Doing Hard Time (A Stone Barrington Novel)

by Stuart Woods

2014

Status

Available

Publication

G.P. Putnam's Sons (2014), 392 pages

Description

Hoping to relax during a business trip to Bel-Air, Stone Barrington is confronted by a case he believed was resolved and forges an unexpected partnership with an agent who operates outside the law.

User reviews

LibraryThing member Bgriffith20
I have read several Stuart Woods books in the past and I enjoyed them. They weren't among my favorite books ever, but they were good. So, when I received the audio version of Doing Hard Time I was looking forward to listening to a good book in my car. I was disappointed. The story line was too
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convenient. It just so happens that Peter wants to be a director, his girlfriend wants to write score for movies, his best friend wants to produce movies, his dad owns a large portion of a movie studio,. etc. I also had a very difficult time relating with characters who just graduated from college and purchase airplanes and hangars and hire multiple people to work for them before they have made any movies. I also did not care for voluminous portions of the book about purchasing airplanes and flying and training to fly. I thought the dialogue was somewhat juvenile not realistic. Maybe it's because I haven't read the other Stone Barrington novels or because it was an audio book, but I was not impressed.
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LibraryThing member readafew
This is only the second Stone Barrington book I've read and I enjoyed listening to them both. The reader did an excellent job in my opinion and can make a mediocre book better. This one was already pretty good.

Stone son and friends just graduated from collage and are moving out to California to
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start their new careers in the movie business. They decide to make a road trip of it. They all start to get a little uncomfortable after hours and hours of driving and a little spec in the mirror never seems to get closer or fall farther back. When they have a flat tire and the vehicle also stops, all the friends are on high alert. They stop in a nearby town to get their tire repaired and run into Billy Bernett.

Unbeknownst to them, Billy is a man with an interesting past. When the chase car comes into town looking for the kids, Billy changes their plans. From there on things start to move a little bit faster. Billy is a man that doesn't want to be found, Stone is a man who fears for the safety of his son as a possible target of a Russian Mobster. Billy and Stone let the kids live mostly in ignorance of the stakes and do what they can to eliminate the threats.

Pretty good story, but everything seems a little to neatly tied up, a happily ever after kind of feel. It's ends in a feel good way, at least for our protagonists.
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LibraryThing member JJKING
In listening to this book,thinking what can I saw about it,well if you have read a Stone Barrington book before you know how good they are.If you have not---WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR---there very entertaining,well written.
LibraryThing member julyso
Stone Barrington and Dino Bachetti help their recently graduated sons move to California to begin a career in the film business. The kids drive cross-country and run into a few little problems. They are helped out by rogue CIA agent, Teddy Fay, and are soon back on their way. Everyone meets up in
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Los Angeles and things get very tricky.

I had become bored with Stuart Wood's books lately, but this one I really enjoyed. I thought it was interesting and I really liked the character of Teddy Fay. It kept me guessing and it kept me reading!
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LibraryThing member tomray
I always enjoy Stuart Wood's "Stone Barrington" books and this one didn't disappoint. I received it as an Early Reviewer on CD's but my player is broken so I got the book at the library and read it instead.The kids have graduated from school and head to the left coast and Teddy Fay is back. I hope
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it's ok that I donated the CD's to the library.
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LibraryThing member RickTheobald
Stuart Woods’ “Doing Hard Time” is the latest chapter in his chronicling of the exploits of Stone Barrington, along with pal Dino Baschetti. If you’re looking for a cerebral piece of mystery fiction, don’t even bother to pick this one up….however, if you’re OK with a somewhat mindless
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page turner featuring gorgeous women eager to slip under the covers with Barrington, mysterious Russian mobsters focused on harming Stone, his kids, his world and anything or anybody who gets in the way, and if you’re comfortable with the simplistic plot, and unnecessary digressions into airplane trivia, then this is a reasonable way to spend a few hours escaping the horrors of everyday real life events, and following the shenanigans of hired hit-men, and the indomitable prowess of Teddy Fay, the ex-CIA “handyman” who just seems to appear, always at the right time….this time when he was most needed to save Stone Barrington’s son, girlfriend and pal from being eliminated by the mobsters bent on doing them harm.
I first discovered Stuart woods with his 1987 novel, Under the Lake, and am a little confused by the release of a 2012 novel by Woods with the same title….his original Under the Lake was quite well done….crisp writing, a good plot, suspenseful and an enjoyable read. I’ve read probably 10-12 of his subsequent works, and must admit to being disappointed in his deterioration as a wordsmith. He can, and has done better.
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LibraryThing member grumpydan
Stone Barrington's son, Peter and his friends are traveling across country to L.A. when their car breaks down. Unbeknownst to them, they are being followed by Russian hit men. Also unknown to all, the repair shop attendant is former CIA agent and fugitive Billy Barnett, who realize who these men
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are and takes care of the situation. Eventually, Barnett and Barrington meet and both are in the cross hairs of the Russian mobster who wants them dead.

You may be a Stone Barrington fan or may not have read any of the twenty-seven novels in the series, but if you enjoy escapist, espionage, good vs. evil, then this is a book to read. Some of the sequences are a little farfetched and the characters unbelievable, but that's what makes it a fun read. One can leave the real world and get absorbed in to the life of Billy Barnett (the book spends more time on him the Stone). He is one man not to be reckoned with; although not quite a super hero. I'd love to read more Barnett stories.
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LibraryThing member mnm123
I recieved this book in exchange for a review. I enjoyed the characters, Teddy most of all. The intrigue kept me guessing, so I wasn't bored. The narrator has a deep soothing voice that is easy to listen to. I am eager to read more Stone Barrington books. I believe I will get more out of the story
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if I start with the first book.
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LibraryThing member SharronA
Stone Barrington becomes less appealing with each new book. Early on, he was enthusiastic, idealistic, sometimes bent the rules but always seemed to have "good" and "right" in his sights. Now his focus is self-indulgence, breaking whatever rules/laws/principles are necessary to accomplish what he
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wants. His arrogance and hubris have overpowered the joy that may come from a well-plotted mystery/thriller. As I said some years ago, this will probably be my last Stone Barrington read...but this time I mean it!
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LibraryThing member jnut1
I enjoyed this Stone book much more than the last few.

Stone spends most of this book in LA.

Since his son Peter graduated, he and his friends head to LA to start filming of their movie.

Bad guys follow............

Who is the hero of this book?

How many women does Stone hook up with?

Very enjoyable!
LibraryThing member utbw42
A Stone Barrington novel without much Stone Barrington...still a good, quick read, but not up to the level of others. Woods is really cranking out the Barrington books lately, adding more and more central characters, which distracts from the main characters that made this series so much fun to
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read. This one is very by the numbers as Stone crosses paths with an old contact, Teddy Fay, and somehow ends up convincing him to protect his son from the Russian mob. Stone really doesn't have much to do with the main plot as the focus seems to be on Teddy, aka Billy, and his dealings with the Russians and others new characters in Vegas and L.A. Stone does have a small role at the end in helping set up the Russians for a hit by Teddy, but I'm hoping the next one brings Stone back as the central protagonist. One gripe: Teddy's dealings with Vlad, a Russian hitman, are poorly handled by Woods...just my opinion.
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LibraryThing member Olivermagnus
This is listed as the 27th book of the Stone Barrington series but it's really more of a Teddy Fay story. That actually makes it a more interesting book because we get to see him morph into a good guy. Stone makes his entrances in a timely enough manner, along with the requisite beautiful woman who
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falls into bed with him after dinner.

Fans of the series will remember Teddy Fay, the rogue CIA agent on the run, from a previous book. Teddy is hiding out in a New Mexico town, working for the local gas station, when Peter Barrington and his friends stop by on their way to Los Angeles to get a flat tire fixed. Teddy just happens to find a GPS chip and realizes someone is following them. When an SUV of Russians turn up asking questions about Peter, Teddy steps in for the rescue.

This all happens in the first few pages of the book and sets up the rest of the story. Teddy moves out to Los Angeles so he can keep an eye on Peter and the Russians start their search for Teddy. The story is very fast moving and more detailed than the last couple of Stone Barrington novels.

My rating is probably too high but it's based on my affection for the series. I love Stone's lavish and chaotic lifestyle and unbelievable luck in everything he does. If you're a fan of the series I think you'll enjoy this even though there's a little Stone and a lot of Teddy. If you haven't been following the series you'll find the story and characters quite unbelievable. The writing is probably not the best but this is strictly a quick, fun read with characters I've come to like over the years.
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LibraryThing member buffalogr
A Stone Barrington novel without much Stone Barrington. I enjoyed the characters, Teddy most of all. I found it unbelievable that three recent college graduates would be offered and begin to accomplish a movie. That their parents are proud, IS believable. Oh well, only a novel. If you enjoy
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escapist, espionage, good vs. evil, read this book. There were a few breakdowns in reality where the author showed ignorance of the geography. Y ou may be a Stone Barrington fan if you read twenty-seven novels in the series.
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LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: Stone's son, Dino's son and a friend of the boys graduate from college and head to California to make movies. On the way they realize that they are being followed by someone. Teddy Fey, disguised as a gas station attendant, saves their lives and makes himself indispensable to the group.
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Review: This book was lots of fun and tied up soem previous loose ends. I was glad to see Teddy back.
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LibraryThing member Carol420
Anything can happen when life comes full circle, and none can vouch for it better than Stone Barrington. And the same goes for Teddy Fay, a rogue former CIA agent. Their path once crossed, and it was the suave lawyer who was hot in pursuit of the rogue agent. But now, compulsions brought them
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together, and they are doing hard time to stay one step ahead of the Russian Mafioso who ordered the hit for Teddy and Peter Barrington, the son of Stone.

Great book. Loved Teddy. It was good to see Teddy get a second chance...or is this the third or maybe the fourth? At any rate I hope to see him in his new improved role in future books.
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LibraryThing member jepeters333
When Stone Barrington embarks on a trip to Bel-Air to check in on some business and personal concerns, he expects a relaxing break from the fast pace and mean streets of New York. But trouble never takes a vacation, and it has a way of finding Stone. A case that had seemingly been resolved has
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returned in full force—with lethal results. And this deadly situation makes for strange bedfellows when Stone finds himself teamed with the least likely ally . . . a gentleman of unique abilities, who can fly below the radar and above the law.

From the high-stakes poker tables of Las Vegas to California’s lush beachside resorts, the trail of disguise, subterfuge, and murder leads to a shocking conclusion.
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Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2013-10-08

Physical description

392 p.; 4.5 inches

ISBN

0451466861 / 9780451466860

Barcode

1601889
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