The Gate House
by Nelson Demille
Published by Hachette Book Group – Grand Central
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Reviewed by: Jeff Foster
(also in audio)
Nelson Demille may be one of the best fiction writers of the last twenty years, and he has once again proven he still has his stuff with his new novel, The Gate House. The novel picks up where The Gold Coast left off, a novel that true followers of Demille will openly admit was one of his best.
Lawyer John Sutter has returned to Long Island to wait patiently for the demise of the last of his estranged wife’s family servants, and then execute her will. The Stanhopes are a long-established Gold Coast family with all the bizarre idiosyncrasies of a family that has never worked a day in their lives and has only known life through the distorted lens of old family money trust funds.
Sutter quickly descends into all the old cynical thoughts and comments that easily make him one of Demille’s most loved characters. Told in the first person – a format that Demille excels – The Gate House is a laugh-out-loud funny tale. It takes you through the past acquaintances that Sutter had with New York Mafia Don Frank Bellarosa (he was his lawyer on a trumped-up murder charge), and Bellarosa’s subsequent murder by his lover, who also happened to be Sutter’s wife, Susan.
How can this not be a source of discontent for Sutter? Well, it is. However, he still loves his wife and despite promises he makes to himself to stay away from her while back on Long Island, they ends up back together–and the sarcasm and smart-ass comments flow like water over Niagara Falls.
Despite assurance from Bellarosa’s son Anthony that there are no hard feelings, Sutter has no illusions that the son is exactly like the father, and that Susan Sutter’s continued existence is a point of pride within the remnants of the Bellarosa family that certainly needs resolution. In other words, Sutter is convinced that unless he goes to work for the son, the son will avenge his father’s murder.
Subplots abound and Demille weaves them all together to create a fabulously entertaining novel that will be read over and over by his faithful and new readers alike. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time. I’d give it 6 stars!!
Armchair Interviews says: Perfect for a long trip or just for hour and hours of delightful reading next to the fireplace into the wee holiday hours.
Author’s Web site: http://www.NelsonDemille.net