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Stone Barrington #36
Scandalous Behavior
Stone Barrington is back, in fine form, in the newest thriller from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author.
Stone Barrington is no stranger to nefarious schemes and tricky situations, but his newest adversary will certainly keep him on his toes . . .
Stone Barrington is no stranger to nefarious schemes and tricky situations, but his newest adversary will certainly keep him on his toes . . .
311 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 5, 2016
1184 people are currently reading
2178 people want to read
About the author
Stuart Woods
408 books3,220 followersStuart Woods was an American novelist best known for Chiefs and his long-running Stone Barrington series. A Georgia native, he initially pursued a career in advertising before relocating to England and Ireland, where he developed a passion for sailing. His love for the sport led him to write his first published work, Blue Water, Green Skipper, about his experiences in a transatlantic yacht race.
His debut novel, Chiefs, was inspired by a family story about his grandfather, a police chief. The book, a gripping crime saga spanning several decades, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was later adapted into a television miniseries. It launched Woods' career as a novelist, leading to a prolific output of thrillers.
Woods' most famous creation, Stone Barrington, is a former NYPD detective turned high-profile lawyer who navigates elite circles while solving crimes. The series became a bestseller and remained a staple of his career, often featuring crossover characters from his other books, such as CIA operative Holly Barker and defense lawyer Ed Eagle.
Beyond writing, Woods was an experienced pilot and yachtsman. He maintained homes in Florida, Maine, and New Mexico, where he lived with his wife and their Labrador, Fred. His literary career spanned decades, with dozens of bestsellers to his name.
His debut novel, Chiefs, was inspired by a family story about his grandfather, a police chief. The book, a gripping crime saga spanning several decades, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was later adapted into a television miniseries. It launched Woods' career as a novelist, leading to a prolific output of thrillers.
Woods' most famous creation, Stone Barrington, is a former NYPD detective turned high-profile lawyer who navigates elite circles while solving crimes. The series became a bestseller and remained a staple of his career, often featuring crossover characters from his other books, such as CIA operative Holly Barker and defense lawyer Ed Eagle.
Beyond writing, Woods was an experienced pilot and yachtsman. He maintained homes in Florida, Maine, and New Mexico, where he lived with his wife and their Labrador, Fred. His literary career spanned decades, with dozens of bestsellers to his name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 450 reviews
January 15, 2016
Okay, yes, I've read another Stone Barrington book and I won't apologize for it. I realize that certain people feel that there is no "literary value" to this type of story, but at the end of an 8 hour day spent trying to make sense out of medical charts dictated by foreign doctors who are unable to speak English clearly or Americans who don't care enough to speak clearly, I want to read something that I enjoy, that takes away the stress, something that I don't have to think about or evaluate every word, every sentence. Stone and his friends do that for me. In this installment, Stone is in England, buying yet another mansion with yet another threat to his and his son's lives. Enjoyable read.
January 29, 2016
Maybe it is because my first read of Stuart Woods was book #36 but I found it awful. The protagonist Stone Barrington is probably more interesting than the Dos Equis most interesting man in the world. In other words he is as fake as any character ever created in literature (literature is used loosely for this trash). Stone knows everyone including the Director of the FBI, the POTUS, Jesus Christ (whom is not quite the man Stone is), and not only does he know the director of MI6 he also inserts his 16 inches into her whenever he wants. She loves it so much she gives him all the secrets he wants. That is between bedding every fine woman in the world. The character is fake and unbelievable. When you screw with him or his kids law officers all the world over stop everything they are doing to help him get even. I bought this book because I like a good mystery. This is pure trash with sloppy prose and you already know how it ends. Stone Barrington saves the world and impregnates Kate Middleton with her third child after doing so. If your looking for a good mystery pass this up and get a Hillerman novel or something similar. Even the Hardy Boys books are more entertaining than this drivel. It worries me greatly that this made it to bestseller status. Its for the mystery lover who likes to solve the case after page 50. Its so easy to see what will happen it is like watching episodes of Matlock. Only Matlock is better written.
January 16, 2016
Scandalous Behavior is a entertaining quick read as many of the Stone Barrington series are. However, the last 6 or so books haven't been very deep in the way of plot or action. Since Arrington's death the books have been about a wealthy guy spending his money and coming into a few scrapes along the way, while he flies his new jet to a new location. It's as if the author is in a funk of putting out fluff books to meet contract obligations. I'd like them to be deeper and full of action the way his earlier novels were.
I guess what I'm saying is I want more and the books aren't living up to his earlier works. Sorry for the rant, but I had higher expectations for this novel and character.
I guess what I'm saying is I want more and the books aren't living up to his earlier works. Sorry for the rant, but I had higher expectations for this novel and character.
January 19, 2016
3.5 stars...I ant help it; I'm a shameless, lifetime Stone Barrington adorer. I'm sure I'd fall prey to his "ways" were he a real dude, lol. Actually though, I thought this was a pretty good storyline. :)
December 3, 2023
This was a fun, quick read. Which is just as well since I’m sick at the moment. I laughed quite a bit. Sometimes I wish I had Stone’s life…he’s mega rich. I am not mega rich. Not even rich. But then I remember who Stone is. He’s a mega rich idiot. He can’t have a decent relationship. He always seems to find trouble. He’s a sexual compulsive. I’ll just stick to being mega poor. In a decent relationship (married). I avoid trouble. Regardless…it’s easy to love Stone.
January 25, 2016
At this point - having read too many books in the Stone Barrington series to count ( I've reviewed 11 here on Goodreads) - I think I've finally come to terms with the things that started to bother me a few years back when the books got noticeably shorter and more boring (to the point that I began referring to the filthy rich New York lawyer as Stone Yawnington). In fact, I've rather enjoyed the last three, as I did this one. Where else will you find someone who, after just one look, buys an English mansion for 10-1/2 million pounds, then heads to an auto dealership to snap up a new Bentley and a new Porsche?
In this case, Stone buys the house (which he loves) from the dying owner to keep it out of the hands of his unloved kids. Meanwhile, Stone's son Peter and his friend Ben, who are in the movie-making business, have released their latest effort - a story about a shady cult leader. The film is wildly successful (of course, since everything Stone and his offspring do is touched with gold); but a dangerous real-life "religious" leader is quite unhappy, insisting that the movie is based on him. He's mad as hell and isn't going to take it any more, but how far will he go to retaliate?
Early on, a dead body turns up as well, supposedly a suicide. But here, too, there's more to the story than meets the eye. Could his death really have been murder? And if so, who did it and why? Leave it to Stone and his close-knit group of friends (one of whom has the FBI director on speed-dial) to get to the bottom of it - in between making a deal on another huge property and spending a good portion of time on the back of a horse (in proper attire, of course).
All these questions and more are answered here, and was happy to end the book with no cliffhanger. As has been the practice of late, the book is quite short (311 pages). And at this point, I do suggest that readers interested in this series should begin with an earlier book. This one stands alone well enough, but it seems to me my enjoyment was enriched by my previous knowledge of the backgrounds of the major characters.
In this case, Stone buys the house (which he loves) from the dying owner to keep it out of the hands of his unloved kids. Meanwhile, Stone's son Peter and his friend Ben, who are in the movie-making business, have released their latest effort - a story about a shady cult leader. The film is wildly successful (of course, since everything Stone and his offspring do is touched with gold); but a dangerous real-life "religious" leader is quite unhappy, insisting that the movie is based on him. He's mad as hell and isn't going to take it any more, but how far will he go to retaliate?
Early on, a dead body turns up as well, supposedly a suicide. But here, too, there's more to the story than meets the eye. Could his death really have been murder? And if so, who did it and why? Leave it to Stone and his close-knit group of friends (one of whom has the FBI director on speed-dial) to get to the bottom of it - in between making a deal on another huge property and spending a good portion of time on the back of a horse (in proper attire, of course).
All these questions and more are answered here, and was happy to end the book with no cliffhanger. As has been the practice of late, the book is quite short (311 pages). And at this point, I do suggest that readers interested in this series should begin with an earlier book. This one stands alone well enough, but it seems to me my enjoyment was enriched by my previous knowledge of the backgrounds of the major characters.
January 23, 2016
What a fun read. It's even better than the last one. Maybe I should shelf this in fantasy genre.
January 25, 2016
Another episode of " Life of the rich and famous" featuring Stone Barrington. Why do I continue to read these books?
May 30, 2021
This is my first time reading one of the Stone Barrington series by Stuart Woods (the 36th novel to be exact). Perhaps because I have never read any of the previous novels, I may not be able to give a fair assessment and review for this book. Quite honestly, it was too scandalous and there reallly wasn't something substantive in the storyline that I could personally connect to. Overall, I found the story rather stuffy, with spoiled wealthy characters, which I would define as casually snobby and formally stuffy. It seemed a little too pretentious and predictable, without great mystery.
First of all, Dame Felicity Devonshire suggested that Stone Barrington buy the estate of Sir Charles Bourne who is terminally ill. Charles is estranged from his children. He will soon marry a younger woman despite his poor health condition. He feels that since his ex-wife, the mother of his children left his kids pretty well off, he didn't bother leaving anything in his will for them.
There appeared to be a murder on Stone's newly acquired property (Sir Richard Curtis). Who killed Sir Richard Curtis? His head was almost severed. They suspected Wilfred Burns, retired Brigadier General, who was their resident hermit. Detective Holmes later informed Stone that Wilfred Burns, their Brigadier General took his own life and allegedly confessed to killing Curtis by leaving a note in his prison cell. This was bogus.
Peter (Stone's son) and his friend Ben made a movie (Hell's Bells) that was apparently a threat to people whose real-life is closely depicted in the movie, and wants to kill them. Dr. Don Beverly Calhoun, the cult leader who has taken offense at the movie "Hell's Bells, is believed to be scamming his followers out of their mortgages. The storyline in the movie hits close to home and Calhoun hires a hitman to find Stone Barrington and his son to take them out. Ironically, the hitman Calhoun hired ended up killing him and his wife.
I suppose this was to be a thriller, but the flow of the dialogue was not quite what I expected. I expected much more drama, mystery, or friction between the characters than what was presented. It was intended to be scandalous but not quite the adventure I anticipated it to be. Yet, it was entertaining.
First of all, Dame Felicity Devonshire suggested that Stone Barrington buy the estate of Sir Charles Bourne who is terminally ill. Charles is estranged from his children. He will soon marry a younger woman despite his poor health condition. He feels that since his ex-wife, the mother of his children left his kids pretty well off, he didn't bother leaving anything in his will for them.
There appeared to be a murder on Stone's newly acquired property (Sir Richard Curtis). Who killed Sir Richard Curtis? His head was almost severed. They suspected Wilfred Burns, retired Brigadier General, who was their resident hermit. Detective Holmes later informed Stone that Wilfred Burns, their Brigadier General took his own life and allegedly confessed to killing Curtis by leaving a note in his prison cell. This was bogus.
Peter (Stone's son) and his friend Ben made a movie (Hell's Bells) that was apparently a threat to people whose real-life is closely depicted in the movie, and wants to kill them. Dr. Don Beverly Calhoun, the cult leader who has taken offense at the movie "Hell's Bells, is believed to be scamming his followers out of their mortgages. The storyline in the movie hits close to home and Calhoun hires a hitman to find Stone Barrington and his son to take them out. Ironically, the hitman Calhoun hired ended up killing him and his wife.
I suppose this was to be a thriller, but the flow of the dialogue was not quite what I expected. I expected much more drama, mystery, or friction between the characters than what was presented. It was intended to be scandalous but not quite the adventure I anticipated it to be. Yet, it was entertaining.
February 14, 2016
Two and one half stars...
... rather than two. But that option is not available. Stuart Woods has worn out the Stone Barrington brand. If Barrington were any more perfect, any more wealthy, any more frequently laid, or had any more perfect taste or any more perfect children it would only make him MORE ludicrous.
This is pretty much it for me and Stone Barrington. He's so
bloody perfect he's dull. The mansions he buys are dull. The women he beds are dull. Dino has become dull. Even the antagonist in this novel is dull. He's stupid rich with a dull wife and himself has mansions all over and private aircraft in every port.
Nope. I'm done. Stone Barrington used to be fun. Now he's overbearing and dull and WAY too privileged to be believable. I'm assuming that is reflective of Mr. Woods himself. To Read his note to we readers, he couldn't be bothered hearing from any of us.
Enough, Stuart. You had your run. Thanks for the first few novels. It was fun. Now it's just... well... over.
... rather than two. But that option is not available. Stuart Woods has worn out the Stone Barrington brand. If Barrington were any more perfect, any more wealthy, any more frequently laid, or had any more perfect taste or any more perfect children it would only make him MORE ludicrous.
This is pretty much it for me and Stone Barrington. He's so
bloody perfect he's dull. The mansions he buys are dull. The women he beds are dull. Dino has become dull. Even the antagonist in this novel is dull. He's stupid rich with a dull wife and himself has mansions all over and private aircraft in every port.
Nope. I'm done. Stone Barrington used to be fun. Now he's overbearing and dull and WAY too privileged to be believable. I'm assuming that is reflective of Mr. Woods himself. To Read his note to we readers, he couldn't be bothered hearing from any of us.
Enough, Stuart. You had your run. Thanks for the first few novels. It was fun. Now it's just... well... over.
June 18, 2017
This was a quick read and enjoyable to read as you wind down your day. This is the first Stuart Wood book I have read. It wasn't what I expected but I did enjoy it. The story begins with Stone Barrington buying an English estate where shortly after the purchase there is a murder on the grounds. this murder is quickly solved and isn't mentioned again until the end of the book. Meanwhile, Stone's son Peter ruffles the feathers of a nefarious cult leader. Papa Bear Stone gets involved trying to protect his son from the cult leader and soon Stone and the cult leader are at odds. it was enjoyable reading about the hilarious antics of the cult leader as Stone and friends work at taking him down. A good story about how karma bites the cult leader in the tush! I enjoyed the story and will add this author to my reading list.
June 14, 2017
Stone Barrington, the person who "The Most Interesting Man in the World" hero worships.
After his last adventure Stone contacts his friend and occasional sleeping partner Felicia who is head of MI6. BTW he also has head of FBI, head of NYPD and a former POTUS on his speed dial.
He is looking for a country retreat in Britain.
Day 1 Buys $10M estate
Day 2 Buys a Bentley and after some hesitation buys a Porsche to go with it. Then hits Saville Row for his British wardrobe.
If you are looking for a mystery its not there
If you are looking for adventure its not there
If you are looking for compelling writing look elsewhere
What amazes me is that about 50% gave this five stars!!!! Will never, ever trust ratings again.
After his last adventure Stone contacts his friend and occasional sleeping partner Felicia who is head of MI6. BTW he also has head of FBI, head of NYPD and a former POTUS on his speed dial.
He is looking for a country retreat in Britain.
Day 1 Buys $10M estate
Day 2 Buys a Bentley and after some hesitation buys a Porsche to go with it. Then hits Saville Row for his British wardrobe.
If you are looking for a mystery its not there
If you are looking for adventure its not there
If you are looking for compelling writing look elsewhere
What amazes me is that about 50% gave this five stars!!!! Will never, ever trust ratings again.
March 23, 2017
At their best, Stuart Woods' Stone Barrington novels are the sort of light fodder best read in airport lounges and long, sleepless, jet-lagged nights in foreign hotels. At their very worst, and this book is that, they come across as insipid and uninspired drivel. This is only made worse when "read" via books on CD, where you can actually feel your brain shrinking as you listen. I was forced to grab the paper version after two or three chapters in the vain hope that things might improve, but found myself skim reading the remainder. Were I freezing to death in a library with a fireplace and a book of matches, this would be the first book (and hopefully the only one) I would burn.
February 24, 2025
This was better than the last. Massive consumerism in this installment. Stone buys a 10 million £ English estate, a Bentley and a Porsche all in 1 day… plus a whole new wardrobe to keep st the estate, sure ok…
Peter and Teddy Fay are in this one and Stone actually has a woman in this story that lasts almost the whole book. 😳😳🤣🤣
There’s a murder mystery and a cult. Dr. Don is back.
Stone dispatched everyone and everything in pretty short order.
Peter and Teddy Fay are in this one and Stone actually has a woman in this story that lasts almost the whole book. 😳😳🤣🤣
There’s a murder mystery and a cult. Dr. Don is back.
Stone dispatched everyone and everything in pretty short order.
January 25, 2016
Head of MI-6 and occasional lover Dame Felicity Devonshire, convinces Stone to buy a gorgeous Georgian mansion in England near her country house from its dying owner, just in time for a neighbor's murder. Of course, he has to buy a Bentley, Porsche and new wardrobe (by page 30.) Back in the U.S., a religious cult leader has declared a vendetta against his filmmaker son alleging slander. Teddy Fay convinces Stone to move his son and friends to the new house. Stone and the decorator get all horizontal naturally, and the basic plot is the usual stuff between the cult leader and Stone. As usual, with Stone's help, the decorator
December 18, 2015
I received an ARC for this book. Sometimes I think I ought to class these under fantasy. Stone is able to buy two English country estates on a whim, shop at Turnbull & Ascott, buy airplanes, and otherwise live the deluxe life. They are fun to read but not deep. The usual cast of characters appears. Stone buys the first country house as a favor to Dame Felicity, so I'm expecting it will turn up in a future story.
June 29, 2016
Why do I keep reading these books? No character development, thin plot line, you could speed read read through this. Stone Barrington is every guys fantasy, rich, lucky and I guess good looking. The fact that he sleeps around with so many women and hasn't picked up an STD is amazing. What's also amazing is that he manages to find all these women who don't mind him sleeping around and actually encourage him to do it! No more.
January 15, 2016
Stone Barrington! Flew his new jet! Bought another multimillion dollar house! With staff! Bought another Bentley! Bought another Porsche! Rode a horse! With his son! Wore a tux! Discovered the real killer by a fluke! Billy Bentley saved the day!
This is the first boring Stone Barrington book I have read.
This is the first boring Stone Barrington book I have read.
February 10, 2016
This novel gets a supreme rating due to its excellent story line and perfect ending. 10 of 10 stars
April 27, 2016
Another entertaining and enjoyable book in the Stone Barrington series!
July 14, 2024
Stone Barrington arrives in England at the request of Dame Felicity Devonshire director of MI6 and a love interest of his. Felicity introduced Sir Charles Bourne, owner of Windward Hall estate, to Stone. For reasons you will find out as you read, Charles wants to sell his property. Stone sees this estate as an investment which starts a series of problems for him. Billy Barnett (Teddy Fay) X-CIA comes to Stone’s rescue like in many past Stone adventures. Evangelist “con man” Dr Don Calhoun does not know all the resources Stone has when he tries to intimidate Stone. It was an interesting plot and as aways Stone finds a new love interest in the character of Susan. I enjoyed the book and I am ready for the next adventure.
April 26, 2018
Well that was sort of silly and sort of fun. This was my first Stuart Woods (and Stone Barrington) book. If you are looking for a non stressful read full of escapism this is it! I will definitely look into reading more. This book was # 36 in its series - lol.
May 9, 2019
Ah, Stone Barrington buys another residence. A bargain of sorts. Felicity, the MI6 leader lives near there that being the reason to have Stone acquire the wooded mansion. TV evangelist Dr Don , leads a church whose parish turns over their property to him. Murder and mayhem leads to more murders by the former owner. It’s a 3 1/2 stars for me but so I rounded up.
March 9, 2018
I love Stuart Woods books, especially read by Tony Roberts. This was one of my favorites. I love all the characters. Stuart Woods makes my drive in Atlanta traffic fun! If I am listening to his books, I forget it takes me 2 hours to drive 21 miles!
January 20, 2023
I have read other books by this author that I really enjoyed but this one fell to meet those. Story line just never really seemed to take off.
August 11, 2025
As always. A fun quick read!!!
February 8, 2019
Could almost have enjoyed this book, except for the author's need to use obscene language in some places.
September 4, 2017
I enjoyed reading Stuart Woods many years ago. I have changed, and perhaps Mr. Woods has too. This is a story in the Stone Barrington series that mostly involves rich people with too many toys, and Barrington heads the list. As the novel opens, he lands his plane in Southampton, England, where he is met by the head of M16 (Britain's equivalent of the CIA). She whisks him off to a country estate where he whips out his checkbook and purchases the property for a ridiculous amount of money. He is then introduced to a young woman. Fortunately, his most recent girlfriend marched out on him at the end of the previous instalment, so Barrington is available. They soon hook up, and conveniently she also is the designer/decorator for Barrington's new acquisition. Then there is his son, who directs films in Hollywood. And the next door neighbor, whose throat is slit in the front yard of the estate. (The hermit confesses, though he probably didn't do it dontcha know?)
Oh, there also is a religious cult leader who has it in for Barrington's son, who made a movie about a religious cult. The movie is released, and is a tremendous box-office success. Everyone rushes to New York to attend the opening. The cult leader is now out to get the entire family. But they have such wonderful ideas to foil him...midst all the sex and eating and drinking fine Burgundies and property transactions....
I swear to God! I listened to this thing on cd. Maybe it would have been bearable as a book with pages, but hearing the words read aloud produced gag reflexes in yours truly a significant number of times. The rich are very boring when all they talk about is money and buying more things and getting richer. The "thriller" ascpects of this book were entirely incidental. There was not one unpredictable happening in the entire book. Not one funny line. Not one moment of genuine tension. And nobody behaved scandalously--a sincere disappointment. There was not one funny line in the entire book.
I persevered. The book did not get better, but it beat listening to the news this past week. I cannot remember when I have read anything worse.
Oh, there also is a religious cult leader who has it in for Barrington's son, who made a movie about a religious cult. The movie is released, and is a tremendous box-office success. Everyone rushes to New York to attend the opening. The cult leader is now out to get the entire family. But they have such wonderful ideas to foil him...midst all the sex and eating and drinking fine Burgundies and property transactions....
I swear to God! I listened to this thing on cd. Maybe it would have been bearable as a book with pages, but hearing the words read aloud produced gag reflexes in yours truly a significant number of times. The rich are very boring when all they talk about is money and buying more things and getting richer. The "thriller" ascpects of this book were entirely incidental. There was not one unpredictable happening in the entire book. Not one funny line. Not one moment of genuine tension. And nobody behaved scandalously--a sincere disappointment. There was not one funny line in the entire book.
I persevered. The book did not get better, but it beat listening to the news this past week. I cannot remember when I have read anything worse.
April 6, 2016
Scandalous Behavior by Stuart woods
Stone Barrington series Book #36
3.5★'s
From The Book:
After a series of nonstop adventures, Stone Barrington is eager for some peace and quiet in a rustic British setting. But no sooner does he land in England than he’s beset by an outrageous demand from a beautiful lady, and an offer he can’t refuse. Unfortunately, Stone quickly learns that his new acquisition comes with some undesired strings attached—namely, a deadly mystery involving the complex relationships of the local gentry, and a relentless adversary who raises the stakes with every encounter. Stone’s restful country vacation is looking like yet another troublesome situation, but with his tireless aplomb—and the help of a few friends—he is more than up to the challenge.
My Thoughts:
One thing that has brought me through 36 books in the Stone Barrington series is that Stuart Woods never wastes space with unnecessary words or descriptions and that he has brought Stone from a New York police detective to one of the most successful and richest men in the world...a man that has the ear of the United States President as well as European royalty...yet Stone has remained honest and humble through it all. The books don't have the blood and grit that I prefer in most mysteries but there is just something about the personalities that Woods has created with these characters that keep you turning pages to see where the situation is going to lead. For several previous books it seemed that Woods had gone around the bend making Stone into a rich playboy, sleeping with everything that walked...but even though the ladies are still very much willing and available...the sex has been toned down considerably and our Stone has become respectable again. I am so glad for the return of Billy Barnett (aka Teddy Fay), who was missing for the last few books. I wish Stuart Woods would develop a series around Billy, as he is one interesting character- a perfect mix of good and evil. Also happy to see that I can again give a decent star rating to this series.
Stone Barrington series Book #36
3.5★'s
From The Book:
After a series of nonstop adventures, Stone Barrington is eager for some peace and quiet in a rustic British setting. But no sooner does he land in England than he’s beset by an outrageous demand from a beautiful lady, and an offer he can’t refuse. Unfortunately, Stone quickly learns that his new acquisition comes with some undesired strings attached—namely, a deadly mystery involving the complex relationships of the local gentry, and a relentless adversary who raises the stakes with every encounter. Stone’s restful country vacation is looking like yet another troublesome situation, but with his tireless aplomb—and the help of a few friends—he is more than up to the challenge.
My Thoughts:
One thing that has brought me through 36 books in the Stone Barrington series is that Stuart Woods never wastes space with unnecessary words or descriptions and that he has brought Stone from a New York police detective to one of the most successful and richest men in the world...a man that has the ear of the United States President as well as European royalty...yet Stone has remained honest and humble through it all. The books don't have the blood and grit that I prefer in most mysteries but there is just something about the personalities that Woods has created with these characters that keep you turning pages to see where the situation is going to lead. For several previous books it seemed that Woods had gone around the bend making Stone into a rich playboy, sleeping with everything that walked...but even though the ladies are still very much willing and available...the sex has been toned down considerably and our Stone has become respectable again. I am so glad for the return of Billy Barnett (aka Teddy Fay), who was missing for the last few books. I wish Stuart Woods would develop a series around Billy, as he is one interesting character- a perfect mix of good and evil. Also happy to see that I can again give a decent star rating to this series.
August 1, 2016
OK, this is the thirty-sixth Stone Barrington novel, and I will confess that I've only read one (at most two) of the others. So, it's possible I could be missing something here. There are probably great depths of backstory that I'm missing, and characters that I'm supposed to have great feelings for that I do not. I got this book almost on accident, and though I remembered not totally loving Stone Barrington from my first venture into his world, I figured I'd read it anyway.
That was a mistake. This book was a three-hundred page description of what rich people do: how they fly here and there (whenever the mood strikes them, as none of them have plans for the next day), purchase whatever they want (instantly), improve and renovate what they just purchased (also instantly, with the help of nonexistent hop-to-it building contractors, and even movie studios), and eat (without gaining weight). The "mystery" here was a non-event, never actively pursued and solved almost as a side note at the end. The "relentless adversary" was a thinly drawn idiot of a character with a stereotype shell of a wife. This books was painful to read and I can't believe I finished it, searching for the reason Stone has thirty-six books. I want my hours back.
If you're a Stone Barrington fan, and this is how Wood's books are, I'm afraid I don't get it. If you haven't read Stone Barrington books and would like to try (I mean, there has to be something good in there somewhere, right?), definitely go back to the beginning when he was still a investigator trying to solve something, rather than an impossibly rich person with nothing to do but spend the money and bore his readers.
That was a mistake. This book was a three-hundred page description of what rich people do: how they fly here and there (whenever the mood strikes them, as none of them have plans for the next day), purchase whatever they want (instantly), improve and renovate what they just purchased (also instantly, with the help of nonexistent hop-to-it building contractors, and even movie studios), and eat (without gaining weight). The "mystery" here was a non-event, never actively pursued and solved almost as a side note at the end. The "relentless adversary" was a thinly drawn idiot of a character with a stereotype shell of a wife. This books was painful to read and I can't believe I finished it, searching for the reason Stone has thirty-six books. I want my hours back.
If you're a Stone Barrington fan, and this is how Wood's books are, I'm afraid I don't get it. If you haven't read Stone Barrington books and would like to try (I mean, there has to be something good in there somewhere, right?), definitely go back to the beginning when he was still a investigator trying to solve something, rather than an impossibly rich person with nothing to do but spend the money and bore his readers.
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