Paris Match

From Amazon:

Stone Barrington has returned to Paris to attend to some business concerns, and finds himself embroiled in high-stakes trouble on both sides of the pond. An old enemy is still in hot pursuit, and this time he might have a powerful local resource on his side: a gentleman with his own ax to grind against Stone. And back in the United States, the swirling rumor mill threatens to derail a project of vital importance not just to Stone but to the nation. Though Stone is no stranger to peril, never before has he faced threats from so many directions at once.

My Thoughts:

Book #31...Stone Barrington has retired, died, been excommunicated...whatever... as far as this reader is concerned. I thought the book before this one was perhaps show more headed back in the right direction and Stone was gaining back a wee bit of common sense and integrity....WRONG! This has got to be the worst one yet....the bottom of the proverbial barrel. The story line could have been worked into something interesting and intriguing, but it seems that Mr. Woods used it as a lead in to Stone taking every woman he met to bed...over and over, and over. Some of them had only just knocked on his door...he didn't even know who they were. I don't mind sex scenes in my books but I want them to enhance the book not be the entire book. I'm not sure if this all stems from the author's fantasies or if he in fact thinks it's okay for men to act this way. Whatever the reason I will not waste another minute of reading time on this. Too bad as it was a really good series five years ago. show less

I don't know why I continue this series. What started off as a fun mystery has fallen off the tracks over the past few years. In this book, Stone Barrington is off to Paris for the grand opening of his new hotel, the L'Arrington. He's being threatened by Yevgeny Majorov, who knows Stone had a hand in his brother Yuri’s death. Now he wants Stone to give him all the shares he owns in the Arrington hotel group. This will lead to some violence and kidnapping in the book. The action takes a back seat to the sex though. Any fan of the series knows Stone sleeps with every attractive woman he sees. He has a chance to meet/sleep with some women in Paris before long time lover, CIA Chief Holly Barker, shows up. I must be a glutton for show more punishment because I do plan to continue the series with the help of my library card. I understand from a friend that it starts to get better, but there is still no way I would ever waste my money on any of Stuart Wood's mediocre writing." show less

Book #31...Stone Barrington is threatened, gets laid, solves a mystery, gets laid. Dino and Viv play small roles and Lance, as DIRCIA, involves himself. I can't imagine that the Director of the CIA would have the time to get involved in the inner workings of a single case? It's a fun read and we readers don't put too much stock in the truth when reading these novels.

63 of 75 for 2015. I'm a sucker for anything relating to Paris, and when I saw this at B&N, I grabbed it knowing that I was going to be sitting in doctor's waiting rooms most of the day. I'm not sure how I have missed Stuart Woods so far. This is his fifty-seventh novel since he started writing back in 1981. Apparently it's the 31st novel with this central character. Well paced, with plenty of twists, turns and all the local color you could want in a thriller, the book is a good read and I know I'll be looking for more about Stone Barrington. (Apparently I have a lot to choose from).

Stone flies to Paris to attend the opening of joint venture, Hotel L'Arrington, with Marcel DuBois; however, he quickly becomes a target for Yegevny Majorov, who wants the hotels. Of course, Stone jumps into bed with a French designer, who brother and father are well connected policemen and one of the two is dirty. The CIA, including Holly Barker, has their hands full trying to protect Stone. Meanwhile, back in the States, his girlfriend Ann is worried sick that Kate will not be elected President. I thought the resolution was pretty stupid, forced, and ill explained.

In this rather flat novel, Stone Barrington travels to Paris to attend the opening of a new motel that he has help fund. While he is in Paris he becomes involved in many affairs, both with women, and enemies that want to take him down and force him to sell his share in the new luxury hotel he is a part of. The story did have some interesting parts but it was so unrealistic that it made it hard to read. This would not be a book that I would recommend for school libraries because of its graphic sex scenes and lack of any theme. Some boys might be interested in the story simply because of the sex. There is very little theme to be found in this novel. One could say that you better be careful who you sleep with or it could lead to danger.

Stone Barrington has returned to Paris to attend to some business concerns, and finds himself embroiled in high-stakes trouble on both sides of the pond. An old enemy is still in hot pursuit, and this time he might have a powerful local resource on his side: a gentleman with his own ax to grind against Stone. And back in the United States, the swirling rumor mill threatens to derail a project of vital importance not just to Stone but to the nation. Though Stone is no stranger to peril, never before has he faced threats from so many directions at once. . . .