Happily ever after

Like Puzo, Winegardner paints real-life characters in far darker colors than their public images. Robert Moses, the city planner who shaped New York through the middle of the 20th century, is every speck as corrupt and amoral as Michael Corleone, except he's admired while Michael is reviled.

Michael pauses at one point to muse on how unfair that is.

But he has more pressing problems, like an insurrection involving Nick Geraci, Michael's one-time main man. This drama soon entangles Tom Hagen, Michael's consigliere, who has his own problems trying to convince his wife he loves her more than his time-consuming job or his mistress.

This being "The Godfather," you can safely assume everyone doesn't live happily ever after. Nor do most of them deserve to.

--DAVID HINCKLEY
New York Daily News