Beverly Hills Dead

I wondered why Stuart Woods wrote only two novels in this series, then I read the reviews. I must have much lower standards, because I enjoyed the plot and the characters. Set in the late 1940s, the plot brought out HUAC, the hunt for communists in the movie industry. Mostly, it set up a couple of characters that we meet in the Barrington novels. Fun read.

Good Grief! Rick Barron must have been on some type of speed this entire book. I’ve never encountered anyone so freaking organized, much less a M.A.N. I needed a vacation just to rest I was so worn out from trying to keep up. Woods does an excellent job of fictionalizing the workings of a movie studio in the late forties. Totally unbelievable, but entertaining none the less. It’s probably a good thing that Woods ended it the way he did, other wise Baron would have had to succumb to exhaustion at some point –no one can have that kind of stamina forever.

You know how when you are getting to the last 50-100 pages of a book and you wonder how the writer will wrap it up without making it seemed rush? Well that's what Stuart Woods did in his latest novel Beverly Hills Dead. Beverly Hills Dead is a continuation of the characters he introduced in 2004's The Prince of Beverly Hills, except it doesn't take off right where the 1st book left off, it jumps a several years and fills you in on what we missed, which is perfect.

We are in "old" Hollywood for the time period and during the "Red Scare" or the McCarthy era where people were blacklisted for being Communists. This is the main storyline and I found it very facinating but thought that it could have been a bit more flushed out or examined. show more Not only does the novel deal with politics in that nature but it also slightly touches on homosexuality but from the female perspective and how that would have played out in the 1940/1950s in Hollywood. Maybe the plots aren't strong but I always love Mr. Woods character development and he did a fantastic job again. I was thrilled when I read he was coming out with another Rick Barron novel. Rick Barron himself could be a movie star but he's not, he's an ex-cop who ends up making a good life for himself. His boss Eddie is hilarious and of course well connected. I found the part about shooting on location very interesting since it was rare in those days since most everything was shot in a backlot or studio. The book also briefly introduces us to the media medium called television and how it first got started.

Within the first few chapters my mouth dropped because Mr. Woods tied in a major character from his series with Stone Barrington. I was thrilled and really enjoyed getting to know this person at this stage in their "life".

Beverly Hills Dead isn't a complicated book by any means but there are a few good twists and turns and is an extremely enjoyable read. I always find myself not wanting to put his books down; therefore I typically read them in a a day or so.

If you've never read a Stuart Woods book, I would say this is a good "series" to start with since there are only 2 and if you like them move on to his Stone Barrington books. show less

Yikes! After enjoying [b:The Prince of Beverly Hills|547072|The Prince of Beverly Hills (Rick Barron, #1)|Stuart Woods|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1175701978s/547072.jpg|1531862], I was really looking forward to what Stuart Woods had in store for the next novel to feature Rick Barron. Unfortunately, Mr. Woods showed up to this gunfight with a knife. The characters spoke in extremely stoic dialogue, and the mystery was a mere afterthought. Woods introduction of the killer a few chapters before the readers discover who committed the crime was extremely bad. Ouch! There is no need at all to read this book. If Woods decides to resurrect Barron in the future, I can only hope he brings a better effort to the table.

OK, I forgot to bring a book and this was the best the grocery store had to offer. Woods has a fast paced style that keeps the characters rather superficial. The deaths were unconnected and didn't connect the story very well, but overall it was readable and a lot better than no book at all!

I was a Stuart Woods fan. This book was trite and predictable. The era is post WWII and is set in Hollywood during the "communist" witch hunt. Even bringing the House UnAmerican Activities Committee into the plot couldn't save it. I do not recommend Beverly Hills Dead. It was terribly disappointing.

If I put as much thought into this review as the author put into his character development in this book, the review would run dry right about now.