L.A. Dead

Rating:
Summary: A Waste Of Time!
Review: Being a newcomer to Stuart Woods books, I've definitely found a writer I like. His characters are true to life, or what I think they probably are like in the movie industry. This book is a definite must read and I will be reading the rest of his books.

Rating:
Summary: Hopefully the next is better....
Review: I am a big fan of Stuart Wood's Stone Barrington series, however, I don't think that this was one of his best. The reason for the three stars was because Arrington's character was so flat. Woods had done such a great job of making Arrington a fun, curious, and appealing character in his previous novels. But in this one, she is just boring and stupid. I don't know what happened! The plot is marginal and I was just glad that the book was over. The book should be read if you are reading through the series, but I do not recommend it as a stand alone read. Try "Swimming to Catalina" or "L.A. Times" if you are looking for something really good from Woods.

Rating:
Summary: Not a brilliant audio or novel
Review: I listened to the Brilliance Audio edition of this book and was very annoyed by the special effects applied whenever the character speaking was on the telephone or on television. Not only were they jarring, but the volume level often dropped at those times, forcing me to rewind or miss something since I couldn't hear it properly.

The novel itself is not very good, either, as other reviewers have noted. I've enjoyed others in the Stone Barrington series, but this one seemed an excuse just to hook Stone up with many women who were not his wife, talk about various wines, and not resolve any important points brought up in the plot. As usual in Stuart Woods' books, there were several continuity errors that should have been caught in the editing process. Maybe they were left in to distract from the overall weakness of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Great book, highly recommended.
Review: I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or action book. This book has a strong plot with twists and turns that kept me reading. If you have read other Stuart Woods books, it has the same main characters, cop-turned-lawyer Stone Barrington, his side-kick friend and cop Dino Bachetti, Dino's wife Mary Ann, and Arrington, Stone's old flame. The story starts with Stone nearly marrying Mary Ann's sister, Dolce Bianchi. Then he gets a call from Arrington's doctor that she is in the hospital after her husband, Vance Calder, a famous movie star was shot dead in his home. Stone runs to Arrington's aid in L.A. and ends up at her defense, she is the main suspect in the murder. During all this, Stone decides Dolce isn't the woman for him and she gives him troubles through the entire book, desperate to be married to Stone.

Rating:
Summary: not that great a book
Review: My pen-pal has hounded me for years to read Stuart Woods. Well, three years later, I do. L.A. Dead. It didn't float my boat, sorry. It didn't even make me want to read some of the authors other books. This books seemed to cliché.

Maybe the author has something about CA that he wants to say or maybe this is just his style of writing, but the randomness of people jumping from bed to bed is just dumb. And everyone knows except the wife. Just didn't seem to really grab me.

But let's go deeper. Stone, about to get married, just flies across the country to see his ex, who he supposedly had, on a prior event, retreated from. Why? Other people wanted him to go but why? And Arrington had wanted him to come, but why? Nothing is really hinted or said.

He is a big shot lawyer, and yet he can go where he wants and not have to worry about seeing his clients. Granted, a lot can be done by phone, but a lot can't.

The actions of the main characters seem too easy. Stone is working from the desk of a dead guy on a movie lot. His wife sneaks on the lot and takes pictures of him. Well, she had not been to this lot before. How did she get into the lot and how did she know where the office was?

Why does Stone want to not be in the same house with his ex, yet does not protest when she breaks bail and flies across the country to see him. Oh, there just happens to be a jet waiting to take each back to the west coast.

Another thing I didn't seem to understand. The police and searching a house, and Stone gets there, doesn't ask for a warrant or anything. This book dispelled any and all belief this man can be a lawyer. Conflict of interest is no problem and he seems to only think of the law when is suits.

Dino, well that is a nice character.

Rating:
Summary: A Truly Awful Book
Review: Save your time, money and patience. This may be the worst book I have read since the equally monotonous, predictable Stone Barrington novel "The Short Forever". Wow, this one stinks. Like others, I put up with the shallow characters, ludicrous dialogue and endless parade of showers, boobs and guns to figure out whodunit. Unfortunately, this book had an ambiguous ending that seeks to be clever but is instead is just stupid. Who on earth did kill Vance? And come to think of it, who gives a damn? I don't what women did to Stuart Woods but he sure seems to hold them in complete contempt. Every female character, save for Isabel the maid, felt compelled to practically rape our handsome hero. Each is flawless and gorgeous but also all are dumb, vacuous, self-centered and thoroughly unlikeable - hey a couple are even truly psychotic! The only normal female character who spared Stone, Mary Ann, unfortunately has a room temperature IQ. I am hardly a prude, but I lost count of how many women either Vance or Stone made love to in the course of one short novel and felt the need to take a long hot shower to rid myself of the feelings of filth. Mr. Woods either lives in a world of complete ignorance or the reading public is a lot less discriminating than I thought.

Rating:
Summary: For a LIGHT READ it's pretty fun
Review: Stuart Woods weaves yet another thrilling tale based on his most popular character Stone Barrington. After reading his latest ("Dirty Work"), I was drawn to this book, "L.A. Dead". It is a very fast-paced story that manages to keep you intrigued and guessing for all of its 300+ pages. Let me tell you a few things that may help you make up your own mind about "L.A. Dead" (NO SPOILERS):

Though I think this is fifth book in a series with his main character Stone Barrington, I did not feel at a loss at all for not having read any of his previous books. That alone impressed me, but then add on top of that a story that grabs you and does let go until the thrilling (and surprising) conclusion. Stone Barrington is called to LA to solve the mysterious death of one of Hollywood's biggest actors. The suspect? The true love of Barrington's life.

Woods combines characters that are cops, ex-cops, lawyers, famous actressses, and international smugglers and does it all masterfully. Pick this book up and you likely won't be able to put it back down until it's over. For a light read, it's very entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: For a LIGHT READ it's pretty fun
Review: Stuart Woods weaves yet another thrilling tale based on his most popular character Stone Barrington. After reading his latest ("Dirty Work"), I was drawn to this book, "L.A. Dead". It is a very fast-paced story that manages to keep you intrigued and guessing for all of its 300+ pages. Let me tell you a few things that may help you make up your own mind about "L.A. Dead" (NO SPOILERS):

Though I think this is fifth book in a series with his main character Stone Barrington, I did not feel at a loss at all for not having read any of his previous books. That alone impressed me, but then add on top of that a story that grabs you and does let go until the thrilling (and surprising) conclusion. Stone Barrington is called to LA to solve the mysterious death of one of Hollywood's biggest actors. The suspect? The true love of Barrington's life.

Woods combines characters that are cops, ex-cops, lawyers, famous actressses, and international smugglers and does it all masterfully. Pick this book up and you likely won't be able to put it back down until it's over. For a light read, it's very entertaining.

Rating:
Summary: ...
Review: This is my first Stuart Woods and the last. Let's see... an ex-cop, turned lawyer marrying a mafia princess while still in love with a globe-trotting journalist who's already married to the most famous actor in Hollywood. Sure, I can identify with these people. Despite my hesitations, I gave it the benefit of the doubt.

After about fifty pages, I was wishing someone had killed me. Did Mr. Woods used to write scripts for Soap Opera's? Here is an actual line from the book: 'With nothing left to do, Stone reflected.' What? Why would you even write that? I suppose you have to pad the word count for the publisher.

There are no interesting characters that aren't stereotypes to the hilt. The dialog makes All My Children look like the West Wing.

Its no wonder that talented new writers can't break into the market, .... I was suckered into it because I was desperate for something to read on the plane and the gift shop didn't have a lot to offer.

Oh Well, I know I seem harsh, but there should be some kind repercussion for churning out this kind of stuff. Almost everyone else here seems to think he's god's gift to mysteries. Go back to the classics from Chandler, MacDonald, or some new 'classics' from McBain or Ellroy.

Rating:
Summary: grabs hold of you right from the beginning
Review: wow, this book was fantastic...from the very beginning I couldn't stop turning the pages...i'm not sure why this book had a lower average rating, but I thought it was fantastic..

there's lots of things going on in this book, but that's one of many things Woods is good at: having multiple sub plots but using them in such a way that the reader doesn't get lost trying to keep track of everything....everything flows really well..

if I had to pick a gripe about the book it would be the ending...it's one of those 'did they or didn't they??' type of endings....which is cool, but if you're like me and you need to know everything, it'll drive you nuts! =)

as with the other books in the Barrington series, i'm sure the events of this book will impact stone's later adventures..

gripping and fast paced.