L.A. Dead (Stone Barrington) [Hardcover]

Stuart Woods (Author)

Book Description

Series: Stone Barrington | Publication Date: November 6, 2000

Each new Stone Barrington novel has brought Stuart Woods more and more fans eager to follow the adventures of the always surprising attorney and investigator. The most recent thrillers in the series have been New York Times bestsellers, from last year's Worst Fears Realized to Swimming to Catalina, Dead in the Water, and Dirt.

In L. A. Dead, Stone finds himself caught between two alluring women-one who has been left at the altar and another who is suspected of murder. Stone is in the midst of plans to marry Dolce, the daughter of a New York mafioso, when he is suddenly called to the side of Arrington Calder, a woman he has loved and lost, but never forgotten. To her horror, Arrington believes she is about to be indicted for the murder of her husband, one of America's most beloved film stars. With both enemies and friends among the Hollywood A-list swarming around her, Stone is the only person she can trust to gather her defense. But how much does Arrington actually remember about the night of the murder? And can Stone really trust her? The evidence against her mounts, the trial date looms, and Stone's feelings for her return. But even he doesn't know what danger the truth will bring.

"Stuart Woods is a no-nonsense, slam-bang storyteller."-Chicago Tribune

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Stuart Woods is a master of the glitzy, high-concept, suspense thriller, and Stone Barrington, hero of five previous mysteries, is the kind of private cop who glides gracefully between lavishly detailed dinners, private jets, fancy parties, sexy assignations in luxury hotels, and the occasional murder investigation. Occasionally he gets his hands dirty, but more often it's his sheets. L.A. Dead finds him in Venice, where he's about to marry the beautiful (but seriously crazy) daughter of a high-ranking Mafioso, whose other daughter happens to be married to Stone's best friend--an NYPD cop, naturally. The civil ceremony's over, but the church wedding is only hours away when Stone is called to L.A., where his former lover has just discovered her husband's dead body. The lover is Arrington (an oddity, given Stone's surname; did Woods just run out of imagination here?), the dead husband is a famous movie star, and everyone believes she killed him. Everyone except Stone, who's still in love with Arrington. He has a helluva time interviewing (and bedding) all the women in her circle, including the dead husband's private secretary, Arrington's best friend, her lawyer's mistress, and a number of Hollywood wives. Jackie Collins does the ladies better, but Stone manages to save the damsel in distress, get rid of his nutty near-wife without offending her father, and wrap up all the details except the most important one. No doubt he's saving that for the next book. In the meantime, Woods's many fans will snap this up and spend the interim wondering: if Stone marries the woman of his dreams, will that make her Arrington Barrington? --Jane Adams

From Publishers Weekly

This latest installment in Woods's Stone Barrington thriller series finds the lawyer/sleuth from New York back in Los Angeles on a murder case in which everyone, even the accused, lazes along, enjoying life in sunny Southern California. In his sixth outing (following 1999's Worst Fears Realized), Barrington is surrounded by his usual cast of friends, acquaintances and casual sex partners. The biggest change here is that his ex-lover, Arrington Calder, stands accused of murdering her husband, movie star and renowned man-about-town Vance Calder, found dead of a gunshot wound in the couple's Bel Air mansion. Upon hearing the news, Barrington, in Italy for his imminent wedding to the lovely but unpredictable Dolce Bianchi, rushes to L.A. to take over Arrington's defense. Not much of substance happens next; there's plenty of rambunctious sex, lots of light banter, a few tiffs and a minimal bit of sleuthing. Barrington checks out who left the size-12 shoe imprint near the murder scene and does his best to avoid Dolce, who took exception to her fianc 's sudden departure from the nuptials and is now stalking him. The whole case ends abruptly and with little suspense, and everyone goes along his or her merry way. Woods's desultory plottingDit is never made entirely clear who really killed Vance CalderDand chatty dialogue may not suit hardcore thriller or mystery readers, but Barrington's fans will likely welcome the detective's newest California-chic adventure. Mystery Guild main selection; BOMC and Literary Guild featured selections. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1ST edition (November 6, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399146644
• ISBN-13: 978-0399146640
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #132,616 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

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Who does the author think he is?, September 10, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: L.A. Dead (Stone Barrington) (Paperback)

I have read all of Stuart Woods' previous books -- and loved many of them; however, the latest "Stone" novel is the worst book I think I have ever read. It has a reasonable plot, but very shallow characterization, poorly written dialogue, and contrived situations to create conflict between Stone and his lady friends. The author does little to make you like the characters, even the main character. Sad to say, I know Mr. Woods can do better. (Note to author: What happened, Mr. Woods? I am very disappointed and may not continue to read your work. However, I doubt that you would care -- the little note from you at the end of the novel certainly puts your readers in their places.)

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Just Say No to Stone, January 4, 2001

By 

Charlie Bermant (Bainbridge Island WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: L.A. Dead (Stone Barrington) (Hardcover)

I've read every one of Stuart Woods' books. Some of the stuff he did early on was pretty good, and "Palindrome" was brilliant. His recent books were spotty, but interesting. This one is downright awful.

The "hero"--Stone-Lunkhead-Barrington--runs into all kinds of beautiful women who just want to sleep with him. Yeah, right. Since he's no bright light, it doesn't say a lot for these ladies. The plot is stupid, all about a murdered lothario movie star. Who killed him? Who cares? And the writing stinks. Every so often a character faces Our Hero and Woods has him "turn to Stone." Could it get worse? You betcha.

Woods' other books are saved by a twist ending, a "gotcha" that you wouldn't expect. Nothing like that here. Woods is clearly treading water, and time spent with this book is time wasted.

Popular fiction doesn't need to be great literature, but Woods is clearly spreading himself too thin. He could learn something from some of his contemporaries. Sue Grafton took herself off of the yearly grind before her books got stale, so she can craft them a little more carefully. And Nelson DeMille can leave you hanging from one book to the next because the ride is so good that you don't need a satisfactory resolution. What happens to Stone next? Who cares? Instead of the next Stone adventure I'll just buy a book about what happens when paint dries.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Woods Packs A Whallop Of A Punch With L.A. Dead!, November 15, 2000

By 

Brad Stonecipher - See all my reviews

This review is from: L.A. Dead (Stone Barrington) (Hardcover)

I just started reading Stuart Woods about six months ago and I think he is a great writer. I especially like his novels that includes his main protaganist, Stone Barrington. I have been looking forward to L.A. Dead for months. I think this novel was one of the best novels that Stuart has wrote. Stone Barrington is in Italy getting ready for his marriage to Dolce, the daughter of a rich Mafia man. At the last minute before he gets married, he gets a call from the police in Los Angeles, saying that Vance Calder, Arrington's new husband, has been murdered and that Arrington is the main suspect. (If you don't know who Arrington is at all, then you need to start with the earlier Stone Barringon novels or you will be confused!) Stone dashes out of Italy and arrives in Los Angeles. Stone along with Dino Bachetti, his old partner and friend, must prove that Arrington is innocent and discover who the killer is before someone else dies. The only problem is that Dolce, Stone's fiance, is incredibly mad at Stone and she even gets a little violent. One of the things that will shock the readers is the ENDING! You will be in shock. I'm looking forward to Mr. Woods' next novel coming in the future.