Family Jewels (A Stone Barrington Novel Book 37)

Same old, same old.Jeeze... At this point, I envision Woods having had someone build him a software package that allows him to just point and click his way to finishing a new Stone Barrington yarn.Picture Woods sitting at his laptop and choosing a 'scene' from a menu of choices:- Stone and Dino having dinner at Patroone- Stone talking to Joan from his desk- Stone flying his airplane somewhere- Stone in bed with the floozy of the momentYou get the idea. Nothing new, all routine, just different variations of the same recepie. 'Click'. Choose another scene 'click'. Choose another. 'Click'.After all of the scenes are chosen, he just adds a little dialogue to fit in between the scenes and pretty much 90% of the novel is cut from the same cookie sheet as the last 10 or so.Stone is rich and getting richer. Dino does job abandonment at an absurd level to go traipsing around with Stone and nothing really bad ever happens to Stone that doesn't have a conveniently coincidental conclusion at some point.Add a little sex for spice and Woods has a formula that he is wringing every last ounce out of to pad his very, very healthy bank account.And we keep voting with our wallets by continuing to buy his books and putting him on the NY Times bestseller's list.*Sigh*.

Thanks to Mr. Woods for so many good years of reading. Sad to say that I should have stopped reading these absurd stories years ago - the very light reading (think fourth grade level when compared to many alternatives available) offered me quick breaks between real developed reads. The ridiculous excesses associated with the life arcs of these characters, coupled with the repeat of the same story, presented in a different suit of clothes, has become too much h to take. Where to next for the beat cop/detective turned ever richer presidential advisor on Supreme Court nominees? I will not be checking in to see.And, as an aside, given significant changes I perceived in the way the characters spoke, their interactions, pace, and so on, I wondered if this might have been co-written by someone else. Or maybe Mr. Woods is becoming as tired of this as I have become.

I assume that woods must be story blocked. It's the same old unbelievable stuff with all the stone barri ton books. Someone shows up with millions of dollars needing representation. He gets invited to an affair at the woman's home and she immediately sleeps with him. He calls up all his rich friends and they take care of any problem his client has. In between he flies his personal plane all over the world and buys expensive things and real estate. Oh yeah, let's not forget the president calling him for advice, and the deputy directors of the vi's and mi-6 sleeping with him. After one or two episodes of this fantasy you would think woods would get an original story. Nope only the nuance changes.

I finished the book in order to solve the mystery of the good ratings. I couldn't figure it out. This is a poorly written book, simplistic and boring. The characters sound the same and the plot is non-existent. The true mystery is why I wasted $14.00.

The Stone Barrington series continues to operate in a world that no longer exists. Servants, immense wealth, constant and immediate sex,impossibly immediate business deals, movies produced and finished on the spot. All of them strain credulity.The people, especially Stone eat, drink non-stop yet never exercise. A police commissioner on leave more than on the job and using his official status for off the job duties.So why keep reading? Because the characters have become almost like friends. You want to see what happens next. These are easy reads, fast reads.The newer series about Teddy Fay, which is apparently written with a co-worker has more character and plot development. Seems a better read.I am not urging Woods to change his formula. I will keep reading and urge others too because it’s fun. But it could be brought up to date

I don't know why I keep buying Stuart Woods books but they feel like family. I have read all of the Stone Barrington novels and I admit I am a fan even though they have less and less in the way of activity. I know I will keep reading his books but know they are just done to get them done. I like all of the characters. In this case, Stone meets another woman from his friend, Ed Eagle and she slips away (only to be found in another book, I am sure). In any event, it is time for Stone to settle down and be more engaged in some dangerous activities.

After reading Scandalous Behavior, I thought maybe Family Jewels would be a better read; wrong. The only thing new in this book is that Stone Barrington ended up with a dog named "Bob" from a former lady friend. Well at least we have a new character to talk about besides Dino, Viv and all the other women he hops into bed with; most never meeting them before. Well now Stone has some responsibility with the dog other than flying to all his many homes around the world. Woods certainly could do a better job of expanding on the story instead of snippets. The whole thing is this could have been a much better book if he would have developed the characters and the plot which would have made a much more interesting reading. Gees I hope that Woods does not marry Stone off again or this would be even worse. Maybe Stone is better off with a pet dog than all the women he seduces. Pets don't talk. Gees, wonder if I should pity the dog.

I am a dedicated Stuart Woods fan but I must say the last few novels have been less than exciting.......I love Stone Barrington but the stories are getting lame....and alot shorter.I paid alot of money for the books on Amazon and I don't feel they have been worth it and will not be buying any more when they come out.Sorry but I need more content from Stuart Woods.

In the last couple of years some of Stuart's books have been criticised for a lack of 'substance', and I would agree that appears to hold up for some. This novel, whilst retaining Wood's clever way of making the pages turn easily, has more substance to it and to this end I have given it 5 stars.

Great book as usual from Stuart Woods. Elaine Isle of Wight

a good Barrington read

Usual high standard, super.

Once again I predicted wrong. I thought Stone was on the right track and his partner, Stuart, took us on another track. Thank you Mr Woods for another fun adventure. Onto #38