Hot Mahogany (Stone Barrington Novel)

NYC probably has more wonderful restaurants than any other city in the USA. Yet every other scene in ALL Stone Barrington books take place at Elaine's. Can we assume the author eats there for free as payment for all the plugs for the place in his books. The latest Zagat Guide gives the place a very poor rating of 16 out of 30 for food. Would such a high living man such as Stone really eat there every night of his life? How about broadening Stones universe in the next book?

For the past two years or so I've been reading Stuart Wood's new issues out of a sense of obligation because I have never missed a single one he has had published. With "Hot Mahogany" the feeling was different. It was a book I could not put down on a flight between LA and Washington, DC -- a cover to cover read! Stone Barrington was back, and so was I, captivated and catapulted into the non-stop action.

This is not only Woods' return to glory but also the return of Stone Barrington to the just-below-the-surface cool and self-effacing ex-cop/lawyer who appreciates a good bourbon and good art, the kind of character that most over 40 guys wish they could be for only a few minutes of their lives.

Stuart Woods is back!

I wasn't able to put it down. Stone and his motley crew keep you glued to the story hoping your not near the end and never daring to check.

The latest in the Stone Barrington series was just as good as the ones before it. I always wait, impatiently, for the next in the series. Mr. Woods has brought each of these characters to life and they have become so familiar to us that we actually feel that we know them. I enjoy the way he integrates characters from the other books into his new ones. It is always an easy, enjoyable read. Most of the time, we know from the start how it is going to end, but the enjoyment is in the ride there.

The Margin
This isn't Woods's best, but for a regular reader of his novels it's certainly worth the time. New readers will find it compelling. Perhaps I've become too familiar with the characters in the Stone Barrington stories and now know what to anticipate. Regardless of my minor dissappointment with Hot Mahogany I'd recommend it. Hot Mahogany has it all, women, crime, intelligence interplay, something smuggled to the U.S. by soldiers during the Viet Nam War. It all comes together for a satisfying conclusion less some of the usual twists and turns this author is known for.
Marvin Wiebener, author of The Margin, an intelligent mystery with action and exciting characters sure to please readers of fast paced fiction.