The Gold Coast

By: Nelson DeMille

Narrated by: Christian Rummel

Length: 21 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

Welcome to the fabled Gold Coast, that stretch on the North Shore of Long Island that once held the greatest concentration of wealth and power in America. Here two men are destined for an explosive collision: John Sutter, Wall Street lawyer, holding fast to a fading aristocratic legacy; and Frank Bellarosa, the Mafia don who seizes his piece of the staid and unprepared Gold Coast like a latter-day barbarian chief and draws Sutter and his regally beautiful wife, Susan, into his violent world. Told from Sutter's sardonic and often hilarious point of view, and laced with sexual passion and suspense, The Gold Coast is Nelson DeMille's captivating story of friendship and seduction, love and betrayal.

©2008 Nelson DeMille (P)2008 Hachette Audio

Smart, funny, sexy and just great! DeMille's Best!

In the forward, DeMille names this his best and favorite work. I heartily agree. He also predicts it will still be relevant long after his death. I don't think there is any question.

John Sutter, a Gold Coast native, tax attorney, clever and cynical socialite and foremost a devoted family man is the hero and narrator of the tale. No one is better suited to describe the culture of living in the country's wealthiest neighborhood. His wife, Susan Stanhope Sutter, is from one of the wealthiest Gold Coast families. Her father's manipulation of her through his wealth play an important role in the tale. DeMille said she's in large part the ultimate male fantasy. Just listen to the story and you'll find out why that is true, if not understated.

But what attracted me to the story some 20 years ago and what has led to several subsequent readings, (and now listening!), is the premise of a mafia don moving into such a community. DeMille uses the obvious contrasts of two old American cultures, both with their own sets of etiquette, manners and unwritten rules to produce what I believe is one of best, (certainly the most fun), 20th century novels.

Christian Rummell far exceeds the great Scott Brick as the voice of John Sutter. That should be enough to impress any DeMille fan.

21 of 21 people found this review helpful

Unexpectedly Great!

I have owned 'The Gold Coast' in paperback for years, but never got around to reading it. Then I saw the sequel - 'The Gate House' - in the book store and decided to read 'The Gold Coast' in audio form, so I downloaded it.

I have read all of DeMille's novels except for two, so decided to complete the cycle. I have enjoyed his other works, and have even read some of them twice or more.

This novel rises so far above his more recent works as to have been written by a different author. Not only is it a great read from the standpoint of excitement and suspense, but it's a grand love story, and future generations will recognize it not only as popular fiction, but also as great literature.

My wife doesn't read audio books, but I have insisted that she read my paperback version so we can each share the experiences together. The characters are so well developed, especially the narrator John Sutter and his wife Susan, that it's quite difficult not realizing they are fictional.

Just a little caution. There are some erotic scenes, so younger readers should defer reading until they are able to understand the context in which they are written rather than being tittilated by their explicitness.

In summary, this book had such a profound effect on me that I just had to download 'The Gate House' and began reading immediately!

I maintain a library of almost 2,000 novels, and I only get rid of those I don't intend to read again. This one will stay in my library until my dying day, and I will encourage my adult children to read it!

53 of 55 people found this review helpful

Excellent re-visit to a great story

Even though it's not Scott Brick (who normally reads Mr. DeMille's excellent novels)this time, Christian Rummel does a very, very fine job of making the extraordinary characters in this book come to life.

"The Gold Coast" is probably Nelson DeMille's best-known book, with a wise-cracking first-person narrator (not John Corey, hero of some other DeMille bestsellers) who gets drawn into some serious neighborhood and marital problems. A story that will make you laugh and cry while keeping you glued to your headphones or your car stereo, amazingly read by Mr. Rummel.

As a lot of other Audible customers probably did, I downloaded "The Gold Coast" before starting on Nelson DeMille's follow-up novel to that story, "The Gate House", to refreshen my memories of the book I first read in the early 1990's. What a great re-discovery in early 2009! Highly recommended!

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Smart Ass meets Wise Guy

Excellent Book! A fast-paced romance / thriller.

You will laugh, you will cry.

Having read all of Nelson Deville's books on Audible, this newly added book (to Audible) was a no-brainer purchase.

This book was originally published in about 1991 (as far as I can tell). Separate from the book is an introduction by the author, he believes that that this book will weather the test of time better than any of his other works. No doubt this will be true.

The genre of the book is a TRAGITY (i.e. Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet").

Be prepared that the book is very different than his other books (i.e. The Lion's Game), But just as good!

Don't buy this book if you expect a clean happy ending where the hero defeats the bad guy and everyone goes home happy.

I also highly recommend the recently published sequel to this book "The Gate House". Lucky for you that you don't have to wait 20 years wondering about the main characters and their heartacke.

46 of 51 people found this review helpful

Get This Book, Capeesh?

This is one of those books that was so good that I didn't want to rush through it, and I so relished getting back to it whenever I had some time available. I wish I had a better knack for finding more books like this. I can truly say I enjoyed every minute of it.

In summary, it is the story of a married couple, waspish, affluent, "blue bloods" living on Long Island's Gold Coast, one of the most affluent areas in the country at the time. John Sutter seemingly has everything--money, property, great law career, sailboat, horses, gorgeous, wealthy, sexually playful wife, Susan. He is living the American dream yet is somehow bored. (Confirms my theory that if you have everything you want in life, life becomes less interesting. I'd like to try it out personally, though, just to confirm . . . .)

Sutter has the habit of making sarcastic, snarky remarks that initially were very funny but as his life became more stressful, became more desperate than funny. Sutter becomes uneasy and displeased when he learns that mafia don, Frank Bellarosa and his wife, Anna, have moved in to the next door property. I just loved the progression as John and Susan were slowly charmed and seduced by the mafia don (so was I!) I loved the way that John started using the mafia lingo and how his attitude changed little by little til he found himself working for the don. What a pickle he got himself into.

The characters were very well-developed, their behaviors were believable, and for the most part, they were all very likable.

Christian Rummel did a genius narration! Each and every character had their own voice and their personalities shown through. This man knows how to do women's voices, too--not a small thing, as most of us have found.

The Gold Coast was PURE FUN for me. I enjoyed every minute of it and will definitely read another book by DeMille. I enjoyed this book immensely, and I give it my strongest recommendation.

Note: There is an intro by the author at the beginning of the book that was very interesting. I am going to go back and re-listen to it now that I have finished the book.

Also, DO NOT read the description or reviews for the follow-up book, The Gate House. They have a potentially ruinous spoiler for this first book in them.

14 of 15 people found this review helpful

Just a great story

It's hard to compare or classify this book.. Drama? I guess drama/intrigue would be accurate.

Christian Rummel is in my top 5 Narrator list.. He perfectly narrates this story. Bringing to life each character

My second listen to this book in the last 2 years & I enjoyed immensely

J

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

A modern classic.

This is by far one of my favorite books EVER. I grew up on Long Island a few towns away from the actual "Gold Coast" and when I say that Nelson DeMille captures the essence of these people -- he really does. He makes John and Susan Sutter into real people with strengths and flaws. And growing up during the 1980's when former mafia boss John Gotti was always on the local night time news, Frank Bellarosa also seems like a credible character without simply making him into a "copy" of Gotti. He's a wise guy in his own right.

Before buying the audiobook I read this as an actual book many times and enjoyed every time. Having it in audiobook format simply adds yet another element to what I think is already a modern classic. It's plain and simple a really good book and an incredibly satisfying read. If you are unfamiliar with Nelson DeMille he is a master at writing books that are remarkably enjoyable to read. After reading "The Gold Coast" do not be surprised if you find that you want to read more of his works. However, I think this book is one of his very best.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

This might be my favorite novel to date

To me this is what a novel should be. The characters were great, it was funny, the drama was believable and gripping. I also loved the setting of the novel, and the authors description of the Gold Coast and its mansions. I will be picking up other DeMille books right away, and if they are half as good as this one I will be satisfied. This might be my favorite novel yet.

Christian Rummel was perfect as the reader; I thought all his character portrayals were spot on.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

a great journey

love this book. 3rd time thru it. the sequel is almost as good. Jon Sutter is almost as sarcastic as Jon Corey ( lions game)

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Plods along very slowly...

What would have made The Gold Coast better?

Very slow paced. I kept waiting for something to happen, it never does.

What was most disappointing about Nelson DeMille’s story?

I had read all the reviews. I guess I was expecting too much. I was very disappointed about the entire book.

Would you be willing to try another one of Christian Rummel’s performances?

I felt the narration was a little on the dull side.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

major disappointment. I was really expecting something good. I had read a few of the John Corey series. This was very boring compared to those books.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful