"Hot Mahogany"

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

"Beverly Hills Dead"

by Stuart Woods

I must be having a mystery novel nostalgia attack. I reviewed a Parker sequel to a 1930’s Raymond Chandler story just a bit ago, and darned if I haven’t just finished another period piece by happen-stance. This one is by Stuart Woods; others by him have been reviewed by Nanc.

The locale for this one is Hollywood in the late 40’s with a movie studio as the setting. Two story elements were especially intriguing to me.

One was the shame of the blacklisting phenomenon in which political forces resulted in the ruination of careers of creative artists because of their early ties to communistic thought. I remember those days well, and, even in my immature days I lost all fondness for such figures as John Wayne, Robert Taylor, and Cecil DeMille (to say nothing of my distaste for Teller in his condemnation of Robert Oppenheimer).

Also at that time my interest in aviation peaked, and the author’s description of two of my very favorite aircraft, the Douglas DC3 and the Beech Staggerwing, was a delight. Woods is a pilot, and brings accurate aviation content into most of his stories.

I have read several of his other murder mysteries which feature Stone Barrington and Holly Barker as major protagonists. At least two of these also bring in a fascinating recurring evil genius/basically do-gooder assassin with a talent for disguise, technological expertise, and great survival skills. “Beverly Hills Dead” is evidently a prequel to another Barrington story; I haven’t read it yet, but I hope that CIA trained character plays a part in it.

In any event, the novel under review provides me, at least, with a nice insight into the milieu of movie making, the operations of a movie studio, and the functions of the people we see in the credits. It strains credibility, however, to read of the warm regard and genuine fondness all of the characters seem to have for one another -- actors, directors, producers, laborers, studio owners, and even agents. I can’t imagine that all Hollywood is made up of folks who never backstab, squabble, manipulate, or forswear greed. Even further, I found Woods’ characters, in this book, to be one-dimensional and bland.

On the other hand, his descriptions of processes and environments are rich, detailed, and apparently true to the time (e.g., the actions of the House Un-American Committee and the decision to make a location movie in a barren wilderness area no one has ever heard of, Jackson Hole Wyoming).

All in all, a good short read for a Spring evening with a spirits-laden drink by one’s side.

Reviewed by Ken West

"Cold Paradise"

by Stuart Woods

Stone Barrington's (a former police officer turned lawyer) law firm is on retainer for wealthy software developer, Thad Shames, the archetypal Gates-like, computer nerd. While at a cocktail party it appears, Thad had met and dined with a lady known only as "Liz". Deciding he is in lust, Thad employs Stone to find her. His only clue is that she was last seen boarding a flight to Palm Beach where Thad has a home. Stone heads to Palm Beach in the company of Callie, Thad’s attractive personal assistant.

When Stone arrives in Palm Beach, a Mrs. Harding calls because she needs his services. They meet at a restaurant where he is shocked to realize that she is Thad's Liz. He is further shocked to discover, also, that she is really Allison Manning, a woman he had bedded in the past and then saved from the gallows a few years later. Allison (now known as Elizabeth Harding), says she fears her first husband may be stalking her

Stone had represented her when she was charged with the murder of her husband Paul. "The murder" turned out to be an insurance scam and her husband was not dead. Stone found that her husband had even been at the trial posing as a magazine writer. Stone believed that Allison had been killed in a small plane crash soon after the trial Not only is Allison/Liz alive, but in the meantime she remarried and that husband has died leaving lots and lots more insurance money. Liz now hires Stone to settle the initial fraud with the insurance company and reveals that she believes Paul is trying to kill her (which turns out to be a crock).

The scene is now set, and a series of incidents follow in an intricately plotted suspense story. Stone comes to believe that more than one person may be trying to kill Allison, aka Liz, and his search ranges up and down the Atlantic coast.

In the meantime, Stone's looney-tunes ex-wife has escaped from the bin and is stalking Stone, to kill him. Her Gombah family has arrived in Palm Beach and throws Stone a few personal curves and humorous complications.

The characters burst forth in this book fully developed. Woods takes the easy path of moving the story along by flip, sarcastic and often pedestrian dialogue as the scenes shift swiftly. The reader becomes a mere observer in a plot that although complicated, is very predictable.

Fans of Stuart Woods and Stone Barrington will no doubt jump right into the story and view it differently from those who are just making an acquaintance of Stone and other players from past stories, for the first time.

Woods sustains the tension well, as he always does, but the conclusion of the story is reached a bit too neatly...all is finally revealed in an overheard conversation. Like "RIGHT!" LOL

Still, for summer reading, Cold Paradise is a great little novel to take to the beach for an afternoon read while you get your tan.

Review by Nan Sevic

"Dirt"

By Stuart Woods (His worst book!)

When fax machines all over the country begin receiving exposés about ruthless New York gossip columnist Amanda Dart, she hires Stone Barrington to find out who's giving her a dose of her own medicine. Barrington is a former policeman, now an attorney and sometimes private investigator, who first appeared in Stuart Woods's novel New York Dead.
I went back and read this earlier novel after reading Dead in the Water, in which Barrington also appears, and was greatly disappointed. Dirt falls well below the level of all of Woods's novels that I've read so far. I've come to expect intriguing plots and, usually, at least interesting characters from Stuart Woods. But Dirt has the thinnest plot I've seen in a long time, just the bare minimum of a story line necessary to hang his characters on.
And what disappointing characters they are, all of them. No one in this book, not even the hero Stone Barrington, rises above the level of stereotype. In reading this book it's easy to imagine an author enjoying immensely the portrayal of someone like Amanda Dart. And the resolution of all of Amanda's problems comes in a way that's particularly fitting, if somewhat melodramatic. But I expect more than stereotypes, even humorous ones, and melodrama from Stuart Woods. I would have stopped reading his books long ago if he weren't capable of producing work much better than Dirt.

Review by Nan Sevic

"Capital Crimes"

by Stuart Woods (His best book!)

This is a supercharged political crime novel. Normally, I avoid anything which even approximates political, but this one was the exception. Reading the first few pages piqued my interest and I had a difficult time putting it down, carrying the paperback with me and reading every spare minute I had, until it was done.
It begins with a BANG.. the execution-stlye murder of South Carolina Republican Senator Frederick Wallace, an extreme right wing politician. The crime scene is clean and the kill is professional. The next victim is right wing radio talk show host Van Vandervelt whose car explodes. The killer attains official serial status when conservative TV commentator Tim Brennan is poisoned. The republicans, borrowing a page from Senator Clinton, blame the murders on a vast left-wing conspiracy to destroy the United States. Of course politics must be included so they tie the killers to President William Henry Lee IV.
It becomes apparent, quickly, that someone is out to kill the nation's high-level politicos when a prominent conservative politician is killed inside his lakeside cabin. Authorities have no suspect in sight. Then two more seemingly isolated deaths, achieved by very different means, are feared to be linked to the same murderer. With the help of his CIA director wife, Kate Rule Lee, Will is thrust in the middle of the deadly game to catch this most clever and professional of killers before he can strike again. From a quiet D.C. suburb, to the corridors of power, and to a deserted island hideaway in Maine, Will, Kate, and the FBI track their man and set a trap with extreme caution and care-and await the most dangerous kind of quarry, a killer with a cause to die for. The "bad guy" came as a complete surprise when he is revealed as are his reasons for the killings.

Review by Nan Sevic