Shoot Him If He Runs (Stone Barrington Novels) [Hardcover]

Stuart Woods (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 2007

In the newest addition to the bestselling series, Stone Barrington and Holly Barker pursue a master spy and murderer in a tropical paradise where very little is as it seems.

Teddy Fay, a rogue agent last seen escaping an imploding building in Iron Orchid, has been considered dead for some time now. But President Will Lee thinks Teddy may still be alive. In a top-secret Oval Office meeting, Stone learns that he and his cohorts, Holly Barker and Dino Baldachetti, are being sent to the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Marks, courtesy of the CIA, to track down Teddy once and for all.

St. Marks is a vacationer's paradise, but its luxurious beach clubs and secluded mountain villas are home to corrupt local politicians and more than a few American ex-pats with murky personal histories. Stone and Holly soon discover that in St. Marks, everyone is hiding something, and Teddy Fay may just be hiding in plain sight.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Stone Barrington and Holly Barker, Woods's longtime investigative and romantic duo, search for a rogue CIA agent on a beautiful tropical island in this low-voltage thriller. At the request of U.S. President Will Lee, Barrington and Barker travel to the Caribbean island of St. Marks to track down Teddy Fay, an agent-turned-assassin who has been on the loose for years. They find a mix of luxurious beach clubs, corrupt but genial politicians and a shady expatriate community that enjoys the local government's don't-ask-don't-tell approach to foreigners. What they don't find is Fay, a master of disguise and escape. Woods (Fresh Disasters) brings in his usual cast, including Barrington's sidekick Dino Bacchetti and CIA boss Lance Cabot, and spends as much time on fine dining and vacation fun in the sun as he does on the actual mission. The plot smartly picks up momentum toward the end, and a handful of character developments will keep fans eager for the next installment. (Oct.)
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From Booklist

Stone Barrington and Holly Barker team up once again in Woods' newest offering, this time to hunt ex-CIA-agent-turned-assassin Teddy Fay at the behest of the director of the CIA, Kate Rule Lee, who also happens to be the wife of President William Lee. Stone and Holly, along with Dino Bacchetti, are dispatched to luxurious St. Marks island, where they spend as much time frolicking in the ocean as they do tracking Teddy. Stone and Holly manage to strike up an acquaintance with Irene Foster, a former CIA employee who was reputed to have had a relationship with Teddy, and her current lover, Harry Pitts. But Stone and Holly soon find themselves caught up in the corrupt local politics, which stand in stark contrast to the balmy paradise the island appears to be. After the chief of police on the island is gunned down, Stone and Holly realize Teddy might be back in business, and the hunt to find him becomes even more urgent. Perennial favorite Woods certainly knows how to keep the pages turning. Huntley, Kristine

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult; 1ST edition (September 25, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399154442
• ISBN-13: 978-0399154447
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #611,134 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

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, not great!, October 1, 2007

By 

W. P. Strange "Bill's shelf" (Williamstown, MA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shoot Him If He Runs (Stone Barrington Novels) (Hardcover)

When the bar has been set so high by an author like Stuart Woods, it isn't surprising that after 20 or more books the quality is likely to occasionally suffer. "Shoot Him If He Runs" would probably get a five star review if it had been by a first time author, but when the author has written previous novels nothing short of top notch, like "Chiefs," "L.A. Dead," or "Worst Fears Realized," the true fan expects more. Even the return of Stone Barrington and Holly Barker couldn't revive this sleepy effort.

I kept waiting for the tension to be racheted upward, or the plot to take an unexpected turn, but nothing happened. A competent story, told competently, but lacking the pizzazz we have come to expect from one of our favorite author whose next book we anxiously await year after year. Someone new to Stuart Woods, starting with "Shoot Him If He runs" might find it enjoyable to read, but will he/she become a true fan?

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars The Usual, November 3, 2007

By 

Juanita A. Floyd "Life is too short to read b... (Leesburg, Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Shoot Him If He Runs (Stone Barrington Novels) (Hardcover)

A quick, predictable read. Woods seems to be writing them quick these days without much thought. Not at all like the early books that got everyone hooked on him in the first place. Not sure I will be rushing out to get the next one at this rate. I also agree with what someone said about the author's notes at the end of the book. There is a very condescending tone to those notes as if he thinks all his readers are idiots at best. Time for a wake up call Stuart.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good Fast Read, February 12, 2008

By 

Kim K. (Bayonne, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shoot Him If He Runs (Stone Barrington Novels) (Hardcover)

OK, it wasn't one of Stuart Wood's best books to come down the pike, but it wasn't one of the worst, either. Having kept up with the Stone Barrington and Holly Barker novels, I figured I'd give this latest one a try. Knowing all about the search for rogue ex-CIA agent Teddy Fay, it was very easy to slip into the story and characters even though most of the story was kind of far fetched. As one reviewer noted, the sex scenes weren't integral to the storyline, and it seemed that Stone, Holly, Dino and Genevieve were more interested in constantly drinking pitchers of vodka gimlets and tropical fruit punch. How convenient that the Inn where they were staying featured it's own nude beach? You could just picture Stone and Dino leering at all the naked bodies up and down the beach. Anyway, again we are left wondering whether or not Teddy Fay made it out dead or alive-meaning we can eventually expect another storyline featuring the chase to bring him down once and for all.