Hodgepodge of former characters -- just a light mystery...We're Woods' fans, so were pleasantly surprised to see (Police Chief) Holly Barker and (Private Eye and playboy) Stone Barrington, Woods' newest and biggest stars respectively, hookup in NYC where Holly is chasing Trini Rodriquez, a leftover crook from her "Blood Orchid" novel. Her efforts are slowed down by both FBI and CIA connections, with whom Trini is currently affiliated in the witness protection program, making it difficult for Holly to nab her prey. That doesn't stop her or Stone, with help from cop buddy Dino, another regular, from getting assistance from mob connections and dining out galore while hunting around the city. Even Holly's father Ham, with dog Daisy in tow, gets in on the act. In the end, actually through some rather humorous developments, Holly more or less gets her man. In between, she gets as much of Stone as she wants, and we do mean in bed. Meanwhile, all sorts of other characters from prior stories, probably a dozen all told, make brief cameos.As other reviewers have surmised, it seems that Woods needed to get a book out. Rather than inventing his usual thriller, with complex plot twists and clever investigative developments, it seems he just dragged out almost all his prior characters except Will Lee; chased one bad guy around as just a token plot; and otherwise let sex and dinner at Elaine's provide the entertainment. We felt the book was more pointless than bad, but possibly just revisiting all the familiar people from earlier books wowed us more than it should have. Save it for the beach or just skip it, and we suspect it won't matter very much either way!
My first Stuart Woods, A mild, quick read mystery, where I got to meet both Police Chief Holly Barker from Florida and NYC lawyer Stone Barrington.Woods had the two working together on a case in NYC where a large portion of their role was playing wild, energetic rabbits, and when they did come up for air they were eating and drinking somewhere. I felt, I gained 10 pounds with a hangover after reading this book.I was looking for a relaxing book and it did keep my interest through out the book with no true dead spots.. I found it interesting that on the first page that Holly is looking for an inexpensive hotel room and a few chapters later she is looking for ways to invest 5 millions dollars cash that she has. Also interesting, Woods mentions that the NSA monitors phone calls and e-mails, and this was back in 2004. Must credit Dan Brown in doing the same in his book Digital Fortress.A lot of street smarts and manipulation's in this book to remind you what's taking place in the background and to be aware when legal lips move.I have been spoiled by reading all of Lee Childs and Robert B. Parker's, Jesse Stone series and will have to say that Stone Barrington is not a Jack Reacher or Jesse Stone.
What do You think about Reckless Abandon (2004)?
This is the 10th book in the Stone Barrington series (I recommend reading from the beginning). Cop-turned-lawyer Stone Barrington tracks a mobster hiding deep inside the witness protection program in this next thriller in the New York Times-bestselling series. Stone Barrington is, once again, right at home in New York City; but this time he is joined by the tenacious Holly Barker from Orchid Blues, the lady police chief of Orchid Island, Florida. In Reckless Abandon, Holly finally makes it to Manhattan, hot on the trail of an evil fugitive from her jurisdiction. Stone is, well, glad to see her, right up until the moment when her presence creates a great danger to both of them-and to their surprise, she becomes the pursued, not the pursuer.
—Bob0link
Perhaps sometimes we set the bar too high. Having read a number of books by Stuart Woods, I was really looking forward to Reckless Abandon. However, this book really lost my interest quickly and I was starting to wonder if my tastes have changed or if his writing has changed. Either way, this was certainly not enjoyable. The most astounding issue is the complete and total lack of depth for these characters... it's just a whirlwind of eating out (at the same place) and "gettin' jiggy with it" (in various places). Shallow layered upon shallow. We all enjoy a light read every once in a while, but this just doesn't hit the mark.
—David
It's double the pleasure and double the fun as Woods brings series character Holly Barker, chief of the Orchid Beach, Fla., police department (of Orchid Blues, etc.), onstage to co-star with PI Stone Barrington (of Dirty Work, etc.) in his latest adventure. Holly's come to New York hot on the trail of Trini Rodriguez, a bad guy she thought she'd stabbed to death in an earlier adventure. He's currently wanted for (among other things) blowing up a dozen people by hiding bombs in the caskets of two
—Nancy
