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Stone Barrington #41
Fast and Loose
In this explosive thriller from #1 New York Times-bestselling author Stuart Woods, Stone Barrington's newest foe has a short fuse...and it's just been lit.
Stone Barrington is enjoying a boating excursion off the Maine coast when a chance encounter leaves him somewhat the worse for wear. Always able to find the silver lining in even the unhappiest circumstances, Stone is pleased to discover that the authors of his misfortune are, in fact, members of a prestigious family who present a unique business opportunity, and who require a man of Stone's skills to overcome a sticky situation of their own.
The acquaintance is fortuitous indeed, for as it turns out, Stone and his new friends have an enemy in common. He's the sort of man who prefers force to finesse, and who regards any professional defeat as a personal and intolerable insult. And when Stone's sly cunning collides with his adversary's hair-trigger-temper, the results are sure to be explosive...
Stone Barrington is enjoying a boating excursion off the Maine coast when a chance encounter leaves him somewhat the worse for wear. Always able to find the silver lining in even the unhappiest circumstances, Stone is pleased to discover that the authors of his misfortune are, in fact, members of a prestigious family who present a unique business opportunity, and who require a man of Stone's skills to overcome a sticky situation of their own.
The acquaintance is fortuitous indeed, for as it turns out, Stone and his new friends have an enemy in common. He's the sort of man who prefers force to finesse, and who regards any professional defeat as a personal and intolerable insult. And when Stone's sly cunning collides with his adversary's hair-trigger-temper, the results are sure to be explosive...
8 pages, Audio CD
First published April 18, 2017
2141 people are currently reading
1471 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 354 reviews
April 23, 2017
Come on....how about an actual plot and some thought into a story. His stone Barrington stories are getting like stephanie plum stories: a couple different scenarios plugged into a thin plot. Guess what? Stone finds a new woman to share his bed, some one tries to kill him, he spends a lot of money, the bad guys get killed, stone moves on to another woman. At least the international terrorists weren't in this one. Bet they'll be back next episode.
April 1, 2019
What a life Stone Barrington lives.
It really is too good to be true.
But I love it.
It really is too good to be true.
But I love it.
April 21, 2017
Another quick, formulaic read, my rainbow cotton candy after a couple of "deep" books. #41 carries the Stone Barrington baton, with the adventures getting ever more superficial and unlikely, the characters ungrowing, the sex all vague cardboard-cutout encounters (the description of a weapon is more evocative: "found an explosive-suppressing woven steel blanket and set it on his desk" vs. "'Let's see how we fit together.' And they did."). Stone stoops to dirty tricks in this one (ugh), and there's the improbability of a hit man instructed to park in front of a house, set a plastique bomb behind a concrete planter, then "return to your car, close the trunk, and put masking tape over your license plate, then drive away." Quick anti-climax, aka teaser for #42, and we're done.
March 8, 2025
This was a more a typical Stone book. He attracts enemies like nobody else. Macher I thought would be a formidable opponent but he was really comical in his plans. Like a cartoon villain.
We get introduced to a new character. Charley Fox. He fits in perfectly with Stone’s people and is soon partners in a new business venture with Mike Freeman.
Stone gets involved with a Swedish doctor. You knew she wouldn’t last the entire book. They always move on from Stone.
This was fairly fast paced and the end of the book sets up the next book so.. off the read the next installment..
We get introduced to a new character. Charley Fox. He fits in perfectly with Stone’s people and is soon partners in a new business venture with Mike Freeman.
Stone gets involved with a Swedish doctor. You knew she wouldn’t last the entire book. They always move on from Stone.
This was fairly fast paced and the end of the book sets up the next book so.. off the read the next installment..
June 14, 2017
READER REVIEW FOLLOWS - PLOT SPOILER DETAILS INCLUDED
The Christian St. Clair Story, Part II. First of all, I teetered between 3 and 4 stars a long time on this one, but sided to the shy due to Woods' error of omission. In Part I, Ed Rawls engineers the takedown of Christian St Clair and his unholy intentions of planting his lackey in the White House. After Christian blows himself up via the CIA briefcase and Nelson Knott commits suicide as his dreams evaporate, the problems don't totally go away.
For Part II, stepping into the vacuum is Christian's evil Security Director Erick Macher and his henchman Jake Herman, ably assisted by crooked attorney Tom Berenson. Berenson fabricates a will for St Clair putting Macher in charge of all corporate assets, so Erick bullies his way into the boardroom. His first goal is to succeed in St Clair's takeover bid for the Carlsson Clinic, so he launches an unsolicited takeover bid about the time Stone Barrington becomes friends with the Carlsson clan. The Swedes make for some flavorful color, especially daughter Marisa with the 'Swedish attitude towards sex.' As Marisa depletes Stone's 'vital bodily fluids,' Stone brings together an impressive posse of friends including Dino, Mike Freeman, Herbie Fisher, Ed Rawls and his Arrington Estate investors to outwit and outbid Macher, setting off a rivalry that Macher quickly escalates to war.
Now to the part about 3 versus 4 stars; any well-connected NYC attorney with friends like Ed Rawls and Billy Barnette (aka Teddy Fay) would've had Macher rapidly self-destruct or simply disappear--come on Stuart, playing by the rules when the sumbitch is trying to bomb your house? Such liberal insanity is simply not believable in a damn shooting war. If you know the guy, where he's at and sit there and await his next attempt to kill you without introducing counteroffensive measures you all but deserve to die, you stupid shit! Okay, I'm better, but 'Fast & Loose' ain't, and I gave it three stars because it's a good storyline with a fairy tale ending.
Now I know that the Mitch Rapp in me comes out swinging when such childish approach to self-preservation is displayed by an author of some note. What's wrong with the freaking grey zone Stuart? Jesus, Jack Reacher woulda pushed the bitch off the Empire State Building observation deck in a gorilla suit! Even Lucas Davenport wouldn't put up with some asshole packing two kilos of C4 next to Weather and the kids!
Anyway, as always, Stuart Woods' writing style's like a brain fix that'll have you turning pages, glancing at the clock. No shit, it's real Woods, but the old boy's getting soft in his old age. Thank God we've got Lee Child, John Sandford, Daniel Silva, Brad Thor, Alex Berenson and Kyle Mills checking our six. Did I leave out John Corey? Sorry Nelson, it wasn't intentional. Will
The Christian St. Clair Story, Part II. First of all, I teetered between 3 and 4 stars a long time on this one, but sided to the shy due to Woods' error of omission. In Part I, Ed Rawls engineers the takedown of Christian St Clair and his unholy intentions of planting his lackey in the White House. After Christian blows himself up via the CIA briefcase and Nelson Knott commits suicide as his dreams evaporate, the problems don't totally go away.
For Part II, stepping into the vacuum is Christian's evil Security Director Erick Macher and his henchman Jake Herman, ably assisted by crooked attorney Tom Berenson. Berenson fabricates a will for St Clair putting Macher in charge of all corporate assets, so Erick bullies his way into the boardroom. His first goal is to succeed in St Clair's takeover bid for the Carlsson Clinic, so he launches an unsolicited takeover bid about the time Stone Barrington becomes friends with the Carlsson clan. The Swedes make for some flavorful color, especially daughter Marisa with the 'Swedish attitude towards sex.' As Marisa depletes Stone's 'vital bodily fluids,' Stone brings together an impressive posse of friends including Dino, Mike Freeman, Herbie Fisher, Ed Rawls and his Arrington Estate investors to outwit and outbid Macher, setting off a rivalry that Macher quickly escalates to war.
Now to the part about 3 versus 4 stars; any well-connected NYC attorney with friends like Ed Rawls and Billy Barnette (aka Teddy Fay) would've had Macher rapidly self-destruct or simply disappear--come on Stuart, playing by the rules when the sumbitch is trying to bomb your house? Such liberal insanity is simply not believable in a damn shooting war. If you know the guy, where he's at and sit there and await his next attempt to kill you without introducing counteroffensive measures you all but deserve to die, you stupid shit! Okay, I'm better, but 'Fast & Loose' ain't, and I gave it three stars because it's a good storyline with a fairy tale ending.
Now I know that the Mitch Rapp in me comes out swinging when such childish approach to self-preservation is displayed by an author of some note. What's wrong with the freaking grey zone Stuart? Jesus, Jack Reacher woulda pushed the bitch off the Empire State Building observation deck in a gorilla suit! Even Lucas Davenport wouldn't put up with some asshole packing two kilos of C4 next to Weather and the kids!
Anyway, as always, Stuart Woods' writing style's like a brain fix that'll have you turning pages, glancing at the clock. No shit, it's real Woods, but the old boy's getting soft in his old age. Thank God we've got Lee Child, John Sandford, Daniel Silva, Brad Thor, Alex Berenson and Kyle Mills checking our six. Did I leave out John Corey? Sorry Nelson, it wasn't intentional. Will
June 10, 2017
Stuart Woods picks up on the storyline at the end of the last book #40. The immensely rich guy St Clair blew himself up and his security chief Erik Macher has forged the will to make himself CEO of the company. Macher, a former CIA agent, hates Stone Barrington and thus the battle to one up each other has begun.
The book was a fast read and the plot was pretty well thought out. I didn't like this book as much as the last one in this series but it is a typical Stone Barrington novel. If you like the standard formula of these books and the characters that Woods has incorporated over the years, then you won't be disappointed. Granted, a reader really has to like the style of these books to continue reading because many of the basic premises remain the same time after time. Woods does give us an indication that he may take Stone in a new direction in the next book.
The book was a fast read and the plot was pretty well thought out. I didn't like this book as much as the last one in this series but it is a typical Stone Barrington novel. If you like the standard formula of these books and the characters that Woods has incorporated over the years, then you won't be disappointed. Granted, a reader really has to like the style of these books to continue reading because many of the basic premises remain the same time after time. Woods does give us an indication that he may take Stone in a new direction in the next book.
May 12, 2017
One of the lamest and dullest stories in this series of many hits and few misses. Hopefully, the next is better. 4 of 10 stars
October 16, 2023
Typical Stone book and not a bad one at that.
April 25, 2017
I always look forward to a story by bestselling author Stuart Woods because I know the action will be fast paced, the plot intriquing and the conclusion satisfying. Such is certainly the case with Woods's hero Stone Barrington's latest adventure.
A New York attorney Stone has had many narrow escapes but was ill-prepared for a collision with another larger boat. He had been anticipating a relaxing cruise aboard his yacht around Maine's Penobscot Bay until the accident. The only good to come of it was Stone becoming friends with the owners of the other boat - a family of doctors named Carlsson of the famed Carlsson Clinic which had locations in several cities and was known throughout the world. Their meeting was auspicious for both as Stone wound up helping the Carlsson's put an end to a takeover of their clinic. This seriously irritated Erik Macher, the fellow who had orchestrated the takeover attempt.
In fact the evil Macher was so riled that he and his henchmen tried to blow up Stone's manhattan townhouse by planting plastic explosives. Thanks to a bomb-sniffing dog this didn't happen but led to a showdown between Macher and Stone at a Virginia farmhouse. Things are never dull when Stone is around,,,,,
Gifted actor Tony Roberts who has narrated a number of Stone Barrington audiobooks delivers one more stellar performance.
A New York attorney Stone has had many narrow escapes but was ill-prepared for a collision with another larger boat. He had been anticipating a relaxing cruise aboard his yacht around Maine's Penobscot Bay until the accident. The only good to come of it was Stone becoming friends with the owners of the other boat - a family of doctors named Carlsson of the famed Carlsson Clinic which had locations in several cities and was known throughout the world. Their meeting was auspicious for both as Stone wound up helping the Carlsson's put an end to a takeover of their clinic. This seriously irritated Erik Macher, the fellow who had orchestrated the takeover attempt.
In fact the evil Macher was so riled that he and his henchmen tried to blow up Stone's manhattan townhouse by planting plastic explosives. Thanks to a bomb-sniffing dog this didn't happen but led to a showdown between Macher and Stone at a Virginia farmhouse. Things are never dull when Stone is around,,,,,
Gifted actor Tony Roberts who has narrated a number of Stone Barrington audiobooks delivers one more stellar performance.
May 8, 2017
Fast and Loose by Stuart Woods (41 in the Stone Barrington series) is a quick forgettable read. Don't get me wrong the usual elements are here. A maniacal CEO tries to do Stone and his friends harm. Stone sleeps wIth the client's daughter. Dino is there to lend a hand and share meals at their usual watering holes. There are other reoccurring supporting characters who provide continuity to the series. This edition follows a familiar pattern; a well written book followed by a throw away. Considering Mr. Woods is producing four of these a year maybe he has help. In any event this one will not be considered one of his better efforts but I look forward to the next installment.
May 8, 2017
One of the best installments of the recent offerings. Suspense and great characters. I think Woods got a bit lazy in the last few years but this brought the series back. Kudos.
April 25, 2017
Another of my guilty pleasures. As always a quick, enjoyable read.
June 5, 2019
It's been a long time since reading a Stone Barrington. Fast and Loose is a decent read, and keeps us the reader engaged in this story. Recommend.
Stone Barrington survives a number of close calls, starting with a collision between his yacht and another, larger boat in Maine’s foggy Penobscot Bay, in Edgar-winner Woods’s enjoyable 41st novel starring the successful New York City attorney (after Below the Belt). Fortunately, this accident results in Stone’s becoming friends with the other boat’s owners, a family of doctors named Carlsson, of the Carlsson Clinic, “a famous hospital, with locations in several cities, like the Mayo Clinic.” Stone ends up helping the Carlssons thwart a takeover of their clinic, thereby antagonizing the schemer behind the takeover attempt, Erik Macher. The ruthless, hot-headed Macher and his henchmen try to blow up Stone with plastic explosives they’ve managed to hide in the lawyer’s Manhattan townhouse, but the timely intervention of a bomb-sniffing dog saves the day. A series of tit-for-tat exchanges leads to an exciting showdown between Macher and Stone at a Virginia farmhouse. Series fans will be pleased to learn that a major career change looms for Stone in his next outing.
Stone Barrington survives a number of close calls, starting with a collision between his yacht and another, larger boat in Maine’s foggy Penobscot Bay, in Edgar-winner Woods’s enjoyable 41st novel starring the successful New York City attorney (after Below the Belt). Fortunately, this accident results in Stone’s becoming friends with the other boat’s owners, a family of doctors named Carlsson, of the Carlsson Clinic, “a famous hospital, with locations in several cities, like the Mayo Clinic.” Stone ends up helping the Carlssons thwart a takeover of their clinic, thereby antagonizing the schemer behind the takeover attempt, Erik Macher. The ruthless, hot-headed Macher and his henchmen try to blow up Stone with plastic explosives they’ve managed to hide in the lawyer’s Manhattan townhouse, but the timely intervention of a bomb-sniffing dog saves the day. A series of tit-for-tat exchanges leads to an exciting showdown between Macher and Stone at a Virginia farmhouse. Series fans will be pleased to learn that a major career change looms for Stone in his next outing.
May 14, 2018
Stone Barrington finds himself in a new pickle in this one. His boat gets hit while he is sailing in fog in Maine and he meets a new client/love interest. On top of that, he finds that their company was set to be raided by Christopher St. Clair and a stock option offer had been made prior to his death. Stone sets about helping the family to retain their ownership, while also finding his way into the daughter's pants. Stone is way too predictable lately. Meet a woman, bed a woman, get dumped for one reason or another. This book did have some interesting twists to it, but some of it was just too much to believe. The fact that Stone and Mike don't blink in investing and starting a new company with a man they barely knew was astounding to me. The capital they could supposedly raise without batting an eyelash was off-putting. I just want Stone to find happiness somewhere, and it won't be with a house or more money in the bank. Holly needs to either keep climbing the ladder or let Stone go at this point.
August 1, 2017
What a guilty pleasure...the lives of the rich & famous as the travel & dine where the elite meet...again they have enough sex to keep off the weight from all their good food...Stone confronts a former CIA official, from an earlier story, who has taken over an investment firm that will use any means necessary to win...Stone & company vanquish the foe & live on in their golden lives!
March 30, 2020
Again, the story itself was pretty fast paced and interesting. I can say there were no glaring mistakes made in this one. The characters are kinda growing on me. Overall, a quick read that is pretty enjoyable.
February 11, 2018
Stone is at it again, after being rammed and rescued by another boat while out sailing, he meets a Doctor, the head of a thriving medical clinic, and his daughter. As they converse, it becomes clear that the clinic is a target of a hostile takeover and Stone works a deal to help thwart the threat. Of course it also gets him much for friendly with the daughter who is also an MD. The party behind the takeover attempt is single minded and ruthless and it sets Stone up as a target as an impediment to the takeover. Attacks, more big money deals, a romantic disappointment and things eventually work out for the best for Stone and Co.
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May 28, 2022good quick read
May 1, 2017
Maybe I'm just going soft in my old age, or maybe I've just come to realize that a respite from the shoot-'em-up, gory entrails and head games in my usual reading fare is a good thing. But the fact is, for the most part I actually enjoyed this, the 41st in the Stone Barrington series. Yes, it's borderline insipid (there's a reason I refer to the guy as Stone Yawnington) and the "action" is more than a bit hard to believe. But overall, it was, well, sort of fun - and easily read in one day.
As usual, everything (except perhaps Stone's ever-increasing wealth) is vastly understated as the prominent, world-traveling New York attorney tries to mind his own business. Somebody get murdered? Let's drink to that. Almost blown up by a bomb? How about dinner at Stone's favorite Patroon - or better still, in the formal dining room of one of his mansions? Perhaps this exchange between Stone and his great friend Kate - the current U.S. President - says it best:
"This is wonderful," Kate said. "All our problems solved before dinner!"
"We do what we can," Stone said.
This one begins as Stone is sailing alone in Penobscot Bay off the coast of Maine. He's so relaxed that he falls asleep, waking to find himself surrounded by fog as thick as pea soup. Suddenly, there's a big bang, and he's thrown overboard and knocked unconscious. Turns out he was hit by a much larger boat; luckily (as always seems to be the case in these books), somebody on the big boat noticed and pulled him out of the water. Happily for Stone, the boat owner is the well-heeled doctor-owner of a highly successful health-care facility, who is vacationing with his (you guessed it) beautiful, unmarried daughter - also a doctor. They patch Stone back up, invite him to a lobster dinner and - later - provide him with a new and improved sailboat courtesy of their insurance company.
As they all get to know each other (Stone and the daughter exceptionally well, BTW), Stone learns that a clinic takeover bid is in the early stages, and the good doctor is worried. The takeover, it seems, is led by a particularly nasty guy who made a takeover of his own after his company's former CEO got blown to bits when he tried to open a "protected" briefcase he'd stolen (a reference to a previous book). Stone, of course, is indignant, and immediately agrees to help thwart the takeover by rounding up the half a billion dollars needed to make a counter-offer.
Understandably, that doesn't sit well with the bad guy, who decides to fight back. From there on, the story turns into a race to determine who will remain standing - the bad guy or Stone (the latter of whom gets loads of help from his New York Police Commissioner buddy Dino and a few other well-placed colleagues). Stone, if nothing else the consummate ladies' man, manages to do some of his best work in the bedroom (I'll caution, for those who might give a whoop, that such antics by Stone and his friends seem to take place a little more often, and a little more explicitly, in this book than in others).
Fans of these books can be sure, however, that Stone himself will live to see another one - and we can be pretty confident he'll end up with more money, more properties, more friends in high places and another woman or two in yet other ports as well. And so it goes. Now you'll have to excuse me - I'm off to read something that challenges what few brain cells I have left.
As usual, everything (except perhaps Stone's ever-increasing wealth) is vastly understated as the prominent, world-traveling New York attorney tries to mind his own business. Somebody get murdered? Let's drink to that. Almost blown up by a bomb? How about dinner at Stone's favorite Patroon - or better still, in the formal dining room of one of his mansions? Perhaps this exchange between Stone and his great friend Kate - the current U.S. President - says it best:
"This is wonderful," Kate said. "All our problems solved before dinner!"
"We do what we can," Stone said.
This one begins as Stone is sailing alone in Penobscot Bay off the coast of Maine. He's so relaxed that he falls asleep, waking to find himself surrounded by fog as thick as pea soup. Suddenly, there's a big bang, and he's thrown overboard and knocked unconscious. Turns out he was hit by a much larger boat; luckily (as always seems to be the case in these books), somebody on the big boat noticed and pulled him out of the water. Happily for Stone, the boat owner is the well-heeled doctor-owner of a highly successful health-care facility, who is vacationing with his (you guessed it) beautiful, unmarried daughter - also a doctor. They patch Stone back up, invite him to a lobster dinner and - later - provide him with a new and improved sailboat courtesy of their insurance company.
As they all get to know each other (Stone and the daughter exceptionally well, BTW), Stone learns that a clinic takeover bid is in the early stages, and the good doctor is worried. The takeover, it seems, is led by a particularly nasty guy who made a takeover of his own after his company's former CEO got blown to bits when he tried to open a "protected" briefcase he'd stolen (a reference to a previous book). Stone, of course, is indignant, and immediately agrees to help thwart the takeover by rounding up the half a billion dollars needed to make a counter-offer.
Understandably, that doesn't sit well with the bad guy, who decides to fight back. From there on, the story turns into a race to determine who will remain standing - the bad guy or Stone (the latter of whom gets loads of help from his New York Police Commissioner buddy Dino and a few other well-placed colleagues). Stone, if nothing else the consummate ladies' man, manages to do some of his best work in the bedroom (I'll caution, for those who might give a whoop, that such antics by Stone and his friends seem to take place a little more often, and a little more explicitly, in this book than in others).
Fans of these books can be sure, however, that Stone himself will live to see another one - and we can be pretty confident he'll end up with more money, more properties, more friends in high places and another woman or two in yet other ports as well. And so it goes. Now you'll have to excuse me - I'm off to read something that challenges what few brain cells I have left.
May 22, 2017
An enjoyable Stone book. To start things off, Stone is enjoying an afternoon on his yacht in Maine, but after waking from a nap, he's engulfed in fog and gets run down by a larger yacht. This turns out to be fortuitous, as the owners of this yacht are the Carlssons, a wealthy family of Swedish doctors who own the prestigious Carlsson Clinics. One of the doctors is a beautiful woman named Marisa who Stone sets out seducing right away. Stone invites Marisa and her father to his house for dinner, and it turns out the family is having trouble with the St. Clair Corporation, to whom we were introduced in the previous book. After Christian St. Clair died, .
November 15, 2017
This was a typical Barrington. He is fabulously wealthy and lives the life. This time a man dies and in his will leaves the running of his company and all of its assets to the former CIA agent who had directed its security. This man then tries to take over a medical clinic and Barrington and his connections prevent this. The man decides to get revenge on Barrington. There is lots of action and a great plot. Most readers, I would imagine, either like or detest Barrington and his escapades. I find them to be fast, fun reading.
May 31, 2023
There have been some bad books to this point in this series, but this one has got to be right at the top of that list. The villains in this story were like the personification of Wile E. Coyote as they tried to intimidate and then kill Stone and his compatriots. And then there are the ever-present errors in the book that a proof-reader should have picked up - at one point the text switches Dino's and Ben's names (page 41 of the hardcover edition) and at another, a cook describing dinner states "she would boiled it, shelled it and tossed the meat in butter". Even a generic word processing program would have caught that. Also, does every character that Stone meets have to come from Delano, Georgia?? I realize that the author came from there, but enough! If we believed that all these people came from there, Delano would be a ghost town now. And Holly's meteoric rise over a span of ten or fifteen years from police chief of a small Florida town to Secretary of State??? Please GoodReads - allow us to use negative numbers for ratings (TFIC)!!!
May 15, 2017
Actual rating should be 1.5. Any faithful Woods reader knows of his arrogance and that he could care less about our opinions; but, I must say that having read all the Stone books this one is the bottom of the barrel. Come on Mr. Woods; how about a Stone novel from the days gone by with some meat, and actual plot. The last couple of books have been the same old story with just different characters. This was a read that I’ve already forgotten. And then and of course, there’s the HUGE surprise ending…exit the newest sex toy and entry Holly. Good grief Charlie Brown… could these novels get any more predicable?
November 20, 2019
Nov 2019. on tape. still a favorite!!!!!!
October 2018 book on tape. Ditto my comments from 2017.
June 2017 Number 41 in the stone B series! Those of us that keep reading in the series are happy just to get another story. Nice to see Ed R has a more positive role in the series. Another page turner!
October 2018 book on tape. Ditto my comments from 2017.
June 2017 Number 41 in the stone B series! Those of us that keep reading in the series are happy just to get another story. Nice to see Ed R has a more positive role in the series. Another page turner!
April 26, 2017
Just what you expect from Stuart Woods. Fun, quick and light mystery. This book is a follow up from the previous book after the death of Christian St. Clair. As always Stone met a new female companion.
August 3, 2019
Another Stone Barrington near-miss. Literally and figuratively. Although I do like the addition of Bob to Stone's character. The bomb-sniffing dog could stick around, too, for my interest.
Same old tired sex scenes that make me roll my eyes but don't stimulate anything.
Same old tired sex scenes that make me roll my eyes but don't stimulate anything.
July 22, 2017
Stone Barrington is enjoying an excursion on his yacht, with the helm tied down so as not to go off course, when he falls asleep. When he awakens he cannot see anything as the yacht is in a most heavy fog. He hears voices coming to him in the fog, and realizes that another boat must be nearby. He unties the helm, sounds his foghorn....but not in time to avoid a collision with the other boat.
He awakens to find himself in a soft bed with a beautiful woman rubbing his forehead. In the collision, which sent his yacht to the bottom of the water, he was rescued and brought on board the other - much larger - yacht. In this manner he is introduced to the doctors of the famed Carlsson Clinic, father, daughter (who is rubbing his forehead), and two sons. The Swedish Carlssons want to do everything they can do to make this accident right with Stone.
It turns out that the Carlssons and Stone seem to have a mutual enemy, Erik Macher who has taken over the St. Clair enterprises following the unexpected death of St. Clair in an explosion in his office. Macher is the sort of man who prefers force to finesse, and regards any professional defeat as a personal and intolerable insult.
When Macher shows up at a board meeting of the St. Clair enterprises with a will showing that St. Clair intended for him to take over the companies and become the new CEO, with the ability to fire members of the Board at his whim, the current members have no choice but to accept him. Jake is Macher's right-hand man, a former FBI-trained agent, who will stop at nothing (legal or illegal) that his boss wants done. One of the things that Macher wants done is the takeover of the Carlsson Clinic, and he doesn't care what methods Jake needs to take to accomplish this.
How does Stone help himself, his new lady love, her family and the young man who has come to him for help after spying on the Macher clan? Stone's sly cunning soon collides with his adversary's hair-trigger temper, and the results are explosive!
He awakens to find himself in a soft bed with a beautiful woman rubbing his forehead. In the collision, which sent his yacht to the bottom of the water, he was rescued and brought on board the other - much larger - yacht. In this manner he is introduced to the doctors of the famed Carlsson Clinic, father, daughter (who is rubbing his forehead), and two sons. The Swedish Carlssons want to do everything they can do to make this accident right with Stone.
It turns out that the Carlssons and Stone seem to have a mutual enemy, Erik Macher who has taken over the St. Clair enterprises following the unexpected death of St. Clair in an explosion in his office. Macher is the sort of man who prefers force to finesse, and regards any professional defeat as a personal and intolerable insult.
When Macher shows up at a board meeting of the St. Clair enterprises with a will showing that St. Clair intended for him to take over the companies and become the new CEO, with the ability to fire members of the Board at his whim, the current members have no choice but to accept him. Jake is Macher's right-hand man, a former FBI-trained agent, who will stop at nothing (legal or illegal) that his boss wants done. One of the things that Macher wants done is the takeover of the Carlsson Clinic, and he doesn't care what methods Jake needs to take to accomplish this.
How does Stone help himself, his new lady love, her family and the young man who has come to him for help after spying on the Macher clan? Stone's sly cunning soon collides with his adversary's hair-trigger temper, and the results are explosive!
December 31, 2017
I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The bad guy wasn't particularly believable and, while I understand we suspend belief sometimes for the sake of story, this one pushed the limit for me.
Stone is, once again, the luckiest guy on the planet. He is sailing in the fog and doctors from a prestigious clinic crash into his boat and sink it -- and they give him a new one to replace the old one. Then, he runs afoul of a pretty nasty guy who holds a grudge like nobody's business. The guy is determined to kill Stone and one of his associates, and he JUST -- WON'T -- LET -- IT -- GO!!! He tries to blow Stone up several times -- with no success. It bordered on ridiculous when, at long last, the bad guy gets what's coming to him. Who knew you could shoot through a car trunk, miss the explosive material, hit the detonator (when you cannot see through the trunk), and blow up the car and driver?! It was a little much! Entertaining, but not believable.
With each book, it seems Stone becomes more wealthy and does less legal work. And it seems he is always in bed with a new woman. Enough already with the bed hopping! As always, though, Stone's bond with former partner, Dino, is what saves the day -- and the book.
Stone is, once again, the luckiest guy on the planet. He is sailing in the fog and doctors from a prestigious clinic crash into his boat and sink it -- and they give him a new one to replace the old one. Then, he runs afoul of a pretty nasty guy who holds a grudge like nobody's business. The guy is determined to kill Stone and one of his associates, and he JUST -- WON'T -- LET -- IT -- GO!!! He tries to blow Stone up several times -- with no success. It bordered on ridiculous when, at long last, the bad guy gets what's coming to him. Who knew you could shoot through a car trunk, miss the explosive material, hit the detonator (when you cannot see through the trunk), and blow up the car and driver?! It was a little much! Entertaining, but not believable.
With each book, it seems Stone becomes more wealthy and does less legal work. And it seems he is always in bed with a new woman. Enough already with the bed hopping! As always, though, Stone's bond with former partner, Dino, is what saves the day -- and the book.
April 5, 2024
"Fast and Loose" by Stuart Woods is entertaining. It completes the tale from the previous book, "Below the Belt". The death of Christian St. Clair leaves a vacuum in his business which his main henchman, Erik Macher, attempts to take advantage of by having a crooked lawyer forge a will giving Macher ultimate control of the enterprise. Meanwhile, Stone Barrington sails into a fog bank & gets sunk by a larger vessel. That vessel is owned by a Swedish family of doctors who own renowned clinics. The only daughter, being Swedish, is a sexaholic, nursing Stone back to health in her special way. The intersection of Macher & Barrington starts with Stone helping the family defeat a hostile takeover of their clinics. Macher is ex-CIA & is known to settle grudges with violence. Before his death, Christian St. Clair, hired Charley Fox, also ex-CIA, to work on mergers. He doesn't trust Macher leaves the enterprise with enough business information to pursue the mergers as a partner with Stone & his business associates. This infuriates Macher to the point of trying to annihilate Stone, etc. The tale moves along quickly with escalating violence, twist, turns & ends in a explosive conclusion. 4 stars, enjoy.
June 3, 2017
#41 in the Stone Barrington series. This series continues to be my favorite soap opera and with four entries a year it's almost a Saturday afternoon serial. Rich and powerful NYC lawyer Barrington continues to become more rich and powerful with each book, but we cheer him on since he also advances the causes of law & order in the process.
Stone Barrington series - Stone Barrington survives a number of close calls, starting with a collision between his yacht and another, larger boat in Maine's foggy Penobscot Bay. Fortunately, this accident results in Stone's becoming friends with the other boat's owners, a family of doctors named Carlsson, of the Carlsson Clinic. Stone ends up helping the Carlssons thwart a takeover of their clinic, thereby antagonizing the schemer behind the takeover attempt, Erik Macher. The ruthless, hot-headed Macher and his henchmen try to blow up Stone with plastic explosives they've managed to hide in a Manhattan townhouse, but the timely intervention of a bomb-sniffing dog saves the day. A series of exchanges leads to a showdown between Macher and Stone at a Virginia farmhouse.
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Stone Barrington series - Stone Barrington survives a number of close calls, starting with a collision between his yacht and another, larger boat in Maine's foggy Penobscot Bay. Fortunately, this accident results in Stone's becoming friends with the other boat's owners, a family of doctors named Carlsson, of the Carlsson Clinic. Stone ends up helping the Carlssons thwart a takeover of their clinic, thereby antagonizing the schemer behind the takeover attempt, Erik Macher. The ruthless, hot-headed Macher and his henchmen try to blow up Stone with plastic explosives they've managed to hide in a Manhattan townhouse, but the timely intervention of a bomb-sniffing dog saves the day. A series of exchanges leads to a showdown between Macher and Stone at a Virginia farmhouse.
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