The Gate House

DeMille returns to the gilded mansions of Long Island in this sequel to THE GOLD COAST (1990). Narrator Christian Rummel expertly characterizes Susan, the wealthy ex-wife of tax attorney John Sutter, who saunters back into his life following a torrid affair and her murder of powerful Mafia boss Frank Bellarosa. Rummel is most enjoyable affecting the local "lockjaw" pronunciations as the story mixes in "criminal" Italian accents just one generation removed from "deese" and "dose." Listening to this witty, entertaining novel, fans of DeMille will be hooked as they seek to find out if John and his estranged wife, the gloriously beautiful and crazy Susan, will ever find true happiness. R.O. (c) AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine

August 18, 2008
Fans of bestseller DeMille will welcome this sequel to The Gold Coast
(1990), in which Susan Sutter, then the wife of tax attorney John Sutter, had a torrid affair with Frank Bellarosa, a powerful Mafia boss and the Sutters' neighbor on Long Island's tony Gold Coast, with fatal results for Bellarosa. After divorcing Susan, John sailed the world for three years, then built himself a new life in London. Now John has returned to the small gatehouse that was once part of his ex-wife's family estate, only to find Bellarosa's thuggish son, Anthony, living next door. In another coincidence, Susan has just reacquired the six-bedroom “guest cottage” where she and John lived as a married couple on her family's former property. Susan and John soon begin to explore an improbable reconciliation, even as they suspect she may be in Anthony's gun sights. The plot more than takes its time getting to its violent and predictable resolution, but DeMille devotees should have plenty of fun along the way.

November 24, 2008
DeMille's follow-up to his bestselling The Gold Coast
features protagonist John Sutter falling back into old habits and acquaintances as he comes home to Long Island. Narrator Christian Rummel gives an awkward reading, struggling to capture the character of Sutter through a voice that sounds manufactured and often uneasy. Rummel fares slightly better with supporting characters such as Sutter's ex-wife, though the first-person narrative from Sutter's perspective ensures that most of the novel is read with that same nervous tone. Rummel never finds his groove, eternally searching for the proper narrative tone that will captivate the audience. A Grand Central hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 18).

September 15, 2008
In this long-awaited but ponderous sequel to "The Gold Coast" (1990), it is ten years later, and John Sutter has returned for the funeral of a woman who isn't dead yet. He's also looking to restart his life and possibly hook up with his ex-wife, Susan, who'd had an affair with a local Mafia don she later killed. Confounding the problem is the don's son, who has taken over the family business and wants vengeance against both John and Susan. While there are interesting characters, and Sutter's first-person observations are clever, it takes forever for the action to get going. Even an exciting climax doesn't help. DeMille has developed a reputation for fast-paced action thrillers, and this is neither. His name will guarantee a level of success, and those patrons who enjoyed reading about the lives of the rich and decadent in "The Gold Coast" will enjoy this sequel. The rest will hope DeMille's next effort is more compelling. For larger collections. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 6/15/08.]Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2008
Readers who have been waiting nearly 20 years for a sequel to The Gold Coast (1990) can begin celebrating: this new novel, which picks up 10 years after John Sutters wife, Susan, killed her lover, a Mafia don, is exactly what theyve been waiting for. After divorcing his wife and sailing around the world, Sutter took up residence in England. But now, nine months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, he has to come back to Long Islands Gold Coast to tie up some loose ends. Hes worried about how he will handle a reunion with Susan but that turns out to be less painful than he anticipated, even somewhat invigorating. Also taking him by surprise is the job offer from Anthony Bellarosa, son of the murdered don, who wants John to be his consigliere. The offer seems genuine, but readers will wonder if this is a textbook case of keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. DeMille perfectly captures the tone that made The Gold Coast a best-sellera readable combination of social satire and easygoing humorand his re-creation of the principal characters, John and his ex-wife Susan is so precise its as though the two novels were written back-to-back. Revisiting characters and themes after such a long time is always a risk, but this one gets it right. Expect high demand for that rare publishing phenomenon: a sequel that doesnt disappoint.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)