I too loved 'The Sicilian' for its wonderfully romanticised view of life in Sicily. Turi was as strong and loveable a character as Don Vito himself. I felt that the ending changed my view of Don Corleone slightly for the worse. This is the novels onyl let down. Turi was destined to die, however unfortunate.
I rate the book as being the equal of 'The Godfather' because of its sense of tradition and its beautiful description.