like to take pictures and to write very short fiction and an occasional poem. All three are combined in my book of flash fiction: Blood, Light and Time: Project 52/2015.
I also like to take pictures and to write very short fiction and an occasional poem. All three are combined in my book of flash fiction: Blood, Light and Time: Project 52/2015.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 14, 2013
Matt Massi comes from a very powerful family. His family is associated with the mafia. Having the mafia as your family, it means that there are some big shoes to fill. So when a deal involving some dangerous men gets to be too much for Matt and becomes personal, his father Chris comes to his aid.
The Fifth Man is the follow up to Sons and Princes. However if you have not read Sons and Princes you can still read this book. It was great to see Chris again. I really connected with him in the prior novel. He did not disappoint me again in this book. Chris if anything grew stronger and better since I last saw him. He shows what it means when you cross someone in the mafia.
Matt was another person that it was good to see. I remember when he was just a little kid in the last book. He did not jump off the pages at me as much as Chris did. The first half of the book was a little bit of a struggle for me. While it was a nice set up to what was to come in the later half of the book, I just wanted to action to happen sooner. Overall, another good book by Mr. LePore. The Fifth Man has me convinced never to mess with the mafia. That is unless I want to be six feet under wearing cement shoes and that is only if the mafia decides to not blast me into little pieces. Mr. LePore makes his stance as a great writer and shows why he is here to stay!
The Fifth Man is the follow up to Sons and Princes. However if you have not read Sons and Princes you can still read this book. It was great to see Chris again. I really connected with him in the prior novel. He did not disappoint me again in this book. Chris if anything grew stronger and better since I last saw him. He shows what it means when you cross someone in the mafia.
Matt was another person that it was good to see. I remember when he was just a little kid in the last book. He did not jump off the pages at me as much as Chris did. The first half of the book was a little bit of a struggle for me. While it was a nice set up to what was to come in the later half of the book, I just wanted to action to happen sooner. Overall, another good book by Mr. LePore. The Fifth Man has me convinced never to mess with the mafia. That is unless I want to be six feet under wearing cement shoes and that is only if the mafia decides to not blast me into little pieces. Mr. LePore makes his stance as a great writer and shows why he is here to stay!
February 1, 2013
Sequel to SONS & PRINCES, THE FIFTH MAN is the continuing story of Chris Massi, a man drawn into a world he had wanted no part of. He now has more money, power and influence than he ever could have imagined!
The story begins approximately eight years after Chris crossed lines he tried so hard to avoid. He is now a man of power, always needing to be at least two steps ahead of his enemies, who are now targeting his family. Matt, his son, has become a target for the Russian Mafia, who is known for its brutality and far-reaching power.
Chris must walk the minefield of protecting his family, keeping peace, all while showing the Russians he is not one to be trifled with. Of course, his secret agreement with Mr. White must also be kept.
I am impressed with Chris, he still holds on to his sense of self and what is important. He faces the unknown head on, in this dangerous game of espionage and suspense.
This is another great read from James LePore, who seems to have a knack for writing dark, gritty and gripping scenes with characters that can make your skin crawl and will have you looking over your shoulder. Well Done!
This ARC copy was provided by NetGalley and The Story Plant in exchange for an honest review!
The story begins approximately eight years after Chris crossed lines he tried so hard to avoid. He is now a man of power, always needing to be at least two steps ahead of his enemies, who are now targeting his family. Matt, his son, has become a target for the Russian Mafia, who is known for its brutality and far-reaching power.
Chris must walk the minefield of protecting his family, keeping peace, all while showing the Russians he is not one to be trifled with. Of course, his secret agreement with Mr. White must also be kept.
I am impressed with Chris, he still holds on to his sense of self and what is important. He faces the unknown head on, in this dangerous game of espionage and suspense.
This is another great read from James LePore, who seems to have a knack for writing dark, gritty and gripping scenes with characters that can make your skin crawl and will have you looking over your shoulder. Well Done!
This ARC copy was provided by NetGalley and The Story Plant in exchange for an honest review!
December 24, 2015
Summary:
When we last heard from Chris Massi, the morally-conscious lawyer had the deck stacked against him and a life-altering choice to make: either sever ties with the mobster world or take over the reins of the kingdom from NJ’s most powerful don. In this sequel to “Sons and Princes” set eight years later, we find Chris living a life of luxury in Europe. Yet behind closed doors, the pieces on the chess board are constantly shifting as political moves are made, alliances forged and lives ended in the blink of an eye. But now it’s become personal. The Russian Mafia has set its sights on Chris’ son and daughter and will stop at nothing to implicate him…
My Thoughts:
I am absolutely thrilled that James LePore decided to write a sequel to “Sons and Princes.” I quite literally jumped for joy when the package arrived on my doorstep and lost no time devouring the novel. The way he guides readers into these exotic high-stakes worlds, like they’re no different from what we’re used to, is uncanny. And, as is usually the case after becoming engrossed in one of his stories, I’m left wanting more!
With that being said though, I must admit I was a little disappointed by how quickly the ending unfolded. LePore novels never skimp on story line, and this one is definitely loaded with adrenaline-pumping action. It is a bit overwhelming at first keeping track of all the components in this international thriller of extremist groups, intelligence agencies and Mafia units. But nevertheless, you get hooked and equally exasperated when the characters know more about what’s going to happen than you do.
With every turn of the page, more pieces of the puzzle come together, and the sheer anticipation is almost more than you can handle. Perhaps I just didn’t want it to end, but I felt slightly deflated when I realized I had reached the conclusion without being fully prepared for it. Of course, this may have to do with the fact LePore has suggested this won’t be the last time we’ll hear from the Massis (at least as far as I can tell in his Author’s Note). Fingers crossed!
Overall, “The Fifth Man” is another must-read by this master of suspense. LePore sets a very high precedent with every heart-stopping adventure and never fails to excite, incite and delight readers. It’s obvious that he’s passionate about good storytelling, and he makes it look so easy, too. I highly recommend this latest release, along with his previous works, “A World I Never Made,” “Blood Of My Brother,” “Sons and Princes” and “Gods and Fathers.”
When we last heard from Chris Massi, the morally-conscious lawyer had the deck stacked against him and a life-altering choice to make: either sever ties with the mobster world or take over the reins of the kingdom from NJ’s most powerful don. In this sequel to “Sons and Princes” set eight years later, we find Chris living a life of luxury in Europe. Yet behind closed doors, the pieces on the chess board are constantly shifting as political moves are made, alliances forged and lives ended in the blink of an eye. But now it’s become personal. The Russian Mafia has set its sights on Chris’ son and daughter and will stop at nothing to implicate him…
My Thoughts:
I am absolutely thrilled that James LePore decided to write a sequel to “Sons and Princes.” I quite literally jumped for joy when the package arrived on my doorstep and lost no time devouring the novel. The way he guides readers into these exotic high-stakes worlds, like they’re no different from what we’re used to, is uncanny. And, as is usually the case after becoming engrossed in one of his stories, I’m left wanting more!
With that being said though, I must admit I was a little disappointed by how quickly the ending unfolded. LePore novels never skimp on story line, and this one is definitely loaded with adrenaline-pumping action. It is a bit overwhelming at first keeping track of all the components in this international thriller of extremist groups, intelligence agencies and Mafia units. But nevertheless, you get hooked and equally exasperated when the characters know more about what’s going to happen than you do.
With every turn of the page, more pieces of the puzzle come together, and the sheer anticipation is almost more than you can handle. Perhaps I just didn’t want it to end, but I felt slightly deflated when I realized I had reached the conclusion without being fully prepared for it. Of course, this may have to do with the fact LePore has suggested this won’t be the last time we’ll hear from the Massis (at least as far as I can tell in his Author’s Note). Fingers crossed!
Overall, “The Fifth Man” is another must-read by this master of suspense. LePore sets a very high precedent with every heart-stopping adventure and never fails to excite, incite and delight readers. It’s obvious that he’s passionate about good storytelling, and he makes it look so easy, too. I highly recommend this latest release, along with his previous works, “A World I Never Made,” “Blood Of My Brother,” “Sons and Princes” and “Gods and Fathers.”
February 13, 2013
Matt Massi has made a decision, it seems. His father Chris Massie is a man who speaks little and listens carefully; and he has taught his son the same more by example than by excessive words. Now Matt is a student at Columbia University but doesn’t have much time for studies as he has been contacted for his connection to his father – and Eastern Europe interests. A tip off about a locked storage unit alerts him way beyond the message. At the same time it also eventually connects him to the abused wife of an alcoholic bully, the latter whom he will murder in self-defense and the former with whom he will fall in love!
Next we meet the rest of the Massi “family,” including his “Don” father, housekeeper, man who assists Chris in finding information on any individual person - or eliminating them, men in the “know” who never seem to be as on top as Matt’s father, and more. A theft of valuable diamonds has been noted and a “find” of $2,000,000 certainly piques Matt’s interest but not out of greed!
Off to Greece and eventually further into mainland Europe where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be meeting another European leader on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 massacre of Americans by Middle Eastern terrorists. An attack on them would be felt across the globe but for what reason? Before that can even be prevented, multiple individuals enter the picture, all claiming to be part of the connections to the answer, including a sexy lady, a man who heads another mafia family in Europe, a “wolf”-like man, a “blonde” killer and so on.
James LePore describes the public’s fascination with the Mafia, a group of people who live an entitled life but who all yearn for something far more. The essence of the mystery is about the courts of power, the motivations and tentacles of terrorists, and the necessity of discovering such plots before their devastating outcome in more ways than one. This novel, which is a sequel to LePore’s Sons and Fathers, is superb, sparingly worded, tautly plotted, and engagingly intelligent enough to intrigue any reader. A great read and with a promise of future novels about this classy, slick and superhuman family who choose to “handle” crime in many forms!
Next we meet the rest of the Massi “family,” including his “Don” father, housekeeper, man who assists Chris in finding information on any individual person - or eliminating them, men in the “know” who never seem to be as on top as Matt’s father, and more. A theft of valuable diamonds has been noted and a “find” of $2,000,000 certainly piques Matt’s interest but not out of greed!
Off to Greece and eventually further into mainland Europe where Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will be meeting another European leader on the anniversary of the September 11, 2001 massacre of Americans by Middle Eastern terrorists. An attack on them would be felt across the globe but for what reason? Before that can even be prevented, multiple individuals enter the picture, all claiming to be part of the connections to the answer, including a sexy lady, a man who heads another mafia family in Europe, a “wolf”-like man, a “blonde” killer and so on.
James LePore describes the public’s fascination with the Mafia, a group of people who live an entitled life but who all yearn for something far more. The essence of the mystery is about the courts of power, the motivations and tentacles of terrorists, and the necessity of discovering such plots before their devastating outcome in more ways than one. This novel, which is a sequel to LePore’s Sons and Fathers, is superb, sparingly worded, tautly plotted, and engagingly intelligent enough to intrigue any reader. A great read and with a promise of future novels about this classy, slick and superhuman family who choose to “handle” crime in many forms!
August 23, 2014
Most kids love “connect the dots” pictures. The picture consists of a series of numbered points printed on a page. When the points are connected by drawing a straight line in numerical order from point to point to point, some sort of image will emerge.
James LePore's “The Fifth Man” is something of a literary version of a connect-the-dots puzzle for adults The author does not fill in all of the blanks for the reader. Rather, he plots a scattering of points, and lets the reader fill in the details between points.
The basic plot involves the nuclear family of the leader of a crime family (who may be even more than they appear), being coerced into getting involved in preventing some sort of terrorist plot in Prague that is anticipated to cause the death of multiple world leaders, including the President of the Czech Republic and the former US Secretary of State. But the storytelling technique used is not common in today's literary world.
For example, Point “A” - two men with guns are approaching a pair of gentlemen guarding a locked door. Point “B” - those same two men gentlemen are dumping a pair of deceased former guards in an unmarked grave. The reader is left to make the determination as to what happened between Point “A” and Point “B” - to connect the dots. It's not hard to make an accurate determination. However, it may not be comfortable for some readers.
In evaluating this style, and the novel that employed it, I fell somewhere in between the “loved it” and “hated it”. I really appreciated that the author did not feel to employ excessive words & pages to detail things that are obvious. On the other hand, I thought that I would have preferred a little more detail in some cases than the author chose to provide.
The plot itself was interesting, and the book itself proved to be a quick read. I encourage the reader to give it a try – even if they hate the style, they will at least expose themselves to something rare.
RATING: 3 stars.
DISCLOSURE: I won this book in an online contest from a book blogger, under condition that I post an honest review within 60 days of receipt.
James LePore's “The Fifth Man” is something of a literary version of a connect-the-dots puzzle for adults The author does not fill in all of the blanks for the reader. Rather, he plots a scattering of points, and lets the reader fill in the details between points.
The basic plot involves the nuclear family of the leader of a crime family (who may be even more than they appear), being coerced into getting involved in preventing some sort of terrorist plot in Prague that is anticipated to cause the death of multiple world leaders, including the President of the Czech Republic and the former US Secretary of State. But the storytelling technique used is not common in today's literary world.
For example, Point “A” - two men with guns are approaching a pair of gentlemen guarding a locked door. Point “B” - those same two men gentlemen are dumping a pair of deceased former guards in an unmarked grave. The reader is left to make the determination as to what happened between Point “A” and Point “B” - to connect the dots. It's not hard to make an accurate determination. However, it may not be comfortable for some readers.
In evaluating this style, and the novel that employed it, I fell somewhere in between the “loved it” and “hated it”. I really appreciated that the author did not feel to employ excessive words & pages to detail things that are obvious. On the other hand, I thought that I would have preferred a little more detail in some cases than the author chose to provide.
The plot itself was interesting, and the book itself proved to be a quick read. I encourage the reader to give it a try – even if they hate the style, they will at least expose themselves to something rare.
RATING: 3 stars.
DISCLOSURE: I won this book in an online contest from a book blogger, under condition that I post an honest review within 60 days of receipt.
February 12, 2013
To see my full review:
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
This is a wonderful sequel to Sons and Princes that can also stand alone for the reader who hasn’t year read the prequel. But seriously, these novels are so wonderful that you need to read them both! LePore is an exceptional writer, bringing his 25 years of law experience to the forefront as he spins his tales of crime.
LePore does a phenomenal job drawing the reader in from the very beginning, fleshing out the cast of characters as his story seamlessly flows together. What I’ve always enjoyed about LePore’s writing is his ability to take the reader inside the characters’ heads, jumping from scene to scene, and place to place, without losing the reader along the way. LePore’s meticulous attention to detail, and his background in law help create a believable crime story that will leave you breathless as the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together.
Whereas Sons and Princes focuses more on Chris Massi and his decisions concerning the family business, The Fifth Man gives more of a focus to his son, Matt, which I loved. The story itself opens about seven years after the close of Sons and Princes, and I really like that LePore chose to add this time gap to his story. It allows Chris to become something of a bigwig, while it also gives time for Matt and his sister to grow into adulthood, allowing for more interaction and relation building within the walls of the family business. Seeing Matt all grown up was really fun, too, and I enjoyed getting to know him, as well as watching him fall in love and interact with his father. He’s come a long way since we last saw him in Sons and Princes, and I really loved the family dynamics LePore creates as he brings us into the world of the Mafia.
This story is about love, redemption, and how far a father is willing to go to protect his family. It’s a true gem, and I cannot wait for more in the series.
http://bookvacations.wordpress.com/20...
This is a wonderful sequel to Sons and Princes that can also stand alone for the reader who hasn’t year read the prequel. But seriously, these novels are so wonderful that you need to read them both! LePore is an exceptional writer, bringing his 25 years of law experience to the forefront as he spins his tales of crime.
LePore does a phenomenal job drawing the reader in from the very beginning, fleshing out the cast of characters as his story seamlessly flows together. What I’ve always enjoyed about LePore’s writing is his ability to take the reader inside the characters’ heads, jumping from scene to scene, and place to place, without losing the reader along the way. LePore’s meticulous attention to detail, and his background in law help create a believable crime story that will leave you breathless as the pieces of the puzzle begin to come together.
Whereas Sons and Princes focuses more on Chris Massi and his decisions concerning the family business, The Fifth Man gives more of a focus to his son, Matt, which I loved. The story itself opens about seven years after the close of Sons and Princes, and I really like that LePore chose to add this time gap to his story. It allows Chris to become something of a bigwig, while it also gives time for Matt and his sister to grow into adulthood, allowing for more interaction and relation building within the walls of the family business. Seeing Matt all grown up was really fun, too, and I enjoyed getting to know him, as well as watching him fall in love and interact with his father. He’s come a long way since we last saw him in Sons and Princes, and I really loved the family dynamics LePore creates as he brings us into the world of the Mafia.
This story is about love, redemption, and how far a father is willing to go to protect his family. It’s a true gem, and I cannot wait for more in the series.
February 3, 2013
The Fifth Man; An Intriguing Read! Full of suspense as you follow the juggling of story lines of the Massi family; learning their secrets and vulnerabilities. This sequel continues in the tradition that author, James LePore, is known for; well researched complications, true to life scenarios delving into sub-worlds within our world, and glimpses into the psyche with a hint at asking how would you handle it if you we're there? The characters are well developed, leaving the reader with a sense of knowing more than meets the page. Surely, more to this family will come in future series.
December 17, 2014
This was my first James Lepore book. The quick story development and vivid characters had me hooked early on. I could not put the book down. This a story of power and privelage; of a powerful crime family..and what can happen to change the course of world events when men of power pull the strings behind the scenes. There is love, anger, revenge and a healthy dose of recent real world events to bring a certain air of believability to the story line. I will be looking for another Lepore book after reading this.
June 22, 2013
Matt Massi is a student at Columbia University but doesn’t have a great deal of time for studies - due in part to his father Chris' legacy, and some Eastern Europe interests. A tip off about a locked storage unit, some stolen diamonds and a stray $2,000,000 assist in his continued lack of application to the books.
A bit of a page turner, not a bad read, but not full of pathos about the unknowable either. Take it on a plane and donate it to the next weary traveller you see.
A bit of a page turner, not a bad read, but not full of pathos about the unknowable either. Take it on a plane and donate it to the next weary traveller you see.
February 24, 2015
This was the story of the Massi', a family with mafia ties, and their endevour to uncover and foil a terrorist attack over seas on Sept. 11.
For what its worth the story was not poorly written its just not my cup of tea. I had a hard time getting into the story and couldn't really get a bead on all the players and their history. It wasn't until I'd completed this story that I learned it was the 2nd not the 1st in the Sons And Princes series.
For what its worth the story was not poorly written its just not my cup of tea. I had a hard time getting into the story and couldn't really get a bead on all the players and their history. It wasn't until I'd completed this story that I learned it was the 2nd not the 1st in the Sons And Princes series.
March 5, 2015
A rather strange espionage novel about a mafiosi who is also a spy. A Russian spymaster/rival mafiosi tries to assassinate him because he is the only man who has seen the spymaster's face. It's all very murky and melodramatic, but not a lot of meat here.
March 25, 2016
James LePore, NB-M @ 2/13, 1/12/15, Sequel to "Sons and Princes". Chris Massi, a powerful man, his son Matt and daughter Tess are embroiled in the Russian Maffia and terrorism. I could not follow...maybe you have to read the first book to get involved with the characters. Didn't like it.
November 6, 2014
Nook Free Friday. A bit of a muddle, with ill defined characters. Perhaps not having read an earlier release in the series by LaPore would have helped.
November 6, 2014
It was fine. Easy read and it was a free book.
November 8, 2014
This is a suspenseful intriguing read of only 175 pages! I found myself waiting to see what comes next. This is one both men and women will like.
November 23, 2014
Nice easy to read book that has enjoyable main characters with just enough mystery to keep you reading, but not confused.
August 9, 2022
Reads more like an outline of events. Finished reading more out of curiousity to see how it ended than being enthralled.
March 6, 2015
Suspense, spies, intrigue, mafia. Many good elements, but it just did not work for me overall. I suppose when I think of all those things, I still hope for another Robert Ludlum novel.
April 26, 2015
Was a free book Friday. Didn't know what to expect, but it held my attention. I don't know who I would recommend it to.
July 21, 2015
I was a bit confused in the beginning to understand who is who, but than it was just a very good story about spies and organized crime ......
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews