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However, despite his best intentions, Woods got sidetracked in Ireland. He was nearly 100 pages into a novel when he discovered the seductive pleasures of sailing. "Everything went to hell," he quips on his web site "All I did was sail." He bought a boat, learned everything he could about celestial navigation, and competed in the Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Race (OSTAR) in 1976, finishing respectably in the middle of the fleet. (Later, he took part in the infamous Fastnet Race of 1979, a yachting competition that ended tragically when a huge storm claimed the lives of 15 sailors and 4 observers. Woods and his crew emerged unharmed.)
Returning to the U.S., Woods wrote two nonfiction books: an account of his transatlantic sailing adventures (Blue Water, Green Skipper) and a travel guide he claims to have written on a whim. But the book that jump-started his career was the opus interruptus begun in Ireland. An absorbing multigenerational mystery set in a small southern town, Chiefs was published in 1981, went on to win an Edgar Award, and was subsequently turned into a television miniseries starring Charlton Heston.
An amazingly prolific author, Woods has gone on to pen dozens of compelling thrillers, juggling stand-alone novels with installments in four successful series. (His most popular protagonists are New York cop-turned-attorney Stone Barrington, introduced in 1991's New York Dead, and plucky Florida police chief Holly Barker, who debuted in 1998's Orchid Beach.) His pleasing mix of high-octane action, likable characters, and sly, subversive humor has made him a hit with readers -- who have returned the favor by propelling his books to the top of the bestseller lists.
His first job was in advertising at BBDO in New York, and his first assignment was to write ads for CBS-TV shows. He recalls: "They consisted of a drawing of the star and one line of exactly 127 characters, including spaces, and I had to write to that length. It taught me to be concise."
He flies his own airplane, a single-engine turboprop called a Jetprop, and tours the country every year in it, including book tours.
He's a partner in a 1929 motor yacht called Belle and spends two or three weeks a year aboard her.
In 1961-62, Woods spent 10 months in Germany with the National Guard at the height of the Berlin Wall Crisis.
In October and November of 1979, he skippered a friend's yacht back across the Atlantic, with a crew of six, calling at the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary Islands and finishing at Antigua in the Caribbean.
anonymousek
Posted January 12, 2013
WORST EVER--I have read all oF Woods books and this is below one star. Besides the 235 pages could have FIT into 100 pages. The spacing between paragraphs and lines is incredible. What a stretch to fill pages. In addition, on the nook book you could only read about 3/4 of the book. Either whole pages were missing or frozen and repeated and repeated which you could not get rid of unless you shut the reader off or used the go to feature and went ahead several pages. THIS WAS A RIP OFF AND WE DESERVE BETTER THAN THIS. B&N BLAMES THE PUBLISHER-hah-WHAT A RIPOFF===I HAVe A COUPLE HUNDRED EBOOKS ON MY NOOK BUT i FEEL i WAS SCRXXXX WITH THIS ONE.
3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 14, 2013
I've read all the Stone Barrington books, and it is sad that Stuart Woods has to cpme out with something this bad. He must need the money. Save yours.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 30, 2013
Hey baby ;)
1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 19, 2013
This novel continues the downhill trend I have seen in many recent Stone Barrington novels. Stone Barrington, as supposedly the central character, has been reduced to a small bit player in the story. The CIA and MI6 agents are doing most of the legwork. It looks like the agents are imitating James Bond movies where the agents just shoot suspects on sight or terrorize innocent citizens without consequences. This nonsense makes me very mad and not want to read anymore in the series. I don't recomend it too anyone who liked the earlier stories.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 12, 2013
I found this book excitng from start to finish. The sad part it sounds like the end of the Stone Barrington series.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 9, 2013
If you've read the first 24 Stone Barrington books, you'll love this one just as much!!
1 out of 5 people found this review helpful.
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Posted May 6, 2013
Another Stuart Woods novel that's hard to put down! Same great characters!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 3, 2013
Have read numerous books by Stuart Woods. This book was so bad, I could not finish. I am not sure that Mr. Woods actually wrote.
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Posted March 22, 2013
i enjoyed the book only problem i saw are little things like the ring that stone gave to dino, in son of stone he gave that right to arrington, did he get it back when she died and in that papgraph it almost sounded like stone didn't get arrington back. I also did not like the fact that dino's son was not there again the writer made it seem like neither one had sons, i would have like to have read that ben and peter came back at least for the wedding.
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Posted March 4, 2013
I always get the latest Woods as soon as it hits the shelf expecting a good read. This did not disappoint me. In fact, it was better than the last couple in the series because it was a real page turner.
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Posted February 24, 2013
Ello Govna.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 22, 2013
One of SW better books.
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Posted February 22, 2013
If you're already a Stone fan, this will be right up your alley, with confounding scenarios solved by amazing coincidences, wrapped in good sex, great food and lush surroundings. If you haven't gotten into this series, start! The only bad thing is that I read each new book in less than a day.
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Posted February 19, 2013
Good read
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted February 14, 2013
Have enjoyed others Woods books but this was so bad that I could not finish it. Difficult to believe he actually wrote it.
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Posted February 13, 2013
I would place this novel in the middle of the pack for books written by Stuart Woods. It is fast paced and a decent story. I'm hoping for something a bit more from Mr. Woods' next book in April!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 12, 2013
I was very disappointed in this book. I have read every one of Stuart Woods books and loved them. When I started this one my first comment was, "Someone else is writing for him".
I had to finish it but i only like the last third. Lots of words but very little content. I feel like he is grasping for a story line and just can't find it. Maybe writers block of some kind. I still like him
but he needs to find himself again and get Stone back in the forefront again or maybe he needs to create a new character and start a new series. Sometimes you just run out of ideas.
Stone Barrington is back and teamed with his friend and sometimes lover Holly Barker, assistant director of the CIA. An explosion at the U.S. Embassy in London finds Stone and Holly on the trial of a terrorist out for revenge. The terroristic attacks move to New York and the threats escalate. The closer they get to finding the terrorist, the closer they come to being the next target. Narrator Tony Roberts does an excellent job bringing the characters to life. His vocalization gives distinct voices to Stone, Holly, Dino, and the others. I can’t image Stone sounding any other way. Author Stuart Woods has developed Stone Barrington into an intrigue protagonist over the years. He doubles the fun when he adds his protagonist from another series, Holly Barker, to the mix. The two protagonists make a fun couple to follow with a mix of romance, suspense, and excitement. COLLATERAL DAMAGE begins a bit slow, but steady. There are references to a prior story, but enough background is given so new readers/listeners aren’t lost. As the story continues, the excitement and adrenaline begins to build. By the end Woods has readers holding their breath waiting to see who will be standing when the dust settles after the last explosion. A good addition to the Stone Barrington and Holly Barker collection. FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
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Posted February 10, 2013
Loved the book. An easy read.
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Posted February 8, 2013
Although this is a Stone Barrington novel, I really feel it was more about Holly Barker. It was very good - just not what I expected
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Overview
Stone Barrington is back in Manhattan and pleased to receive an unexpected visit from his friend and sometime lover Holly Barker, now an assistant director at the CIA. For her part, Holly is glad to leave the staid, official environs of the capital for the dining and atmosphere ...