THE GOLD COAST

DeMille's story of Long Island's North Shore--nicknamed the Gold Coast--is a compelling portrait of how "ordinary" citizens can become involved in the dark side of American life. Scott Brick reads with a world-weary tone perfectly suited to the first-person narration of attorney John Sutter, who lives on his wife's family's estate. He is both repelled and fascinated to meet his new next-door neighbor, Mafia Don Frank Bellarosa. Through small events and foolish choices, John and his wife are drawn into Frank's world, with devastating results. Brick's narration is true to all the characters, from the well-bred Gold Coast residents to Bellarosa and his thugs. Brick's skill helps makes some of the plot, which might seem unrealistic on the page, more believable, as he expresses how John is drawn into Frank's web. Listeners will be compelled to keep listening. M.A.M. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]