Lucid Intervals

Stone Barrington #18

by Stuart Woods

A page-turning Stone Barrington novel from the perennially entertaining, New York Times bestselling author, Stuart Woods.

It seems like just another quiet night at Elaine's. Stone Barrington and his former partner at NYPD, Dino, are enjoying some pasta when former client and all-around sad sack, Herbie Fisher, walks in - with a briefcase containing $14 million in cash.

Herbie claims to have won the money on a lucky lotto ticket, but he also says he needs a lawyer. Seconds later, a single gunshot breaks the window above his head and sends diners scrambling, Stone and Dino suspect Herbie might also need a bodyguard and a private investigator. Throw-in a beautiful woman from the UK's MI6 spy agency, a mega-rich owner of a private security company, and Stone's efforts to learn how to fly a jet, and you've got the exciting Lucid Intervals.

Librarian's note: the characters, settings, etc. for the first 30 books in the series are complete: #1, New York Dead, 1991; #2, Dirt, 1996; #3, Dead in the Water, 1997; #4, Swimming to Catalina, 1998; #5, Worst Fears Realized, 1999; #6, L.A. Dead, 2000; #7, Cold Paradise, 2001; #8, The Short Forever, 2002; #9, Dirty Work, 2003; #10, Reckless Abandon, 2004; #11, Two Dollar Bill, 2004; #12. Dark Harbor, 2006; #13, Fresh Disasters, 2007; #14, Shoot Him if He Runs, 2007; #15, Hot Mahogany, 2008; #16, Loitering with Intent, 2009; #17, Kisser, 2009; #18, Lucid Intervals, 2010; #19, Strategic Moves, 2010; #20, Bel-Air Dead, 2011; #21, Son of Stone, 2011; #22, D.C. Dead, 2011; #23, Unnatural Acts, 2012; #24, Severe Clear, 2012; #25, Collateral Damage, 2012; #26, Unintended Consequences, 2013; #27, Doing Hard Time, 2013; #28, Standup Guy, 2014; #29, Carnal Curiosity, 2014, and #30, Cut & Thrust, 2014.

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

291 pages, Hardcover

First published April 20, 2010

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

[Jack Heath · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars. The definition of both action and uncertainty, that's this Barrington adventure. I wasn't expecting to like it so much. It starts simply. Stone Barrington, the New York lawyer who handles distasteful cases for Woodman and Weld, and Dino Bacchetti, his former police detective partner, are dining at Elaine's late. That walking mistake, Herbie Fisher, enters with a young woman on his arm and a bag of cash. You'll remember him from #9, 'Dirty Work.' He fell through a skylight killing the husband of Barrington's client! This time he's won the lottery but his gambling debtors are still out to kill him. Plus, he wants to marry the young woman, a hooker as Stone points out. Herbie offers $1 million for Stone to become his lawyer. Reluctantly, Stone takes it. Don't worry, he soon earns every penny. The other star from 'Dirty Work,' the lovely Felicity Devonshire, is also in need of Stone's help. She's now the head of the UK spy agency, MI6. Her superiors in London want her to locate, and eliminate, a certain Stanley Whitestone. But who is he? It's all so vague. Assassins are in the hunt too. A great and fast read. As an aside, I enjoyed Stone's efforts to learn to fly a jet. (Jun2023/Mar2025)

[Mary Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought this was the worst book ever.I considered not giving any stars. I think Mr. Woods needs to
get back to telling a good story and quit fantazing about a sex life!!
Pure drivel!!
I'm usually considerate of an author's work, but this just struck me as "what was his editor thinking?"

[Pierre Tassé (Enjoying Books) · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read a lot of his books so far (Barrington series) -this one has got to be the worst of the lot. It only received one star because of what I consider a not terrible "short story" (conclusion-wrap up) near the end of the book. By that I mean that there was meaning and substance to the words and story as a whole...the 95% of the rest of the book is "fluff"....Do you need to read anything before this book...not really.

[Min · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reminded me why I'm destashing all of my Stuart Woods books. His plots are find to read, but I swear he's in a constant race with himself to see how fast he can get a sex scene in a book (page 11 in this book - and it was two of them, which should ALSO tell you how not-so-great his sex scenes are).

Since the characters aren't actually ever comparing the size of their penises, they instead engage in similar contests by way of piloting airplanes. "I fly XYZ airplane." "Oh really? Well I fly ABC jet. REAL men fly jets. If you worked for my firm, you'd be able to fly JETS, you know." Basically since the author has much knowledge of flying, all of his characters are pilots (or soon take flying lessons) and what would be a fast-paced novel gets weighted down by three-pages scenes of detailed pre-flight checklists and preparing to take off.

However, when that isn't happening, our intrepid protagonist Stone Barrington, J.D., has been hired to track down a guy who disappeared a few years ago. Said Bad Guy may or may not have been seen in New York (where Stone resides) two weeks ago. The catch is that the guy used to work for British intelligence and has the knowledge and used to have access to fun toys to make himself untraceable and virtually unfindable. Stone uses his considerable resources and connections to try to track the Bad Guy so he can save Great Britain. Apparently, if the Bad Guy is actually still alive and releases some sensitive information, the free world as we know it will cease to exist. Now, why an attorney is chosen for this task, God only knows. But there you have it.

In the meantime, Stone's crazy ex-wife (responsible for the bullet wound in his knee - and, personally, after reading about him for 20-something books, I'm not sure that I blame her. Seriously, WHY I am still reading these???) is out of the prison or the loony bin (okay, I admit, I wasn't reading this book all that carefully) and is stalking him again.

I'm not sure what else was going on in this book. Really, the most memorable (and not in a good way) things were two of the sex scenes. One in which the author actually said they took a nap after 30 minutes of "inventive lovemaking." Really? You can't DESCRIBE the sex??? The other was when he said the woman "climbed him like a tree." Cause that's what I'VE always dreamed of doing. /sarcasm

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

June 2025. This woods story seems to be in the middle of his transitioned from original plot lines and original characters. This story is good but in more of episodic television.

November
2023.
Still a favotie

July 2022 Should be 6 stars!!!!

Sept 2021` yes a fav...
August 2019. Still a favorite... I have been dieting in earnest and all the restaurant food, all the wine, all the booze. That's why we call this FICTION!!!!!

March 2017 Turns out, this has become one of my favorite Stuart Woods stories. I just upped the stars to FIVE.
5-13-2015 as a book.... still amazes me as to the liquor consumption and the nightly dinners in restaurants. I liked seeing that I read this 5 years ago on a plane from Moline Ill.
Feb 2014 book on tape. I forgot I read it until I saw my notes from 2010.
funny the twists and turns of the herbie fisher character. He's just starting to become a mensch in this story.
August 2010 Stone and Dino, are enjoying some pasta when in walks former client and all around sad sack Herbie Fisher...with a briefcase containing $14 million in cash. enjoyable. great on plane home from moline.

[Sadie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll be the first to admit that the recent Stone Barrington novels have fallen short of the earlier work of their author...but darn if this one doesn't miss the mark almost entirely.

Stone is himself: He eats a lot of expensive food, drinks a lot of expensive liquor, gets harped on by his secretary about his expensive habits, flies an expensive plane, yada yada yada ad nauseum. The women get younger/more brazen/more powerful even as Stone gets older and less interesting, and yet nobody ever turns him down.

All that is well and good (as nobody is reading this series expecting a mental challenge), but might Mr. Woods someday even *attempt* to fill in the gigantic holes in his plots? Just off the top of my head I'd like to know why two dossiers had the same photo on them, why they were ruined but the one produced by Hackett was not, why Hackett was so elusive about whether or not he was Whitestone, why he would have set up the fake grave if he didn't know that Mike was Whitestone, and who killed him and why? Ugh. Way too many questions left unanswered amidst pages and pages (and pages) of unnecessary aviation information.

[Jay Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Delta. You gave me enough time this past Friday afternoon and evening waiting in ATL or on the tarmac for my canceled-re-booked-weather-delayed flight to read this latest addition to the Stuart Woods oeuvre. You also gave me enough time to play several games of free cell and boggle on my iphone, but that just sounds like sour grapes.

Using "oeuvre" to refer to a Stone Barrington novel is as presumptuous as Stone's continuing to order a Knob Creek instead of whiskey at Elaine's. But hey, its fun; I'm reading and lightening hasn't struck the plane. I guess that sums up my loyalty to Woods (this is the 40th book of his I own!) ... "it could be worse." But after, the appropriate titled Lucid Intervals, perhaps I should demand something more than my own momentum as the reason to pick up the next installment from Stuart Woods.

Nah!

[Kym Gamble · Rating 4 out of 5]

An earlier Stone Barrington book, this one brings back Felicity and a new character. The one thing I just cannot get over in these books is that when a phone call ends, they just hang up. No, take care or bye or anything. Just click... The narrator did Dino's voice more like I am used to (in earlier books it is too low). Stone has to stay away from Dulce who has taken to try to carve Stone up and he is teaming up with her father to get her committed back to the father's house. She is a danger to stone. But that's not the only place where Stone is at risk. I won't spoil the book for you but it is a typical Stone Barrington book with mystery, flights both in thoughts and in physical removing from the situation so as to not be at risk. Pretty good low 4 book.

[Gwen Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Stuart Woods book I have read. I won't say it had gripping and nail biting moments, but it was good. It was good enough that I will read another of his novels. The story did not have a lot of high and lows but did flow well enough that I didn't skim a bunch of pages - particularly in the middle of the book. The writing is simple so you can read with ease and finish quickly. Since most authors get better with age, like a fine wine, I don't think I will go back to the beginning, like I did with Robert Dugoni.

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stone Barrington, ex-NYPD turned attorney, is saddled with a repeat client no one else wants to represent when his secretary accepts a retainer from Herbie Fisher after he claims to have won millions in the lottery. Herbie is questioned in related to another death, this time his fiancee.

Stone is also reunited with an old flame, Dame Felicity, a British agent, to help her with a case. She is his only sexual partner during this book, which is refreshing. Dino Bachetti, his old NYPD partner, usually joins in his investigations. Dino doesn't have to come to his rescue in this one. Stone is introduced to Strategic Services, a private protection operation, and befriends the owners.

Before he begins to take them on as clients, he is required to take a flying class so he is certified to fly one of their company jets. This book contains the same light reading one expects from Stuart Woods.

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Partly through this novel, one begins to wonder if Stone Barrington has been played out. He has. Even the good ending does not save the rest of this novel from being too long and predictable. The only surprise is Herbie contributes something positive for a change. 4 of 10 stars

[William Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read and generally loved all the previous Stone Barrington books by Stuart Woods, but this one is mis-titled. It should be Occasionally Lucid Intervals. They are always leisurely reads, but as I read this one, I kept asking myself "There's got to be a plot in here somewhere." Between the dinners at Elaine's, learning how to fly a jet, the obligatory sex scenes (even these are very half-hearted and lacking in any detail) and all-too-familiar. warmed-over, visits by Dolce and Herbie, I was really beginning to wonder. In the end, this one is a pale copy of its predecessors and smacks of a publisher's deadline and writer's block. Usually a writer will bouce back from a klunker liek this with a good one, so my advice is wait for the next one.

[Skip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stone Barrington #18. One of the better ones recently. Herbie Fisher wins the lottery and retains Stone with a large retainer, helping Stone to pay mounting bills -- of course, Herbie manages to get into massive trouble. Meanwhile, in the main story line, Dame Felicity Devonshire (head of MI6) hires Stone to help her find a supposedly rogue agent, but together they manage to uncover the real rogues and their agenda.

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great audiobook story. Stone Barrington is voiced to sound like Humphrey Bogart while Dino Bacchetti sounds like Danny De Vito. A good story that includes our friends across the pond in Great Britain. A highly entangled plot includes Herbie Fisher- who won the lottery- and Dame Felicity Devonshire as well as Security magnate Jim Hackett. As usual someone takes a bullet before it's all over. The intrigue builds to a crescendo that finishes at No. 10 Downing Street.

[Montessahall Montessahall · Rating 1 out of 5]

The horror! Just when I hope I have read the worst from this author, I discover another dreadful book written by him. Once again, excess of everything from previous books: planes, food, alcohol and sex. Way too much aviation filler! The airplane chatter and the huge cast of walk through characters add nothing to a repetitive, formula storyline. Huge waste of time and a bore.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

My father was reading this when I was visiting recently, and I picked it up and was intrigued by the first couple of chapters. It's not exactly great with the female characters, there was a moment when I thought I had accidentally slipped a couple of chapters, and I don't see how the major reveal really makes sense. But I enjoyed it?

[Derk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another routine book by Woods. The plot doesn't hold together, the characters are superficial, and the reading is quick. I don't know why I keep reading him. My memory is that his earlier books were better, so maybe I keep reading him by habit.

[ML · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a mess. Plot holes 🕳️ and weird endings.

Herbie has struck it rich and has Stone on retainer as his lawyer. Chaos ensues. Also, Felicity is back and as secretive as ever. She hired Stone to find someone. More chaos and unexplained consequences ensues. Ugh

[Dugger · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the last stone Barrington novel. Getting annoyed with his plots. Same thing in the last three books.

[Penny · Rating 1 out of 5]

He gets worse and worse.

[Joanne Farley · Rating 2 out of 5]

The two starts should tell you what I thought of this novel. It was awful. I am in no way a prude but this book crosses a line even I found.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I almost gave this two stars because some of it didn't make sense and even though I guess Herbie is supposed to be funny, I found his stupidity extremely annoying, not amusing. But the parts I was confused about mostly came together in the end, Herbie somewhat redeemed himself, Stone's sexcapades were somewhat toned down, and there was no stupid Arrington.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining, but typical Stone Barrington novel that brings back two previous characters, Herbie Fisher and Dame Felicity, both needing his assistance. As usual, Stone takes on both cases, with Felicity's case involving British agents and revenge by people in power. Herbie's case involves needing protection, mostly from Herbie himself! Just another adventure for Stone and Dino!

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up at a free library there was a lot by this author. I thought the title was interesting but truthfully it was a waste of time.

[Barbara Happes]

quick read

[Katrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. The ending was boring.

[JennyD · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never disappointed with this series. Smartly written. Keeps you guessing.

[Mary Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Stone Barrington books are like potato chips--terrible for you, you can't eat just one, and very salty.

Once again, Stone gets into trouble as he tries to figure a way out of trouble for a client. Dino Bacchetti is back as Stone's sidekick. The fabulous British secret agent, Felicity, makes another appearance here. The mysterious Dolce is lurking in the background, always a danger. (How she is organized enough to get three other ladies dressed just like her to take off for three other distant cities on the same day she flees to Italy, requires a significant suspension of disbelief.)

In the amazing world of Stone Barrington, a million-dollar fee is too good for his secretary and gal Friday, Joan, to pass up. (Stone attempted to turn down the assignment from the ne-er-do-well village idiot, Herbie, one evening, but Herbie dropped off the retainer-in cash!- the next day and Joan deposited it.) The loan of a new acquaintance's jet is a perq that Stone can't resist. And the women, well, they just make themselves into a nuisance. Stone can hardly keep track of who's staying in the guest room at the lovely Turtle Bay house.

Some of the questions don't get answered, at least not that I found (what was the source of the mysterious counterfeit fifty?). But Woods has been doing this too long to mind a few loose ends.

Stone drinks like a fish, has a constant parade of sex partners, and eats an awful lot of red meat, yet his youthful good looks never fade. He has few troubles that an hour's nap and a good steak at Elaine's can't fix.

The book is a good, quick, mindless read when you need some red-blooded diversion.

[O'Dell Isaac · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up Lucid Intervals, Stuart Woods' eighteenth entry in the Stone Barrington series, because I remembered enjoying the Barrington books, years ago.

I also enjoyed cotton candy, once upon a time, but I no longer do.

The analogy, in my opinion, is apt: the Stone Barrington novels are the cotton candy of the private-eye genre. They are attractive to the eye and appear to be more substantial than they actually are. Colorful, sweet, sticky, and ultimately not very good for you.

As is the case with most of the Barrington novels, Lucid Intervals is not overly burdened with a twisted plot. This one involves a couple of characters from prior novels: Felicity Devonshire, the beautiful British intelligence agent with whom Stone has shared prior cases (and, occasionally, a bed); and Herbie Fisher, Barrington's bad-luck charm. Felicity wants to hire Stone to flush out a rogue intelligence operative. Herbie has won millions of dollars in the lottery and is convinced someone wants to kill him. He also wants to marry a prostitute, and wants to hire Stone to make sure the rest of his life goes smoothly.

I won't go as far as to say this is a bad book. It's not. Stuart Woods is a skilled writer, able to keep even the weakest of plots rolling along. But I get the feeling that Woods is writing the same book, over and over. So I won't be reading any more of the Barrington novels, and I cannot, in good conscience, recommend the series to any of my fellow lovers of detective fiction.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like so many of the books in this series (this is the 18th), we begin in Elaine’s with Stone Barrington and Dino Bacchetti having dinner when Herbie Fisher, the bumbling character from earlier stories, has won the lottery and interrupts to give Stone a $1 million retainer (which Stone does not want to accept but which is needed to keep his lifestyle and business afloat). Next enters Felicity Devonshire, known as Carpenter in earlier stories, who hires Stone to find an elusive ex-British agent who has caused much grief for MI-6. Stone, through his association with a prestigious law firm is introduced to the head of Strategic Services, an international security firm amongst other businesses. The head of Strategic Services wants Stone to work with them, and one incentive is teaching Stone how to fly a jet, which he uses to head to Maine for a tryst with Dame Felicity. But the action picks up as the search for the elusive agent is complicated by an assassination as well as the those who want Stone out of the picture. I once again listened to the audiobook as Stuart Woods continues to deliver exactly what readers expect from him: an entertaining read which keeps you coming back. And I cannot forget to note that Tony Roberts, who has narrated all of this series (save the first) does an excellent job.