Blood Orchid [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Stuart Woods (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2, 2003

A New York Times Bestselling Author

Holly Barker is trying to get her life back together after the shattering loss of her fiancé, Jackson Oxenhandler. With the help of her wily Doberman, Daisy, and her father, Ham, she throws herself back into the job with a vengeance. But before Holly can settle into her routine again, bullets crash into the home of a friend and a floater is found bobbing in the Intercoastal Waterway. Holly connects these developments to mysterious goings-on in Miami, but she can't imagine how such violent events could be related to her own quiet, unspoiled town of Orchid Beach. Holly joins forces with an undercover FBI agent, and together they track the clues straight to the source, only to find a scam more lucrative and more dangerous than any this idyllic town -- or Holly -- has ever seen.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Woods's 24th novel-his third in the Holly Barker series (after Orchid Blues)-the prolific bestselling novelist revisits savvy, sexy ex-MP officer (and her dog, Daisy), now police chief of the small Florida east coast town of Orchid Beach. As the fast-paced but fluffy and rather predictable thriller begins, two out of three Miami bidders for a glitzy, gated residential complex with golf course are shot and killed. The third bidder, orchid fancier Ed Shine, a former New York real estate mogul and new resident of Orchid Beach, narrowly escapes the same fate. Shine renames his newly acquired property Blood Orchid, after an exotic hybrid blossom he has developed-a name that seems gruesomely prophetic when it turns out that the Miami mob may be involved with the property. Meanwhile, Barker, investigating the case and trying to discover who is bugging her beach house, spots the intruder's van from the plane of her flying instructor, Ginny (who is also her dad Ham's new bedmate). The two women make an emergency landing on the beach and scare the perp away, but his body is soon found floating in the Indian River. The trail leads to a shifty Cuban locksmith in Fort Lauderdale and the late intruder's fiance‚. Enter a Miami restaurateur with mob ties, and corpses pile up as the plot thickens. Woods writes strong action scenes, but his usual flair for tight, creative plotting is sadly missed here.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Forget Sneaky Pie and Koko here's a detective who gets help from her Doberman, Daisy. In her third outing, Chief of Police Holly Barker battles a nasty real estate scam even as she recovers from the loss of her fianc .
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 460 pages
• Publisher: Wheeler Publishing; 1 edition (March 2, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587243954
• ISBN-13: 978-1587243950
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (52 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,631,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stuart Woods is the author of forty-four novels, including the New York Times-bestselling Stone Barrington series and Holly Barker series. The last twenty-eight of them have been New York Times best-sellers. He is an avid private pilot, flying his own jet on two book tours a year. His latest novel is Santa Fe Edge,to be published on September 21st. You may see his tour schedule and learn more about the author on his website, www.stuartwoods.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Weak and Predictable......, December 1, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Orchid (Holly Barker Novels) (Hardcover)

Orchid Beach, Florida Police Chief, Holly Barker, is on the job as, once again, murder and mayhem visit what should be a quiet and peaceful little seaside town. It appears that someone is trying to manipulate the bidding of Florida prime real estate development by, literally, killing off the competition. The first suspicious deal, Blood Orchid Estates, happens to be in Holly's own backyard. She's on the case, driving from one end of the sunshine state to the other, tracking down leads, shooting bad guys, and working with a secretive, and of course, hunk of an FBI agent, Grant Early. In no time, she's outmaneuvered the feds and uncovered an international plot that includes drugs, money laundering, mobsters, and contract killers..... Stuart Woods is back with the third installment of his Holly Barker novels, and unfortunately, this is a series that goes downhill with each new entry. The story line, though at times entertaining and action-packed, is silly, weak, and predictable, and it's a wonder that it takes Holly and the FBI over two hundred pages to figure out what's going on when it takes the reader less than fifty. Blood Orchid bills itself as a thriller, but the writing is neither suspenseful nor compelling, and the tension never builds. The dialogue is inane and rarely rings true, and Mr Wood's poorly drawn players are all stereotypical cartoon characters, lacking depth, motivation, and most human qualities. Add to that a ridiculous, almost comical climax to finish things off, and you have the makings of a thriller without the thrills. There are a lot of really good novels out there that shouldn't be missed. Unfortunately, Blood Orchid isn't one of them. Don't waste your time.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as previous books, November 12, 2002

By 

malcolm edge (Perrysburg Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Orchid (Holly Barker Novels) (Hardcover)

I am a big fan of Stuart Woods and have read most of his works including all since the mid-1990's. This is not as good as his previous Holly Barker or even Stone Barrington books. Like an earlier reviewer, I skimmed the last 20 or so pages as I was bored, which is very unlike Stuart Woods.

I would still recommend this book but I expected more creativity: this book basically has already been written in an earlier book.

23 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stuart Woods Comes Through Again, October 14, 2002

By 

JC "JC" (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blood Orchid (Holly Barker Novels) (Hardcover)

Understand this: Stuart Woods is not Ernest Hemingway or William Faulkner, nor does he try to be. Woods writes two books every year and his readers enjoy something that not many authors can promise. He never fails to entertain. Some of his books are better than others. Chiefs, for example, is one of the better mysteries that I've ever read, while The Short Forever was just decent. One thing readers can count on from Woods is that he will deliver an interesting, exciting, entertaining thriller regardless of his subject.

Blood Orchid is the third novel centered around Holly Barker. Of Woods' three recurring characters (Will Lee, Stone Barrington, and Holly Barker), Holly is probably the least compelling to most readers, though some prefer her to Stone. Despite this, she is nonetheless an interesting protagonist who draws the reader into the story and has us pulling for her to succeed.

The storyline is typical Woods with few twists and turns - some of which will surprise, while some of which will be picked out by savvy readers. I've read all 25 of Stuart Woods novels, and while I generally feel that his earlier works are far superior to his later books, I find that if I open his newest book knowing what to expect and allowing myself to be entertained, I am seldom disappointed.

Also recommended: Chiefs, Run Before the Wind, and White Cargo by Stuart Woods for readers who want to sample his early stuff. Anything by James Patterson or Jeffery Deaver. Keep an eye out for Dirty Work, the new Stone Barrington novel in April 2003.