Customer Reviews

The Red Gate

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Red Gate is hard to lay down. A thoroughly intriguing story and character line. Richard Sutton's unique personal style introducing different characters and situations, smoothly ties in the various threads and guides the story to unexpected conclusions. Whether from close research and study or from personal observation, Mr. Sutton has captured the Irish weather and the experience of muddy rutted roads in a skillful and authentic manner. His descriptions of the people and places are complete and accurate without being overdone. There is a subtle romantic thread running through the book; so understated in fact that the reader is unsure whether to take it seriously. Did they get together or not? . . . I'm not telling. A very enjoyable read. I am looking forward to the sequel. Jarrel R. Jackson

A beautifully written historical fantasy set in the early years of the 20th century.

I think I love the writing in this book even more than the story. It's lyrical and descriptive and that alone made this book a joy to read. That being said: I also loved the story. It's intriguing and suspenseful with very likeable as well as despicable characters. The viewpoint switches from time to time to give you an overall picture of events and I felt myself fuming when seeing things from the viewpoint of one of the characters I didn't like. All in all Sutton managed to get me totally engrossed in the life of the O'Deirg family (especially Finn, my favourite character) and although the book luckily doesn't have a cliffhanger ending, I'm curious what's next for the O'Deirg family and their sheep.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautifully written, intriguing family saga

A very enjoyable read. Combines twists and turns of a mystery with tidbits of fact about Ireland and Irish life. Sutton does a great job keeping the interest of the reader throughout the chapters. Also enjoyed The Gatekeepers, the follow up to this novel.

The Red Gate scores top marks with this reader. It does have its own voice, mature but not patronising, quietly confident and distinct. There's intrigue, & darkness, too, in the plot and the characters develop into fully rounded beings as the story progresses. One of the many outstanding virtues of this work is the descriptive power with which the atmosphere of the key scenes is imbued, especially those relating to the wildness of the Mayo landscape. There is no razzmatazz here; just a competent artisan at work. Having known a couple of academics in my time I know the author has 'bottled' the essence of that walk of life and decants it in just the right measure. Highly recommended, as a sensitive, enduring and engrossing novel. Robert Davidson. The Tuzla Run

Richard Sutton's The Red Gate is a wonderful book that encompasses history, family, romance, and personal growth.

Sutton's writing style transports you to another time and place, that allows you to be fully present.

You'll quickly engage in this great story of survival and will look forward to the series!

The Red Gate brings the story of a family to the reader in such a way that they will feel as if they are actually in the surroundings being described. From start to finish, it is emotionally charged, highly detailed with descriptions so real it is amazing.

The plot is original, well crafted and each character is brought to life in a special way. There is tragedy, love, emotion. So much but yet nothing falls flat. No reader will be disappointed with this first book by Mr. Sutton and they will most certainly be awaiting the next.

For those interested in family background searches and discoveries, especially of the Irish variety, The Red Gate would certainly be quite an enjoyable piece of reading. Obviously the result of much extensive and sincere research, the author's literary effort is both passionate and intelligent with a writing style that flows with the lilting accent of its characters. The repeated habit of missed punctuation throughout was unfortunate, but for me it didn't take away too much from the story itself.

Although I am not Irish and have no relatives that I know of, I have visited the Emerald Isle before and have a number of friends there, and reading this book made me smile thinking of their voices, their tales and unique personalities. A very special quality with which the author was able to embue his work. "The Red Gate" is great example of how family history can be made interesting and accessible to the newer generations.

[...]

I'm afraid I did have some editing issues with this book, but nothing can alter the fact that this was an excellently conceived story set in the early 1900s in the harsh Irish wilderness.

A young, honest, hardworking farmer's son, Finn, finds a little more than a fistful of mud when he slips and falls during inclement weather whilst tending his sheep - a curious little bead with strange markings. An encounter with a prominent professor of archaeology during a dig in a nearby town triggers a chain of events which entails ruthless greed and ambition, deceit and murder. This little bead, it seems, is the key to a much greater and significant ancestral history buried beneath the land owned by Finn and his father. Unscrupulous characters seeking fame and fortune underestimate the intelligence and quick-wittedness of those they perceive as simple, illiterate farmers. Greed has its price.

This book was for the most part well-written: you could feel the hardship and simplicity of the farmers' lives, but the acceptance of their lot was almost endearing, no words of complaint ever left their lips; there was a smile-raising cosiness about the warmth of the family and their support of each other; the growing relationship of Finn and the innkeeper's daughter who was teaching him to read was heart-warming; the pompous professor's and his devious assistants' villainous intents were well crafted. Clearly, a tremendous amount of background research of Irish heritage was carried out and it was well integrated into the plot of this book.

The author has an engaging style, and very deftly brought to life the essence of Ireland - the rugged countryside was almost tangible, the use of Irish dialect was charming (though not always clear!) and I swear I could hear the strains of a merry little Irish jig in the background! The plot is original and compelling.

Although I can recommend this book, I do hope that it is put through a stringent editorial mill for the next reader(s).

The second book of my weekly review is The Red Gate by Richard Sutton. The writing in this book deserves 5 stars alone.

If I were to categorize The Red Gate, I'm not sure if I could do it with only one choice. It is a family saga paired with historical fiction. Usually, I'm not a big fan of certain time periods, but Richard Sutton sent me to the rain filled world of Ireland. The descriptions made me feel the weather around me. The sunlight, the drizzle, and the lone coast of the O'Deirg family farm.

The story is told through the perspectives of a few different characters. Some of them made me squint my eyes in disgust due to the absolute conniving ways, but Finn O'Deirg made me root for the family even more.

The Red Gate focuses on a mysterious relic found on the O'Deirg farm. Inhabited by Finn and his Father, they drive into the nearest town for a supply run. Finn takes the charm with him, and mistakenly runs into a self-absorbed Professor that will do anything to get his name ahead. As Finn asks questions about his find, the Professor's real intentions are revealed. With a subtle romantic storyline going on in the background, and a surprise twist at the end. I highly recommend The Red Gate if you enjoy intriguing plots and beautiful lyrical writing.

One tragedy can be the start of everything. "The Red Gate" chronicles the lives of an Irish family after the death of one of their own. This one tragedy unravels everything for them, and their simple traditional life will never be the same again. "The Red Gate" is an intriguing read of Irish life, highly recommended.