Another
few months pass, another new Stuart Woods novel is released. In this one, Stone
Barrington is in Europe. And of course, he makes a new girlfriend on the flight
from New York to Rome. And of course she is immediately thrown into danger.
Barrington’s
business partners want to build a new hotel in Rome, but the local mafia bosses
don’t appreciate that they are trying to build without their “input.” As each mob
threat is ignored, the next threat is more intense. Eventually, the new
girlfriend is kidnapped, and Barrington will stop at nothing to get her back,
and make the mafia don pay.
This novel
focuses mostly on Stone, although Dino makes a strong supporting appearance.
Due ot the international aspects of the story, Stone’s friends in the White House
and the CIA make important cameo appearances. Most of the rest of Stone’s
supporting cast is absent, which gives this novel a closer, more personal feel.
I have
mentioned in prior reviews that I assume that Woods is using a stable of uncredited
ghost writers to keep his work as prolific as it is. And there was definitely a
different feel about this book, as if this was a co-writer he hadn’t worked
with before. There was a lightness and a sense of humor that these novels
generally don’t have, and the love scenes were far less descriptive than they
often are.
As always,
Tony Roberts does a fine job providing distinctive voices to the range of
character he portrays in the audio version.
Source:
public library.
