Review: The Gate House Audiobook

The Latest Bestseller From Nelson DeMille, Sequel to The Gold Coast

Nov 12, 2008

This is a review of The Gate House unabridged audiobook by Nelson DeMille and read by Christian Rummel. This is a sequel to the earlier bestseller, The Gold Coast.

The Gate House, by Nelson DeMille, is the sequel to his earlier novel The Gold Coast. Set ten years on and in a world still reeling and coming to terms with the effects of 9/11, the plot picks up the story of John Sutter and his ex-wife, Susan. Their's is not a normal tale of betrayal and divorce. Susan, a rich society lady and heir to a fortune had an affair with a mafia don, whom she later shot dead.

In The Gate House, the listeners join the plot as John Sutter moves back from England to the Gold Coast and starts to put together the shattered pieces of his relationship and all that this entails. Throw into the mix more mafia involvement in the shape of Anthony Bellarosa, the son of the dead don, who has a grudge and a score to settle, and the plot starts to get interesting.

The Narration

The Gate House is written from the view of John Sutter. Narrated by Christian Rummel, it is difficult to imagine a reader who could more successfully portray the character of John Sutter with his mix of sardonic wit and dry humor.

Christian Rummel paces the book effectively, keeping the slower parts moving while allowing the climaxes to be savored. The unabridged book is a long listen at over 22 hours, however the engaging narration kept the plot moving.

Characterization

One of the joys of this audiobook is the way that Christian Rummel has handled the characterization of the main players in the book. He managed to give character while not resorting to pastiche, which helped to make the book such an easy listen. Christian Rummel also handled skillfully the dialog between characters, appearing never to miss a beat. The narration is much closer to a performance than a simple reading of the book.

Sequel to The Gold Coast

Although the book is a sequel to the earlier bestseller, The Gold Coast, the plot of The Gate House stands up on its own and Nelson DeMille paints enough of the background picture to allow listeners to pick up the important parts of the story from the first book without necessarily having to read it.

Conclusion

The Gate House is part thriller and part observation of a world that will be alien and unknown to many readers. The narration makes the audiobook a pleasure to listen to, however the plot might not be to everyone's tastes.

Listeners looking for a fast moving thriller may find the book too slow and listeners seeking an observation on characters and relationships may find some of the content a little brutal. Saying that, listeners who are simply seeking a good and engaging listen will find plenty here to enjoy. Listeners should note that there is adult content and occasional bad language.

This is a review of the mp3 format cd version of the audiobook. This meant that the entire book fitted onto three cds with each cd lasting a little over 7 hours. This is a convenient format and while listeners should check their listening device before opting for this format, many cd players and computers will play this format.

Further Information

More information about Nelson DeMille and his work can be found on the official Nelson DeMille website.

Details

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