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The Wolf #1
Вълка
Това е началото на най-могъщата престъпна организация в света.
Световен трилър.
Той е начело на най-могъщата престъпна организация на света, обединила трите италиански мафии, японската Якудза, китайските Триади, френските гангстери в Марсилия, алжирците, израелците, гърците, ирландците и британците. Наричат го Вълка заради коварния начин, по който приклещва жертвите си. Страхуват се от него заради безпощадността му и го уважават заради предпазливостта, с която действа.
"Казвам се Винсънт Марели и твоят живот ми принадлежи. Знам, че никога не си ме виждал и че ако имаш късмет, никога няма да ме видиш. Твърде е вероятно и да не си чувал за мен, но аз владея част от теб. От всичко, което правиш. Не ме интересува къде живееш или с какво се занимаваш. Но винаги една част, процент от твоите пари, попада в джобовете на хората, които аз ръководя. Ние сме навсякъде, докосваме се до всичко и всички и винаги обръщаме всичко в печалба. И никога няма да разбереш как го правим.
Това е нашата тайна.
Ще си кажеш, че съм неуязвим, щом притежавам толкова голяма власт. Но ще сбъркаш. Допуснах непростима грешка, заради която най-скъпите ми същества загинаха, погубени от терористи. Беше моя грешка. Но и на терористите. Няма да заловя всички, обаче ще им отмъстя или ще загина. Те ще научат името ми. Ще усетят гнева ми.
Ще се страхуват от Вълка."
Из "Вълка"
Световен трилър.
Той е начело на най-могъщата престъпна организация на света, обединила трите италиански мафии, японската Якудза, китайските Триади, френските гангстери в Марсилия, алжирците, израелците, гърците, ирландците и британците. Наричат го Вълка заради коварния начин, по който приклещва жертвите си. Страхуват се от него заради безпощадността му и го уважават заради предпазливостта, с която действа.
"Казвам се Винсънт Марели и твоят живот ми принадлежи. Знам, че никога не си ме виждал и че ако имаш късмет, никога няма да ме видиш. Твърде е вероятно и да не си чувал за мен, но аз владея част от теб. От всичко, което правиш. Не ме интересува къде живееш или с какво се занимаваш. Но винаги една част, процент от твоите пари, попада в джобовете на хората, които аз ръководя. Ние сме навсякъде, докосваме се до всичко и всички и винаги обръщаме всичко в печалба. И никога няма да разбереш как го правим.
Това е нашата тайна.
Ще си кажеш, че съм неуязвим, щом притежавам толкова голяма власт. Но ще сбъркаш. Допуснах непростима грешка, заради която най-скъпите ми същества загинаха, погубени от терористи. Беше моя грешка. Но и на терористите. Няма да заловя всички, обаче ще им отмъстя или ще загина. Те ще научат името ми. Ще усетят гнева ми.
Ще се страхуват от Вълка."
Из "Вълка"
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
176 people are currently reading
1769 people want to read
About the author
Lorenzo Carcaterra
49 books696 followersNumber-one New York Times bestselling author Lorenzo Carcaterra's highly successful career spans more than 25 years of writing for the diverse fields of fiction, non-fiction, television, and film.
Born and raised in New York's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, Carcaterra landed his first job in the newspaper business as a copy boy for The New York Daily News in 1976. He worked his way up to entertainment reporter before leaving the paper in 1982, heading for the green pastures of then-Time Inc. and TV-Cable Week, as senior writer. Nine months later, the magazine folded, leaving him unemployed. A four-month stint at People magazine was followed by an odyssey of writing for a string of start-up publications—Picture Week, Entertainment Tonight Magazine, Special Reports Magazine—and freelancing for dozens of others—The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Newsday Sunday Magazine, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal, and Twilight Zone Magazine among them.
In 1988, Carcaterra turned to television as a Creative Consultant for the syndicated weekly series Cop Talk: Behind the Shield, produced by Grosso-Jacobson Productions. That led to a job as Managing Editor for the CBS weekly series Top Cops, also with Grosso-Jacobson Productions. Running for four seasons, from 1990 to 1994, the show is still in syndication today worldwide. In addition, he worked on a dozen other pilots, one of which––Secret Service (NBC)––made it to air. It was while at Grosso-Jacobson Productions that Carcaterra wrote and published his first two books, A Safe Place and Sleepers.
First published in hardcover in 1993, A Safe Place: The True Story of a Father, a Son, a Murder, attracted widespread critical acclaim, with Newsweek calling it, “unforgettable—a remarkable book.” Currently in its 14th printing, it has been sold to 11 foreign countries and has sold close to 220,000 copies.
The 1995 publication of Sleepers, which was a #1 New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, catapulted Carcaterra to national attention. Sold to 35 foreign countries and now in its 38th printing in the United States, the book has sales exceeding 1.8 million copies. In 1996, Sleepers was made into a feature film starring Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon, Minnie Driver, and Jason Patric. Carcaterra served as co-producer on the project, which was directed by Academy Award winner Barry Levinson. To date, the movie has earned in excess of $500 million worldwide in combined box-office, video, DVD, and TV sales.
Carcaterra made a smooth transition into writing fiction with his first novel, Apaches, a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. Published in a 14 foreign countries, the book has sold more than 450,000 copies and been optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
He followed that with Gangster, published in hardcover in 2001. The book has sold over 375,000 copies since its 2002 release as a Mass Market Paperback. The novel has been optioned by Joe Roth and been sold to 15 foreign countries.
Carcaterra then wrote Street Boys, a World War II saga inspired by an incident which occurred in Naples, Italy, in 1943. Warner Bros. and Bel-Air Entertainment bought the rights to the story in March 2001 before it was written, and developed the project for director Barry Levinson. Carcaterra wrote the screenplay. The paperback was released in July, 2003 and has since sold 150,000 copies.
Carcaterra's next novel Paradise City was published in hardcover by Ballantine in September 2004 with the paperback following a year later. To date, the novel has sold over 100,000 copies and was optioned by Fox Television to be developed as a weekly series.
In 2007, Carcaterra published Chasers, a sequel to his bestseller Apaches. The paperback version was published in the spring of 2008 and movie rights to the story are once again controlled by Jerry Bruckheimer Productions.
With that, Carcaterra took a different turn and has just completed hi
Born and raised in New York's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, Carcaterra landed his first job in the newspaper business as a copy boy for The New York Daily News in 1976. He worked his way up to entertainment reporter before leaving the paper in 1982, heading for the green pastures of then-Time Inc. and TV-Cable Week, as senior writer. Nine months later, the magazine folded, leaving him unemployed. A four-month stint at People magazine was followed by an odyssey of writing for a string of start-up publications—Picture Week, Entertainment Tonight Magazine, Special Reports Magazine—and freelancing for dozens of others—The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Newsday Sunday Magazine, Family Circle, Ladies Home Journal, and Twilight Zone Magazine among them.
In 1988, Carcaterra turned to television as a Creative Consultant for the syndicated weekly series Cop Talk: Behind the Shield, produced by Grosso-Jacobson Productions. That led to a job as Managing Editor for the CBS weekly series Top Cops, also with Grosso-Jacobson Productions. Running for four seasons, from 1990 to 1994, the show is still in syndication today worldwide. In addition, he worked on a dozen other pilots, one of which––Secret Service (NBC)––made it to air. It was while at Grosso-Jacobson Productions that Carcaterra wrote and published his first two books, A Safe Place and Sleepers.
First published in hardcover in 1993, A Safe Place: The True Story of a Father, a Son, a Murder, attracted widespread critical acclaim, with Newsweek calling it, “unforgettable—a remarkable book.” Currently in its 14th printing, it has been sold to 11 foreign countries and has sold close to 220,000 copies.
The 1995 publication of Sleepers, which was a #1 New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback, catapulted Carcaterra to national attention. Sold to 35 foreign countries and now in its 38th printing in the United States, the book has sales exceeding 1.8 million copies. In 1996, Sleepers was made into a feature film starring Brad Pitt, Robert DeNiro, Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Bacon, Minnie Driver, and Jason Patric. Carcaterra served as co-producer on the project, which was directed by Academy Award winner Barry Levinson. To date, the movie has earned in excess of $500 million worldwide in combined box-office, video, DVD, and TV sales.
Carcaterra made a smooth transition into writing fiction with his first novel, Apaches, a New York Times bestseller in both hardcover and paperback. Published in a 14 foreign countries, the book has sold more than 450,000 copies and been optioned by producer Jerry Bruckheimer.
He followed that with Gangster, published in hardcover in 2001. The book has sold over 375,000 copies since its 2002 release as a Mass Market Paperback. The novel has been optioned by Joe Roth and been sold to 15 foreign countries.
Carcaterra then wrote Street Boys, a World War II saga inspired by an incident which occurred in Naples, Italy, in 1943. Warner Bros. and Bel-Air Entertainment bought the rights to the story in March 2001 before it was written, and developed the project for director Barry Levinson. Carcaterra wrote the screenplay. The paperback was released in July, 2003 and has since sold 150,000 copies.
Carcaterra's next novel Paradise City was published in hardcover by Ballantine in September 2004 with the paperback following a year later. To date, the novel has sold over 100,000 copies and was optioned by Fox Television to be developed as a weekly series.
In 2007, Carcaterra published Chasers, a sequel to his bestseller Apaches. The paperback version was published in the spring of 2008 and movie rights to the story are once again controlled by Jerry Bruckheimer Productions.
With that, Carcaterra took a different turn and has just completed hi
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
August 3, 2014
3.5 STARS
Well I am a big fan of The Godfather (who isn’t?) so when I read the blurb and a few of the early reviews for this, I was pretty intrigued by the idea of different criminal organizations coming together to bring terrorists to their own brand of justice. The thought of The Yakuza, The Triads, The Greek Mob and La Cosa Nostra coming together to plot against The Russians, The Mexican Cartel and Middle Eastern Fundamentalists… that’s some seriously amazing Happy Hour.
And them going to the mattresses against each other? It’s like pot and kettle-related hostilities over water boiling talents. Fun times.
I quite enjoyed this book in certain stretches for the creative action sequences and the great tension build up where it was warranted. The scenes in the airport, in the New York streets and the dinner sequence between Vincent and Angela were written with such tautness, the only way it would have been better was if this was written by George RR Martin. I loved Carcaterra’s treatment of the gangster lifestyle, incorporating the societal and cultural values that I loved about The Godfather without romanticizing it. Much.
For a genre that often treats women as either the compassionate matriarch or the token heroine to get killed with a car bomb or the baker of poisoned cannolis, I appreciate the evolution of the female mobster in Angela Jannetti. I was initially wary with her introduction as a beautiful and smart woman because anytime THOSE kinds of heroines get introduced in these kinds of stories, it’s a struggle to keep the eyes from rolling. I’m so glad to be proven wrong over and over as she’s easily one of the most badass heroines I’ve read in contemporary fiction. I will probably pick up the next book just for her given the nature of how things.
But despite the compelling storyline of a mourning father and husband, ruthlessly seeking to avenge his family, I found some parts of The Wolf draggy and redundant. I suppose I did enjoy the attention to gangster historical facts and the art history crash course but it was all delivered in an info dumpy manner that my mind can’t help but wander elsewhere. I found the portrayal of Vincent’s organization’s notoriety redundant in what can only be described as hearsay. I thought I would enjoy the strategic to and fro between both camps but only grew bored with the empty and repetitive self-exaltations from Vincent and Raza’s long and winded soliloquies about life and the privilege of death. It was all too documentary-ish and emotionally sterile and maybe I’m in the wrong for looking for these things in a book like this but with the scenes portraying Vincent as a loving father to his son, I can hardly be blamed to expect some human feels, right? I personally felt very little with the reveal of Raza’s plans and felt it very alienating to some extent. Because while it is quite horrible to contemplate works of art being targeted in a terrorist attack, I’m not quite sure the threat and intimidation would echo as effectively as this was making it to be.
Unless you’re an Art History Major.
The who’s-the-traitor plot twist and its repercussions were hardly impressive in it’s shock value. It even came across this side of pathetic to be honest, when this was evidently trying to make it seem tragic. It wasn’t.
The OTHER plot twist towards the end was hardly a surprise but does bring a lot of promise to the table for a second book.
So a slight disappointment this one, but I’ve seen the treatment of the Mafia genre done way worse than this. Yes Sempre, I’m looking at you.
Review Copy courtesy of the publishers.
Also on Booklikes.
Sometimes you need to live beyond the reach of the law to bring down those who walked its edges.
Well I am a big fan of The Godfather (who isn’t?) so when I read the blurb and a few of the early reviews for this, I was pretty intrigued by the idea of different criminal organizations coming together to bring terrorists to their own brand of justice. The thought of The Yakuza, The Triads, The Greek Mob and La Cosa Nostra coming together to plot against The Russians, The Mexican Cartel and Middle Eastern Fundamentalists… that’s some seriously amazing Happy Hour.
And them going to the mattresses against each other? It’s like pot and kettle-related hostilities over water boiling talents. Fun times.
I quite enjoyed this book in certain stretches for the creative action sequences and the great tension build up where it was warranted. The scenes in the airport, in the New York streets and the dinner sequence between Vincent and Angela were written with such tautness, the only way it would have been better was if this was written by George RR Martin. I loved Carcaterra’s treatment of the gangster lifestyle, incorporating the societal and cultural values that I loved about The Godfather without romanticizing it. Much.
For a genre that often treats women as either the compassionate matriarch or the token heroine to get killed with a car bomb or the baker of poisoned cannolis, I appreciate the evolution of the female mobster in Angela Jannetti. I was initially wary with her introduction as a beautiful and smart woman because anytime THOSE kinds of heroines get introduced in these kinds of stories, it’s a struggle to keep the eyes from rolling. I’m so glad to be proven wrong over and over as she’s easily one of the most badass heroines I’ve read in contemporary fiction. I will probably pick up the next book just for her given the nature of how things.
But despite the compelling storyline of a mourning father and husband, ruthlessly seeking to avenge his family, I found some parts of The Wolf draggy and redundant. I suppose I did enjoy the attention to gangster historical facts and the art history crash course but it was all delivered in an info dumpy manner that my mind can’t help but wander elsewhere. I found the portrayal of Vincent’s organization’s notoriety redundant in what can only be described as hearsay. I thought I would enjoy the strategic to and fro between both camps but only grew bored with the empty and repetitive self-exaltations from Vincent and Raza’s long and winded soliloquies about life and the privilege of death. It was all too documentary-ish and emotionally sterile and maybe I’m in the wrong for looking for these things in a book like this but with the scenes portraying Vincent as a loving father to his son, I can hardly be blamed to expect some human feels, right? I personally felt very little with the reveal of Raza’s plans and felt it very alienating to some extent. Because while it is quite horrible to contemplate works of art being targeted in a terrorist attack, I’m not quite sure the threat and intimidation would echo as effectively as this was making it to be.
Unless you’re an Art History Major.
The who’s-the-traitor plot twist and its repercussions were hardly impressive in it’s shock value. It even came across this side of pathetic to be honest, when this was evidently trying to make it seem tragic. It wasn’t.
The OTHER plot twist towards the end was hardly a surprise but does bring a lot of promise to the table for a second book.
So a slight disappointment this one, but I’ve seen the treatment of the Mafia genre done way worse than this. Yes Sempre, I’m looking at you.
Review Copy courtesy of the publishers.
Also on Booklikes.
August 6, 2014
The Wolf is the second novel I've read by Lorenzo Carcaterra. For those unaware of who he is, he wrote Sleepers. It was turned into one Blockbuster of a movie starring Brad Pitt, Kevin Bacon, Robert De Niro... and a few others. Suffice it to say, the movie was AWESOME! and so was the book. The Wolf doesn't quite compare, but it is still a worthwhile read.
Mob boss Vincent "the Wolf" Marelli is reeling from the loss of his wife and two daughters after a "terrorist" attack leaves them dead. He plans to avenge their deaths by taking out the people responsible. Vincent has a handle on who's calling the shots and declares war on the opposing crime families. With muscle from partners in his criminal enterprise, Vincent begins piecing together who may have put out a hit on his family.
While The Wolf moves at lightning speed, there is a constant tension for readers as they zip across the world with Vincent and take note of the dead bodies that pile up. The pace is good and the action is constant. There's no shortage of villains or suspects.
As I got further into the book I started to realize my gripes (which is a good thing... early on gripes lead to DNF's). My biggest gripe was the fact that all the characters seemed one dimensional and caricatures or what a mobster may behave like. Vincent, thankfully, doesn't always fall into this category because he narrates most chapters, but his descriptions of his fellows in crime made me wonder if a new breed of Mobster, Gangster, or Criminal Organization can evolve. Are they all just Joe Pesci ripoffs?
One other minor gripe is that The Wolf seemed to focus too much on terrorism. I wanted to know more about the inner-workings of the Marelli crime syndicate. Finding out how they funnel their dirty money into any country's infrastructure is something worth reading about. I wanted more of this instead of a reminder course on the amount of terrorists willing and ready to sacrifice their lives for religion.
Anyway, The Wolf is a fast read full of intrigue with a few curveballs thrown in for good measure. There are moments when readers will think they have it all figured out but are nowhere close to the answer. Lorenzo Carcaterra doesn't seem to be done with this anti-hero so I look forward to reading the next Marelli novel. In the mean time, I'll have the DVD of Sleepers to keep me entertained.
Copy provided by Random House via Netgalley
Mob boss Vincent "the Wolf" Marelli is reeling from the loss of his wife and two daughters after a "terrorist" attack leaves them dead. He plans to avenge their deaths by taking out the people responsible. Vincent has a handle on who's calling the shots and declares war on the opposing crime families. With muscle from partners in his criminal enterprise, Vincent begins piecing together who may have put out a hit on his family.
While The Wolf moves at lightning speed, there is a constant tension for readers as they zip across the world with Vincent and take note of the dead bodies that pile up. The pace is good and the action is constant. There's no shortage of villains or suspects.
As I got further into the book I started to realize my gripes (which is a good thing... early on gripes lead to DNF's). My biggest gripe was the fact that all the characters seemed one dimensional and caricatures or what a mobster may behave like. Vincent, thankfully, doesn't always fall into this category because he narrates most chapters, but his descriptions of his fellows in crime made me wonder if a new breed of Mobster, Gangster, or Criminal Organization can evolve. Are they all just Joe Pesci ripoffs?
One other minor gripe is that The Wolf seemed to focus too much on terrorism. I wanted to know more about the inner-workings of the Marelli crime syndicate. Finding out how they funnel their dirty money into any country's infrastructure is something worth reading about. I wanted more of this instead of a reminder course on the amount of terrorists willing and ready to sacrifice their lives for religion.
Anyway, The Wolf is a fast read full of intrigue with a few curveballs thrown in for good measure. There are moments when readers will think they have it all figured out but are nowhere close to the answer. Lorenzo Carcaterra doesn't seem to be done with this anti-hero so I look forward to reading the next Marelli novel. In the mean time, I'll have the DVD of Sleepers to keep me entertained.
Copy provided by Random House via Netgalley
May 16, 2016
7/10
When I saw this novel on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it; this guy wrote “Gangster” which is one of my favourite novels & “Sleepers” which was a number one bestseller and mighty fine read too. It also had an interesting, and somewhat unique, plot – organised crime takes a stance against terrorism.
Things start promising with the author’s fast flowing style, bedding in the main characters and showing why “the wolf” wants to take on terrorism after a mishap hits him very close to home. After a while it did became noticeable that the writing style was switching perspectives every other chapter from the first person of “the wolf” to third person of any other character be it terrorist or one of the many other gangsters looking to take on terrorism which jarred and didn’t make things flow as they could.
This leads to another grating point, it felt like Avengers Assemble - but replace superheroes with gangsters and weird evil alien things with terrorists. There were also brief elements of Dan Brown slipping in with a lot of cultural knowledge being shared on historic landmarks to make the reader acknowledge the author had done his homework. This isn’t really necessary in this type of novel but the details were insignificant in total to not make it a big deal.
With that aside I can’t fault this for what it is; a fun easy read in a genre I enjoy. The pacing is good enough to lure you in and keep you reading. The action scenes are enjoyable enough and there are plenty of characters in there to mean the body count is going to be high. The main characters aren’t fleshed out enough for you to really care when certain betrayals are uncovered but there looks like there could be more to come and a potential series in the pipeline.
It’s not Lorenzo at his best which is why it didn’t rate higher for me but it’s good to read more from this author and I will look out for more from him and this series.
I received a free copy for review from Netgalley
If you like this try: “Gangster” by Lorenzo Carcaterra
When I saw this novel on NetGalley I jumped at the chance to read it; this guy wrote “Gangster” which is one of my favourite novels & “Sleepers” which was a number one bestseller and mighty fine read too. It also had an interesting, and somewhat unique, plot – organised crime takes a stance against terrorism.
Things start promising with the author’s fast flowing style, bedding in the main characters and showing why “the wolf” wants to take on terrorism after a mishap hits him very close to home. After a while it did became noticeable that the writing style was switching perspectives every other chapter from the first person of “the wolf” to third person of any other character be it terrorist or one of the many other gangsters looking to take on terrorism which jarred and didn’t make things flow as they could.
This leads to another grating point, it felt like Avengers Assemble - but replace superheroes with gangsters and weird evil alien things with terrorists. There were also brief elements of Dan Brown slipping in with a lot of cultural knowledge being shared on historic landmarks to make the reader acknowledge the author had done his homework. This isn’t really necessary in this type of novel but the details were insignificant in total to not make it a big deal.
With that aside I can’t fault this for what it is; a fun easy read in a genre I enjoy. The pacing is good enough to lure you in and keep you reading. The action scenes are enjoyable enough and there are plenty of characters in there to mean the body count is going to be high. The main characters aren’t fleshed out enough for you to really care when certain betrayals are uncovered but there looks like there could be more to come and a potential series in the pipeline.
It’s not Lorenzo at his best which is why it didn’t rate higher for me but it’s good to read more from this author and I will look out for more from him and this series.
I received a free copy for review from Netgalley
If you like this try: “Gangster” by Lorenzo Carcaterra
May 2, 2014
Yikes. This book should've been sold as fantasy; the plot was so far fetched. I mean, I knew there would be SOME suspension of disbelief considering I'm supposed to believe every mafia-type criminal organization in the world is part of an executive board - "like the United Nations of crime" (to paraphrase something the book actually says) - but I thought there would be a better explanation for this than "we suddenly all decided to start operating like corporations."
Other issues: the "bad guys" are the Russians, the Middle East (as a huge monolith of terrorism), and somehow the Mexicans, which makes it seem like the author just took the Russians, who've been the token bad guys since the Cold War, and teamed them up with enemies du jour for flimsy, never-fully-explained reasons. And we're supposed to be rooting for the freaking mafia, like they're any better than the terrorists! Which brings me to my next point: our "protagonist," "The Wolf," is so poorly written that I can't help but laugh at his characterization. The author wants us to root for him but also wants him to be this ruthless, calculating superman. He's full of contradictions (which, when done well, can lead to realistic and relatable characters; too bad it's not done well here). The Wolf is an isolated, unscrupulous killer but loves his family like crazy and wants them to have a normal life; he's certain of his mission to eliminate terrorism (erm, because of the goodness of his heart? Because they're costing his organization money for, um, reasons?) but doubts if he wants to continue heading up the organization. Just so, so absurd.
Carcaterra also manages to be so offensive that it's laughable. There are criminal organizations from across the world represented here, so no nationality escapes stereotyping. He almost always refers to both the Chinese and Japanese mafia together - as though, y'know, both groups have the same exact culture and beliefs. The Albanians can't be trusted. An actual line (paraphrased because I can't bear to open the book again): "A gypsy woman can steal your heart, soul, and wallet all in the same day." I could go on, but I won't.
I almost gave this book two stars "for potential" because I didn't finish reading it and didn't want to judge it so horribly without doing so. BUT I ended up skimming through it to the end and just found more of the same terrible plot plus a throw-the-book-against-the-wall ending . And if the plot sounds bad, the writing is worse: uninteresting dialogue, poorly described action, and little-to-no suspense. If you're looking for good suspense/thriller, I recommend Joseph Finder instead.
Other issues: the "bad guys" are the Russians, the Middle East (as a huge monolith of terrorism), and somehow the Mexicans, which makes it seem like the author just took the Russians, who've been the token bad guys since the Cold War, and teamed them up with enemies du jour for flimsy, never-fully-explained reasons. And we're supposed to be rooting for the freaking mafia, like they're any better than the terrorists! Which brings me to my next point: our "protagonist," "The Wolf," is so poorly written that I can't help but laugh at his characterization. The author wants us to root for him but also wants him to be this ruthless, calculating superman. He's full of contradictions (which, when done well, can lead to realistic and relatable characters; too bad it's not done well here). The Wolf is an isolated, unscrupulous killer but loves his family like crazy and wants them to have a normal life; he's certain of his mission to eliminate terrorism (erm, because of the goodness of his heart? Because they're costing his organization money for, um, reasons?) but doubts if he wants to continue heading up the organization. Just so, so absurd.
Carcaterra also manages to be so offensive that it's laughable. There are criminal organizations from across the world represented here, so no nationality escapes stereotyping. He almost always refers to both the Chinese and Japanese mafia together - as though, y'know, both groups have the same exact culture and beliefs. The Albanians can't be trusted. An actual line (paraphrased because I can't bear to open the book again): "A gypsy woman can steal your heart, soul, and wallet all in the same day." I could go on, but I won't.
I almost gave this book two stars "for potential" because I didn't finish reading it and didn't want to judge it so horribly without doing so. BUT I ended up skimming through it to the end and just found more of the same terrible plot plus a throw-the-book-against-the-wall ending . And if the plot sounds bad, the writing is worse: uninteresting dialogue, poorly described action, and little-to-no suspense. If you're looking for good suspense/thriller, I recommend Joseph Finder instead.
December 13, 2024
After rewatching Sleepers, I had a higher expectation for Carcaterra. Instead, this book started nowhere and ended nowhere. Will not be reading the sequel, though I'll give another of his books at least one more try.
September 14, 2014
Okay now, I gotta be honest.
I think this is a book with a couple of very catchy, attractive lines; but overall, I felt the plot to be a little too forced. It felt like the author was trying to make a deadline and didn't take time to capture the essence of the story. The characters felt like archetypes with a few other traits thrown on from the 'sympathetic' box. I first picked up this book because of the engaging summery, and because the great generosity of another Goodreads member sending me a copy. The summery sounded authoritative and captivating, but I found it lacking as I dove into the book. There were some good portions, where my attention was grabbed -- they were, on average, one paragraph every three pages. I felt like I needed to work at it to really enjoy the book, and that was a let-down.
I also thought the writing style to be a bit short and too choppy, but it worked well for the more high-action scenes.
It would be something fun to read if I didn't have anything else, but definitely not a favorite.
I think this is a book with a couple of very catchy, attractive lines; but overall, I felt the plot to be a little too forced. It felt like the author was trying to make a deadline and didn't take time to capture the essence of the story. The characters felt like archetypes with a few other traits thrown on from the 'sympathetic' box. I first picked up this book because of the engaging summery, and because the great generosity of another Goodreads member sending me a copy. The summery sounded authoritative and captivating, but I found it lacking as I dove into the book. There were some good portions, where my attention was grabbed -- they were, on average, one paragraph every three pages. I felt like I needed to work at it to really enjoy the book, and that was a let-down.
I also thought the writing style to be a bit short and too choppy, but it worked well for the more high-action scenes.
It would be something fun to read if I didn't have anything else, but definitely not a favorite.
April 7, 2014
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This book took me a few chapters to get engrossed in, and I honestly wasn't holding out much hope for the story. I'm glad that I decided to stick with the story because by the fourth or fifth chapter I was truly sucked into a fascinating read.
The story follows "The Wolf" or Vincent, a young man/criminal mastermind, who recently lost his wife and two daughters to a terrorist attack. Reeling from the aftermath of the killing, Vincent sets out for revenge, starting a war between all of the professional criminal organizations and all of the terrorist organizations.
This story thrilling, but also causes the reader to think a little bit about professional criminals and terrorists. I never really thought about the difference in criminal forms before reading this book, but while reading this story it really got me thinking. While I was thinking about the difference in criminal forms, though, I was still completely engrossed in the action of this book.
The action in this book is subtle and diabolical. The author takes the reader on a step-by-step journey of the war between the organizations. While the majority of the book, especially the beginning, takes place in "the boardroom" it's easy to feel the tension as the action escalates to stopping bombs before they go off. The author did a breathtaking job of building up the conflict and leading the reader through the process, instead of just jumping right into the action.
The characters in this book were all unusually interesting. Vincent, as a mob boss yet still a loving father, was a very dynamic and engaging character. His pain over the loss of his wife and daughters was evident, yet he kept his head in the game in order to exact his revenge on the terrorists who destroyed his family. Jimmy, Vincent's handicapped brother, was also another dynamic character. I did not expect Vincent to have a handicapped brother, especially one he routinely goes to for advice. Jimmy definitely added a new and refreshing dimension to the stereotypical criminal storyline.
The narrative shifts between first and third person do take a little bit of getting used to, but luckily there is a clear pattern. When the story is from Vincent's perspective, the author uses first person to describe conversations and events that take place within that section. If the point of view is from any other character's perspective, the author uses third person to describe the action. While normally not a fan of shifting narratives, I found that this style was very effective for this book. It allowed the reader to truly feel as if they were right there with Vincent, or that he was describing the details to them after the fact.
Regardless of the narrative shifts (even though I didn't find them problematic), I was rather fond of this authors writing style. The author did a fantastic job of making me feel, while reading, that I was right there in the midst of the action. It's a rare book that can truly make me feel the events, but this author put me right there.
Although this book does take a few chapters to get immersed into, it is definitely worth the read. The unique story, dynamic characters, and refreshing writing style make this book a joy to read. Definitely a book that I would recommend for any reader who is a fan of criminal thrillers. I will definitely be looking for more books written by this author in the future.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
This book took me a few chapters to get engrossed in, and I honestly wasn't holding out much hope for the story. I'm glad that I decided to stick with the story because by the fourth or fifth chapter I was truly sucked into a fascinating read.
The story follows "The Wolf" or Vincent, a young man/criminal mastermind, who recently lost his wife and two daughters to a terrorist attack. Reeling from the aftermath of the killing, Vincent sets out for revenge, starting a war between all of the professional criminal organizations and all of the terrorist organizations.
This story thrilling, but also causes the reader to think a little bit about professional criminals and terrorists. I never really thought about the difference in criminal forms before reading this book, but while reading this story it really got me thinking. While I was thinking about the difference in criminal forms, though, I was still completely engrossed in the action of this book.
The action in this book is subtle and diabolical. The author takes the reader on a step-by-step journey of the war between the organizations. While the majority of the book, especially the beginning, takes place in "the boardroom" it's easy to feel the tension as the action escalates to stopping bombs before they go off. The author did a breathtaking job of building up the conflict and leading the reader through the process, instead of just jumping right into the action.
The characters in this book were all unusually interesting. Vincent, as a mob boss yet still a loving father, was a very dynamic and engaging character. His pain over the loss of his wife and daughters was evident, yet he kept his head in the game in order to exact his revenge on the terrorists who destroyed his family. Jimmy, Vincent's handicapped brother, was also another dynamic character. I did not expect Vincent to have a handicapped brother, especially one he routinely goes to for advice. Jimmy definitely added a new and refreshing dimension to the stereotypical criminal storyline.
The narrative shifts between first and third person do take a little bit of getting used to, but luckily there is a clear pattern. When the story is from Vincent's perspective, the author uses first person to describe conversations and events that take place within that section. If the point of view is from any other character's perspective, the author uses third person to describe the action. While normally not a fan of shifting narratives, I found that this style was very effective for this book. It allowed the reader to truly feel as if they were right there with Vincent, or that he was describing the details to them after the fact.
Regardless of the narrative shifts (even though I didn't find them problematic), I was rather fond of this authors writing style. The author did a fantastic job of making me feel, while reading, that I was right there in the midst of the action. It's a rare book that can truly make me feel the events, but this author put me right there.
Although this book does take a few chapters to get immersed into, it is definitely worth the read. The unique story, dynamic characters, and refreshing writing style make this book a joy to read. Definitely a book that I would recommend for any reader who is a fan of criminal thrillers. I will definitely be looking for more books written by this author in the future.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
September 7, 2020
Vincent Marelli, the narrator of most chapters in 'The Wolf', is himself The Wolf. He's a criminal mastermind, the most powerful crime boss in the world, and is pissed off that his wife and kids were killed in a terrorist attack. He wants to identify who's responsible and exact some major revenge against whoever did it and whoever funds them. He's also noted that international terrorists are infringing on the criminal activities he and the other major crime syndicates currently control. He engages all the other key players in 'crime world' and they plan an all-out war on terror. The Wolf is looking for a two-fer: find who was responsible for killing his family, and wipe out his competition. With Marelli in the lead, they select the first target, and it's 'game on'. He assembles a crack team full of the most lethal killers on the planet, while his target sets about planning his next audacious terror attack with funding from the Russian underworld.
So, this is one of those rare books that leave readers with nobody to really 'root' for. Murderous criminals or international terrorists? Not much of a choice, so we reluctantly end up pulling for the criminals simply because they're trying to prevent a terror attack. I'd feel better about it had the author, Lorenzo Carcaterra, did a little more to flesh out the characters (sort of like Mario Puzo did with The Godfather) and make them more likable and believable, but he didn't and we're left with caricatures.
Carcaterra's writing reminds me of Daniel Silva, a bit over the top and florid. The plot itself was a little on the incredible side, but there was plenty of action to keep things moving along so it was easy to forget how silly the entire premise of the story was.
So, this is one of those rare books that leave readers with nobody to really 'root' for. Murderous criminals or international terrorists? Not much of a choice, so we reluctantly end up pulling for the criminals simply because they're trying to prevent a terror attack. I'd feel better about it had the author, Lorenzo Carcaterra, did a little more to flesh out the characters (sort of like Mario Puzo did with The Godfather) and make them more likable and believable, but he didn't and we're left with caricatures.
Carcaterra's writing reminds me of Daniel Silva, a bit over the top and florid. The plot itself was a little on the incredible side, but there was plenty of action to keep things moving along so it was easy to forget how silly the entire premise of the story was.
May 28, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. not too long, good mix of mob vs the Russian mob vs terrorists. I feel like there should be a part two. loved it!
August 25, 2016
Carcaterra is not new to the world of fiction. He has a successful career established and at least one New York Times best seller. I had not read him before, and was looking forward to a new-to-me modern mafia tale. Net Galley provided the opportunity free.
I got my wish, stuck in bed with a torn knee and my kindle. I opened it with anticipation, but the magic never happened. The writing style, which I think is supposed to seem coldly sinister, comes across as wooden, for the key protagonist, Vincent Marelli. (The name was a problem for me: kind of a cross between Janet Evanovich's Joe Morelli and the legendary Vincent Minnelli, who fathered Liza Minnelli with Judy Garland.) The Russian, Vladimir, is close to caricatured.
There are other assumptions--that Russia was a capitalist nation in 1980, when really it was still run by Stalinists who skimmed a great deal off the state for themselves; that Russia was a wild card and extremely unpredictable, bent on world domination, when in fact the dream of carrying a workers' revolution around the world died with Lenin, and Stalin made himself a convenient bumper zone in his own sphere after WWII and used it to make Mother Russia more secure, with his successors doing the same for most of the 20th century.
But I could forget all of this if the writer could pull me in and wrap me in story.
The tool of vengeance being sought for the death of loved ones has been used a lot, but in capable hands, it is still a plausible way to hook readers, because most of us have families for whom we would do a great deal. And all of us blame ourselves for things that happen to them and want to protect them.
The first time I felt a really authentic voice break through was, interestingly enough, in the afterword. This explained a great deal. The book was written, he says, during a "difficult and emotional time". Then as one reads on, the pieces fall together. His wife was dying while he wrote this and others had to help him edit and patch.
Why not set the book aside for later? I can imagine. Medical bills; children with needs; probably a deadline. Sometimes when a spouse is mortally ill, they are ill for years and it is hard to know when the final crisis will hit. What a terrible thing.
So I will read something else this man has written, when he was himself. I think this serviceable yet not compelling novel is probably not representative of his best work. I'd like to find that and try it out.
I got my wish, stuck in bed with a torn knee and my kindle. I opened it with anticipation, but the magic never happened. The writing style, which I think is supposed to seem coldly sinister, comes across as wooden, for the key protagonist, Vincent Marelli. (The name was a problem for me: kind of a cross between Janet Evanovich's Joe Morelli and the legendary Vincent Minnelli, who fathered Liza Minnelli with Judy Garland.) The Russian, Vladimir, is close to caricatured.
There are other assumptions--that Russia was a capitalist nation in 1980, when really it was still run by Stalinists who skimmed a great deal off the state for themselves; that Russia was a wild card and extremely unpredictable, bent on world domination, when in fact the dream of carrying a workers' revolution around the world died with Lenin, and Stalin made himself a convenient bumper zone in his own sphere after WWII and used it to make Mother Russia more secure, with his successors doing the same for most of the 20th century.
But I could forget all of this if the writer could pull me in and wrap me in story.
The tool of vengeance being sought for the death of loved ones has been used a lot, but in capable hands, it is still a plausible way to hook readers, because most of us have families for whom we would do a great deal. And all of us blame ourselves for things that happen to them and want to protect them.
The first time I felt a really authentic voice break through was, interestingly enough, in the afterword. This explained a great deal. The book was written, he says, during a "difficult and emotional time". Then as one reads on, the pieces fall together. His wife was dying while he wrote this and others had to help him edit and patch.
Why not set the book aside for later? I can imagine. Medical bills; children with needs; probably a deadline. Sometimes when a spouse is mortally ill, they are ill for years and it is hard to know when the final crisis will hit. What a terrible thing.
So I will read something else this man has written, when he was himself. I think this serviceable yet not compelling novel is probably not representative of his best work. I'd like to find that and try it out.
May 30, 2015
Oh man, this looked so batshit I had to give it a go. Three chapters in and it's already alternating between first and third person and employing terrorism for escapism.
Expect the movie soon.
//
Yep, just as bad as I expected.
Expect the movie soon.
//
Yep, just as bad as I expected.
September 3, 2014
Lorenzo Carcaterra is one of my favourite authors and a new book has been a long time coming and I'm glad to say that it did not disappoint. If ever a book was just perfect to be made into a film then it is this one. There's so many scenes and lines that could be quoted it's ridiculous. I went into this book hoping for something similar to one of my favourite books of all time, The Godfather and it was.
The idea is Vincent Marelli (The Wolf) heads up a crime syndicate formed of all the various crime families and organizations around the world. They control pretty much everything and take a dollar from virtually every transaction in the world. They deal with insane amounts of money and up to now it has been a success. Then Vincent's wife and daughters die when a plane is taken over by terrorists. Meanwhile the Russians are funding terrorists to carry attacks out around the world and Vincent wants to stop this whilst at the same time avenging the death of his family.
The chapters from the point of view of the Wolf were almost like the narration of a film - you could almost hear Vincent's voice in your head whilst at the same time vividly picturing the scenes he was telling you about. That for me added to the excitement of the novel and made it seem more authentic and 'real', yes it's fiction but at times it came across as fact as the character of Vincent was so well created.
The idea of an organization like this is both fascinating and horrifying. It would change the world as we know it in good ways but mostly in bad ways. On paper the idea works but what are the realistic chances of the Yakuza, Triads, Greeks etc all pooling their resources together? Very slim and so for that reason there is a definite suspension of belief regarding that aspect but this is fiction and definitely not a reason to criticize the book.
The story moves at an extremely fast pace with alternative chapters from Vincent, some members of his crew, Vladimir - the Russian funding the terrorist attacks and Raza, a terrorist Vincent is determined to take down. The death toll is massive but ultimately it all adds to the excitement of the novel helping to make it as action packed as possible. With all the crime bosses working together there's obviously going to be clash of egos and opinions and that's where the conflict comes in. Who can Vincent trust not to stab him in the back? People all have their own agendas and that makes for a more exciting read because we know there's a threat from the Russians and terrorists but what about the people he is supposed to be able to trust?
What I would have liked is for the book to have been longer. This would have allowed for the characters' back-stories to have been expanded more or for the overall story to have been expanded. It wasn't rushed by any means but I was gutted when the book was over and could have read for a lot longer. The two characters that were the most well created were Vincent and Angela Jannetti (known as The Strega). Angela leads the Camorra and despite being on the same side her and Vincent were once in love but both would ultimately have one day became the 'boss' and how could that have worked were they husband and wife? Their relationship was electric and very intense on the page and their history was so well told that again it could almost be factual rather than a work of fiction.
I finished this book long before I was ready to leave the characters behind and for that reason I can only hope that there's a second book featuring the Wolf and that it comes soon. There's so many questions still requiring answers and scores still to be settled and in my opinion this series has legs and could become huge and I can't wait to see how it will all play out. Definitely a book not to miss.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy via NetGalley.
The idea is Vincent Marelli (The Wolf) heads up a crime syndicate formed of all the various crime families and organizations around the world. They control pretty much everything and take a dollar from virtually every transaction in the world. They deal with insane amounts of money and up to now it has been a success. Then Vincent's wife and daughters die when a plane is taken over by terrorists. Meanwhile the Russians are funding terrorists to carry attacks out around the world and Vincent wants to stop this whilst at the same time avenging the death of his family.
The chapters from the point of view of the Wolf were almost like the narration of a film - you could almost hear Vincent's voice in your head whilst at the same time vividly picturing the scenes he was telling you about. That for me added to the excitement of the novel and made it seem more authentic and 'real', yes it's fiction but at times it came across as fact as the character of Vincent was so well created.
The idea of an organization like this is both fascinating and horrifying. It would change the world as we know it in good ways but mostly in bad ways. On paper the idea works but what are the realistic chances of the Yakuza, Triads, Greeks etc all pooling their resources together? Very slim and so for that reason there is a definite suspension of belief regarding that aspect but this is fiction and definitely not a reason to criticize the book.
The story moves at an extremely fast pace with alternative chapters from Vincent, some members of his crew, Vladimir - the Russian funding the terrorist attacks and Raza, a terrorist Vincent is determined to take down. The death toll is massive but ultimately it all adds to the excitement of the novel helping to make it as action packed as possible. With all the crime bosses working together there's obviously going to be clash of egos and opinions and that's where the conflict comes in. Who can Vincent trust not to stab him in the back? People all have their own agendas and that makes for a more exciting read because we know there's a threat from the Russians and terrorists but what about the people he is supposed to be able to trust?
What I would have liked is for the book to have been longer. This would have allowed for the characters' back-stories to have been expanded more or for the overall story to have been expanded. It wasn't rushed by any means but I was gutted when the book was over and could have read for a lot longer. The two characters that were the most well created were Vincent and Angela Jannetti (known as The Strega). Angela leads the Camorra and despite being on the same side her and Vincent were once in love but both would ultimately have one day became the 'boss' and how could that have worked were they husband and wife? Their relationship was electric and very intense on the page and their history was so well told that again it could almost be factual rather than a work of fiction.
I finished this book long before I was ready to leave the characters behind and for that reason I can only hope that there's a second book featuring the Wolf and that it comes soon. There's so many questions still requiring answers and scores still to be settled and in my opinion this series has legs and could become huge and I can't wait to see how it will all play out. Definitely a book not to miss.
Thanks to the publisher for the review copy via NetGalley.
September 21, 2014
The Wolf
By
Lorenzo Carcaterra
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Vincent Marelli...also known as The Wolf...also an organized crime lord...needs to get revenge for the deaths by terrorist of his wife and two daughters.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Oh me oh my...why on earth did I think this was a book about werewolves? Just teasing...this book is not what I thought it was going to be but it was really good and intense...really truly intense. So...Vincent never allows his family to travel alone...and the one time he does...they are killed...he vows to avenge them...and he does...brilliantly...ruthlessly...skillfully. He has a plan and he needs all of the other crime bosses in on it...to unite and wage war on the terrorists.
What I loved about this book...
Well...even though The Wolf is not a model citizen...I liked him. He loved his family and protected them...until that one time. He is controlled, intelligent and not your ordinary crime lord. I also kind of loved this odd combination of organized crime vs terrorists. There was action in almost every chapter. It's the kind of book that I really don't usually read...but when I do...it's the kind of book that can't be put down...I read it through the entire Eagles game on Sunday without making a move. Plus...the moves that key players...The Wolf and Raza...make in this book are like watching a chess match...where the stakes are life or death.
What I did not love about this book...
Along with action comes lots of terrorists and bombs and lots of deaths...lots and lots of bad guys and bombers...sigh! And Raza...the bombing terrorist...and the Russian Vladimir...the baddest of the bad!
Final thoughts...
There is no way to describe this book without spoiling it. Just know that every page revealed some sort of excitement and adventure. The Wolf is a character to be both feared and admired. He is controlled and totally certain of what he wants to do. Plus...the ending is phenomenal and just might make me sign up for Book 2.
Would this be a good choice for you...potential reader?
Anyone who loves this sort of fast paced adventure...with tons of bad guys...should thoroughly love this book. It's a perfect travel book...start it on the plane and you won't have a bored bone in your body!
Sent from my iPad2 by Patty L. Magyar
By
Lorenzo Carcaterra
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Vincent Marelli...also known as The Wolf...also an organized crime lord...needs to get revenge for the deaths by terrorist of his wife and two daughters.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Oh me oh my...why on earth did I think this was a book about werewolves? Just teasing...this book is not what I thought it was going to be but it was really good and intense...really truly intense. So...Vincent never allows his family to travel alone...and the one time he does...they are killed...he vows to avenge them...and he does...brilliantly...ruthlessly...skillfully. He has a plan and he needs all of the other crime bosses in on it...to unite and wage war on the terrorists.
What I loved about this book...
Well...even though The Wolf is not a model citizen...I liked him. He loved his family and protected them...until that one time. He is controlled, intelligent and not your ordinary crime lord. I also kind of loved this odd combination of organized crime vs terrorists. There was action in almost every chapter. It's the kind of book that I really don't usually read...but when I do...it's the kind of book that can't be put down...I read it through the entire Eagles game on Sunday without making a move. Plus...the moves that key players...The Wolf and Raza...make in this book are like watching a chess match...where the stakes are life or death.
What I did not love about this book...
Along with action comes lots of terrorists and bombs and lots of deaths...lots and lots of bad guys and bombers...sigh! And Raza...the bombing terrorist...and the Russian Vladimir...the baddest of the bad!
Final thoughts...
There is no way to describe this book without spoiling it. Just know that every page revealed some sort of excitement and adventure. The Wolf is a character to be both feared and admired. He is controlled and totally certain of what he wants to do. Plus...the ending is phenomenal and just might make me sign up for Book 2.
Would this be a good choice for you...potential reader?
Anyone who loves this sort of fast paced adventure...with tons of bad guys...should thoroughly love this book. It's a perfect travel book...start it on the plane and you won't have a bored bone in your body!
Sent from my iPad2 by Patty L. Magyar
September 8, 2014
The Wolf is a name that Mafia boss Vincent Morelli is known as. He oversees an enormous criminal world.
He's devastated when an attempted hijacking of an airline plane departing from LA ends in a gunfight. There are two air marshals and a bodyguard on the plane. Gunplay erupts and the terrorists are killed, their mission thwarted but there are civilian casualties, among them, Morelli's wife and two young daughters.
He's incensed at the activity of the terrorists and calls a conclave of the most powerful criminal leaders in the world. The International Crime Counsel includes leaders of the Neapolitan crime world, the Camorra Syndicate, the leader of the Japanese crime syndicate and others.
Terrorist activities are costing the Crime world millions of dollars and they declare war on the Russian Mob, the terrorist and the Mexican drug lords who have been working together.
The break neck speed of the action is sure to raise the blood pressure of most readers. Major characters are murdered and we learn that the Russian Mafia is paying a particular terrorist group to create chaos so the Russian Mob can take over most of the world's crime.
Even with the war, Vincent Morellis is easy to sympathise with. He's a loving father who is trying to protect his last living child, his son. He also works with a female leader of the Camorra throne and he and Angela renew a long lasting friendship.
I was thrilled with the excitement generated in this novel and found Vincent Morelli to be believable and likable. I couldn't help but root for his success.
The writing is also poetic "...I would rather people tremble in my presence than feel comfort in it."
There are surprises, traitors and romance with well developed characters. What more could the reader want?
He's devastated when an attempted hijacking of an airline plane departing from LA ends in a gunfight. There are two air marshals and a bodyguard on the plane. Gunplay erupts and the terrorists are killed, their mission thwarted but there are civilian casualties, among them, Morelli's wife and two young daughters.
He's incensed at the activity of the terrorists and calls a conclave of the most powerful criminal leaders in the world. The International Crime Counsel includes leaders of the Neapolitan crime world, the Camorra Syndicate, the leader of the Japanese crime syndicate and others.
Terrorist activities are costing the Crime world millions of dollars and they declare war on the Russian Mob, the terrorist and the Mexican drug lords who have been working together.
The break neck speed of the action is sure to raise the blood pressure of most readers. Major characters are murdered and we learn that the Russian Mafia is paying a particular terrorist group to create chaos so the Russian Mob can take over most of the world's crime.
Even with the war, Vincent Morellis is easy to sympathise with. He's a loving father who is trying to protect his last living child, his son. He also works with a female leader of the Camorra throne and he and Angela renew a long lasting friendship.
I was thrilled with the excitement generated in this novel and found Vincent Morelli to be believable and likable. I couldn't help but root for his success.
The writing is also poetic "...I would rather people tremble in my presence than feel comfort in it."
There are surprises, traitors and romance with well developed characters. What more could the reader want?
May 19, 2014
Vincent 'The Wolf' Marelli let his guard down once and had his wife and daughters killed in what was a supposed terrorist attack on a flight, he knew better, he knew they were the target. Vincent oversees a crime empire, working with different crime bosses and making a few enemies that he refuses to, this wasn't just business though - this was personal. He turns to the bosses and asks for help to kill those behind this and stop the terrorist group that seems to be rising, to begin a war. He knows they will help him and knows the traitor will show their true colors sooner or later. Now 'The Wolf' can hunt.
This is a fast paced who done it, race against the clock, revenge type of novel. From the crime syndicates of the Italians to Yakuza to Greek to the battle against the Russian and terrorist organizations - very detailed. The setting mostly in Italy and written as if you were watching from a piazza all the interactions. And the ending has me hoping for another book with The Wolf.
Now I did read an ARC -- there was a bit of disconnect at times, I don't know if this was due to the author's own personal life and struggle during the writing of this novel or the over editing of it. Some of the interactions were forced, almost unnatural - as were some of the "shoot outs". But this is a good book, worth reading, delving into the world, and especially into the mind of the main character - the ending was great, just proving a point from the beginning. You will enjoy this.
*****This is a First Reads, Thank You Goodreads *****
This is a fast paced who done it, race against the clock, revenge type of novel. From the crime syndicates of the Italians to Yakuza to Greek to the battle against the Russian and terrorist organizations - very detailed. The setting mostly in Italy and written as if you were watching from a piazza all the interactions. And the ending has me hoping for another book with The Wolf.
Now I did read an ARC -- there was a bit of disconnect at times, I don't know if this was due to the author's own personal life and struggle during the writing of this novel or the over editing of it. Some of the interactions were forced, almost unnatural - as were some of the "shoot outs". But this is a good book, worth reading, delving into the world, and especially into the mind of the main character - the ending was great, just proving a point from the beginning. You will enjoy this.
*****This is a First Reads, Thank You Goodreads *****
November 2, 2014
I was very intrigued by the concept of Mafia/Organized crime vs. Terrorism. I mean what is not to love there? And I think that Carcaterra was able to bring fresh, new, original ideas to a well worn topic oft written about topic such as the mob. I thought he did a good job of balancing that old world, Romanticized (Mario Puzo styled) Mafia with a more modern mob.
He kept that since of honor, and family, blended with a charismatic leader while still displaying the ways in which the mob would have to evolve and change and adapt to a new world, which involves the use of modern technology, and computer savvy mobsters. I also was intrigued by the idea of a sort of United Nations of Crime in which leaders from crime syndicates all across the globe act almost as CEO business partners with each other.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the use of multiple narrative voice. I liked the way in which the reader is given several different perspectives and is presented with several different view points so you get some insight to each of the different characters involved.
Though one of the biggest downsides this book had was a lack of depth, complexity and character development. The characters did not really show much growth nor do we really see any real depth of emotion within them, but they do all feel a bit flat, and sort of like card-board cut outs. Though this didn't completely spoil the story and I thought it was still entertaining to read and all in all I did enjoy it.
He kept that since of honor, and family, blended with a charismatic leader while still displaying the ways in which the mob would have to evolve and change and adapt to a new world, which involves the use of modern technology, and computer savvy mobsters. I also was intrigued by the idea of a sort of United Nations of Crime in which leaders from crime syndicates all across the globe act almost as CEO business partners with each other.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was the use of multiple narrative voice. I liked the way in which the reader is given several different perspectives and is presented with several different view points so you get some insight to each of the different characters involved.
Though one of the biggest downsides this book had was a lack of depth, complexity and character development. The characters did not really show much growth nor do we really see any real depth of emotion within them, but they do all feel a bit flat, and sort of like card-board cut outs. Though this didn't completely spoil the story and I thought it was still entertaining to read and all in all I did enjoy it.
August 18, 2014
I was fascinated by this extremely well written and professionally edited suspense novel. The characters and plot were refreshingly original.
The Wolf, the head of an organized crime family, loses his wife and children in a terrorist attack. He goes to other crime families around the world to fight the terrorism cells that killed his family and to ensure they don't interrupt the cash flow into the crime families pockets.
The main characters are not nice people, but they are very human in their motivations. I found myself cheering for characters that I would normally consider villains.
The action is fast paced, but I was never confused. It was easy to follow and exciting to read. The ending was rather open ended and I wonder if the story will be continued in future books.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
The Wolf, the head of an organized crime family, loses his wife and children in a terrorist attack. He goes to other crime families around the world to fight the terrorism cells that killed his family and to ensure they don't interrupt the cash flow into the crime families pockets.
The main characters are not nice people, but they are very human in their motivations. I found myself cheering for characters that I would normally consider villains.
The action is fast paced, but I was never confused. It was easy to follow and exciting to read. The ending was rather open ended and I wonder if the story will be continued in future books.
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
July 13, 2020
January 2019
4 Stars
Audiobook re-read
December 2016
4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT
AUDIOBOOK
I was in the mood for a good mafia story and I got it with this one. I liked the characters and I liked the plot... there was conspiracy and intrigue and you're never quite sure who you can truly trust and who you can't. The only issue I had while reading was that the main character, Vincent, who is also the narrator of the story, stopped to give background information too much. Something would happen and Vincent would then explain to us why this was important or what it means in the big picture. Some of that was good and necessary, but some of it the author could have assumed that we would inherently understand or could draw a sound conclusion on our own.
This story has a partial conclusion, it will continue in the next book which I will be reading!
4 Stars
Audiobook re-read
December 2016
4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT
AUDIOBOOK
I was in the mood for a good mafia story and I got it with this one. I liked the characters and I liked the plot... there was conspiracy and intrigue and you're never quite sure who you can truly trust and who you can't. The only issue I had while reading was that the main character, Vincent, who is also the narrator of the story, stopped to give background information too much. Something would happen and Vincent would then explain to us why this was important or what it means in the big picture. Some of that was good and necessary, but some of it the author could have assumed that we would inherently understand or could draw a sound conclusion on our own.
This story has a partial conclusion, it will continue in the next book which I will be reading!
April 22, 2014
ARC kindly provided by author/publisher.
Phenomenal!!! I don't normally review outside of the romance genre(NA, Comtemporary) but am a big fan of mafia books and movies. I grew up watching The Godfather and the likes, so reading The Wolf was right up my alley.
It was really enjoyable, witty, fantastically written—everything I ever needed in a book!
The only thing I'm wondering is, will there be a book two?? That ending left me clutching the seat and gnawing on my lips just because I wanted more. Hopefully soon, we'll get another installment.
Phenomenal!!! I don't normally review outside of the romance genre(NA, Comtemporary) but am a big fan of mafia books and movies. I grew up watching The Godfather and the likes, so reading The Wolf was right up my alley.
It was really enjoyable, witty, fantastically written—everything I ever needed in a book!
The only thing I'm wondering is, will there be a book two?? That ending left me clutching the seat and gnawing on my lips just because I wanted more. Hopefully soon, we'll get another installment.
June 29, 2016
I love gangster and mob novels. This is close, but I feel like it wasn't a mob novel. It was VERY suspenseful and I liked the twists and turns. The ending will make you want to jump up and point at the book and say "NOOOOOO NOOOOO HOW!!!!!" Great ending. Solid read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2018
Really not my thing, I tried to like it but I just wanted it to be over. I read this task for a challenge but otherwise I don't think I would have picked it up.
I don't think I will be continuing the series :(
mehh
I don't think I will be continuing the series :(
mehh
March 22, 2020
I decided not to finish it. I'm over halfway through and I'm tired of the repetitive cliched writing. I don't care about any of the characters, and it doesn't feel like much has happened. Maybe someone will get it out of the little free library and like it.
July 1, 2015
Pretty god thriller based on what what is happening with terrorism.Hokey surprise ending which annoyed me.Obvious sequel(s) in the works.No thanks.
January 16, 2025
The story follows The Wolf or Vincent, a young criminal mastermind, who recently lost his wife and two daughters to a terrorist attack. Reeling from the aftermath of the killing, Vincent sets out for revenge, starting a war between all of the professional criminal organizations and all of the terrorist organizations.
This story is thrilling, but also causes the reader to think a little bit about professional criminals and terrorists. I never really thought about the difference in criminal forms before reading this book, but while reading this story it really got me thinking. While I was thinking about the difference in criminal forms, though, I was still completely engrossed in the action of this book. The action in this book is subtle and diabolical. The author takes the reader on a journey of the war between the organizations. While the majority of the book takes place in the boardroom, it's easy to feel the tension as the action escalates to stopping bombs before they go off. The author did a breathtaking job of building up the conflict and leading the reader through the process, instead of just jumping right into the action.
The characters in this book were all interesting. Vincent, as a mob boss yet still a loving father, was a very dynamic and engaging character. His pain over the loss of his wife and daughters was evident, yet he kept his head in the game in order to exact his revenge on the terrorists who destroyed his family. Jimmy, Vincent's handicapped brother, was also another dynamic character. Jimmy definitely added a new and refreshing dimension to the stereotypical criminal storyline.
The narrative shifts between first and third person, which takes a little bit of getting used to, but luckily there is a clear pattern. When the story is from Vincent's perspective, the author uses first person to describe conversations and events that take place within that section. If the point of view is from any other character's perspective, the author uses third person to describe the action. While normally not a fan of shifting narratives, I found that this style was very effective for this particular book. It allowed the reader to truly feel as if they were right there with Vincent, or that he was describing the details to them after the fact.
This story is thrilling, but also causes the reader to think a little bit about professional criminals and terrorists. I never really thought about the difference in criminal forms before reading this book, but while reading this story it really got me thinking. While I was thinking about the difference in criminal forms, though, I was still completely engrossed in the action of this book. The action in this book is subtle and diabolical. The author takes the reader on a journey of the war between the organizations. While the majority of the book takes place in the boardroom, it's easy to feel the tension as the action escalates to stopping bombs before they go off. The author did a breathtaking job of building up the conflict and leading the reader through the process, instead of just jumping right into the action.
The characters in this book were all interesting. Vincent, as a mob boss yet still a loving father, was a very dynamic and engaging character. His pain over the loss of his wife and daughters was evident, yet he kept his head in the game in order to exact his revenge on the terrorists who destroyed his family. Jimmy, Vincent's handicapped brother, was also another dynamic character. Jimmy definitely added a new and refreshing dimension to the stereotypical criminal storyline.
The narrative shifts between first and third person, which takes a little bit of getting used to, but luckily there is a clear pattern. When the story is from Vincent's perspective, the author uses first person to describe conversations and events that take place within that section. If the point of view is from any other character's perspective, the author uses third person to describe the action. While normally not a fan of shifting narratives, I found that this style was very effective for this particular book. It allowed the reader to truly feel as if they were right there with Vincent, or that he was describing the details to them after the fact.
January 25, 2023
Great beginning to a dynamic series
I've been wanting to read this book for some time and somehow it got shuffled down on my reading list, thankfully I finally got a chance to read one of the best books I've had the pleasure to discover. The Wolf is a new style of gangster, a 21st century Godfather who's family is ripped away by terrorists. He feels tremendous guilt from not being able to protect those he loves the most, and sets off to rid the world of the scourge of terrorism, which he singularly has the capability to accomplish. The Wolf is opposed by a devious and highly intelligent terrorist, working in concert with a Russian financier, a devastating team. As the Wolf marshalls his criminal forces he's assaulted by turncoats, some even closer than he ever expected. It's a great example of what is possible when a determined man seeks to rid the world of the worst of humanity, and the collateral damage along the way. This is a good read which hints at subsequent books, but so far, almost ten years later, no follow-up book has yet to appear. If you're able to influence the author, please get them working on the next installment! This is an enjoyable read with unexpected twists which will tug at your heart. I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book.
I've been wanting to read this book for some time and somehow it got shuffled down on my reading list, thankfully I finally got a chance to read one of the best books I've had the pleasure to discover. The Wolf is a new style of gangster, a 21st century Godfather who's family is ripped away by terrorists. He feels tremendous guilt from not being able to protect those he loves the most, and sets off to rid the world of the scourge of terrorism, which he singularly has the capability to accomplish. The Wolf is opposed by a devious and highly intelligent terrorist, working in concert with a Russian financier, a devastating team. As the Wolf marshalls his criminal forces he's assaulted by turncoats, some even closer than he ever expected. It's a great example of what is possible when a determined man seeks to rid the world of the worst of humanity, and the collateral damage along the way. This is a good read which hints at subsequent books, but so far, almost ten years later, no follow-up book has yet to appear. If you're able to influence the author, please get them working on the next installment! This is an enjoyable read with unexpected twists which will tug at your heart. I wholeheartedly recommend reading this book.
October 14, 2017
É interessante a miríade de histórias diferentes que o livro trás: desde as histórias de como várias das personagens se juntaram ao crime organizado/terrorismo; a descrição de alguns ataques terroristas, de algum trabalho policial na caça dos terroristas e de como funcionam as várias máfias (com ênfase na italiana, tive pena de não saber mais das outras). A minha impressão deste livro foi que teve picos de energia: havia partes boas e interessantes seguidas de partes mais aborrecidas e por isso a minha leitura andou aos soluços (confesso que as partes onde apareciam o Vincent e Angela eram as menos interessantes). Fiquei curiosa com o final, em que Vincent recebe o nome da pessoa por detrás do atentado que matou parte da sua família, mas ainda não houve continuação para este livro para saber para onde ele vai a seguir.
Uma leitura diferente de um estilo diferente do que costumo ler. Acaba por ser uma reflexão sobre a violência crescente que se tem vivido e do caminho sem retorno que podemos estar a trilhar. Mas no final penso que podia ter sido melhor, houve algumas quebras de ação e alguma dificuldade em criar laços com o Vincent e a Angela.
Uma leitura diferente de um estilo diferente do que costumo ler. Acaba por ser uma reflexão sobre a violência crescente que se tem vivido e do caminho sem retorno que podemos estar a trilhar. Mas no final penso que podia ter sido melhor, houve algumas quebras de ação e alguma dificuldade em criar laços com o Vincent e a Angela.
April 20, 2024
2.5. Some lacking writing (like some odd moments of passive voice or jarring dumps of info in a chapter interrupting expectations of where the chapter is setting up to go then not actually getting to that event until two chapters later), scattered narrative structure, overly overt moves and characters for an international crime organization that is mainly undetected and unquestioned due to its supposed prudence and subtlety. Fairly easy to read and had some interesting bits around terrorism and stuff like that, so it's not like terrible. Just ok at best for me and oddly rough at worst.
This is also a clear setup for a series with no books since in 10 years. This, as the first one, is basically an extended first move in a massive crime organization vs terrorists (supported by Russian Mafiya) war that's supposed to have much more going on and the reveals or twists are underwhelming or predictable (I literally called who killed the Wolf's wife and daughters before getting even halfway through the book). So 2.5 with no bump up for it being a really meh first book that currently goes nowhere and appears it'll maintain that long-term.
This is also a clear setup for a series with no books since in 10 years. This, as the first one, is basically an extended first move in a massive crime organization vs terrorists (supported by Russian Mafiya) war that's supposed to have much more going on and the reveals or twists are underwhelming or predictable (I literally called who killed the Wolf's wife and daughters before getting even halfway through the book). So 2.5 with no bump up for it being a really meh first book that currently goes nowhere and appears it'll maintain that long-term.
March 19, 2017
Adrenaline charged gritty drama
"The time had come for them to pay. It was the moment to show them the side of the Wolf they had heard about but never seen."
This story was action packed and moved quickly.
Vincent "The Wolf" Morelli, boss of the American syndicate, was my favorite kind of antihero: highly intelligent and cunning, an imposing figure in a suit or a pair of jeans, a loyal family man, and a badass who gets the job done.
The cast of characters surrounding The Wolf were also interesting, many of them fascinating, all on their own. One man I found myself totally invested in after the first page. I would have loved a book based around him alone. But, alas, he died about five pages later. I was a bit put out. :( But it just added to the overall adrenaline charged, gritty drama of the story.
I enjoyed this book very much and will be reading more of the author in future.
"The time had come for them to pay. It was the moment to show them the side of the Wolf they had heard about but never seen."
This story was action packed and moved quickly.
Vincent "The Wolf" Morelli, boss of the American syndicate, was my favorite kind of antihero: highly intelligent and cunning, an imposing figure in a suit or a pair of jeans, a loyal family man, and a badass who gets the job done.
The cast of characters surrounding The Wolf were also interesting, many of them fascinating, all on their own. One man I found myself totally invested in after the first page. I would have loved a book based around him alone. But, alas, he died about five pages later. I was a bit put out. :( But it just added to the overall adrenaline charged, gritty drama of the story.
I enjoyed this book very much and will be reading more of the author in future.
October 24, 2023
This was a very interesting and entertaining book. The main character was Vincent Marelli, known as the wolf who was the head of the largest criminal organization in the world. He normally would never allow any of his family out of the home without protection, but his daughters were getting tired of not being able to be normal. So his wife and daughters convinced him to allow hem to go on an ordinary airline to New York with no body guards to shop while waiting for him to finish his business and join them a day later. They were killed by terrorists. Therefore The Wolf decided to declare war on all terrorists and convinced large criminal organizations with which he was loosely aligned to join him. There was lots of action and even a very interesting surprise at the end of the book.
August 28, 2018
Audacious concept in plot - the Mafia and its cohorts in the Yakuza etc get together to battle a terrorist plot by a mastermind Bin Laden wannabe Raza who is funded by a Russian criminal jefe. So originality in plot is good. However the execution in terms of the racy action based plot and the formulaic set pieces mean that the book itself is predictable and its characters are pasteboard. I am very divided on the book as a whole, the race through tourist Italy will work well in a film and I guess that is the purpose of a book like this - it reads like a screenplay with Mission Impossible overtones. Watch out for the new big screen anti-hero, the Wolf - Vincent Marelli.
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