Two Dollar Bill: A Stone Barrington Novel [Audiobook, Unabridged] [Audio Cassette]

Stuart Woods (Author), Tony Roberts (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2005

Audio Cassettes Edition, 2005.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Books on Tape; Unabridged edition (2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1415916381
• ISBN-13: 978-1415916384
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.7 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,373,072 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

31 of 36 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
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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