Search - The Short Forever

If I were a man, I'd want to be like Stone Barrington! Well, except for parts where people are trying to kill him. This guy has the women falling all over him, he stays in 5 star hotels, dines in some of the classiest restaurants in the world and drinks the finest of wines. Oh, then he chases the villains when he's not drinking, eating or bedding a lovely lady.

Stone Barrington, Stuart Woods's suave, urbane series hero, is approached by an enigmatic new client, John Bartholomew, who hires him for what looks like an easy assignment: find his young niece, who's living somewhere in London with a shady character liable to involve her in his illegal activities, and persuade her to return to New York with Barrington. Handing him a ticket on the Concorde and an unlimited expense account, Bartholomew sets Stone on a chase in which identifying who's the predator and who's the prey turns out to be the key to solving a puzzling mystery involving two American spies and a great deal of money.

This is a must for lovers of the Stone Barrington books. It is the first of the series and sets up a lot of characters like Arrington and Bechitti.

Woods may be a bit formulaic with his Stone character, but I like him and the story rips along as well as any that come to mind. A satisfying thriller.

Stone Barrington the detective is the main character in this novel of shadows (intelligence agencies) and lies. A Stuart Woods book is a great way to relax.

"Woods's effortless, crisp writing and nimbly staged action makes this a breezy read." - People

If you like Stuart Woods, you'll LOVE this book! Stone Barrington is one of my favorite characters and Woods has done well with this book.

Stone Barrington’s life complicated by two men whose both the man he is trying to find and the person who hired him. Also three murders..
A tight mystery right up to the end.

Another great book buy Stuart Woods.... all my Stuart Woods books are keepers but in checking found I have two copies, that's the only reason I would swap a Stuart Woods book.

The unflappable Stone Barrington comes face-to-face with two men whose lives are wrapped in shadows and lies---and who both still feel the sting of a betrayal they can never forget.

A good read.

Stone Barrington in London...

Woods effortless crisp writing and nimbly staged action make this
a breezy read

One in a set of the Stone Barrington series. I like Stuart Woods. Most of his book are an easy read. Mostly male oriented because of the "stud factor" of his main character, but he doesn't get graphic and can tell a good story.

"Hired by an odd client previously unknown to him, Stone Barrington arrives in London on a mission he thinks he understands, but doesn't. Soon he finds himself not only out of his territory, but out of his depth as well. Stone is baffled by the behavior of both his quarry and his client, and his life is further complicated by two, possibly three, murders and the affectionate attentions of two former lovers. When the intelligence services of several countries become involved, he can only hang on for a wild ride and hope for a not-too-bumpy landing!"

A really good mystery right up to the end! Stone has lots of "good-guy" charm. Good reading.

#8 in the series

This is a Stone BArrington novel. It is an easy fun read that is very enjoyable.