The Gate House

By: Nelson DeMille

Narrated by: Jeff Harding

When John Sutter's aristocratic wife killed her mafia don lover, John left America and set out in his sailboat on a three-year journey around the world, eventually settling in London. Now, ten years later, he has come home to the Gold Coast, the stretch of land on the North Shore of Long Island that once held the greatest concentration of wealth and power in America, to attend the imminent funeral of an old family servant.

Taking up temporary residence in the gatehouse of Stanhope Hall, John finds himself living only a quarter of a mile from Susan, who has also returned to Long Island. But Susan isn't the only person from John's past who has re-emerged. Though Frank Bellarosa, infamous Mafia don and Susan's ex-lover, is long dead, his son, Anthony, is alive and well, and intent on two missions: drawing John back into the violent world of the Bellarosa family, and exacting revenge on his father's murderer - Susan Sutter.

©2008 Nelson DeMille (P)2009 Oakhill Publishing

Love the characters and humor

The main character John is the real hero, its humor, and sarcastic views on a privilege community makes the listening enternaining all the way to the last page. The story is of no real importance and is almost comical and lack the fast pacing of an detective story. Ladies will certainly enjoy the story more so than gentemen, there is romance, love, shopping and delightful X rated scenes.

Great fun, but different to Lion's Game

I have enjoyed listening to this story, and came to it having really loved De Mille’s Lion’s Game. If you enjoyed the none PC musings of John Corey in Lion’s Game then this story is a treat, as it is written in the first person and is delightfully revealing of the male psych.


As a story it rambles on a bit, but for me I wasn’t looking for an adventure flight, just enjoyable wicked observations from a hetrosexual male. During my commute I was often grinning away very much entertained.



One of its weaknesses was also a strength, DeMille repeats himself many times, or more accurately the character does. However that is a plus with audio as you can keep up with the various character names and function more easily. Great vocal range by Jeff Harding as well.

Not as dark as Lion’s Game and I have to admit I was wondering when the action (if any) was going to occur. More of a good yarn with nice side line thoughts from the main character.

Language and activities that take place are for 18+.



In summary if you want more of the John Corey type musings this is the book, but it is not the same adventure detective story of the Lions game though.

I have given it 5 stars because as I said it had me grinning and it was just what I was after from DeMille.

Really good book

I found the story really gripping. Well done again. The narrator carries the story very well.