Customer Reviews

The Prince of Beverly Hills (Rick Barron Series)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

When police detective Rick Barron sees film star Clete Barrow crash his car in a highway accident, he efficiently whisks the drunken actor away from the scene and wards off bad publicity for Centurion Pictures and their famous British star. In return, he is hired into the coveted position of the head of security for the film studio. When he probes into the mysterious death of his predecessor and the beatings of several actresses, his investigations lead to a murder cover-up and blackmail. He soon runs up against a cast of shady characters that threaten his own safety.

In a departure from his Stone Barrington novels, Woods has produced a fast-paced and entertaining story of intrigue and organized crime against the backdrop of Hollywood in its heyday. This setting provides ample opportunity for Woods to mix a bit of history and glamour into the story. As the United States hovers on the brink of the Second World War, it touches the lives of the story's characters. Rick Barron meets Bugsy Siegel, Clark Gable, and Greta Garbo. He is dubbed "Prince of Beverly Hills" by Hedda Hopper. He listens to the big band sounds of Artie Shaw. Rick is an interesting and likable character, and it seems likely that this is the start of a new series. Recommended as a fun and fast read.

Eileen Rieback

The prolific Woods' previous 28 novels span both non-series mysteries and thrillers as well as his rather well known Will Lee (lawyer/politician), Stone Barrington (playboy private eye) and Holly Barker (Orchid Beach police chief) series stories. "Prince" is a total departure, featuring ex-cop, now Centurion film studios new head of security, Rick Barron, in a tale set in 1939. The movie studios are becoming big business in the heyday of Gable, Garbo, and Hopper; but war troubles loom in Europe as the Nazi machine is gearing up for conquest.

Rick gets his job through handling big star Clete Barrow's auto accident, in which he squirrels the actor away before bad publicity sets in, to the ever grateful appreciation of the studio. Soon he has plenty of money, a glamorous convertible, and increasing pull with the top executives of the studio. Before long, he himself is an assistant producer and apparently latches on to the work quickly as he is successful right from the start. His careful covering of a rising female star's attempted suicide also endears him both to his bosses and to the lovely lady herself, and soon romance ensues! All is swell but for the interference of mob thug Chick Stampano who keeps rearing his ugly head, as part of a blackmailing scheme, throughout virtually the whole book. In the end, who will prevail?

The plot meanders to a somewhat slow ending, but this novel is not exactly a thriller with a big hunt or whodunit that needs a flashy ending. Rather, it is more of a period piece that entertains with historical perspective, an amusing story set amid the glory of the movie capital, and characters with whom it is fun to spend an afternoon or so enjoying their tribulations and victories. Woods' writing is as always in fine form, and frankly we didn't miss the explicit sex so common in his Barrington tales. All in all, the new characters and early Americana (albeit Hollywood!) gave us a pleasurable few hours of light reading without overwhelming violence, sex, or intrigue. Enjoy!

If you have read my past reviews you know I think it is pretty worthless to actually talk about the story, but to actually talk about the enjoyment factor of reading fiction. I mean you don't read fiction as a means of actually furthering your education or anything. You read it because it is fun and enjoyable. You lose yourself it the book as a 3rd party observer and go for a literary ride for a while. Well this ride was fun for about 3/4 of the book. After that if feels like your are on a descent roller coaster of fiction going along with the story and then 3/4 of the way through the book Stuart Woods kind of hops the track and takes you on a path that has absolutely nothing to do with the previous 250 pages. I actually liked the beginning and middle and should have stopped there and then made up my own ending and I would have given it 3 stars. Don't waste your time or money on this one...or do if you want to chuckle at what a silly ending the books has. I really can't say enough at how it seems Stuart Woods just really got tired of writing this book and then just farmed out the ending to someone that hadn't actually read the first 3/4 of the book.

Although I've been disappointed with several of his last offerings, Stuart Woods is back in the game and has hit a home run with THE PRINCE OF BEVERLY HILLS, a lush tale about Hollywood in the late 1930's.

Former Beverly Hills detective Rick Barron has been demoted - - due to a messy liaison with his boss' niece - - and just happens to be in the right place (Sunset Boulevard) at the right time (about 2 in the morning) when a major movie star wrecks his car and, if the press finds out about it, his brilliant career.

Barron ends up on the movie studio payroll as the "clean up" guy and finds there is more to films that acting. He has to insure that the movie star finishes his picture. His predecessor has some pretty smarmy contacts, the remnants of which are left in the studio's safe. Even mobster Bugsy Seagal enters the scene.

Toss in a bevy of beautiful starlets, a lot of interesting story lines and Woods has given his fans a great read.

I look forward to more stories about Hollywood's Gilded Age and watching Woods develop Rick Barron into a movie mogul.

Enjoy!

Changing a character's name and the setting of the story doesn't make for a new character. Send Stone Barrington back 65 years, move him to California, and welcome to the world of Rick Barron.

Rick, a beat cop, happens to witness a car accident, and scuttles the drunk movie actor back to his studio with no regard for the person he killed. For that, he's rewarded with a job as the studio's director of security and Stone's lifestyle -- a great job, new car, house and wardrobe, rich important friends, tons of money and all the beautiful women he can eyeball. Then, for some inexplicable reason, he's suddenly a movie producer, producing Hollywood blockbusters. Then, suddenly he's a Navy pilot. and we get rushed through the last 50 pages of Rick's war adventures.

I guess Woods knows that his Stone Barrington series is down the toilet, so he decided to deceive readers into thinking he had a new character and storyline in order to get them to buy his latest piece of garbage, when in fact it was the same old, same old. Holly at least was different when she started out, and didn't fall into the trap until she inherited money and met up with Stone in New York. Now Woods can boast of having three lousy series going at the same time.

Don't waste your money, particularly if you're a Stone Barrington reader...you've seen it all before.

I have read all of Wood's various books starting with the sailing book he wrote years ago. I have always enjoyed his writting and looked forward to every new book. Sorry to say this book was an extreme dissapointment. Very simple plot lines and a new character who was so much like Stone Barrington I don't know why he even created a new one. Every characteristic of this "new" character screamed Stone Barrington to me. This looks like a book that was just tossed out and it is an insult to all the fans of Woods for him to give us a book that he obviously didn't take pride in. I will be more careful with his next book and not just buy it because it is written by Woods.

This was my first Stuart Woods book, and I really enjoyed it. I'm not a big fan of mystery and murder, but since it took place in 1930's/1940's Hollywood, I had to read it.

Rick Barron starts out as a demoted Beverly Hills cop, but after handling a 'situation' with one of Centurion Studios biggest stars, Eddie Harris (#2 man at the studio) offers Rick an offer he can't refuse as Head of Security for Centurion. All too happy to leave the BHPD, he takes the job, and is fast becoming the hot new man in town. While looking out for the well being of the studio's stars, Rick lands himself in some trouble with mobster Chick Stampano. Chick has a habit of beating up and blackmailing Hollywood's leading ladies, and Rick's not about to put up with it...so with the help of some friends, he sets out to take care of his little mob problem.

Overall I really enjoyed the book. It was fast paced, and almost impossible to put down. My only issue with the book was the names. Mr. Woods would use the same name for different characters, and it got a bit confusing at times...especially since it just wasn't necessary, (i.e...the two studio exec's named Eddie, the two Ben's, the two Jacks, Barrow and Barron...why couldn't everyone have a different name?).

In the end, I definitely recommend this. I don't know that I'll read many more of his books in the future seeing as how I don't care for detective stories...but the man is a great author. And should I ever feel the urge to read one, Mr. Woods will be at the top of my list.

There once was a time when Stuart Woods was a good writer. Nowadays, he seems to be little more than passable, and it often seem that the only reason I'm still reading his books are (a) the hope that he will return to previous form and (b) they remain quick reads. In his latest book, The Prince of Beverly Hills, we are treated to a new character and setting, but it is the same old Woods, aspiring to be little more than a simple beach read.

In Prince, we are introduced to Rick Barron, a Beverly Hills cop in 1939 who happens upon a drunk driving accident involving A-list actor Clete Barrow. Barron covers up the crime and is rewarded with a high level studio security job, along with a new home and car. Not unlike Woods series character Stone Barrington, success just seems to come naturally to Barron. Although he needs to contend with a mid-level gangster named Chick Stampano (an obvious fictional version of real-life criminal Johnny Stompanato) and various real organized crime figures, this almost seems to be a distraction from Barron's life of glamor and girls.

As usual, Woods tells a pretty straightforward story with minimal twists. The story is a minor diversion but far from great literature. Perhaps most annoying in this book is Woods's inability to create any real variety in names. Almost all his characters are similarly named, with many having double-r's, including Barrow, Barron (only one letter difference!), Harris, Morrison and Terry, with almost everyone else having some other double-letter combination. I suppose there could be some sort of joke behind this, but I'm missing it.

Finally, Woods treats Barrow as a generally good guy and immediately dismisses the fact that this man killed an innocent woman due to his drunk driving; no guilt is ever felt by this character, not because he is some sort of sociopath, but merely because the woman is completely forgotten. Her death is a mere plot device to get Barron into his new career (and he never has any regrets over using this dead woman to get all his dreams to come true). There is something distasteful about the whole thing, and demonstrates Woods's inability to create a story with any sort of real depth.

So even if this is a fast read and minimally entertaining, it once again shows that Woods either has fading talents or is not interested in quality writing. I may continue to check out his books - in hope of the good old days - or I may not; he has been trying my patience for too long. Even if you're just looking for that beach book to kill some idle hours, you can do better than this completely skippable book.

There was a time I looked forward to the latest Stuart Woods books. His books read faster than any other author's, the perfect beach read book. I particularly like his short chapters that leave a cliffhanger and won't let you stop until you've read just a little more. This book takes you back to some of his best work in the beginning and middle of his career like White Cargo, Swimming to Catalina and New York Dead.

Woods returns to a period piece of a Los Angeles detective who quickly finds him working as a studio detective who must protect actors & actresses from their many vices and various bad guys. Obviously that provides plenty of love interests for his main character. What makes this book different is that he overlays the main characters with a few chosen stars. In addition, the main protagonist is clearly written after Johnny Stampato who died at the hands of Lana Turner's daughter.

All of this makes the book interesting and extremely readable. Woods writes his books as personal fantasies. That's why the good guy, pseudo Woods, always gets the girl, always wins the fights, and always enjoys Woods' hobbies such as flying, sailing and in this case, fly fishing.

I strongly recommend this book for anyone interested in a fast, enjoyable read on the beach without trying to tax your mind. Escape from the office in this book!

I for one, have gotten slightly tired of Stone Barrington, and his exploits in and out of bed. (How many of us know anyone that, er, energetic???)

Set in pre-WW II,the Prince of Beverly Hills deals with recently demoted cop Rick Barron being in the right spot at the right time, helping top star Clete Barron. The studio is so grateful that they make him head of security, or rather a very highly paid baby sitter to ensure Barron makes it on time to studio shoots, etc.

They are likeable characters all, and there is the glamour of Hollywood, as well as the sex, drugs, and unsavory folks who enforce orders from even slimier folks.

The real stars who mentioned mesh in with Woods' characters and story line.

A welcome change to Stone and company...just once I wish he'd...have a headache........!!!