15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Fast-paced Page Turner Starring Stone Barrington, June 14, 2000
Well, Stuart Woods did it again! He provides his readers with another fast-paced page turner with his recurring character, Stone Barrington. Fans of Stuart Woods know that Stone is a retired NYC police detective turned lawyer. While he does practice in the legal profession, he never quite gets away from his past as a dedicated gumshoe and it is this combination (along with other quirks) that makes him such a fascinating character.
In this installment, Woods reprises a character from the immediately preceding DEAD IN THE WATER. That person is Stone's erstwhile lover Arrington Carter. As readers of DITW know, Arrington never joined Stone for their mid-winter Caribbean vacation. Instead, she winds up following actor Vance Calder to Hollywood and much to everyone's surprise, Stone's included, she marries him.
At the beginning of this novel, Stone is called to California by Vance Calder, ostensibly to investigate the disappearance of Arrington. being the good detective that he is, Stone complies with Vance's request. Upon arrival, he is feted by studio bigwigs and even cast as a lawyer in a movie (for which he is well paid despite his inexperience as an actor and his short time on set and in front of the camera). Stone sallies forth and encounters several young women who seem all too eager to bed him down. Being the person he is, Stone is all too willing to comply and he begins to sample the several sexual pleasures he is offered by different women Woods introduces to the story. In addition to his sexual adventures, Stone also has several that could only be called life-threatening. He meets local mafia soldiers and they proceed to try to get rid of him in a time-tested manner. After reading that scene, it becomes readily apparent how Woods chose his title. Although his escape from that precarious situation borders on implausible, I suspended disbelief, knowing that the story would have a better ending because of it.
Throughought SWIMMING TO CATALINA, Stone functions as both detective and lawyer. Toward the end of the novel, Woods gives the reader a treat as we get to see just how good a negotiator and advocate Stone really is. Stone has the opportunity to prevent his client, Vance Calder from getting into trouble with the federal government while at the same time, helping the same federal agencies crack murder and corruption cases.
During all of the wheelings and dealings, Stone also must come to grips with the fact that he is still in love with Arrington despite the fact that she is married to Vance Calder. Another complication added to the mix is that Arrington is pregnant and doesn't know whether Stone is the father or her new husband is. That mystery is not solved until the very end. Stone's reaction, while bittersweet shows that he is the better man.
Stuart Woods imbues Stone Barrington with several admirable qualities while also showing him to be a man with certain well know weaknesses. The strong qualities are loyalty, a sense of justice and fair-play and a need to see justice done. He is also not above exacting revenge when he feels it serves a purpose.
I like Stone Barrington. I believe that Stuart Woods could find many more story lines to use for him much as Robert B. Parker continues to turn out spare but faced new novels in his SPENSER series. Done right, I think Woods could keep Stone Barrington around for quite some time to come. I hope he decides to do so. If he does, I think I can safely say that the books will fly off the shelves in bookstores everywhere.
Thanks for another thoroughly enjoyable read, Stuart. Please keep Stone Barrington stories coming!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A terrific story, March 30, 1998
By A Customer
Former NYPD police officer Stone Barrington plans to rest up after returning home from his "vacation" (see DEAD IN THE WATER). However when his buddy Vance Calder, a movie superstar, calls and pleads for his help, Stone heads to California. Vance's wife, Arrington Carrington (Stone's former girl friend) has been kidnapped and it is up to the former law enforcement official to find her.
However, Stone finds himself the recipient of the VIP treatment, making him conclude that someone does not want him to investigate the disappearance of his former squeeze. Soon, Stone is told to go back to the Big Apple as Arrington has been found. Still, he cannot leave without finding out the truth about the recent shenanigans. This turns into a mistake as the New Yorker becomes the target of some questionable characters.
SWIMMING TO CATALINA is not for everyone. If someone wants a jocular, irrelevant novel in which nothing is sacred, this is the book to peruse. Stone is a typical cynical New Yorker with a slightly self-deprecating sense of humor. He is also the last of the free love characters. The story line is fast-paced and filled with plenty of action. Simply put, Stuart Woods has written another three thumbs up winner.
Harriet Klausner
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fast paced and pleasing, November 10, 1999
By A Customer
Stuart Woods is an amazing author, he has never let me down. His novel Swimming to Catalina is the sequel to Dead in the Water. It is important to read Dead in the Water first to apprieciate Swiming to Catalina. Stone Barrington is the main character of both novels. He is an ex-cop of the NYPD from which he was forced to retire. Stone became a lawyer and joined a big firm in New York. In Swimming to Catalina Stone is trying to find his ex-girlfriend for movie star Vance Calder. Stone has plenty of trouble finding his ex. This was a great book just remember to read Dead in the Water first. Great job Stuart
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