by Stuart Woods
Novels by this author have been covered in this blog previously, and have earned mixed reactions from the reviewers. By and large I find his mysteries light but generally entertaining.
In her review of the author’s “Dirt”, Nanc claims that it is his worst. I haven’t tried to read that one yet (and probably won’t, given her criticism), but I would rate the one here, published in 2008, as being very close to it for last place in the Woods quality awards competition. It’s a bummer in my estimation.
His series’ protagonist, Stone Barrington, is again featured. In the past I’ve tended to think of Barrington’s personality by visualizing him as a very competent, quick-thinking man-for-all-seasons, but in this novel he presents as the kind of narcissistic, ethically compromised, philandering, snobbish, name-dropping creep worthy of the shrinky designation of character disorder.
I guess it’s ok for an author to paint his hero in that way, even if I have to revise my initial opinions. However, my major issue is that the novel’s plot is unappealingly contrived with an unlikely mix of characters and situations which are never resolved in any satisfactory fashion.
Maybe one of my problems with the book is that it is focused upon early American furniture, something that simply does not fascinate me; I just don’t care that a secretary is worth millions because of the workmanship and the fact that it is made from a rare piece of South American mahogany. As a matter of fact, I can’t remember that the book even involves a good grisly murder or two. Instead the reader is expected to be intrigued by the mysterious disappearance of the damned desk and the interactions of the unsavory characters, most of whom are filthy rich sociopaths, who have a stake (Ohhh, a wooden furniture pun there) in the thing.
So I don’t recommend this one. The only appealing thing about it is the title; a neighbor stopped by while I was reading it on the patio, and, upon seeing the rather garish cover, said, “Oh, that looks interesting!” I think she thought it might be a bodice-ripping interracial sex story.
Reviewed by Ken West
In her review of the author’s “Dirt”, Nanc claims that it is his worst. I haven’t tried to read that one yet (and probably won’t, given her criticism), but I would rate the one here, published in 2008, as being very close to it for last place in the Woods quality awards competition. It’s a bummer in my estimation.
His series’ protagonist, Stone Barrington, is again featured. In the past I’ve tended to think of Barrington’s personality by visualizing him as a very competent, quick-thinking man-for-all-seasons, but in this novel he presents as the kind of narcissistic, ethically compromised, philandering, snobbish, name-dropping creep worthy of the shrinky designation of character disorder.
I guess it’s ok for an author to paint his hero in that way, even if I have to revise my initial opinions. However, my major issue is that the novel’s plot is unappealingly contrived with an unlikely mix of characters and situations which are never resolved in any satisfactory fashion.
Maybe one of my problems with the book is that it is focused upon early American furniture, something that simply does not fascinate me; I just don’t care that a secretary is worth millions because of the workmanship and the fact that it is made from a rare piece of South American mahogany. As a matter of fact, I can’t remember that the book even involves a good grisly murder or two. Instead the reader is expected to be intrigued by the mysterious disappearance of the damned desk and the interactions of the unsavory characters, most of whom are filthy rich sociopaths, who have a stake (Ohhh, a wooden furniture pun there) in the thing.
So I don’t recommend this one. The only appealing thing about it is the title; a neighbor stopped by while I was reading it on the patio, and, upon seeing the rather garish cover, said, “Oh, that looks interesting!” I think she thought it might be a bodice-ripping interracial sex story.
Reviewed by Ken West
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