Sunday, July 11, 2010

By Reviewed by David and Nancy Beckwith

"Lucid Intervals"

By Stuart Woods

G. P. Putnam

$25.95 (hardcover)

This is the 18th novel in the Stone Barrington series. If you have never read a Stuart Woods novel, then you have deprived yourself of a perennially entertaining New York Times-bestselling author. All of his series, in our opinion, from Holly Barker to Will Lee to Ed Eagle to Stone Barrington, have the formula intact for page-turning excitement.

Barrington's latest adventure, "Lucid Intervals," begins in New York City, at Elaine's, where Stone and his former police partner, Dino, are enjoying another quiet evening of drinks and pasta. Their night is interrupted when Herbie Fisher walks in looking for Stone.

Herbie is the nephew of Bob Cantor, a retired policeman that Stone has worked with many times in past cases. While Stone has the highest respect for Bob, his nephew Herbie he considers, based on Stone's past experiences with him, a walking catastrophe.

Herbie makes a direct bee-line to Stone and Dino's table declaring he is rich -- he just won the lottery and he needs a lawyer. He also tells them he's carrying $14 million in cash in his briefcase and wants to give Stone $1 million to retain his services.

Gunshots then break the windows at Elaine's, sending the diners scrambling. Stone and Dino conclude that Herbie may need more than an attorney. He needs a bodyguard and a private investigator.

As Dino races into the street after the gunman, in walks the next client looking for Stone. Her name is Felicity Devonshire, a high official in British intelligence whom Stone has known for many years. Felicity hires Stone to find a disloyal former British agent, Stanley Whitestone, who happens to be a person someone else wants dead. While Herbie provides the humor and the aggravation, Felicity introduces Stone to the posh world of embassy life where high society meets government intrigue.

Felicity proves to be very good company for Stone, whether at his Manhattan townhouse or his summer home in Maine. Until his bliss with Felicity is disrupted by his ex-wife, Dolce, who has mental problems and is stalking him with a weapon.

The plot of "Lucid Intervals" keeps Stone moving in many directions as he attempts to find Stanley Whitestone, who turns out to be a master of disguise, and endeavors to protect Herbie from his own stupidity plus a potential murderer while making an effort to stay out of Dolce's line of fire and enjoy the company of Felicity.

All of Woods' novels take place in the same areas and his characters frequently appear in other series. The first Stone Barrington novel in this series, "New York Dead," published in 1991, is every bit as good as all that have followed. His characters are real people one can relate to. His text is mostly dialogue, so the books move fast. His plots are multidimensional but not complicated. All of his books are peppered with humor. His last 26 novels have been on the New York Times bestsellers list.

There is so much that can be written about the life of Stuart Woods that it would border on a short novel. The first book of his ever published, "Chiefs" (1981), he was inspired to write after he found a bloodstained police chief's badge indented by buckshot. It belonged to his grandfather, who had died wearing it 10 years before Stuart was born.

In 1983, "Chiefs" was adapted as a TV miniseries of the same name. It was broadcast by CBS over three nights and was nominated for three Emmy awards and one Eddie.

Starring in the miniseries were Charlton Heston, Danny Glover, Billy Dee Williams, Stephen Collins and John Goodman.

The success of the show sparked new interest in his book "Chiefs" and Woods was awarded the Edgar Award in the Best First Novel category by the Mystery Writers of America.

That's beginner's luck for you.