What do You think about Dirt (1997)?
Man oh man! Is this the same guy that wrote "Chiefs"?I ask the question because Chiefs was an absolutely fantastic novel. One of my favorites. This story is easy to read, quick-moving and entertaining but, for me, ultimately it is disappointing because I know that he could do sooooooo much better. If you've never read Stuart Woods, read Chiefs and maybe you'd be better off just walking away.So, why am I irritated? The characters are two-dimensional cutouts of what we might suspect the rich and the famous are really like. They reminded me of unpleasant parodies of the Howells from Gilligan's Island. Woods can do so much more.To be fair, I guess I'm really irritated to see a man who showed so much early promise resort to being a hack writer, pounding out the same story time after time. I tolerate, in fact, I revel in it when it comes to Robert B. Parker. But in the case of Stuart Woods - what an incredible waste of writing talent!Here is the link to my review of Chiefs: http://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2010/...
—Dale
People love to dish gossip. Amanda Dart is a skilled gossip reporter and she does it well. After a secret rendevous with a married lover she starts getting back what she gives best--DIRT. Frustrated and annoyed she hires Stone Barrington to find out who is spamming her. Is it an inside job or a new gossip monger after her and a few other mud-stirring columnists and for what?Meanwhile Stone in trying to uncover the guilty parties and staying out of the spotlight is targeted by the ex-boyfriend of a love interest and things get personal.Like NEW YORK DEAD and other Barrington mysteries, Woods pours on the action, suspense and the steamy interludes into the thrill a minute page turner that it is. Dishing can be deadly and I give this story 5 gold gossip rags for keeping me on the edge of my seat.
—Karen
I think that Stuart Woods has two rules when writing books. Move the story along quickly and make the main character have an unbelievable amount of sex with random women. Dirt was no exception to these rules. That being said, I really enjoyed Dirt. The first Stone Barrington book (New York Dead) was more of a whodunit, whereas Dirt was more of a "we figured out who the bad guy is, we just have to catch them" book. And what I really liked about this book is the way that a few different stories intertwined. What I like most about Stuart Woods books is that they're quick book between heavier reads. After reading a dense history book, I need something to just relax and free my mind for a bit. And these books are great for that.
—Kevin
