Book 1, Chapter 1 Summary

In the spring of 1955, Michael Corleone is the brand new head, or "Don," of the Corleone family crime syndicate, having recently succeeded his father, Don Vito Corleone. The succession of Michael Corleone to the top position of Don was chronicled in Mario Puzo's original novel, The Godfather. At the opening of The Godfather Returns, it is a cold spring day in Brooklyn, New York, and Michael is intent on consolidating his power by eliminating known traitors to the family. To this end, Michael summons Fausto "Nick" Geraci to a meeting at a restaurant called the Two Toms, a favorite eating place of Salvatore Tessio. Tessio is a long-time, highly respected soldier in the crime family, the very man who recruited Nick into the family business. Nick has no way of knowing that Tessio has just been unmasked as a traitor to...