Hot Mahogany (Stone Barrington)
by Stuart Woods
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Book Summary Information
Author: Stuart WoodsEdition: Mass Market Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-05-05
ISBN: 0451226712
Number of pages: 400
Publisher: Signet
Book Reviews of Hot Mahogany (Stone Barrington)
Book Review: Decaying Wood
Summary: 3 Stars
THE STONE BARRINGTON NOVELS
As in all of the Barrington novels, the story features Stone Barrington, an over-the-top, dilettante, snobbish-rich, aircraft pilot, ex-CIA, ex-law enforcement officer, playboy, lawyer who mostly operates as a private detective, apparently as a hobby to amuse himself and his sidekick police detective Dino Bachetti. Lance Cabot (DCI) and agent Holly Barker make little more than cameo appearances.
THE SETUP
The story begins when Lance's long-lost older brother, Barton, shows up in NYC, beaten and with short term amnesia, and is naturally rescued by Stone. Barton is an antiques dealer, and upon his return, finds that a very valuable "secretary" (i.e., desk) has been stolen---or perhaps an identical copy Barton made himself, and inmplausibly cannot tell the difference.
DEVELOPEMNT---contains spoilers
Apparently Barton's amnesia was faked--he actually knows who stole the desk, which desk was stolen, and to whom it was sold. Unexpectedly, Barrington and Dino actually manage to steal back the desk, but Barton lies to them claiming that the desk they stole was a far inferior 18th century reproduction, and shows them a brass plaque on the back stating the date and manufacturer. So, Barrington and Dino have to return it. How did that fake brass plate get installed, when, by whom, and why? All of Barton's plans could have been ruined if the buyer had seen the plate. Not to mention that in earlier novels Barrington is portrayed as an expert on fine cabinetry--but in this novel he is suddenly a dullard who cannot recognize the difference between a 17th century masterpiece (which he has seen) and an alledged 19th century copy.
CAVEATS
As Dino might say, there isn't a "human being" in the entire novel, except for some very minor characters such as 97-year-old Mildred Strong.
It is a remarkable achievement that Stuart Wood has created the least admirable, least likable, of all fictional private detectives---Stone Barrington. For example, after beating the crap out of a the husband of a woman (one of dozen or so in this novel alone) he is casually sleeping with, he calls Dino to arrange for the guy to be charged with a felony and to be mistreated in police custody. Dino even offers to forge Barrington's signature on the complaint forms. Abuse of public funds by Dino (who has police officers surveilling various individuals for Barrington), abuse of Barrington's obligations to clients, and abuse of power by Lance and Holly on Barrington's behalf seems to be the leading theme of the novel.
The sex scenes (never with the same woman twice) are dull, dry, clinical, dreary, and uninspiring. Could it be that Stuart Woods is actually letting his 15-year old virgin son write the Stone Barrington series? Whoever does write this series shows no knowledge of human relationships, particular relationships between men and women.
It seems that most of the novel takes place in Elaine's Restaurant (a real place) in NYC. One can only assume that Stuart Woods has a substantial financial interest "Elaine's" .
THE VERDICT
If you can choke down the various implausibilities, inconsistences, and defficiencies in the name of "suspension of disbelief" "Hot Mahogony is a written novel, which moves along at a brisk pace, and keeps the reader intrigued until the last page.
Summary of Hot Mahogany (Stone Barrington)
A rock-solid new stone barrington novel
Stone Barrington is hired to protect a former intelligence agent with a penchant for antique furniture-and a bad case of amnesia. And what he's forgotten, some will kill for...
Stone Barrington is hired to protect a former intelligence agent with a penchant for antique furniture-and a bad case of amnesia. And what he's forgotten, some will kill for...
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