Once again Stuart Woods has written another exciting book. ( )

This installment of the Stone Barrington series prominently features Holly Barker. She and Stone are regularly hobnobbing with the President and First Lady, who is also the Director of the CIA. There are many fancy dinners and explosions, almost simultaneously, but a very thin plot. The story consists primarily of phone calls, travel arrangements, hellos, and goodbyes. It was a fast, easy read that left me wanting more. ( )

At the end of the last Stone Barrington, three of the four perpetrators are killed; however, Jasmine Shazaz decides to seek revenge by staging attacks on MI6 and the U.S. embassy in London and then the CIA office in NY. Holly Barker, Stone, Dino and his ex-cop girlfriend have to stop her. ( )

Another good read but still more sex scenes than necessary. Female terrorist targets CIA in London and then moves to NY. She winds up setting her sites on Holly & Stone. ( )

Stone Barrington is back in Manhattan and pleased to receive an unexpected visit from his friend and sometime lover Holly Barker, now an assistant director at the CIA. For her part, Holly is glad to leave the staid, official environs of the capital for the dining and atmosphere of New York, but her sojourn isn’t only for pleasure. An explosive incident requires her immediate attention—and Stone’s investigative expertise.

But what initially appears to be a clear-cut case soon becomes increasingly complex—and dangerous. For in the secretive world of government intelligence, national interests all too often conflict with power grabs and turf wars, and extreme wealth allows even the most pursued rivals to slip through the cracks. As Stone and Holly follow the trail from London’s posh embassy district to Manhattan’s Upper East Side, they learn just how well the most cunning plans can be disguised . . . and how far some people will go to wreak vengeance. ( )