Contraband

Stone Barrington #50

by Stuart Woods

Stone Barrington is caught in the web of a national smuggling operation in the latest action-packed thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Stone Barrington is getting some much-needed rest and relaxation in the Florida sun when trouble falls from the sky--literally. Intrigued by the suspicious circumstances surrounding this event, Stone joins forces with a sharp-witted and alluring local detective to investigate. But they run into a problem: the evidence keeps disappearing.

From the laid-back Key West shores to the bustling Manhattan streets, Stone sets out to connect the dots between the crimes that seem to follow him wherever he travels. His investigations only lead to more questions, and shocking connections between old and new acquaintances. But as Stone must quickly learn, answers--and enemies--are often hiding in plain sight . . .

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Detective

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2019

About the author

Stuart Woods was an American novelist best known for Chiefs and his long-running Stone Barrington series. A Georgia native, he initially pursued a career in advertising before relocating to England and Ireland, where he developed a passion for sailing. His love for the sport led him to write his first published work, Blue Water, Green Skipper, about his experiences in a transatlantic yacht race.
His debut novel, Chiefs, was inspired by a family story about his grandfather, a police chief. The book, a gripping crime saga spanning several decades, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was later adapted into a television miniseries. It launched Woods' career as a novelist, leading to a prolific output of thrillers.
Woods' most famous creation, Stone Barrington, is a former NYPD detective turned high-profile lawyer who navigates elite circles while solving crimes. The series became a bestseller and remained a staple of his career, often featuring crossover characters from his other books, such as CIA operative Holly Barker and defense lawyer Ed Eagle.
Beyond writing, Woods was an experienced pilot and yachtsman. He maintained homes in Florida, Maine, and New Mexico, where he lived with his wife and their Labrador, Fred. His literary career spanned decades, with dozens of bestsellers to his name.

Reviews

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

A long, slow, disassembled start complete with stereotyping nearly derails this discombobulated story. Stone's ridiculous sexual conquests adds nothing but irritation. 4 of 10 stars

[rebecca O. webber · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s the same old, same old. Rich white people having sex and eating out. Women in this series have become like Barbie dolls bending to men’s’ fantasies. I would love a story about Joan, his Secretary more than the one dimensional female characters.

[Skip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a nifty 50 for Stuart Woods. Stone and the Bachettis are relaxing on Stone's yacht off Key West when a seaplane crashes nearby. Stone dives down and saves the pilot's life, who is then evacuated by helicopter, leaving Detective Max(ine) Crowley because the winch breaks. The contents of the plane disappear first, followed by the plane. Okay, here a spoiler: Max has sex with Stone. Shocking, right? The pilot claims amnesia. Back in NY, Stone meets an attractive woman in a bar, who turns out to be Vance Calder's niece, who is seeking a divorce, so Herbie Fisher can appear. When her husband is killed, the investigation reveals he has gobs of cash from nefarious activities, which eventually ties back to Florida.

[Elaine Root · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stuart Woods has lost his touch

Book boring. Not up to par. Too much sex escapades and not enough substance. No longer admire Stone Barrington character.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

When this series first began many moons ago...I really liked it. Stone Barrington and Dino were partners in the NYPD...they investigated and solved crimes. When Stone went into private practice as an attorney it was still a good series. He had clients to defend and he still kept in touch with Dino and other interesting characters were added to the series. Then it seemed overnight the entire focus changed. Everyone was richer than God...Stone bought houses in seemingly every state and country in the world...and he became God's great gift to every woman he encountered. This book was literally 317 pages of sex with more descriptions than anyone ever needed. Come on...the man is 50 something years old. Surely he can't have that much stamina!

[Sherry · Rating 1 out of 5]

usually these are a pleasant read.
not this one..... i can't even say why it wasn't good...
it just wasn't

I remember reading a while ago, his publisher wanted him to do 3 books a year.
The publisher needs to rethink the number of books and go back to 1-2 a year, because if the next book is like Contraband - I'll be finding another author to read......

[Ellen · Rating 1 out of 5]

My advice? Just Skip this Stone ! #50 isn't nifty.
Again, I suggest that Contraband was substantially ghost-written by a much lesser talent
than Stuart Woods.

[Bill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointing. The more I thought about the book, the more stars fell off. Extreme coincidences. Way, way too much sex going on. Apparently, all a woman has to do is look at Stone and she immediately falls in lust and can barely control herself. The sex is almost constant in this book. Maybe I’m just jealous, but it seems way over the top. It seems to be getting worse over the latest books and the descriptions are getting to be too graphic. I read plenty of books that use the F word and don't usually have a problem with it, but it's so out of place here.

And the murders didn’t make any sense to me. The operation was cruising along, making plenty of money. Did I miss the explanation for them?

The writing, as usual, is pretty smooth and the story moves right along. It just doesn’t make a lot of sense.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read all the books by Stuart Woods over the years. The last one, #49 wasn't half bad. I felt hopeful. Well, too soon. Stone has always been a womanizer but the bed hopping has gotten way past ridiculous. Maybe multiple sex partners gets the book on the bestseller list but I don't see how that adds value to the story. My memories of this book will be more about this than the plot.

[James Behanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

I have read all 50 of the Stone novels. Contraband come up far short of the quality of the prior 49. 60 % sex & profanity. Not a prude, but, that is a bit much. Hopefully, this was an aberration. Looking forward to next Stone

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery is similar to other Stone Barrington books. Women continue to throw themselves at Stone. Even as a fan of the series, this one was too much.

[(NurseLisa) Square Granny from Ohio · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bummer. NOT very good - at all :(

[ML · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stone sure walks around naked a lot and around Dino and Viv. That is not normal and is really creepy.

Another creepy aspect is Stone fucks Vance Calder’s niece, Robbie.Ick.

Plus,he has a thing with Max a cop for Key West PD. How Stone doesn’t have an STD is a miracle?!? I think the series should end with him dying from syphilis. 🤣🤣

This plot was beyond stupid.

[Tom Tischler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stone Barrington is relaxing in Florida when a sharp looking local detective asks
him for some help. From Key West to Manhattan Stone sets out to connect the dots
between crimes that seem to follow him wherever he travels. The investigations only
lead to more questions and shocking connections between old and new acquaintances.
Stone must quickly learn though answers and enemies are often in plain sight.
Story isn't bad and is readable, I gave it a 3.5.

[Enrico Conedera · Rating 1 out of 5]

I ran across Stuart Woods accidentally, with one of the Barrington novels. It was pretty good, and I decided to see what else he had written.

So I read “Chiefs”, his first novel, and I was completely taken with Woods’ talent. Rich milieu, rich history, excellent character development. I was actually upset when each of the three sections ended, and I could no longer follow that particular character.

Since then I have read every novel he has published. Of course, the Barrington novels make up most of his oeuvre. I just finished reading Contraband, which came out a scant 20 hours ago.

In stark contrast to the novel “Chiefs”, “Contraband” is completely formulaic. I like the contrast between where he started his career, and his latest release. I just don’t like the book.

The objectification of women has reached a new high, with the “F” word being liberally used by the major female characters. I don’t recall Woods using that particular word so often, before this book. Apparently all women are gorgeous, and all women are eager to hop in the sack, including those in high positions of society and government. I am not a prude, but I’m pretty sure that many readers would agree that the objectification of women in this novel (as well as many others in this series) is horrific.

In addition to the constant use of sex scenes, which are presumably somewhat less explicit than a romance novel, Woods regales us with scenes of rich people doing rich-people things. I get that Stone is rich; but it seems like every main character in the series has come across money. Otherwise they are not allowed in the story. I am only slightly a reverse snob; but I am getting bored with the trappings of the very rich in these books.

In general, Woods’ books are good reads. It is easy to get lost in one of his novels. And his early books are just really, really, excellent. But this particular novel left me disappointed and wanting to see the Stuart Woods of old.

It is easy to criticize. I am not a published writer, whereas Mr. Woods is extremely successful. I have to give him his “props” for that. I believe he is extremely talented. I hope that he will write the great novel of this generation, of which he is absolutely capable, and leave behind the quick cash-cow novels.

[Janice · Rating 1 out of 5]

Omg....this was the worst one yet! Grammatical errors all over the place. Plot holes. This was basically a short story drawn out into book length but repeated narrative and silly sex scenes. I’m surprised stone hasn’t every sexually transmitted disease in the book considering he jumps into bed with every woman he meets, minutes after meeting them. Ok...this is fantasy fiction so std’s aren’t a concern. But for heavens sake... how about attention to a reasonably written story?

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good story, not his best, but still interesting.

[Alan · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst yet in terms of the banal, tried and true Woods formula. But you have to hand it to an author who manages to write 60+ novels (including those focusing on spin-off characters) and still enjoys commercial success by, for the last dozen or so Barrington novels, writing the same book over and over. What utter tripe but I keep reading them!

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Move along, nothing to see here," unless you read the Stone Barrington series like I do, as pure guilty pleasures...The usual sex, fine dining and "lives of the rich & famous."...When a seaplane ditches near his yacht anchored just off Fort Jefferson, while in the Keys, Stone & company are drawn into an unusual smuggling case that runs through the Keys, to Miami, to NYC...This AIN'T great literature, but I'm hooked!

[Rima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Too good

Why too good? Because it means I read it in a few days and now have to wait for the next book!

[Barry Martin Vass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Stuart Woods has created his own world in the Stone Barrington series of novels. All of the main characters are interesting and upwardly mobile, and the action is related in such a minimalist fashion that you can't help but be pulled in. For instance, Stone is a former NYC beat cop who went on to become a detective, was forced out of his job, and eventually became a high-priced attorney in the Big Apple. His sometime squeeze, Holly Barker, is a former major in the Army who went on to be a deputy police chief at a small Florida town, was recruited by the CIA, then went on to be named secretary of state. Kate Lee is a former CIA director who is married to Will Lee, a former Georgia Congressman who went on to serve two terms as president; Kate succeeded her husband in office, got pregnant while campaigning, then had the baby while in the White House. You get the idea. In Contraband, the fiftieth installment in this series, Stone is drifting around the Florida Keys on his ginormous yacht, waiting for the Democratic Convention to begin in Miami, when he sees something unusual: a float plane crashes into the sea next to his yacht. Fearing for the life of the pilot, Stone dives into the water and brings the man to safety. A female Key West police detective is choppered out to investigate, but when she and Stone dive down to the wreck the next day, all of the cargo has vanished. Stone begins another romance, and the mystery of the stolen cargo begins. Fast action, good characterizations, and snappy dialogue make Contraband a quick, fun read.

[Ed · Rating 4 out of 5]

#50 in the Stone Barrington series. This 2019 series entry of my favorite soap opera by author Stuart Woods is far from the best in the series but it is a quick, enjoyable read and introduces a new character (and bedmate) in Key West detective Max Crowley. Hardly a surprise in this series of the rich and over-sexed, Max becomes a multi-millionaire heiress overnight. She give her partner and his wife a free lifetime tenancy of one of her inherited rental properties and offers Stone an inherited vintage Mercedes for a bargain quarter million dollars. Sexy, fun loving and generous, I hope we'll see more of her.

The New York attorney is relaxing on a yacht anchored off Fort Jefferson, in Florida's Dry Tortugas, when a small plane makes a forced landing nearby and sinks in the shallow water. Stone dives in and pulls the unconscious pilot, Al Dix, from the plane, which is carrying several large pieces of luggage. A helicopter rescue team flies Dix to Key West, where Stone is soon enjoying the favors of gorgeous policewoman Maxine "Max" Crowley. The investigation widens after the mysterious cargo disappears from the wrecked plane. The authorities have no clue what was in the luggage, and Dix isn't talking. Back in New York, high-end clothing designer Roberta "Robbie" Calder wants Stone's help in getting a divorce from her abusive husband. By chance, Stone's connection to Robbie sheds light on the Florida case. The suspense falls off once the reader learns what Dix was smuggling, but it rises as the action builds toward a climactic showdown between Max and Robbie

[Wanda Gibbons · Rating 1 out of 5]

There is a story about smuggling in here somewhere but there is too much “just for the heck of it” kind of sex thrown in possibly to avoid having to write or create any kind of meaningful conversation or a relationship between Max and Stone or Stone and Roberta. To make it worse these sexual adventures are all just a flash in the pan with little or no detail so that is disappointing too. Trying to stick to the parts that constitute a real plot line is not much better as things happen by chance and by gosh these characters just know everyone. Amazingly enough there are a lot of people who know things they would have no reason to know and no way of knowing. The smuggling plot line is a great idea with its twists and turns but there is just too dang much filler and not enough real police detective work.

[Jeannine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started this series and liked it but it started to decline. I believe my last review said it was more like a bodice-ripper than a mystery. So I haven't read any more until I saw this at the library and decided to give it a try. Well, if you want a detailed description of Stone Barrington's overactive libido, this book is for you. If you're looking for an actual mystery, not so much. There is a plot but Stone is too busy having sex to have much to do with the actual mystery. There are some good characters but Stone Barrington's James Bond wanna-be character is burning himself out.

[Dad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not one of Woods’ better efforts as he fell into the writers’ playbook of repeating the same basic plot over and over. Stone Barrington has become a bore who has too many girlfriends and too many man toys. This had potential for a great story involving USCG adventures on the high seas during a rescue by helo and it simply turned into different ways and places Stone can find a new woman for the day/week/trip. In short this one was a big disappointment. Hate it when my favorite character is Herb the all around good attorney rather the partner Stone.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

This series has turned into a continuing story of how often Stone Barrington can perform with multiple woman in each book. The story of the crimes are way, way down in the story line. I am repulsed by the fact that each book has a woman in his bed within hours of meeting him and he's instantly buying them clothes, paying their bills, etc. When Stuart Woods can find a way back to writing something more than smut I might be back.

[Kym Gamble · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stone Barrington is back again. This time he is hot on the tail of some shifty people smuggling caviar and Cuban cigars. And as a side note, an acquaintance just inherited some properties from an aunt who she was named after. She has no idea how much inheritance tax she is going to owe the government. This one was a meh kind of book.

[Andrea Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

KINDLE. Another great book. Stone is with new women and Dino and Viv and Herb are the only repeat characters to have significant roles. New lady Max is from Key West. Takes place between Key West and NYC.

[Don Gorman · Rating 2 out of 5]

(2 1/2). My name is Don Gorman and I am a Stuart Woods addict. I know these books will not help my I.Q., my vocabulary, my self esteem or ego in any way shape or form but I can't give them up. They are just too much fun. They read in 3 hours or so and give me a glimpse at the most ridiculous lifestyle that could be imagined. Along the way we have never ending sexual conquests, a murder or two, and many cases to be solved, usually involving very rich, famous, and or powerful people. My addiction will be fed once again in 90 days as these tomes come out every 3 months. God bless you, Mr. Woods!

[Sam Prince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly entertaining. Interesting plot twists. The hero has a fascinating personal life.