FOUL PLAY

5 stars out of 5

Gotta be honest: I've read a big bunch of books in the Stone Barrington series (this is the 59th, so make that a BIG bunch). But a couple of years ago, I simply got a little tired of reading about the high-powered attorney and ex-cop and his bed-hopping ways - a guy who at the wink of a pinky can drop $10 million on a house or in a politician's war chest (one of those beds - and chairs, and shower stalls - he occasionally shares is with the first female President of the United States, for gosh sake). But then, I had a chance to get a pre-release copy of the newest one from the publisher via NetGalley - thank you very much - and from the minute I opened it, I felt as if I'd reconnected with an old friend. The only downside was that by the time of day I started it, I just couldn't keep my eyes open late enough to finish in one sitting.

Make no mistake - Stone and his well-heeled friends, including the aforementioned Prez and the New York City Police Commissioner, haven't changed in the slightest; if anything, the money flows more freely (although in fairness, much of it comes from a wealthy-beyond-belief client). And the bed hopping, if I counted correctly, is limited to only two also wealthy-beyond-belief ladies this time out. The adventure begins as Stone is on his way to his office in his posh New York City mansion to meet a new client; seeing a man being mobbed by a couple of no-gooders, Stone jumps in to save the day - and learns the man he protected is his new client. And of course, said client is wealthy beyond belief.

It seems the client recently came into an enormous inheritance from his late father - and as he stays at a luxurious apartment in the Carlyle Hotel, Stone offers advice on negotiating a deal to purchase it. But then, the client is attacked once again, and, as they say, the plot thickens. Suddenly, both the client and Stone find themselves in danger, and Stone must call in all his friends to help (most are characters familiar to me from previous books, and I was happy to "see" them again). Getting to the bottom of things takes Stone and the gang all over the country, culminating in, shall I say, a rather exciting and financially rewarding end. Spread throughout is the standard "ho-hum" attitude toward every situation, whether it's between the sheets or facing a near-death experience (just after the bullet misses passing through your brain by inches, for instance, you turn to your guests to ask which kind of wine they prefer with dinner). 

All in good fun - and the best one I've read for a while. That means this reader is back in the saddle and itching to trot - so bring on the next!

Foul Play by Stuart Woods (G. P. Putnam's Sons, October 2021); 352 pp.