Hothouse Orchid

Holly Barker #6

by Stuart Woods

Taking a sabbatical in the Florida town where she was once police chief, senior CIA officer Holly Barker remembers her unsuccessful charges against her former Army commanding officer who attempted to rape her. She even considers leaving her current position to challenge the man who is now Chief of the Orchid Beach Police Department.

Another riveting episode in the life of Holly Barker by Stuart Woods, the best-selling author of Iron Orchid.

Librarian's note: the characters, settings, descriptions, etc. have been done for the six volume series: 1. Orchid Beach (1998), 2. Orchid Blues (2001), 3. Blood Orchid (2002), 4. Reckless Abandon (2004) (also known as Stone Barrington #10), 5. Iron Orchid (2005), and 6. Hothouse Orchid (2009).

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Thriller

291 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2009

About the author

Stuart 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.

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good series! nice plot twists & turns and a little suspense..good writing (paperback!)

[Scott Rhee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Meh.

That's pretty much my feelings toward Stuart Woods. I gave him a shot, having read three of his books now. One of them, "Chiefs", I can highly recommend. The other two I can't recommend. They suck.

That may be a bit harsh, because Woods can clearly write. The man who wrote as entertaining and suspenseful a book as "Chiefs" surely has it in him to write well. Unfortunately, the two other books I have read by him, including the most recent, "Hothouse Orchid", seem to me to be Woods merely "phoning it in", as they say.

Woods has several series featuring recurring characters. One of them is Stone Barrington, a lawyer. I did not like him much. I found him to be misogynistic and smarmy.

"Hothouse Orchid" features one of his other characters, Holly Barker. She is a former police chief who now works for the CIA. In this one, she is forced to go on extended vacation from the CIA because of her failure in capturing a former CIA agent-turned-renegade. So, she goes back to the Florida town she is from and where she used to be police chief. Amazingly, she manages to arrive at exactly the same time a serial rapist begins his rampage. On her first night, she is attacked and nearly raped, but she is saved by hikers in the nick of time. For the rest of the book, she sets out to... well, cook gourmet meals, fly her Cessna, and have sex with her new boyfriend, the ER doctor she met when she was taken to the hospital. Oh, and find out who's raping and murdering all those women in town, of course.

Yeah, I wasn't too into this. Mainly because Holly doesn't seem to have much of a part. Most of the police work is actually done by the police in this, and Holly is an occasional "consultant". She's too busy having sex. She's really doing this vacation right.

I've pretty much had it with Woods now, I can safely say.

[Jack Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars. The last of the stand-alone Holly Barker series. That's not to say she doesn't later re-appear in the Stone Barrington series. She does. This is a good one, not the best of the six but not bad. I like her - smart, tough and independent. Holly's with the CIA now, working for Lance Cabot, Deputy Director for Operations. Lance values her highly but some at the agency are less than positive. Let me summarize as they see it, "Do you mean to say, Lance, that your prize pupil [Holly] let our #1 fugitive, Teddy Fay, escape when she had him in her sights not once but twice?" That's not in the book, but you get the idea. Lance suggests to Holly that she take a sabbatical, a month or so, until things cool down at Langley. She decides to go back to Orchid Beach with Daisy, her wonder dog. They still have a home there. This entry has more than its fair share of coincidences. First? James Bruno, the Army Colonel who harassed and sexually assaulted Holly years ago, is now Chief of Police in Orchid Beach! Second? Teddy Fay is nearby as is Lauren Cade, Holly's co-accuser of Colonel Bruno. Teddy and Lauren fall for each other. I could go on. But it was still enjoyable. (No2023/Oc2025)

[Katherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

In chapter 7. Don't know why I am reading this. It's like a rough draft of ideas never edited together. So, it's been three years since holly and CIA was after teddy Fay. She has been so "amazing" that she has been promoted to asst. deputy dir of operations - in three years... Wow everyone else at the CIA with seniority must suck - but they are telling her to take a leave of absence because people are questioning her performance - what? Hmmm, oh ya, then they promote her giver her a raise, but put her on leave. Does that make sense? It doesn't to me unless I just go with the author couldn't figure out a reasonable way to have her go back to orchid beach. Moving on.

Holly visits ham when she gets back. In one breath she says she loves her job it's so fun but like a line later it says eating some BBQ on the deck is the most fun she's had in years? What? That must be good fucking steak.

Whatever, so now the real shit. If you though last book was just a jumble of coincidence, get ready! Guess who the new chief of police is gonna be in orchid beach. Holly's old rapist commander. Wow. Small world. Or contrived plot. Whatever. Holly warns other police dude, rapist guy on the loose. But when she gets drugged out after being pulled over and wakes up with no fucking pants on she tells the police to report it to the new got away with rape commander? WHAT? She wake up, realize she been roophied and de-pantsed knowing this guys in town and doesn't immediately go over and shoots his balls off? Are you kidding me???? She just thinks he needs help investigating cause he lazy and like tennis?!!.!?

Uh huh. Did someone mess up the drafts of this? actually. Wait, the best yet - The doctor who stitches her no kidding calls her on the phone the day later to say, your rape kit was negative and are you single? In the same breath!! WHAAaAaTTtTt??!!!.? OMFG

I don't consider that spoilers cause this is all in first 10 minutes of reading, and I hope I do spoil it and save people from wasting their time reading this shite.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stuart Woods writes two series,and although I'd have to go back and read the his initial books, I think he has dispensed with any attempt at literary writing. He has a formula which is apparently very popular: action, wealth, violence, sex and lots of well described rich foods from which no one gets sick or fat. His characters are one dimensional. His women, even the heroine of this series, act like men if they are good (lots of sex, bad language, and violence), and like the crazed women in Greek tragedies if they aren't (lots of sex, bad language, and violence. Hmmm...). Why do I read them? Because they are fascinating in their brevity,and because I, too, enjoy an occasional book with action, sex, violence,wealth and rich foods. Woods doesn't really write;he plots action sequences, alternating the above mentioned formula components, and then puts one after another without any linkage or bothersome emotional arcs, character development, or flowing language. No one changes (except the bad guy and the victims, who change from alive to dead), no one grieves the death of loved ones, no one gets pregnant, no one becomes poor, no one suffers from weight problems or high cholesterol. Its a very plastic world. Something to read when you're too tired to think and need a segue into sleep. Or not.

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stuart Woods is lucky to be a world-famous best-selling author. I have absolutely no idea why I continue to read his books, because they are certainly no challenge and the stories are predictable. He cannot seem to use a compound sentence nor words with more than 2 syllables. His "language" is the exact same for his Stone Barrington novels as the Holly Barker books. Every time I read one of these books, I swear I will not read any more ... but, whoopsie, I seem to forget and read the next one published . . . Not that this book is BAD, just forgettable. And there is more sex going on in this fictional story than any romantic fiction I've recently read. P.S.: the RF authors I read also know how to write with complexity to keep me interested and use such interesting word choices that I don't notice how bland the writing is. And don't get me started on the arrogance of Stuart Woods, as he prints a "don't call me, don't ask me how to get started writing, don't send me your books to read or your ideas" in the back of EVERY SINGLE BOOK. We get it already, dude!

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Horrible book.

In Woods' universe people hop in and out of bed with total strangers, drink seemingly allllll day long and everyone has unlimited financial resources with which they fulfill their every fleeting whim and fancy.

There was so much repetition within the book. Whole paragraphs and scenes of dialogue were repeated as if we were supposed to have forgotten what we just read five pages ago. And oddly, other seemingly important details were glossed over, or merely inferred (reveal of the killer for example).

These so-called law enforcement agents don't seem particularly bright either.
Not only in the execution of their jobs, but their dubious personal lives as well.

And please tell me why everyone walks around naked all the time. Getting drinks naked, cooking naked, sunbathing naked. Naked naked naked.
I'm surprised they didn't drive around naked and fly their planes naked too.

Horrible.

[Min · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read Stuart Woods knowing that it will be light, fluffy reading with a somewhat predictable plot. He will include gratuitous sex scenes in which the women fall at the men's feet (I imagine that he lives vicariously through these scenes), he will include flight scenes so he can show off his piloting knowledge, and he will include flirty quips by men that he most likely thinks his female readers delight at (gag).

All that being said, the plots themselves are JUST compelling enough that while I won't spend my money on them, I will check them out from the library. I've always liked the Holly Barker series (the "Orchid" books) because Holly is a strong female protagonist who was an MP, then a police chief, and is currently working in the CIA.

As much as Woods' plots require suspension of disbelief on a regular basis, this particular book took that to all new heights. The reader had to believe that the man who sexually harassed Holly when she was in the Army just happened to be taking over as the police chief in Orchid Beach. And that Holly just happens to run into the other woman that he sexually harassed (and in this case, raped). And that Teddy Fay (an ex-CIA employee who has since gone rogue and has his own Dexter-like agenda killing those who he deems "unpure") also just happens to be vacationing in the same area at the same time.

Oh, and then there's a murderer/rapist on the loose. Who could it be?

Stuart Woods, you have officially jumped the shark.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

With more than 40 books to his credit, Stuart Woods knows what sells. This is a tough escapade for Holly Barker's sixth outing. On vacation from the CIA, she returns to her Florida home for some R & R only to find herself swept up into an investigation dealing with a serial rapist/murderer. Adding to her woes is the new Police Chief is the Colonel she and another Army officer filed rape charges against when hey were all still in the Army. Now he's taken her old job in Orchid Beach.

The story gets complicated with the appearance of an "avenging angel", an ER doctor, Holly's father and his saintly wife and a chorus of cops. Plus everyone is finding true love and having sex all over the place.

Oddly enough, Woods is not very good with dialogue. It comes out stilted and not very convincing. His conclusion gets rushed, too. As too often happens, it seems as though he is taking his time with the first part of the book and runs out of time on his deadline, so just pulls it all together at the last minute.

His descriptions of food, and flying are more realistic.

To avoid irritation, stop reading at page 291. The following couple of pages come across as just so much ego. It is the same in every book.

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun book to read. I must sound sadistic saying I enjoyed a book where there is rape and murder. What I enjoyed was the fun writing and story telling of Stuart Woods. Why is his writing so different with Holly than with Stone? Too bad. This is a good book to read and has a fun ending.

[ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last Holly Barker but that’s only because she now will be a side character in all the Barrington books.

This one had the elusive Teddy in it as well. Since I read these a bit out of order, I knew he went to Santa Fe with Lauren.

Holly and Lauren finally get closure on Bruno.

This one was ok. It was a pretty predictable plot and I knew who the bad guy was almost from the very beginning. We got a twofer in this installment.

I wonder how long Holly can stay with her Dr. BF 🧐

Off to read the next one….

[Ratkin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am now, officially, a disgruntled reader. Nobody has ever accused Stuart Woods of being a great writer, but he's usually at least workman-like. His biggest problem as a writer is his tendency to get extremely formulaic. Despite that, I've read the Holly Barker series from the beginning. I finally abandoned the series when his publisher decided that we'd surely want to buy a larger format paperback book, and pay an extra two bucks per for the honor. In my case I simply decided that a book that was worth reading for eight dollars wasn't worth reading for ten.

Recently I found both the fifth book in the series (Iron Orchid) and the sixth book (Hothouse Orchid) in the bargain bin at a used bookstore and figured that I'd catch up. Iron Orchid was alright, but I feel distincly cheated with Hothouse Orchid.

Here's the problem: Once upon a time, Woods had three separate and distinct series featuring lead characters Stone Barrington, Holly Barker and Will Lee. Over time he started cross-pollinating a bit, having, for example, Stone Barrington make an appearance in a Holly Barker book. Iron Orchid features appearances by Barrington and Will Lee. No problem. I start Hothouse Orchid and discover that I have, somehow, missed a HUGE chunk of plot in the series. I checked around, assuming that I somehow missed a book in the series somehow. Nope. It seems that Wood whipped up a book with Barrington and Barker that was outside of the Holly Barker series, and in it made big changes in the Barker series story arc.

No, thanks. I'm done. I have no intention of reading every book Woods turns out in order to keep up with one series. The easier solution is to stop reading his books altogether. They weren't that hot, anyway!

[Kym Gamble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Holly Barker book. This time Holly is on a mandatory vacation from the CIA so she goes back home in Florida and is confronted by someone raping and murdering women. She doesn't connect Teddy to the rapes but she does think that he is in the area and she thinks she knows what disguise he is using. Teddy knows that Holly is in town and wants to take another look at him but she cannot. This one was a bit predictable. It was good none the less.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read. It was a continuation of the last Holly Barker novel I read. Reading the two in close proximity provided some continuity. But this one probably could have stood on its own. I was interesting to finally see who was committing all the murders and how things got resolved. I didn't see it coming. Maybe you will if you read it.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoying Holly Barker books better than the Barrington ones, I got through this one quickly. But not quickly enough to miss all the errors that Wood's books are famous for. You would think that with all the $$$ he and the publisher makes that he could hire a good proof reader!

[Michelle Bacon · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book seems to have been written in a hurry. Everything seemed rushed and nothing was really plotted out.
All the actions just happened coincidentally and nothing was much of a surprise. I know I've read better books by Woods, but this was lackluster at best.

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a captivating book. I was surprised by the unexpected ending.

[Kristen Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved the ways he wrapped up some of the plot and reoccurring characters, but I do wish he added more closure overall. I really enjoyed this series!

[Dlora · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just read all six of the Holly Barker series by Stuart Woods. I owned three, Melissa lent me one, and I got two from the library (I hate to start on a series out of order!). I discover now that there are a couple more books in which Holly Barker co-stars or makes a cameo appearance that would have fleshed out a few things that confused me--and made me judge Woods harshly about continuity problems. Having read a Lee Childs book just before this series and found some similarities in the type of stories they tell, I immediately compared the two writers, Woods came off a poor second. I thought that Woods's descriptions of guns. police procedure, violent action, and tracking down criminals left much to be desired. He doesn't have the details that Childs does. He also does a pretty poor job of setting up red herrings. I also just tolerate Holly Barker being so quick to jump into bed with her varied love interests (in Reckless Abandon she was almost a different character--very driven, highly sexed, and almost out of control). Too much sex, not enough details, poor plotting, continuity problems (though maybe fewer glaring ones than I thought)--but I was kind of intriuged with a variety of characters: Stone Barrington when he shows up is a suave, James Bond kind of guy, Holly's father, Ham, is a crack shot and is kind of like a Jack Reacher, Teddy Fay is a rogue CIA agent that Holly is trying to catch (when she changes jobs from being a police cheif to a CIA operative) who is reminiscent of "Catch Me If You Can" with his chameleon abilities and I ended up rooting for him to escape and he does, So I kind of enjoyed reading the series but I'm not reading them again and they are not taking up space on my shelves. Hey Melissa, do you want my three?

[Jerry B · Rating 4 out of 5]

We used to faithfully read every new Stuart Woods' novel, and probably have 36 (!) or so on our already "Read" shelf! But we tired of his playboy Stone Barrington character, and eventually decided to start skipping the author's more recent work. However, we made an exception for "Hothouse", as the "Orchid" series, starring Holly Barker, were fun alternatives to Barrington and company.

Regrettably, while the plot per se is quite good, Woods has turned Holly into virtually the same character as Barrington: an independently wealthy playgirl who is as likely to hop into a first date's bed as she is to solve a crime or even do anything else pertinent to the mystery at hand. This novel is really more about some of the characters she left behind when she left little Orchid Beach (Florida) as Police Chief for greener pastures up north, eventually joining the CIA. Her CIA boss puts in a few token appearances, and the role of villain Teddy Fay is reprised from at least one previous entry in the series, to add suspense to the tale at hand. Indeed, whether Teddy will be identified and captured is almost as interesting as solving the horrible female murders that keep occurring left and right. The ultimate "solution" got short shrift in our view, and the resolution of the Fay caper is hardly satisfying.


So it seems we are to have the same feeling about the Barker series as we do about Woods' other stuff -- and guess we'll renew our earlier decision to just find more consistently entertaining mysteries elsewhere. So -- not horrible, but disappointing...

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one surprised me a bit, Better than the last four I read by Woods.

Holly Barker has come home for a month long investigation, getting into trouble almost immediately. A rapist has been attacking women, either a cop or pretending, drugging them with a quick shot of rohypnol, and leaving them to be found. Holly is lucky when he pulls her, someone coming along and forcing him to leave before he can do more than strip her.

Holly is further dismayed to learn the new police chief, Bruno, in Orchid Beach is an old enemy from her military police days, a Colonel that tried to rape her and did so with another female officer. A court-martial acquitted him, which caused her to leave the service and go into police work.

In a too convenient coincidence, the other woman in the court-martial is a member of the State police and gets involved in the case. Bruno is an immediate suspect. Holly gets involved with a local doctor that seems interested in the case. He's another suspect in my mind.

Another of Woods' characters is here: rogue ex-CIA man Teddy Fay. He gets involved when the real estate agent who'd leased him the house, a nice lady with whom he'd begun an relationship, becomes a victim of the rapist, this one the first to die at his hands.

But not the last.

This was better, but I'm standing by my decision to leave Woods behind. Too many better books out there to read.

[Rachel N. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is just a complete mess. The only reason I finished it is because it was the only audiobook I had to listen to. The plot is nominally about Holly Barker being forced to take a vacation from the CIA because she is attracting a lot of controversy, right after being given a promotion (yeah that makes sense), and returning to Orchid Beach where a series of rape/murders is occurring. There is no depth given to these attacks or the people suspected of committing the crimes. Holly is attacked, but saved from being raped, and the next day goes out with the doctor who treated her, who in less than a week moves in with her. The plot is really more about people eating rich food, flying airplanes and sleeping with people at the drop of a hat. The timeline makes no sense. The book majorly needs an editor, phrases and events are repeated within paragraphs of each other, for instance one character is driving without headlights we're told then two paragraphs later he turns off his headlights. The writing was so bad I had to look at the paper copy of the book in the library to make sure I didn't end up with some badly abridged audiobook but no I did have an unabridged version and the book really is written that badly. I don't recall having read Stuart Woods before. I assume at one point in time he could write, or else he wouldn't have so many books out there, but this book should never have been published.

[Amber Booth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed the Holly Barker series, much more than the Stone Barrington one. This book, however, was just TOO unbelievable. All of Woods’ books are somewhat unbelievable, which is fine, to a certain extent. But come on.
Holly happens to go back to Orchid Beach at the EXACT SAME TIME that a serial rapist/killer is on the loose? And she is almost raped by him her first night back in town? AND, not only does her old boss, who doesn’t have a connection to Florida, end up with her old job, but her old co-worker (who was also sexually assaulted by same old boss) is there too?!? AND the guy she’s been chasing for years somehow ends up in the same place?
Speaking of, Teddy is the most likable character in the book. I’d read more books about him, although he’s also unbelievable. The CIA stuff is fun, but the fact that he’s close to 70 and still bagging chicks like a 30 year old PLUS how he continues to be in such supreme physical and mental shape is a little ludicrous. 70 isn’t old, but it isn’t young.
In addition, the bad guy in this book was too easy to figure out. I suspected him early on. And, for CIA agents, state police, etc. these people really aren’t very good at their jobs. The setup toward the end was terrible and of course, went sideways. Anyone with half a brain could’ve seen it coming, but not hotshot CIA agent Holly.
I’m disgusted with Stuart Woods. However, the books are super quick and easy to read. They don’t tax the brain, so that’s a positive.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

As most of you who read my reviews know, I love Stuart Woods. Don't ask me to explain it because it wouldn't make any sense, I just do.

Holly Barker is one of Woods better characters and this little story does not disappoint. Twists and turns galore and a snappy little plot which has an interesting way of adding depth to some known characters while cleverly introducing some new ones.

I read this entire book on the four legs of my just finished trip to Dallas, Texas. All that is to say that this is a perfect rainy day, sit by the fireplace, or airplane trip of your own book which will allow you to escape for a while to Florida and have a little fun in the process.

My only disappointment with this book is that, for absolutely no valid reason whatsoever, Woods decides to start dropping the "F" bomb very frequently toward the end of the book. I'm not a prude but, if you read the book, I think you'll agree it was totally unnecessary. Perhaps he was having a bad week when he wrote those two or three chapters, who knows? I just hope that this isn't the beginning of a pattern for his writing.

All in all, don't get too excited about my giving the book a 4 star rating. I just love Woods books and his characters. This book is one of his better efforts though.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been a fan of the Holly Barker character but this time Stuart Woods needs be shot for the execution of this story. Pure laziness & not giving a damn is how I'd sum it up. First, the many (MANY) coincidences he had to shoe horn in just to have a story...Holly has one month off from the CIA & goes to Orchid Beach. In the first few days she finds that her attempted rapist from the army now has her old Chief of Police job. Apparently, nobody vets him or at least Googles him until after he's hired. She runs into a former army colleague who actually was raped by this guy & is now working as a state trooper in the same jurisdiction AND the elusive Teddy Fay happens to come to live in the area too! Woods throws couples together that want to cohabitate & switch/give up careers within days of knowing each other. The so called "plan" to set up the capture of the serial rapist/murderer is stupid and how it falls apart is even worse, again due to Woods' laziness to come up with a convincing plot that makes sense. Time to hang it up if he's going to continue to put out stuff like this.

[Kate MacKinnon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to say. First, I'll preface by saying that I fully understand fiction is fiction. I love fiction. Its almost all i read. However, the enormous leaps of logic (if I can use the word logic at all) these characters took was ridiculous. Also, the utter lack of professionalism of Holly, Lauren, Jimmy, Hurd - all of them - was astounding! To discuss the suspects with anyone as if it was common knowledge. Lastly, the ease with which they flip flopped on the suspects and the lack of any evidence on which to implement career ruining stings based on nothing more than a 'gut feeling'. I may have minor whiplash from how much I shook my head reading this. You may wonder, based on my review to date, why I even gave it to 2 stars. Well, i read the entire book, I never swore out loud or told my husband how awful it was etc which to me is a 1 star book.

[Kathy jenkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why I prefer to read story lines from the first book, not the middle. This was in the bargain bin at the store and I see why. The main character a female just happens to have enough money in the bank to buy a plane and falls into bed with the ER doctor who attended to her after her rape attempt and can manage to sunbathe topless to "even out her tan" yet she doesn't recognize the nemesis when she dines at his dinner table? plausibility zero but I gave it a star for keeping my attention long enough to finish it. Too much sex, violence and good guys who aren't good guys for me. The author is prolific and puts this really snarly author's note at the end to dissuade his readers from communicating with him. No danger getting a note from me.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

I needed a break from some of the heavier reading I've been doing lately so I turned to one of my comfort zone authors. When in need of a quick read with a good story Stuart Woods has never let me down. He came close this time. This was a decent story, a continuation of past books of this series, but this one left me flat. The story had zero suspense, no action, and was predictable. Not that I knew who the villain was, but I was certain it was not the man Holly and the gang were targeting. This appears to be the last of the Holly Barker Series, as it is now 6 years old and no other book featuring these characters has been published. This for me has been the weakest series Woods has created. The story line just never lived up to what I've come to expect from Stuart Woods.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holly Barker is on an imposed vacation so she heads to her home in Florida for some R and R. Upon her arrival she meets and falls for a doctor and discovers that her army colonel with whom she has serious issues from her past. A series of rapes/murders is rapant in the Orchid Beach area and Holly throws herself into the case to catch the culprit.

Meanwhile someone else Holly seeks is in the area posing as someone else right under Holly's nose and manages to get away with murder.

Hothouse Orchid is fast paced and suspenseful. Holly is a strong female character who can kick butt with the best of them. I recommend Hothouse Orchid as a must read can't-put-it -down novel.

[Chris Zook · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a 3.5 star book for me. Some of the stuff in the book was a little far fetch for me like only focusing on James Bruno as the rapist just because he has done it before. I guess if they would have focus on other cops they would have figured out Jimmy sooner but then what kind of book would that be. The ending was wrapped up in like 3 pages and who lets a cop who shot someone just up and leave and say Oh we don't really need her to wrap up the case. Really, I don't think that plays out in real life.