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Loitering With Intent: A Stone Barrington Novel

Review

Loitering With Intent: A Stone Barrington Novel

Those who enjoy series mysteries look forward to the latest installment as if they are going to a family reunion. Stone Barrington fans know that they are in for late night dinners at Elaine’s, listening to friendly banter between Stone and his former partner, Dino Bacchetti, as they discuss the latest gorgeous women in their lives. We may even indulge in a glass of Knob Creek as we wait to see what the next big assignment will be. In this case, we don’t have long to wait.

Bill Eggers, managing partner of Woodman and Weld, introduces Stone to Warren Keating, one of the heirs to the multigenerational family business Elijah Keating’s Sons. With 19 factories around the world manufacturing industrial equipment, the company has generated great wealth. Now, with only one son left to run the business, and that son with no interest in the company, Warren Keating is ready to sell out to a multinational company that has made a substantial offer. However, he needs his son Evan’s signature on the sale papers before the deal can be consummated. Stone agrees to go to Key West, Evan’s last known location, and convince him to sign the papers; Dino is willing to take a few days off from the NYPD to accompany him. Nice, simple assignment, right? Well, not exactly.

Before you know it, people begin getting threatened, shot at and killed. Stone himself is knocked unconscious when he attempts to obtain Evan’s signature. It seems there is more to the story than originally revealed and many questions that need to be answered. Why was Stone attacked? Who is holding back on the truth? What is a millionaire doing with a known drug dealer, and where was he when the drug dealer was murdered? At great personal sacrifice, Stone and Dino agree to stay in Key West for a few more days and investigate.

While there are always many exciting elements we can count on in any Stuart Woods novel, perhaps the most enjoyable is the thrilling resolution of the mysteries. No matter how many of his books you may have read, Woods can usually provide a surprise and an exciting conclusion that is far more intricate than we might have assumed. LOITERING WITH INTENT is no exception and will leave you looking forward to the next adventure.

Reviewed by Maggie Harding on December 30, 2010

Loitering With Intent: A Stone Barrington Novel
by Stuart Woods

  • Publication Date: April 21, 2009
  • Genres: Fiction, Mystery
  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • Publisher: Putnam Adult
  • ISBN-10: 0399155783
  • ISBN-13: 9780399155789