Insatiable Appetites

After many years of appearing in the Stone Barrington series, Stone's mentor and former father-in-law, Eduardo Bianchi, is prepared to die. He asks Stone over for dinner and gives him an envelope on the way out. The next day he's dead. His estate is to be divided equally among his daughters, Mary Ann (former wife of Stone's best friend and the commissioner of Police, Dino Bachetti) and Stone's former wife, Dolci, a crazy woman who has been kept in a convent since she attempted to kill Stone. Eduardo has also left a number of diaries that need to be translated from Sicilian.

I don't know why I continue with this series. I find it annoying, especially since the author insists on droning on about his his political views. There's a bizarre show more subplot here where he's trying to protect his friend and the the new president, Kate Rule, against some sort of Republican cabal. No matter which side of the political fight you belong to it was just strange. As usual, Stone jumps into bed with every attractive woman he meets.

All in all, this book was better than the last couple I've read because it dealt with some of the relationships that made this an interesting series many years ago. I'll admit I'm gong to keep reading them, as long as I can get them through the library and not pay anything for them. They are short fast reads that often fit one of my challenges. show less

After many years of appearing in the Stone Barrington series, Stone's mentor and former father-in-law, Eduardo Bianchi, is prepared to die. He asks Stone over for dinner and gives him an envelope on the way out. The next day he's dead. His estate is to be divided equally among his daughters, Mary Ann (former wife of Stone's best friend and the commissioner of Police, Dino Bachetti) and Stone's former wife, Dolci, a crazy woman who has been kept in a convent since she attempted to kill Stone. Eduardo has also left a number of diaries that need to be translated from Sicilian.

I don't know why I continue with this series. I find it annoying, especially since the author insists on droning on about his his political views. There's a bizarre show more subplot here where he's trying to protect his friend and the the new president, Kate Rule, against some sort of Republican cabal. No matter which side of the political fight you belong to it was just strange. As usual, Stone jumps into bed with every attractive woman he meets.

All in all, this book was better than the last couple I've read because it dealt with some of the relationships that made this an interesting series many years ago. I'll admit I'm gong to keep reading them, as long as I can get them through the library and not pay anything for them. They are short fast reads that often fit one of my challenges. show less

From Amazon:

It’s a time of unexpected change for Stone Barrington. A recent venture has achieved a great victory, but is immediately faced with a new challenge: an underhanded foe who’s determined to wreak havoc at any cost. Meanwhile, when Stone finds himself responsible for distributing the estate of a respected friend and mentor, the process unearths secrets that range from merely surprising to outright alarming. And when a lethal beauty from Stone’s past resurfaces, there’s no telling what chaos will follow in her wake . Ever a master of keeping cool under pressure, even Stone might have his work cut out for him this time . . . because when grand ambitions collide with criminal inclinations, the results may be more deadly show more than he could have anticipated.

My Thoughts:

after the last book I swore that I would not waste one more minute on this series...but a friend called me and said "You have to read this one. Stone Barrington is back to his "pre-tramp" self." My friend was right. Only ended up with one woman in his bed but I was a bit worried when he started eyeing a 70 year old woman. This book was a good mystery story and good police work. Of course everyone is still richer than God but that has always been the case with these characters. Guess I'll have to take my chances on the next one. show less

Stone finds another bright but willing woman to bed and the storyline loses a quite interesting character. And, politics rears its ugly head to provide a parallel plot to fill up Stone's time and additional pages. The romantic storyline ends in a DC draw with Stone as the dumper and the dumpee.

It’s a time of unexpected change for Stone Barrington. A recent venture has achieved a great victory, but is immediately faced with a new challenge: an underhanded foe who’s determined to wreak havoc at any cost. Meanwhile, when Stone finds himself responsible for distributing the estate of a respected friend and mentor, the process unearths secrets that range from merely surprising to outright alarming. And when a lethal beauty from Stone’s past resurfaces, there’s no telling what chaos will follow in her wake . . .

Ever a master of keeping cool under pressure, even Stone might have his work cut out for him this time . . . because when grand ambitions collide with criminal inclinations, the results may be more deadly than he show more could have anticipated. show less

Number 32--Woods is making more money with this one. No wonder it's getting a bit stale. Still, I enjoyed it. Stone's former father-in-law, Eduardo Bianchi, dies and Stone is left cleaning up the mess. There's a bizarre subplot here where he's trying to protect his friend and the the new president, Kate Rule, against some sort of Republican cabal. One wonders about that, maybe he just needed more pages? OK...I'm up for #33.

Kate is elected President in a very close election, but there is a meeting among leading Republicans to undermine all of her policy initiatives. A mole approaches Stone, to sabotage their underhanded efforts, and he is killed after being offered protection by Stone, leading to political and personal retribution. Meanwhile, Eduardo Bianchi passes away, leaving Stone as executor and bringing Dolce back from the monastery. There are questions as to the authenticity of certain of Eduardo's assets, and whether or not Dolce has been healed.