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Hush-Hush

(Stone Barrington #56)

Stuart Woods

3.89 · Rating details · 2,230 ratings · 189 reviews

Stone Barrington faces down a rival with cutting-edge tactics in this heart-racing thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

Stone Barrington is settling in for some downtime in New York City when an anonymous enemy makes himself known. This nameless foe's threats hit close to home, and before Stone can retaliate, the fearsome messages turn into very real cons ...more

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Kindle Edition, 334 pages

Published December 29th 2020

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Jan 17, 2021 Kay rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery, audiobook, fiction, stuart-woods, libby, library-c

I don't know what else I can say about this series. I'm giving it 3 stars cus I'm crazy to keep reading them.

Hush-Hush started out pretty interesting. Stone received a ransom email on his home computer for one million Bitcoin. He ignored this by telling the hacker to Go F*** Himself. The following day none of his computers were working. Per Joan's (his secretary) suggestion, he called Lance at the CIA. Lance sent over a bra-less (I think) CIA techie, Rocky Hardwick (wink wink). As per usual thin ...more

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Jan 18, 2021 Skip rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: crime-detective

One of the worst in a long time. Completely non-sensical plot. Someone inserts malware on Stone's computer and he refuses to pay the $1 million fee (in Bitcoin, just to be trendy), turning to his techie resources, resulting in a higher ask and eventually an attempt on Stone's life. Lance and Holly send in IT expert, Rocky Hardwick, who needless to say, is a gorgeous woman. Then we pop up to Maine, where further assassins are running amok, annoying Ed Rawls, who comes to NYC to chase down those r ...more

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Jan 01, 2021 Ken Karcher rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I'm not sure what the attraction to Stone Barrington is for me, I'm NOT a wealthy lawyer with high powered clients and government contacts. Neither do I sleep with a stable of beautiful women in my ONE rented apartment. But for a couple of decades or so these novels of his exploits have been my guilty pleasure, and I've learned to not ask why, just simply enjoy the ride. Once again our hero is in hot water through no fault of his own, and reading how he extricates himself seems to take no time w ...more

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Jan 04, 2021 Alan added it · review of another edition

First half - contrived, tedious repartee;
Second half - comical, if violent, mayhem.
Rating - what a crock, lol!

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Jan 05, 2021 Bill Huffman rated it really liked it

Shelves: z2020, mystery

Pretty good story, but there is really no reason for most of the plot, or what there is for a plot. Stone does something at the end of the book I don’t recall him ever doing before and it came as a shock. This series does continue to be a great training guide on how I should spend my money when I hit that really big PowerBall. So far, I’m definitely going for the Norton, the house in Key West and Ed Rawl’s gun collection. And the jet.

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Dec 31, 2020 Montessahall Montessahall rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4g-zip-clip-hard-mus

It never cease to amaze me how Woods continues to write and get novels published with the same old plot over and over. Also, the high number of five star ratings for this novel with no written review content is very dubious to say the least.

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Jan 05, 2021 Anne, Unfinished Woman rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: author-american, setting-the-northeast, source-library, suspense-thriller, genre-fiction, murder, mystery-crime-police-procedural, series-trilogy, setting-britain, setting-ny-city

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. SPOILER ALERT

Absolutely ridiculous! Each of Woods' novels gets more surreal than the last. This involves a full assault from the Russian mob which the author equates with all of the Russian government.

Holly Barker has just left Stone's home with a kiss and it begins with a hack of Barrington's computer demanding $1 million in Bitcoin which Stone scoffs at returning a rude answer. He has no intention of paying a penny to one unknown idiot. The threats increase. Stone calls Lance Cabot as it is p SPOILER ALERT

Absolutely ridiculous! Each of Woods' novels gets more surreal than the last. This involves a full assault from the Russian mob which the author equates with all of the Russian government.

Holly Barker has just left Stone's home with a kiss and it begins with a hack of Barrington's computer demanding $1 million in Bitcoin which Stone scoffs at returning a rude answer. He has no intention of paying a penny to one unknown idiot. The threats increase. Stone calls Lance Cabot as it is pointed out that there are incriminating documents within, along with the communications he has with the President Holly Barker. The CIA sends in an expert IT person Rocky Hardwick. The hack quickly escalates into an explosion from C4 and reveals that it is intended as an attempt on Stone's life. Speculation about the cause harkens to his earlier conflict with a Russian. They don't forget or forgive. We then are switched to a meeting between Ed Rawls, former CIA assassin, who lives in Maine, and is a friend of Stone's. He is approached by a representative (not sure I got which group he was part of, perhaps the Pod a secret arm of the CIA of which rocky is a member) of the President, in a obscure way, who is hiring him to assassinate the mob members behind the assault, the Pentkovsky brothers. Ed completes the job. The assault does not stop there, and another mobster who was a romantic friend of one of the brothers takes over the job, Gromyko, aka The Greek. They go after Ed Rawls, who is the victor again. The conflagration begins, continuing in London, and Stone's country estate in England. Then back to the US and up to Maine where his impenetrable home is penetrated. It is a very bloody fight including the death of a deer, and the near death of Rocky. A chest hit sends her to a hospital that is very close accompanied by Stone who thinks she may die, and a Dr. Paul Krause, who turns out to be the best thoracic surgeon in the US. And it is completely beyond the level of reality for me.

Though the pace is frantic much of the time, the story was long and drawn out, got seriously boring as Stone and Rocky have sex several times a day and are constantly commenting on the beauty of each other's bodies and the prowess of each's sexual abilities. There are the requisite references to famous restaurants, expensive wine and booze, the involvement of every high powered intelligence agency and police force that Stone is familiar with, and Stone's various toys. There is a barrage of weapons that make for a gory outcome of disintegrating bodies and heads, destroyed boats and armored Humvees and Range Rovers. All of the law enforcement entities respond immediately as if Barrington was the President herself, anticipating each move that needs to be made before Stone makes it. All in all it approaches the level of a fantasy. Perhaps it is...a man's fantasy. I may be finished with this author. ...more

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Jan 20, 2021 Carole rated it did not like it

This might be the worst Stone Barrington ever. The plot made no sense. The characters were completely charmless. Whatever happened to Stone's charm, and Dino's wit. Luckily for Holly, she had only a bit part -- and her bit part made absolutely no sense where she inexplicably had information at the top of her head that Lance didn't have at all. The bad guys were formless blobs. Ed Rawls was unnecessary except to add more people to the party. I think perhaps Stuart Woods publisher and editor just ...more

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Nov 29, 2020 Steve rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Stone Barrington is back in his New York City home when he receives an email from an unknown source demanding a million dollar ransom in exchange for unlocking his computer and returning his files. Of course, he responds with his typical flair and goes to meet his guest, President Holly Barker, with whom he is carrying on his relationship as difficult as that might be. The threat, however, turns out to be very real, and with the help of the President and Lance Cabot, head of the CIA, the perpetr ...more

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Feb 02, 2021 Golfergirl rated it really liked it

Everyone once in a while I like to take a break and indulge in the pure fantasy of Stuart Woods Stone Barrington. And the novel didn’t disappoint. Luxurious homes on two continents, influential people able to drop everything at a moments notice and take on whatever opposing forces there may be. The men are rich, the women are beautiful and talented. It is truly a fairy tale, with violence!! And you can be sure the good guys will win in the end. You just don’t know what the collateral damage will ...more

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Jan 17, 2021 Bill Bride rated it really liked it

Been reading Stuart's books for over two decades ever since I saw a book of his at a beach house library. Now that he's in his 80's he cranks them out as often as James Patterson does with his books. I'm too far in to stop but I check these out from the library now as opposed to buying them. This one was pretty good, computer hacking and Stone, the main character, sleeping with his usual two women per book as he jet sets across the globe. I enjoyed it in a day. Another Stone book due in March so ...more

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Jan 02, 2021 Cindy Joyce rated it liked it

It was OK.

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Jan 08, 2021 Sherrie Howey rated it liked it · review of another edition

In this latest Stone Barrington book, the Russian mobsters are back. It starts out with a computer hijacking and proceeds to plenty of violent encounters. As is expected in the Stone Barrington series, he has a new love interest. However, his newest love interest is the only one in this book (somewhat different from multiple love interests in other books).
Ed Rawls has a major role in this book as does Lance. For fans of this series, this is a quick and easy read.

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Feb 18, 2021 Patsygermany rated it liked it

Very unusual lots of killing and lots of sex. Wish Stuart would leave out some of the love making and just have a good story

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Jan 02, 2021 Nurse Lisa In Ohio (PRN Book Reviews) rated it liked it

Shelves: in-a-series, mystery-law-enforcement-fbi-crime, 2021, 2-2-5-stars, mystery-lawyer-related

NOT a great opener for 2021, imo anyhow. Think I’m finished with this author sadly. Just plotless. 2.5/5

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Jan 11, 2021 Bonny rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Typical Stone Barrington! Lots of action. Fun read.

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Feb 01, 2021 Janice rated it did not like it

DNF....I had enough of Stone the lounge lizard after his thank you to a woman he just met was a gift of a roll in his bed, page 35. (Gag) if this is the best the publishing world has to offer, I’m giving up reading.

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Jan 02, 2021 Nick Sanders rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Well done! Another episode of the Stone Barrington adventures. This one's a good one. Baddies trying to kill Stone, Stone wins. The End. ...more

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Jan 03, 2021 Valerie rated it it was amazing

Stone’s in trouble again, of course. This time he’s off to Paris, with his new lady love, to try to escape the troublesome Russians, again. Will he escape, with his hide intact? Well...

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Jan 10, 2021 Bookreporter.com Mystery & Thriller rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

HUSH-HUSH is the 56th installment in Stuart Woods’ ever-popular Stone Barrington series.

Stone is a powerful attorney who is independently wealthy. While his main residence and office are in New York, he owns several houses around the world and a plane that he flies, even though a personal pilot is on his payroll. He also has cars and a motorcycle, as well as his large Manhattan residence with an apartment attached to it. His close circle of important friends include Dino Bacchetti, the New York HUSH-HUSH is the 56th installment in Stuart Woods’ ever-popular Stone Barrington series.

Stone is a powerful attorney who is independently wealthy. While his main residence and office are in New York, he owns several houses around the world and a plane that he flies, even though a personal pilot is on his payroll. He also has cars and a motorcycle, as well as his large Manhattan residence with an apartment attached to it. His close circle of important friends include Dino Bacchetti, the New York police commissioner, and his wife, Viv, the COO of the second largest security firm in the world. They are among other well-connected people who Stone treasures as much as his family. For example, the president of the United States, Holly Barker, is his longtime paramour and manages to sneak into New York unnoticed to be with him.

Stone does consulting work for the CIA, so when an extortion threat appears on his computer demanding $1.5 million, he calls in his contacts. To unlock his computer and restore it to its former operating capacity, he reaches out to the CIA director, Lance Cabot, who sends computer expert Roxanne “Rocky” Hardwick to look into the matter. Stone and Rocky develop an intimate relationship, which is his habit when attractive women enter his life.

Together, they determine that old Russian foes of Stone’s are out to get him. The thugs even manage to detonate a bomb in his computer. No one is hurt when the explosive goes off, but Rocky is given the job of reconstructing the computer’s data with a specialized team, which includes former veteran agent Ed Rawlins, who has been asked to investigate the threat. He moves into Stone’s apartment to hide after shooting two men in the head, which Stone is unaware of at first.

One day, when Stone asks Rocky what she wants for dinner, she chooses a Paris restaurant, and off they go the next morning. This response is par for the course in how Stone lives his exciting life. But neither of them loses sight of the fact that Stone and, by association, Rocky have targets on their backs. Soon they make their way to London, where Stone has another house. When the group returns to the United States, other people enter the discussions about finding the villains and keeping Stone alive. More evidence surfaces as to who is after him, and it appears that a Russian called “the Greek” is probably the one seeking to neutralize him.

The team sets up a meeting with the Greek in a hotel. On the surface everything seems cordial enough, but both sides have a coterie of bodyguards and gun-toting sharpshooters just in case. It goes without saying that trust is not a given among these people, and in reality the meeting does not solve any problems. As the body count rises and tensions soar, Stone and company pull out the big guns.

Each entry in this long-running series may be read as a stand-alone, which makes it easy for readers to pick one up and not feel lost at sea. Stuart Woods writes with a certain integrity that makes his books interesting and fun to read. The characters are expertly fleshed out, the dialogue is realistic and the plot is well structured.

Reviewed by Barbara Lipkien Gershenbaum ...more

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Jan 11, 2021 Will rated it really liked it

Shelves: crime-thriller, police-thriller, mob-connection, romance

SUBJECTIVE READER REVIEW WITH PLOT SPOILERS FOLLOWS:

Unfortunately, 'Hush-Hush' has that familiar chase scene; some danger rousts Stone from Turtle Bay, so he goes to Windward Hall in Hampshire, if the heat's still on he bails to Wilton Crescent, his London flat, if they chase him there he bails for his house in Paris, but the chase almost always ends up in Dark Harbor. Well, this book's no different except for his lady of the moment and how things end.

Since becoming POTUS Holly Barker's a some SUBJECTIVE READER REVIEW WITH PLOT SPOILERS FOLLOWS:

Unfortunately, 'Hush-Hush' has that familiar chase scene; some danger rousts Stone from Turtle Bay, so he goes to Windward Hall in Hampshire, if the heat's still on he bails to Wilton Crescent, his London flat, if they chase him there he bails for his house in Paris, but the chase almost always ends up in Dark Harbor. Well, this book's no different except for his lady of the moment and how things end.

Since becoming POTUS Holly Barker's a sometimes romance, and seems very understanding about Stone filling in the long lonely spots with hot tamales. For 'Hush-Hush' since the extortionist threatens outing confidential comms with Lance Cabot, the Agency comes to Stone's defense very early on. Lance assigns Roxanne 'Rocky' Hardwick as Stone's CIA Protective Security Detail, along with others, and the buxom operative quickly shifts into 24/7 coverage, including as much sex and love making as allowed given their role as targets for the Russian mob.

The Russian Mafia is led by the Pentkowsky brothers until Ed Rawls kills the two leaders, then Chechnyan Serge 'The Greek' Gromyko takes over, a much more ruthless Capo. They flee back to Manhattan after things get dicey in London, and that's where Ed offs the first two brothers, badly pissing off the Mafia. The Greek shows up in New York, and has many assets at his disposal. Stone's entourage bails to Dark Harbor, which now includes attractive retired Scotland Yard superintendent Sarah Deerfield, who instantly takes a liking to Ed. Which is important as Ed's the only one on the good guy's side with RPGs.

The showdown on Dark Harbor might be the most violent of the last two dozen Woods novels. The Greek's got a lot of trained soldiers with good mobility and heavy arms. Stone, Dino, Rocky, Ed and Sarah manage to hold them at bay with the State Police providing eyes in the sky. Rocky takes a round in the chest as the last of the Mafia hitters is killed, then rushed to the hospital, Stone not thinking she'll make it, but she does, thanks to the best thoracic surgeon on the East Coast.

I've given most of Stuart Woods' brain candy a 3 star rating, but of course I buy the next one the day it hits the shelves. The savagery of the violence in Hush-Hush earns the 4 stars, as Stone has to prove, after a years long pause, that he's still a fighter. With Ed and Dino by his side, they're hard to kill, but primarily because Ed is the king spook, most paranoid, best defended and by far the best illegally armed. Get this book and enjoy the read, I did. ...more

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Jan 06, 2021 Ed rated it really liked it

Shelves: law-enforcement, thriller, criminal

#56 in the Stone Barrington series. This 2020 series entry by author Stuart Woods is above average. Stone is once again involved with Russian gangsters. As usual there is plenty of sex, travel, witty banter, and violence. The opening gambit of computer hijacking is interesting but is dropped somewhat abruptly. The climax with numerous well armed Russians is where this particular series entry shines.

The suave New York City attorney receives an extortion letter on his computer demanding $1.5 mill ...more

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Feb 23, 2021 Thomas S rated it it was ok

Spoilers included,

The list of things that a Gentleman must have used to include only lots of money, Tuxedo's for dinner, Knob Creek and a well stocked wine cellar in each of your houses, private plane, democratic politics and a hand gun. Now it includes the need to have a private army and a rocket propelled grenade launcher.

4 things I can not figure out in this book and this series:

1. What is the CIA so useless in helping Stone out of his jam in this one.
2. Why he has been brought up on Firear ...more

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Feb 20, 2021 Jim Welke rated it really liked it

The unusual thing about this book is, Barrington slept with the same woman throughout the book. Without giving away the story, someone manages to get past all the fantastic security the CIA installed in Stone's house over the past several books and planted a bomb, plastic explosives, inside Barrington's computer. Of course, he survives the explosion, a former CIA assassin takes out two Russian assassins after Stone, then he takes out two more assassins and dumps them in a lake in Maine, ya, seri ...more

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Feb 28, 2021 John added it

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 16, 2021 Mary Jane rated it liked it

Basically More of the Same

Stuart Woods had recently given us some different and more interesting storylines, but this one reverted to his old and well-worn formulas. Yes some (very few) new characters were introduced, but the whole thing felt so familiar that there was no real suspense. The biggest question, which was more like idle curiosity, for me was "is Stone's new love interest going to survive?" I couldn't decide if I cared.

If you enjoy escaping into Stone's improbable world and want a v ...more

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Jan 30, 2021 Laurie rated it it was ok

What can I say.... so far it is a 50+ book series and some are better than others... I’m not really sure there was a point to this story. It read more like a recap of previous books and an introduction of new characters and hints setting up future books. And what’s with Lance? He really did behave like a government official - clueless 😉

Part of this guilty pleasure for me is listening to the audiobook as I find the narration part of the entertainment. I have noticed Tony Roberts sounding a bit ol ...more

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Jan 30, 2021 Sophia rated it it was amazing

Hush-Hush (Stone Barrington #56) by Stuart Woods
Published December 29, 2020
BOOK#57 OF #100𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓰𝓮

Stone Barrington faces down a rival with cutting-edge tactics in this heart-racing thriller from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.
Stone Barrington is settling in for some downtime in New York City when an anonymous enemy makes himself known. This nameless foe's threats hit close to home, and before Stone can retaliate, the fearsome messages turn into very real consequences.
With the help ...more

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Mar 09, 2021 Nancy rated it really liked it

Exciting book. A little too much of Stone's sexual exploits -- really... Exciting, fast-paced.

Stone Barrington is settling in for some downtime in New York City when an anonymous enemy makes himself known. This nameless foe's threats hit close to home, and before Stone can retaliate, the fearsome messages turn into very real consequences.

With the help of old friends--and a lovely new tech-savvy acquaintance--Stone sets out to unravel the fatal agenda. But as the web of adversaries expands, Stone ...more

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Mar 23, 2021 Jerrie rated it really liked it

Good story. Thankfully, Stone's sexual encounters were limited to only one woman besides the POTUS and there were fewer details of braggadocio. Therefore, this let the story come more to the forefront. The CIA's Lance played a bigger role in this one and Ed Rawls was back to play a large role again. I read the large print edition and had to deal with more errors than we usually see in a Woods novel. There is a lot of plotting and action in this one, so the men should appreciate reading this one. ...more

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About Stuart Woods

Stuart Woods

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Stuart Woods is the author the New York Times-bestselling Stone Barrington series and Holly Barker series. He is an avid private pilot, flying his own jet on book tours. You may see his tour schedule and learn more about the author on his website.