Two-Dollar Bill: A Stone Barrington Novel [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Stuart Woods (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 20, 2005

A New York Times Bestselling Author

Two-Dollar Bill delivers all the storytelling twists and whip-smart banter readers have come to love in Stuart Woods' thrillers. In his latest, suave Manhattan cop-turned-lawyer Stone Barrington is back on his home turf, facing down a brilliant Southern flimflam man.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Fans of Woods's ex-cop turned lawyer, Stone Barrington, will not be disappointed in this latest entry in the series. This time out, Stone becomes involved with a loud-talking Texan improbably named Billy Bob Barnstormer. It isn't long before Stone regrets ever being introduced to Billy Bob, especially when he leaves a dead body in Stone's guest room. But that is only the beginning of a tale that finds Stone, along with his best friend, Dino Bacchetti, following a twisted trail as they attempt to capture Billy Bob, who, it turns out, is much more dangerous than Stone could ever have imagined. Narrator Roberts slips comfortably into his performance, bringing a nice, down-to-earth quality to his portrayal of Stone. He is equally at home in his characterizations of Stone's recurring circle of friends, giving each a distinct voice and personality. Roberts's slightly over the top, good old boy portrayal of Billy Bob works well, and he nicely shifts his performance as the likable, backwoods-sounding Texan changes and his true sociopathic tendencies rise to the surface. Roberts is also adept at handling Woods's dialogue, providing some laugh-out-loud moments in his delivery of the banter between Stone and Bacchetti.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Last seen cozying up to Holly Barker in Reckless Abandon [BKL Mr 15 04], suave detective-turned-lawyer Stone Barrington is lounging in his favorite restaurant, Elaine's, with his best friend, police lieutenant Dino Bacchetti, when he's approached by lawyer Bill Eggers, who has a new client who has requested Stone by name. Billy Bob Barnstormer is a larger-than-life Texan who wants to keep Stone on retainer and offers him a $50,000 check. Stone is skeptical of Billy Bob, especially when he overhears him setting up business deals with Warren Buffett. Stone's suspicions turn out to be right on target: Billy Bob disappears, leaving a dead prostitute in Stone's guest bedroom. The plot thickens when both Tiffany Baldwin, the U.S. attorney for New York, and Lance Cabot, the CIA operative who occasionally enlists Stone's help, express interest in Billy Bob, who is apparently guilty of everything from fraud to attempting to sell military-style weapons to enemies of the U.S. To make matters worse, Tiffany, who quickly becomes Stone's new love interest, and Lance are vying for jurisdiction over the case, and Billy Bob has made it personal, targeting Stone himself. Typical Woods' fare--fast-paced, glossy, and always entertaining. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 431 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Press; 1 edition (April 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786273674
• ISBN-13: 978-0786273676
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,159,743 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

32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars such a very bad book, June 9, 2005

By 

clifford "akitonmyers" (Portland, OR, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two-Dollar Bill (Stone Barrington Novels) (Hardcover)

This book should be called 38 dinners at Elaine's instead of `2 Dollar Bill.' It seems like Stone, Dino, and a slew of other characters are spending every other page entering the restaurant. I feel a little bad trashing this book. The author photo of Stewart Woods shows the face of a man who appears humble and defenseless. But it was so bad, that even a defenseless chap like Woods deserves no sympathy. I am trying to remember earlier Barrington books. I know that I have not enjoyed the last couple of titles in the series. They are getting so outlandish and inconceivable that its like spending some time in the mind of a five year old playing with action figures rather than being led on a taught story under the capable hands of a true suspense writer.

`Two Dollar Bill' is probably the worst Barrington novel yet. It is very shoddily pieced together. There is no other way to put it than that Woods has lost his grasp as to what it is to be a genre writer. To start with the ins and outs of the plot are sheer lunacy. The amorphous character that is the namesake for the title is such a mass of conflicting personalities that it is difficult to accredit him with being little more than a device. `Two Dollar Bill' is used at the whim of the author to fit any need at any time in order to further along the story. Its as if he were an idea at the back of Woods mind that never seems to have been fleshed out.

Barrington himself has turned into a comic stereotype of his old self and his antics along with his friend's correlates with the old Keystone Cops movies of the silent era. A bunch of bumbling buffoons that belies the very notion of whether or not to take them seriously with out liberal uses of salt.

I would entirely pass this book by. Try one of Harlan Coben's earlier books that dose not employ the character of Myron Bolitar. Open up a Denis Lehane book or a Jim Harrison suspense novel. Any of these authors have easily distanced themselves from the dregs of Woods imagination. Save yourself the suffering of having to plow through one page of poorly written prose after another.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Woods phoned in another snoozer...., April 25, 2005

By 

Richard Orlin (Centreville, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Two-Dollar Bill (Stone Barrington Novels) (Hardcover)

Sorry to say it, but it's dejavu all over again. Same plot with minor variations. Stone Barington and Dino trade bon mots with Elaine over whiskey/dinner/dessert. Barrington has an attempt made on his/Arrington's/Dino's life. Stone meets and beds a beautiful woman. And finally, Stone saves the day/Arrington/Dino/New York City.I would give this tenth Stone Barrington novel more stars if I could get worked up over the main character. I thought you were supposed to care for the character and worry about him. Unfortunately, Mr Woods must be a bit tired, or preoccupied, because all of his characters, including Stone Barrington, are two-dimensional with no more substance than tissue paper. Mr. Woods, maybe it's time to retire Stone Barrington and move on...

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars More Stone Barrington shenanigans, July 4, 2005

By 

Eileen Rieback (Coral Springs, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Two-Dollar Bill (Stone Barrington Novels) (Hardcover)

Stone Barrington, the ex-cop, lawyer, and ladies man is back. This time, he's placed on retainer by a flamboyantly wealthy Texan named Billy Bob Barnstormer. When Billy Bob's date winds up dead in Stone's guestroom, Stone and his cop friend Dino investigate the murder. It turns out that Billy Bob is not what, or who, he seems. The feds, the CIA, and the NYPD are all soon after the elusive con man, and things turn dangerous for Stone when Billy Bob decides to turn the tables on him.

Stuart Woods has a formula that has worked for many Stone Barrington novels, and he doesn't diverge from it now. Stone is still the suave James Bond-like protagonist who bravely goes after the bad guys while barely breaking into a sweat. He is still pursued by incredibly beautiful and wealthy women, this time by the U.S. Attorney for the state of New York as well as by his ex-flame Arrington Carter. As usual there are plenty of dinners at Elaine's, bedroom romps, unrealistic and often outrageous scenarios, and chase scenes. There is still a predictable outcome, although there are a few turns along the way.

This is a quick read with short chapters, comic dialog, and lots of action. It is a fairly entertaining, although simplistic, story. The reason why I gave it only 3 stars is because it's almost become a stereotype of a Stone Barrington novel. If you enjoyed others in the series and want more of the same but in a more concentrated dose, you'll like this one. If you want something with some substance or with a bit of finesse, you will be disappointed.

Eileen Rieback