Book Reviews of 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.

Very good 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.

From Publishers Weekly
In recent Woods bestsellers like Cold Paradise, N.Y.P.D. detective-turned-PI Stone Barrington has gone upscale in lifestyle, international in expertise. This time, mogul John Bartholomew hires Stone to fly to London and persuade his niece, Erica, to leave her cocaine-smuggling boyfriend, Lance Cabot, and to make sure Lance winds up in jail. Dapper Stone charms Erica, who offers to set him up with her sister, Monica, and then introduces him to Lance. With help from two British investigators, Stone learns John Bartholomew is not who he seems: not only is he not Erica's uncle, he's really CIA biggie Stan Hedger. Confronted, Stan owns up, revealing that Lance is an ex-CIA agent who blew ops, ran with cash and nearly killed him. Meanwhile, Monica asks Stone to a country weekend with Lance and Erica at what turns out to be the manse of his old flame, Sarah Buckminster, who previously dodged a New York bombing and is now engaged to a megatycoon. The fog thickens when Stone's N.Y.P.D. pal Dino Bacchetti flies over to smooth out the beating death of one of Stone's investigators and Scotland Yard brings in MI6, who suspect Lance is after a top-secret military device for a Mideast client. Woods may have left behind the police action of L.A. Dead, but he churns up plenty of conflict and twisted plotting in this speedy tale. Several bombshell revelations and multiple resolutions combine with the cinematic plot for a perfect flight or beach read.

8th in the marvelous Stone Barrington series. "A speedy tale... Bombshell revelations and multiple resolutions combine with the cinematic plot for a perfect flight or beach read," per Publishers Weekly.

Twisrs and turns, hearts racing, action packed and fast-paced.

Excellent reading, excellent author.

Excellent book!

The unflappable Stone Barrington comes face-to-face with two men whose llives are wrapped in shadows and lies--and who both still feel the sting of a betrayal they can never forget. Hired by an old client previously unknown to him, stone arrives in London on a missiom he things he understands, but doesn't soon he finds himself not only out of his territory, but out of his depth as well. Stone is baffaled 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 inttigence services of srveral countries become involved, he can only hang on for a wild ride and hope for a not-too-bumpy landing.

Action-packed and Fast-paced!

Great Stone Barrington book

Very, very good!

from the back cover: 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.
Hired by an odd client previously unknown to him, Stone 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 behaviour of both his quarry and his client, and his life is further complicated by two, possibly three, murders and the affectionate attentions 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-bumppy landing.

I have not read this book; it was given to me. It's part of Stuart Woods' Stone Barrington mystery series.

As a"Barrington" fan, I found this one of the best.

A real page turner.

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