Hot Mahogany

July 28, 2008
Edgar-winner Woods's 15th Stone Barrington novel (after Shoot Him if He Runs
) finds the familiar cast of characters up to their usual antics: dining at Elaine's, drinking expensive liquor and having fantastic sex. Stone's pal CIA deputy director for operations, Lance Cabot, asks Stone to watch over his brother, Barton Cabot, who's recovering from injuries, amnesia chief among them, after being beaten and robbed. Barton, who builds and sells reproduction antiques, lives in Connecticut, as luck would have it, near a cottage Stone owns. The plot centers on a missing 18th-century mahogany secretary, which is worth in the neighborhood of $24 million, and the theft of hundreds of gold coins from the South Vietnamese government when Barton was commanding a regiment there during the Vietnam War. As always, Stone gets to bed several new beautiful women in the course of pursuing the case. Series fans will find all their expectations nicely fulfilled. Author tour.

August 1, 2008
Stone Barrington, last seen in Shoot Him if He Runs (2007), is once again drawn into danger and intrigue while trying to enjoy a quiet meal at Elaines restaurant. Lance Cabot, the deputy CIA director Stone often deals with, wants Stone to help his older brother, Barton, who has lost his memory following a brutal beating. Stone agrees and learns that the man has a shady past anchored in ascheme from his service in Vietnamthat made him and several others inhis platoon rich. Currentlya dealer and restorer of antiques, hes disturbed to discoverthata valuable mahogany secretary is missing from his house. Barton had just completed a replica, so hes not sure whether the missing piece is the original or the copy. Stone agrees to helpfind the thief andthe stolen secretary. If the plot doesnt sound as exciting as Woods usual fare, its because it isnt; antiquing and auctions simply cant take the place of murder and international intrigue. Die-hard Woods fans wont be fazed, but others should wait for a more exciting entry.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)