Swimming to Catalina: A Novel (Hardcover)

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Key Phrases: sports fisherman, Stuart Woods, New York, Vance Calder (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Formerly a cop and now a lawyer, Stone Barrington is plummeting to the bottom of the ocean with an anchor chained to his waist at the start of Woods's 17th novel (after Dead in the Water, 1997), a smoothly presented if slight thriller that ambles pleasurably through a kidnapping plot involving Barrington's ex-lover (improbably named Arrington). Her husband, actor Vance Calder, flies Barrington out to Hollywood to help find her. In L.A., Barrington goes from flavor-of-the-minute to persona non grata in less time than it takes a flop to disappear from a multiplex. Naturally he's suspicious, so he starts investigating on his own and finds links aplenty among Calder, a mobster named Onofrio Ippolito (head of the Safe Harbor Bank) and labor fixer David Sturmach. The plot moves quickly and is full of dialogue and genial if unsurprising gibes at self-centered stars. Unsurprising is the key word here. Neither the mystery nor the romantic subplot contributes much in the way of suspense to this pleasant, inoffensive airplane read. $250,000 ad/promo; BOMC alternate. (May) simultaneously with Swimming to Catalina.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

After nearly two dozen books, Woods can still surprise readers, not only with clever plots and characters, but also with his knowledge of everything from aeronautics to yachtsmanship. His latest story has former NYPD cop turned lawyer Stone Barrington off on an adventure even James Bond might envy. Barrington's former girlfriend Arrington has married Barrington's friend Vance Calder, Hollywood's hottest actor. Three months into the marriage, Arrington's been kidnapped, and Vance calls Barrington to beg for his help. Barrington comes to L.A. only to find a hornet's nest: Vance has hooked up with some unscrupulous Mafia-like characters. Now they've got Vance under their thumbs and do not want anyone poking around. Barrington's detecting efforts turn him into a prime target for the baddies, but using his well-honed lawyerly skills and gathering encouragement from a bevy of Hollywood beauties, Barrington gets Arrington back and "disappears" Vance's problems. Despite the fact that this book is definitely politically incorrect and Barrington has apparently never heard of safe sex, it's a highly entertaining read that's chock-full of slam-bang action, fast cars, beautiful women, fine wine, and tart, tongue-in-cheek humor. Another outstanding effort from this popular author. Emily Melton

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (April 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060183691
• ISBN-13: 978-0060183691
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #239,721 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 4 in The Stone Barrington Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Fast-paced Page Turner Starring Stone Barrington, June 14, 2000

By	P. Connors "Colonialpara" (United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

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

This review is from: Swimming to Catalina (Mass Market Paperback)

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

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Full of suspense and hard to put down, November 22, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Sacramento, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Swimming to Catalina (Mass Market Paperback)

This was the first of Woods books that I have read and it will not be the last. This book keep the suspense until the end. I would get to the next chapter and mean to put the book down and not be able to. This book focus' on real places and one can easily put themselves into the book. You feel as if you are there, especially if you are from the part of the country that the plot takes place. I gave this 5 stars.