Doing Hard Time

Stone Barrington becomes less appealing with each new book. Early on, he was enthusiastic, idealistic, sometimes bent the rules but always seemed to have "good" and "right" in his sights. Now his focus is self-indulgence, breaking whatever rules/laws/principles are necessary to accomplish what he wants. His arrogance and hubris have overpowered the joy that may come from a well-plotted mystery/thriller. As I said some years ago, this will probably be my last Stone Barrington read...but this time I mean it!

This is listed as the 27th book of the Stone Barrington series but it's really more of a Teddy Fay story. That actually makes it a more interesting book because we get to see him morph into a good guy. Stone makes his entrances in a timely enough manner, along with the requisite beautiful woman who falls into bed with him after dinner.

Fans of the series will remember Teddy Fay, the rogue CIA agent on the run, from a previous book. Teddy is hiding out in a New Mexico town, working for the local gas station, when Peter Barrington and his friends stop by on their way to Los Angeles to get a flat tire fixed. Teddy just happens to find a GPS chip and realizes someone is following them. When an SUV of Russians turn up asking questions about show more Peter, Teddy steps in for the rescue.

This all happens in the first few pages of the book and sets up the rest of the story. Teddy moves out to Los Angeles so he can keep an eye on Peter and the Russians start their search for Teddy. The story is very fast moving and more detailed than the last couple of Stone Barrington novels.

My rating is probably too high but it's based on my affection for the series. I love Stone's lavish and chaotic lifestyle and unbelievable luck in everything he does. If you're a fan of the series I think you'll enjoy this even though there's a little Stone and a lot of Teddy. If you haven't been following the series you'll find the story and characters quite unbelievable. The writing is probably not the best but this is strictly a quick, fun read with characters I've come to like over the years. show less

Anything can happen when life comes full circle, and none can vouch for it better than Stone Barrington. And the same goes for Teddy Fay, a rogue former CIA agent. Their path once crossed, and it was the suave lawyer who was hot in pursuit of the rogue agent. But now, compulsions brought them together, and they are doing hard time to stay one step ahead of the Russian Mafioso who ordered the hit for Teddy and Peter Barrington, the son of Stone.

Great book. Loved Teddy. It was good to see Teddy get a second chance...or is this the third or maybe the fourth? At any rate I hope to see him in his new improved role in future books.

Stone Barrington's son, Peter and his friends are traveling across country to L.A. when their car breaks down. Unbeknownst to them, they are being followed by Russian hit men. Also unknown to all, the repair shop attendant is former CIA agent and fugitive Billy Barnett, who realize who these men are and takes care of the situation. Eventually, Barnett and Barrington meet and both are in the cross hairs of the Russian mobster who wants them dead.

You may be a Stone Barrington fan or may not have read any of the twenty-seven novels in the series, but if you enjoy escapist, espionage, good vs. evil, then this is a book to read. Some of the sequences are a little farfetched and the characters unbelievable, but that's what makes it a fun show more read. One can leave the real world and get absorbed in to the life of Billy Barnett (the book spends more time on him the Stone). He is one man not to be reckoned with; although not quite a super hero. I'd love to read more Barnett stories. show less

A Stone Barrington novel without much Stone Barrington...still a good, quick read, but not up to the level of others. Woods is really cranking out the Barrington books lately, adding more and more central characters, which distracts from the main characters that made this series so much fun to read. This one is very by the numbers as Stone crosses paths with an old contact, Teddy Fay, and somehow ends up convincing him to protect his son from the Russian mob. Stone really doesn't have much to do with the main plot as the focus seems to be on Teddy, aka Billy, and his dealings with the Russians and others new characters in Vegas and L.A. Stone does have a small role at the end in helping set up the Russians for a hit by Teddy, but I'm show more hoping the next one brings Stone back as the central protagonist. One gripe: Teddy's dealings with Vlad, a Russian hitman, are poorly handled by Woods...just my opinion. show less

Stuart Woods’ “Doing Hard Time” is the latest chapter in his chronicling of the exploits of Stone Barrington, along with pal Dino Baschetti. If you’re looking for a cerebral piece of mystery fiction, don’t even bother to pick this one up….however, if you’re OK with a somewhat mindless page turner featuring gorgeous women eager to slip under the covers with Barrington, mysterious Russian mobsters focused on harming Stone, his kids, his world and anything or anybody who gets in the way, and if you’re comfortable with the simplistic plot, and unnecessary digressions into airplane trivia, then this is a reasonable way to spend a few hours escaping the horrors of everyday real life events, and following the shenanigans of show more hired hit-men, and the indomitable prowess of Teddy Fay, the ex-CIA “handyman” who just seems to appear, always at the right time….this time when he was most needed to save Stone Barrington’s son, girlfriend and pal from being eliminated by the mobsters bent on doing them harm.
I first discovered Stuart woods with his 1987 novel, Under the Lake, and am a little confused by the release of a 2012 novel by Woods with the same title….his original Under the Lake was quite well done….crisp writing, a good plot, suspenseful and an enjoyable read. I’ve read probably 10-12 of his subsequent works, and must admit to being disappointed in his deterioration as a wordsmith. He can, and has done better. show less

A Stone Barrington novel without much Stone Barrington. I enjoyed the characters, Teddy most of all. I found it unbelievable that three recent college graduates would be offered and begin to accomplish a movie. That their parents are proud, IS believable. Oh well, only a novel. If you enjoy escapist, espionage, good vs. evil, read this book. There were a few breakdowns in reality where the author showed ignorance of the geography. Y ou may be a Stone Barrington fan if you read twenty-seven novels in the series.