**
First let me say two things: Number one, I am normally a Nelson Demille fan. And yes, that is two stars….and they’re pretty dim stars at that. And second, I have a personal rule about not abandoning books without reading to the end. This book made me wonder why I’d ever imposed that rule and who’d know if I broke it.
I’ve enjoyed several of Mr. Demille’s books. Plum Island and The Charm School are two of my favorites. This book is a sequel to Gold Coast written eighteen years ago. The characters themselves, especially John Sutter, are interesting and well developed. I enjoyed Sutter’s caustic wit and sarcasm for the first fifty pages. His “Dear Ms Post” letters actually had me laughing out loud. Then slowly I began to feel as if one of us had stayed too long at the party. John Sutter became the boor who told the same joke one too many times.
There’s not a lot of talk about food in this novel. There is lots of talk about money, and wills, and sex. There are pages and pages of deceit, revenge, and sex. There are chapters on mafia dons, mafia hits, and yes….mafia sex.
I don’t want to mislead you. This book is not 674 pages of sarcasm and sex. Sometimes it contains cocktails, sarcasm, and sex. Maybe it’s just me, but I found Susan Sutter’s appetites a little far-fetched even for a cheating, murdering heiress…but maybe that’s just me.
I’m joining Food for Thought on Saturday. Don’t worry. I read two books that I could not put down while I was at the beach. Next time you’ll see more stars…I promise! For more edible reviews click here!
