I've seen Stuart Woods' books around for years, as he is very prolific, but I never read him. But a new friend I met at a bar I go to, who has a passion for mysteries and thrillers like me, said I really ought to try the Stone Barrington series written by Mr. Woods. He said this after I mentioned that I always enjoyed thrillers that feature a central hero or protagonist that is excellent at his or her job yet often flawed and stumbling in their personal life. I just enjoy the contrast.
Well, I sought out the first book in this very long-running series, New York Dead from the early 1990's, and I really enjoyed it. The story reminded me a lot of what Lawrence Sanders used to do: write about sophisticated and polished businesses, fancy restaurants, the good life overall, but all laced with family secrets, dark crimes with weird motivations, and sex, lots of sex. All that is here in this tale of a beautiful network anchorwoman who either jumped or was pushed from her 12th story balcony, miraculously survived, but then disappeared from her ambulance as it was taking her to the hospital. Yes, the plot is original and ambitious.
And without saying too much, this first Stone Barrington book features a kind of origin story of our hero. Barrington starts out as the police detective investigating the above crime, but then circumstances change for him and he ends up getting another job, all the while still investigating the crime. And Barrington's personal flaws and struggles? They're still being revealed in this first book, but as I'm now almost through with the second book in the series, Dirt, it looks like Stone's issues will be women-oriented. He likes, respects, and enjoys the company of women, but maybe can't commit to just one of them. He's also a bit contained and inward-looking, which sometimes annoys the women he's with because he's often not paying enough attention to them. Also, talented though he is, Barrington is not perfect and makes mistakes in the course of his work. He can begin to doubt his own abilities when that happens, though so far he ultimately dusts himself off and resumes his work with renewed tenacity.
Anyway, New York Dead was really good, and the second book, Dirt, is also quite immersive and entertaining thus far, too. And, wow, if I continue on with the series after those, there are something like forty more entries to go. And Mr. Woods is still writing new Stone Barrington books even today, almost thirty years after initiating the series. I better get reading.
