Smooth Operator

June 6, 2016
Bestseller Woods (Dishonorable Intentions) teams with Edgar-finalist Hall (A Fool for a Client) on this testosterone-fueled thriller, which features recurring character Teddy Fay, an ex-CIA agent and master of disguise, who first appeared as a villain in 2003’s Capital Crimes. New York lawyer Stone Barrington is cruising on his yacht on the Hudson River when he receives an urgent summons to attend a state dinner in Washington, D.C. During the dinner, Stone is called away to a secret meeting with President Kate Lee, a Democrat, and Congressman Charles Blaine, a Republican. Blaine’s college-age daughter, Karen, has been kidnapped by unknown parties who are threatening to kill Karen unless Blaine, the Speaker of the House, is able to pass a bill providing medical benefits for wounded veterans that his party opposes. Stone has someone in mind to handle this sensitive crisis, though for security reasons he won’t tell the president the person’s name—Teddy. Fans are sure to welcome this action-packed start to a separate series within the larger Stone Barrington story arc. Agent: Anne Sibbald, Janklow & Nesbit.

July 1, 2016
White House Chief of Staff Ann Keaton reaches out to high-profile lawyer Stone Barrington with a problem: a congressman's daughter has been kidnapped. She will live only if the congressman changes his vote on a key bill while bringing his allies in the House with him. Barrington barely survives an assassination attempt on the way to meet with Keaton. That fact, plus the particulars of the case, induce him to reach out to Teddy Fay, a 40-year CIA vet and stone-cold killer who has gone far off the grid because there are too many people out there who want him dead. But he's willing to risk his hard-earned cover to help Barrington. Soon Teddy has tumbled down a rabbit hole of misinformation, false leads, bodies, and retaliation directed at him and his family. Woods has millions of fans accumulated over the last 35 years who will read anything with his name on it, and Hall brings his own considerable following to the party. Entertaining, suspenseful reading for those who like smart-ass protagonists who are shrewder, tougher, and funnier than the bad guys they encounter.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)

March 15, 2016

In his new series from blockbuster thriller author Woods, keystroked with multiaward finalist Hall, fan favorite Teddy Fay takes center stage. Urbane, colorful, and a master of disguise, former CIA agent Teddy is recommended by Woods stalwart Stone Barrington when U.S. President Kate Lee runs up against a risky situation that even Stone feels he can't handle.

Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.