I like to be entertained when I am investing time in a novel, lately it has been hit or miss with me for Stuart Woods. Strategic Moves was a definite hit, not a home run, but a looping single off the end of the bat that made it to the outfield in between the shortstop and center fielder. I mean it hit all the right notes and Stone Barrington is back, but in all his totally unbelievable absurdity. Fiction is great for escapism and this is cruising right down that unbelievable road, with more outrageous subplots than a mid-afternoon soap opera. When I first got hooked on Stone, Dino, and the gang I never thought it would go this far in that direction. So the next question you may ask me is: Why do I still take the time to read them?
The answer is really pretty simple. I have too much time invested in the characters to just drop them like they are cold, smelly fish. I must say that he has changed his tact and direction in each of the past few novels and if you don’t keep up with them you would be lost with the characters. I forget who Holly’s boyfriend is, who Dino is dating, how many women Stone was with last novel, and how many airplanes he has now. If I went through money as quick as Barrington does my wife would kill me! Unreal yes, funny and pathetic at times, yes, but when is it going to end? I think Woods would be better served focusing on his core group of characters, giving them some real time in the plotline, and having a fun romp with a straight up mystery/action/suspense novel like the good old days. Show us what made Stuart Woods, Stuart Woods. As far as I am concerned, if these novels keep taking this type of tone, I can just place them on Romantic Wednesday, or place them in some type of fantasy genre instead of the way they used to read.
To finish, my soap box standing time isn’t that often, Woods has an incredible depth and breadth of characters that he created over his 40 some novels. Where are Mr. and Mrs. Lee? Why not a hard hitting Holly Barker stand alone? Why not a hard boiled Dino vehicle having Stone as the minor character? Has he lost his creative fire? Ed Eagle, will he ever see a courtroom again or just hunt down the same crazed killer over and over? Stuart Woods fans are numerous, for me a covenant was made with the beginning, and the middle of his work, where has it gone lately? Where will it go? This is one fan, a big one as I think you can tell, that wants that old fire, that old dynamic, fun, witty ability that I grew to enjoy and look forward to. Personally I am in for maybe two more novels and then I am stepping aside for a while. Where has the mojo gone?
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