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Omertà is the title of a posthumously published novel by Mario Puzo, released in 2000. Puzo, known for his novel The Godfather, considered Omertà part of his "Mafia trilogy" along with The Godfather and The Last Don. The novel explores themes related to organized crime, a subject Puzo researched extensively despite having no personal experience with it.12

The term "omertà" itself refers to a code of silence and honor within the Mafia and other organized crime groups, particularly in southern Italy. This code developed from a historical distrust of state authority and a reliance on local strongmen for protection, where silence and non-cooperation with law enforcement were paramount.3

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