Rating: 
Summary: More of the same from the ultimate name and place dropper
Review: I keep waiting for another "Chiefs" from Woods - but I keep reading these lame stories instead.I guess he shot his literary wad in his first novel? Several years ago I picture this conversation: Woods accountant: You know you can write off money you spend doing research for your books on your tax returns? Woods: Really? Woods accountant: Yep, if you are writing a book about the tropics then you can fly there to do research on the hotels, night life, etc. Heck, you can even do research right here in New York! Woods: Hoo-hoo! I am sure Woods DOES have a table saved for him at Elaine's - he HAS to mention her in every Stone novel. Sometimes it is so obvious that it does not fit into the rest of the story. Also naming the waitstaff probably does wonders for his service - but what junk for the reader. Once Woods started his "let us write this off as research" kick Stone gets to fly everywhere and stay at the best hotels and resorts and always eat at the best restaurants - all of which are name-dropped in the book. Partly to tell us how rich the author is and I am sure so he can write it off. How convenient that the photog skips out to St. Thomas! Good thing he didn't run off to Fargo or something or Stone/Woods would not have even bothered to chase after him. To get an extra Elaine's mention in, Woods has "Carpenter", Stone, and Dino meet there - even though 2 of them KNOW the assassin is trying to ID Stone from a newspaper story! As soon as Stone finds out they leave (without eating) and go to another restaurant (also named). Anyone with half a brain would not have MET Stone at Elaine's then say "the killer could figure out who you are using the newspaper story that says you are eating at Elaine's tonight" - DUH! As to not bedding every woman he meets, Stone didn't have to because "Carpenter" shows up at the start of the story and hops right into the sack. In the age of James Bond you could buy this, but in the fatal STD world we live in now this is just nuts. For sure wait for the paperback or just skip this book, unless you are a Stone/Woods fan. But I can't imagine why you would be. Still hoping for another "Chiefs", but I don't think I am going to get it....
Rating: 
Summary: Stone Barrington Strikes Again
Review: I like all of Stuart Woods' books. They are so much fun. This one is no exception and has all the intrigue you could ask for in a light, beach book. If you're going to start with these, start at the beginning and just keep going.
Rating:
Summary: Astoundingly Awful
Review: I must agree with two of the other 1 star reviews. This was the MOST ridiculous of ALL Stone Barrington novels. It appears that Stuart Woods is getting lazier with his writing and expounding his moralistic, political bent in the guise of a bestselling novel. How in these volatile times he can even justify the path this novel took with that idiotic character, Stone Barrington, taking the side of a hired assassin/ terrorist is beyond all comprehension. Not to mention, he makes many of the folks who serve to protect us from terrorists and evil look like fools. The intelligence community really should speak out against this kind of defamation. There comes responsibility when exercising the 1st ammendment. No more of his novels for me, either.
Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: I read "The Short Forever" first and thought it wasn't a bad story. I particularly liked the Carpenter character and wanted to read more about her. I also liked the detective, Dino. Stone Barrington was the least favorite of the characters I liked. I found him very shallow and too far left for my tastes, but in "Dirty Work", I was so disappointed I had to write this review. I should have read the reviews before I wasted my time reading it. Newt Gingrich had a great review and I could not do better than him. I would like the readers to understand I purchase books to get enjoyment out of them rather than watch TV or see movies. I do not purchase books to get some moral lesson from a far out leftist who doesn't know his butt from a hole in the ground. Stone Barrington's defense of a sadistic killer who murdered innocent people to achieve her agenda of killing all the British agents who had anything to do with her parents death is appalling. He even went so far as to say he ADMIRED her. That did it for me. I believe Mr. Woods is letting his own ideology overtake his writing and therefore destroying any enjoyment I could ever get from reading his books. Therefore I will be eliminating Mr. Woods from my list of authors to read in the future. Sorry folks, but if you're not a dyed in wool liberal, you won't enjoy this one.
Rating:
Summary: Hang it up, Stu
Review: I used to look forward to the new Stone Barrington novels as enjoyment...now I look forward to them as amusement. As usual, a woman from Stone's past shows up out of nowhere and is in his bed within the first few pages of the book. There's nothing new there (other than no coincidental appearance by Arrington at the most inopportune time). The rest is what sends the book into the depths of ridiculousness. British intelligence is working to track a serial assassin who's been killing their own, and Carpenter (Stone's latest conquest) is next on the list. No one's been able to get a handle on "La Biche" for years. Yet within five seconds, Stone has not only managed to easily track down her cellphone number, but to call her and arrange to meet her so he can be her liaison to safety. Yes, I'm sure a serial assassin is going to take an out-of-the-blue call from a hot-shot NY attorney (who's sleeping with her latest target, no less), put all her trust and faith into him, and allow him to take over her affairs and her life. As usual, Stone barks orders and people jump. He demands a meeting with Carpenter and her boss, the head of British Intelligence, and not only do they agree to it, but they agree to every demand Stone makes for the meeting. The assassin goes along with every silly plan he comes up with, and actually considers giving up her life of crime after a few kind words from Stone. He orders around the NYPD and the FBI, tags along with Dino on police investigations and generally makes a nuisance of himself. And to me, the worst part was that Carpenter tells him the story of how this assassin has been tracking her, yet after Stone goes behind her back to ring the assassin up and become her attorney overnight, Carpenter acts like nothing is wrong and continues trying to get him back into her bed. There's nothing real or likable about Stone. He's an arrogant, pompous windbag who acts morally outraged that an assassin is a target of British Intelligence for killing their men and woman, yet he has no qualms whatsoever about breaking the law himself when it suits his purpose. While Dino remains a fun character, the women Stone beds keep getting lamer and lamer. And please, someone tell me...just how is Elaine repaying Stuart Woods for all this free publicity? Finally, how many more times is the author going to put that idiotic self-serving note in the back of his books telling readers what they can and can't write to him about? All that does is make me fire off e-mails to him pointing out all his mistakes. Next is adding him to my address book for chain letters. Save your money...this series started going downhill a long time ago, and it's not getting any better.
Rating:
Summary: Total Disappointment
Review: I've always been fond of Stone Barrington. Well, after reading this little diddy, "appalled" would be a more appropriate feeling. I really can't believe Stuart Woods is the author of this giddy, illogical piece-of-fluff! Take some time off Stuart! This is not the kind of writing that will keep true admirers true!! I kept waiting for the book to get better. It didn't. After finishing it, I just sat in a dumb funk for a while, wondering why I had wasted my time reading the whole thing. Too bad.............
Rating:
Summary: A Distinctive Perspective !
Review: If you enjoy complex stories, captivating personalities, and a steady pace of action, Stuart Woods creates an exceptional read. "Dirty Work" is also an unwitting case study into the peculiar mindset of modern liberalism. Stone Barrington, the wealthy lawyer/ex-cop who is the protagonist of a number of Woods' recent novels, ends up hunting down a terrorist/assassin and ultimately decides to help her survive. Barrington is angry that the British are trying to kill this assassin, although she has been killing and adopting their agents' identities. The assassin is upset because the British have killed her parents. Read the novel carefully and note how many innocent people die. Then note that Barrington is upset about the assassin's imminent death but not about the deaths of all the people she has killed. Through this view, you will catch the strange world of modern liberalism and how it rationalizes a selective morality that focuses only on the wrongs it wants to right. "Dirty Work" is not only an intriguing novel but also a great study into the mindset of the modern left.
Rating: 
Summary: Fun Entertainment - Easy Read
Review: If you enjoy the Stone Barrington series, you will certainly enjoy this. This is easy to read entertainment that won't disappoint Stone fans ...well except for those that are looking for 'serious' drama.
Rating: 
Summary: Light fare
Review: If you're looking for a light read & are fond of the Stone Barrington books, this is easily readable. I would not recommend it to those who like their mysteries more on the serious or involved side, nor would I call it a "page-turner" by any means. Enjoyable enough, however, if you want a quick, light read.
Rating:
Summary: Easy to enjoy.
Review: In "Dirty Work", the ninth in the cop turned lawyer Stone Barrington series by Stuart Woods, Stone stays close to home...no gallivanting to jet set hot spots. Stone is assigned by the Woodman & Weld law firm (where he is of counsel) to get proof of an unfaithful husband. Seemingly routine, this assignment leads Stone into the murky world espionage going back to murders (assassinations)at least a decade old. In this domain, the "good guys" are treacherous and the "bad guys" earn your compassion...and a deadly female assassin bent on revenge appears far more sympathetic than the MI-5 agent hunting her. Mr. Woods has crafted another entertaining Stone Barrington installment with lots of sex appeal, intriguing plot and subplots with not a word wasted. The story moves at a lightning pace. Stone's former cop partner Dino is prominent throughout and remains one of fiction's strongest supporting characters. As always, Stone is a captivating, engaging, witty bon vivant with enough panache for a dozen men. Easy to enjoy without requiring a lot of time.
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