I don't have the low opinion of Tom that many Board members have expressed. As the novel states, the counterattacks by the families declined significantly and then ceased altogether as Sonny poured it on. The familes themselves confirmed that they, indeed, were on the ropes because they concluded that the only way to stave off complete defeat was to murder Sonny. So, I don't buy, despite what Puzo wrote, that Tom was faked out.