*Plot/Summary/Thoughts*This is the 19th edition of the Stone Barrington series, and it's come to a point to say to Mr. Woods, when is enough enough?As we open the book, as usual, Stone, Dino Bacchetti, NYPD Lieutenant for the 19th precinct and Stones former partner join Bill Eggers, managing partner for the law firm of Woodman and Weld for dinner at Elaine's. Bill has a surprise for Stone; an end of the year bonus check of $1 million buckaroos. The bonus is for bringing Strategic Services to W&W as a client. Bill also incinuates that he will become partner next year. Stone is stunned to silence; which is highly unusual since he always has a snarky comment or two to toss into a conversation.If you follow this series, you know that Stone worked with the MI6 and Felicity Devonshire to find a former agent that they presumed had gone rogue; Stanley Whitestone. Whitestone is now Mike Freeman CEO and COO of Strategic. Stone also received a 2 percent stock option, along with the position of Strategics council. Needless to say, he's had an awesome day.Now comes the wayward storyline; First, he is reminded by his ever present secretary Joan Robertson, that he is to attend Herbie Fishers wedding party. I have one thing to say to Mr. Woods, and please I pray he hears me; Either Kill off Herbie, or find another realm of reality for him to live in. Yes, I realize that he is Stone's second biggest client, but, he's also the stupidiest character you will ever find in this series. Has been since the moment he has been since the moment he was introduced.So, we next move onto the point where Herbie's new father in law Jack Gunn may be another Bernie Maddoff, bilking his company out of billions of dollars. Since SS, has money tied up in this company, Stone gets called into offer his recommendation. He, and his partner are found innocent of the charges, and Stone, of course, sleeps with the Aunt who is a widow due to shooting her former husband. She ends up getting killed by either the daughter, or son. It's not clear who pulled the trigger. In the end, Herbies new wife and brother flee the country to Attola and bilk the country out of 1 billion US dollars. Next story within the story is Stone's involvement in extradiction of a character named Erwin Gelbhardt, aka Pablo Estancia, who fled the US and became an arms dealer. So, Stone, Mike Freeman, Holly Barker, and Todd Bacon fly to Iraq, then to Spain where they pick up Pablo. In a move similiar DB Coopers escape; Pablo drives a mercedes out the back of a C-17, which then ends up in a swimming pool, much to the dismay of the owner.So, now Mr Woods has re-introduced the reader to each and every one of his characters from both the Barrington series, as well as the Barker series. Tiffany Baldwin, US Attorney for whom Stone had sex with on a conference table in another story; Lance Cabot, CIA director who Holly answers to and who treats Stone as a piece in a chess game. Then you have new characters like Willa Crane, who he ends up bedding and is a Deputy District Attorney. The Mossad and Osama Bin Laden make their way into the storyline since Pablo seems to have Bin Laden's location, and willing to give it up for his freedom.Overall, this story was way over the top, and I wonder why I continue to put myself through the idiocy that's called Stone Barrington. Stone has slept with so many women, I have lost count. It reminds me of a soap opera that has gone on way too long, and needs to be cancelled to save the reader from putting a gun to their head, and pulling trigger. Stone has also been involved in getting people around him killed. Dino, has been divorced for the last several books now, and is now seeing someone new, which most likely won't last.
GizmosReviews
*Plot/Summary/Thoughts*This is the 19th edition of the Stone Barrington series, and it's come to a point to say to Mr. Woods, when is enough enough?As we open the book, as usual, Stone, Dino Bacchetti, NYPD Lieutenant for the 19th precinct and Stones former partner join Bill Eggers, managing partner for the law firm of Woodman and Weld for dinner at Elaine's. Bill has a surprise for Stone; an end of the year bonus check of $1 million buckaroos. The bonus is for bringing Strategic Services to W&W as a client. Bill also incinuates that he will become partner next year. Stone is stunned to silence; which is highly unusual since he always has a snarky comment or two to toss into a conversation.If you follow this series, you know that Stone worked with the MI6 and Felicity Devonshire to find a former agent that they presumed had gone rogue; Stanley Whitestone. Whitestone is now Mike Freeman CEO and COO of Strategic. Stone also received a 2 percent stock option, along with the position of Strategics council. Needless to say, he's had an awesome day.Now comes the wayward storyline; First, he is reminded by his ever present secretary Joan Robertson, that he is to attend Herbie Fishers wedding party. I have one thing to say to Mr. Woods, and please I pray he hears me; Either Kill off Herbie, or find another realm of reality for him to live in. Yes, I realize that he is Stone's second biggest client, but, he's also the stupidiest character you will ever find in this series. Has been since the moment he has been since the moment he was introduced.So, we next move onto the point where Herbie's new father in law Jack Gunn may be another Bernie Maddoff, bilking his company out of billions of dollars. Since SS, has money tied up in this company, Stone gets called into offer his recommendation. He, and his partner are found innocent of the charges, and Stone, of course, sleeps with the Aunt who is a widow due to shooting her former husband. She ends up getting killed by either the daughter, or son. It's not clear who pulled the trigger. In the end, Herbies new wife and brother flee the country to Attola and bilk the country out of 1 billion US dollars. Next story within the story is Stone's involvement in extradiction of a character named Erwin Gelbhardt, aka Pablo Estancia, who fled the US and became an arms dealer. So, Stone, Mike Freeman, Holly Barker, and Todd Bacon fly to Iraq, then to Spain where they pick up Pablo. In a move similiar DB Coopers escape; Pablo drives a mercedes out the back of a C-17, which then ends up in a swimming pool, much to the dismay of the owner.So, now Mr Woods has re-introduced the reader to each and every one of his characters from both the Barrington series, as well as the Barker series. Tiffany Baldwin, US Attorney for whom Stone had sex with on a conference table in another story; Lance Cabot, CIA director who Holly answers to and who treats Stone as a piece in a chess game. Then you have new characters like Willa Crane, who he ends up bedding and is a Deputy District Attorney. The Mossad and Osama Bin Laden make their way into the storyline since Pablo seems to have Bin Laden's location, and willing to give it up for his freedom.Overall, this story was way over the top, and I wonder why I continue to put myself through the idiocy that's called Stone Barrington. Stone has slept with so many women, I have lost count. It reminds me of a soap opera that has gone on way too long, and needs to be cancelled to save the reader from putting a gun to their head, and pulling trigger. Stone has also been involved in getting people around him killed. Dino, has been divorced for the last several books now, and is now seeing someone new, which most likely won't last.
