The Gold Coast - John Sutter, Bk 1 Author:Nelson DeMille 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 ... more »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.« less
I didn't enjoy the story line that well. It was something I had a hard time relating to. The female characters were unbelievable and the voice of the male characters did not ring true.
This was the first Nelson DeMille novel that I have ever read. Overall, I would rate my experience as average.
The concept of the novel seemed interesting: modern-day Gold Coast society meets the Mafia. However, I found the history of the Gold Coast, the ruin and abandonment of its palatial homes, and the allusions to the grandeur that was once the Gilded Age far more interesting than the story and struggles of the main characters themselves. The plot itself fell a little flat.
This story would have been much better if it had been told in a third fewer pages. In short, this felt like a plot that had nowhere to go and all day to get there. Very few of the characters were fully developed, and by the end I was at the point where I no longer cared about any of them. This was neither The Great Gatsby or The Sopranos, but rather something in the middle that rendered it anemic and easily forgettable.
I have heard that other DeMille novels are fantastic. Unfortunately, this isn't one of them.
Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
Jennifer V. reviewed The Gold Coast (John Sutter, Bk 1) on
1 member(s) found this review helpful.
Great story line and inside view of the mafia and Long Island upper crust. A bit drawn out, but good.
Probably the third time I've read this & enjoyed it again. Of all the DeMille books I've read, this has to be the best!
Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
Alana H. (Lanababy) reviewed The Gold Coast (John Sutter, Bk 1) on
Great book, but took a while to get to the story. Hang in there, it gets GREAT!!!
Currently 2.5/5 Stars.
Kim F. (kimba3657) reviewed The Gold Coast (John Sutter, Bk 1) on
Well, here is where I admit that I messed up and ordered a book I had already read. Oh well, I guess it wasn't that good of read if I couldn't remember a title of a book I had already read. But I do still love DeMille as a writer, still read most everything he has written.