Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington Is In ‘Hot Pursuit’ Of New Enemies

Stuart Woods’ HOT PURSUIT (Photo by Nellys Liang)

Reading one of Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington novels is like sitting down to catch up with the coolest friend you can imagine. Wealthy, charming, dashing, witty and smart, this leading man has it all, including well connected friends and dangerous enemies. This formula makes the 33rd book in the series, Hot Pursuit, a thriller that will have readers turning pages as quickly as they might scarf down popcorn at the movies. 

This time out, Stone has just picked up his brand new plane as well as a sexy new girlfriend. The only trouble is, his lady love comes with a manic ex-boyfriend who just doesn’t like to take no for an answer. In an effort to stay out of trouble, the duo flies across the pond. But try as they might, they just can’t seem to ditch the ex and soon find themselves dodging bullets along the way.

Meanwhile, Katherine Lee is now in office as the new president of the United States. First item on her agenda? She and her team, led by Holly Barker, must track down a new terrorist threat coming out of the Middle East. The only trouble is, no one seems to know exactly who is threatening whom, and the quest to unmask the culprits at the heart of this plot launches an international game of cat and mouse that enlists the FBI, CIA and MI6.

During this ride in the Barrington mobile, many of our favorite characters are on board, including Dino and Viv Bacchetti, as well as Dame Felicity Devonshire. This time out, however, several new faces join the cast. First, there’s Holly Barker’s new assistant, the haughty new White House staffer Millicent Martindale and her besotted but capable beau, FBI Special Agent Quentin Phillips. In London, MI6’s intrepid agent Ian Rattle, a rakish but charming womanizer, is also on the scene. Together, this trio plays an integral part in solving the seemingly impossible dilemma at hand.

With so many characters, a less capable author could get bogged down in the telling of this story. But Woods weaves the cast in and out of the lightning fast plot as deftly as a stunt man might drive an Aston Martin downhill with the brake line cut; dangerously fast but with masterful skill and control. Hot Pursuit is yet another high stakes thrill ride by one of America’s favorite powerhouse authors. Readers will not want to miss this one!

Stuart Woods
(Photo courtesy Jeanmarie Woods)

ABOUT STUART WOODS

Stuart Woods is the author of fifty-nine novels, including the New York Times-bestselling Stone Barrington and Holly Barker series. He is a native of Georgia and began his writing career in the advertising industry. Chiefs, his debut in 1981, won the Edgar Award. An avid sailor and pilot, Woods lives in New York City, Florida, and Maine.

HOT PURSUIT
By Stuart Woods
352 pgs. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. $27.95.