Customer Reviews

Black Widow: A Novel

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I loved Vincent's first book, Mafia Summer, and was thrilled to find out he wrote a sequel.

The setting this time is the late fifties, an era he captures perfectly.
Vincent's hero, Vinnie, has left Little Italy and the mob behind (or so he thinks) and is now a fighter pilot based in Jacksonville, Florida. The flying scenes feel completely authentic (not surprising since Vincent was a fighter pilot) but so do the scenes of drinking and womanizing. It must have been a wonderful time to be a Naval Aviator.

The Black Widow turns out to be a smart, beautiful actress named Caitlin who Vinnie falls hopelessly in love with. The scenes between the two of them are hot, filled with sex and well, more sex.

Caitlin's father is a rich, powerful, mob connected lawyer who hates Navy pilots and vows to break them up.

But Daddy is not the only one with mob connections. Vinnie grew up on the streets and still considered to be part of the Family.

And this is where the book gets really interesting; mixing actual Mafia history (like the birth of Las Vegas) with Vinnie fighting to keep the lady he loves.

I really liked this book. Vincent deftly mixes action, humor, romance and suspense in a fast, fun read.

This novel is terrific! I was so engaged in the story that after three Starbucks concoctions i was still not ready to close the hardback.

The story is incredibly detailed and revealing in regards to the shadowy history and impact of the mafia in a man's life. So captivating that it almost seems a true life experience, which it very well might be. Indeed, most authors say "you can only write about what you know."

The plot is sophisticated. The action is fast. And the sex is hammering. This book is a must for those who have endured the "testosterone challenged" stories overrated by so many book clubs.

Black Widow is more than an action adventure novel about a Navy Fighter Pilot. Although it's fresh and absorbing background propels us though Jacksonville, New York, Las Vegas, Hollywood and Havana, it's the fascinating love story between Lt. Vinny Vesta and Kat Pennington that makes the novel a winner. He is the son of a deceased Mafia father, (from Mafia Summer). She is the widow of a squadron-mate who was killed while flying on Vesta's wing and the daughter of a controlling Mafia lawyer who hates Vesta. The combination of elements makes it the best book I've read in a long time. Don't miss it!

I agree with best selling author Robert B. Parker that Black Widow is: "a compelling novel, beautifully said." The characters are as vivid as a rainbow and just as intriguing. The continuing story of Vinny Vesta seven years after he first appeared in Mafia Summer is unique and full of twists and turns that make it very difficult to put down. It paints a fascinating picture of life as a Navy Fighter Pilot in 1957 set against a background of carrier aviation, pre-Castro Cuba, the New York Mafia, and Mob ruled Las Vegas. But the heart of the novel and what drives it, is a sexually charged but impossible love story between Vesta and Kat Pennington; the daughter of a Hollywood Mafia lawyer. This book is a great read!

An incredible look at 1957 America set against the adventures of a Navy fighter pilot. I read Vincent's first novel, Mafia Summer and was completely absorbed by the extraordinary characters and the portrayal of New York's Hell's Kitchen in 1950. He's done it again; seven years later in a story that brings us unforgettable looks at Havana in the days before Castro and Mob ruled Las Vegas in the days before it became a "family town." Once again the protagonist is Vinny Vesta; now Lt. Vincent Vesta, in a Jacksonville fighter squadron. What impressed me most was how Vincent drives the action forward with a beautiful love story that proceeds against impossible odds because her irrationally controlling father, who is a Mafia lawyer, is determined to keep them apart. An exceptional blend of background, characters and action that fascinated me from cover to cover. I give it five stars.

After reading E. Duke Vincent's excellent first book, Mafia Summer, I couldn't wait for him to write another one. But, as the saying goes, 'Be careful what you wish for.' Vincent's new book, Black Widow, is extremely disappointing and one of the worst books I've read in a while. The plot is paper-thin, the characters are one-dimensional at best, and the dialogue is unrealistic. If that's not enough to dissuade you from wasting your time and money, then try this on for size -- all the action is totally predictable. Hopefully, Vincent will improve in his next effort. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and view Black Widow as a 'sophomore jinx.' But my recommendation to you is to skip this book, but do read Mafia Summer if you haven't done so.

The only thing missing is a picture on the cover of Fabio in a Navy flight suit with the zipper down to his navel.

This book sucked, big time.

First, the title. "Black Widow". Sounds intriguing; kind of Ellroyish. Black widow spiders kill and eat their mates. Maybe there's a surprise twist in here, right? Something noirish, or psychologically dark. Well, forget that. Doesn't happen, and the lead female character, Caitlin, is white, so it's not even literally accurate. They must have focus-tested titles, and settled on this one, because it's sure irrelevant to the book itself.

As a matter of fact, the two lead characters -- Caitlin and Navy fighter pilot Vinnie -- don't really do anything at all in this novel that really advances the plot; all they do is boink each others' brains out between scenes of Vinnie flying his fighter jet.

I bought this book because the dust jacket blurb made it sound like a mix of Ellroy's LA Quartet and Puzo's Godfather, with a soupcon of "Body Heat" and Harold Robbins thrown on for good measure.

Well, "fuggedabouditt!", as Vinnie's Mafia buds would say. It doesn't happen, and there's nothing anywhere NEAR as interesting as that in this thing.

As a matter of fact, bearing in mind Vincent's Hollywood background, this strikes me more as a treatment or pitch for a soap opera than a book. It may well have made the studio rounds first, and been rejected everywhere, before hitting the publishing circuit.

As I mentioned earlier, the lead characters don't do anything themselves to advance the little action that takes place in this book; they're virtually bystanders. Doesn't make for very compelling characters, especially Vinnie, the tough Navy fighter jock. All he does is pant after Caitlin like a pathetic hound. Bo-o-o-o-o-oring. Hint to Vincent: have your lead character actually DO something!

As for Caitlin: two-dimensional sex object. All the depth of a Miss America contestant. A cartoon character, ready for sex at the drop of a hat (or other garment). A male fantasy figure, not a real person at all.

Maybe teenage boys might like this book; it has those pubescent, XBox360 elements that appeal to the zit set.

If you're an adult, save your hard-earned money.