Book Review: Worst Fears Realized by Stuart Woods

In the ever-evolving world of crime fiction, it is rare to find a novel that can keep the reader on the edge of their seat from start to finish. Stuart Woods‘ “Worst Fears Realized” does just that. A thrilling and fast-paced addition to the Stone Barrington series, Woods masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, intrigue, and action that will leave readers begging for more. With his signature style and keen attention to detail, Woods transports us into a high-stakes world where every decision has life-altering consequences.

Continue reading

My Year In Books: 2022

In 2022, I read more than ever in a single year: 114 books! My read list included physical books, eBooks, audiobooks, and comic books. Below are more details and fun stats regarding what I read, including 10 of my favorite books from 2022. What did you read last year? Feel free to share your thoughts below. Happy reading in 2023!

Continue reading

Kindle Daily Deal — Shakeup (A Stone Barrington Novel Book 55) by Stuart Woods

With yesterday’s shocking news that one of my favorite authors, Stuart Woods, passed away, I bought Shakeup, a Stone Barrington novel. Available on Amazon, this Kindle book is 80% off the regular price, and now is the perfect time to read a Stuart Woods book, so I Implore you to do so.

Continue reading

Stuart Woods, Author of Stone Barrington Novels, Passes Away

Today, I was shocked to learn that Stuart Woods, author of the Stone Barrington novels, passed away at the age of 84. I’m forever grateful that I had the opportunity to interview Stuart Woods several years ago. I’m also delighted that he was such a prolific author, providing us all with captivating characters and stories to enjoy for many years to come. Below is the full story from the Associated Press about Stuart Woods’ passing. May he rest in peace, and may his body of work live on eternally.

Continue reading

Book Review: An Extravagant Life by Stuart Woods

Stuart Woods is one of my favorite authors, and I recently finished listening to his autobiography: An Extravagant Life. Should you listen to it as well? Read on for my review.

Continue reading

Amazon Prime Day Deal: New York Dead by Stuart Woods

Looking for a good thriller at a great price? The Kindle edition of New York Dead by Stuart Woods is discounted for a limited time! This is a great deal on the first entry in the wildly popular Stone Barrington series, so I highly recommend snatching this one up before it’s too late. You can buy it here on Amazon. Below is a publisher’s summary, so you can learn more about this book. Happy reading!

Continue reading

Stuart Woods Speaks At Hunter College

Back in 2012, New York Times best-selling author Stuart Woods spoke at Hunter College. You can enjoy his full speech and Q&A below.

Continue reading

Stuart Woods Releases Autobiography: An Extravagant Life

Stuart Woods, the New York Times best-selling author who I interviewed a few years ago, is releasing his autobiography tomorrow: An Extravagant Life. I’m very excited to read it and to listen to the audiobook version, which is voiced by Tony Roberts, the wonderful actor who narrates Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington audiobooks. Read on for more details about Stuart Woods’ autobiography.

Continue reading

Three Books To Read This Spring

My to-read list is massive and I’m sure yours is too. Since deciding what to read next can be hard, here are my three recommendations for what to read this spring.

KEEP QUIET by Lisa Scottoline

My girlfriend, Stephanie, and I meeting Lisa Scottoline at her book signing for Keep Quiet on April 19.

My girlfriend, Stephanie, and I meeting Lisa Scottoline at her book signing for Keep Quiet on April 19.

This past Saturday my girlfriend, Stephanie, and I attended Lisa Scottoline’s book signing for her new novel, Keep Quiet, at the Barnes & Noble in Cherry Hill, NJ. Lisa’s mother just passed away last week, so I wasn’t sure if she was going to have the book signing. But after cancelling a few dates on her book tour, Lisa persevered and decided to do her last two book signings. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but Lisa, using her infectious humor, found a way to leave everyone smiling by the end of the event. Yes, she spoke about “Mother Mary” passing away, but she also made sure to inject several funny stories about her mother that had the crowd in stitches. And Lisa remembered many fans, including myself, by name and embraced us with hugs and well wishes. For my money, no author is as warm and loving to her fans as Lisa Scottoline.

But let’s get to the book. Keep Quiet is next on my to-read list and as you can see from the synopsis below, it sounds like it should be an intriguing and compelling read. I can’t wait to crack it open and based on the early reviews, it’s one of Scottoline’s best books in recent years. Keep an open eye out for my review of the book in the coming weeks.

And, if you haven’t already read it, you can check out my interview with Lisa Scottoline here.

Keep Quiet Synopsis

New York Times bestselling and Edgar Award winning author Lisa Scottoline is loved by millions of readers for her suspenseful novels about family and justice. Scottoline delivers once again with Keep Quiet, an emotionally gripping and complex story about one man’s split-second decision to protect his son – and the devastating consequences that follow.Jake Buckman’s relationship with his sixteen-year-old son Ryan is not an easy one, so at the urging of his loving wife, Pam, Jake goes alone to pick up Ryan at their suburban movie theater. On the way home, Ryan asks to drive on a deserted road, and Jake sees it as a chance to make a connection. However, what starts as a father-son bonding opportunity instantly turns into a nightmare. Tragedy strikes, and with Ryan’s entire future hanging in the balance, Jake is forced to make a split-second decision that plunges them both into a world of guilt and lies. Without ever meaning to, Jake and Ryan find themselves living under the crushing weight of their secret, which threatens to tear their family to shreds and ruin them all. Powerful and dramatic, Keep Quiet will have readers and book clubs debating what it means to be a parent and how far you can, and should, go to protect those you love.

EVERYTHING TO LOSE by Andrew Gross

Everything to Lose by Andrew Gross comes out on April 22.

Everything to Lose by Andrew Gross comes out on April 22.

Another one of my favorite authors is Andrew Gross, who I also interviewed last year. You can check it out here. He has a new novel coming out tomorrow entitled Everything to Lose. I’m reading it right now and will be reviewing it soon. I’m happy to report that it’s very entertaining and, in my opinion, better than his previous book, No Way Back. I highly recommend you order a copy of Everything to Lose and give it a shot. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. You can buy the book here.

Everything to Lose Synopsis 

A determined, (down on her luck,) mother caring for her handicapped son becomes entangled in a murderous conspiracy to keep a twenty year old secret buried in this blistering thriller, set during the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, from Andrew Gross, the New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds and No Way Back.

While driving along a suburban back road, Hilary Blum, who’s just lost her job and whose deadbeat husband has left her alone to care for her son with Asperger’s, witnesses a freakish accident. A car ahead of her careens down a hill and slams into a tree. Stopping to help, she discovers the driver dead—and a satchel stuffed with a half a million dollars.

That money could prevent her family’s ruin and keep her special needs son in school. In an instant, this honest, achieving woman who has always done the responsible thing makes a decision that puts her in the center of maelstrom of dark consequences and life-threatening recriminations—a terrifying scheme involving a twenty-year-old murder, an old woman who’s life has been washed out to sea, and a powerful figure bent to keep the secret that can destroy him hidden.

With everything to lose, everything she loves, Hilary connects to a determined cop from Staten Island, reeling from the disaster of Sandy, to bring down an enemy who will stop at nothing to keep what that money was meant to silence, still buried.

CARNAL CURIOSITY by Stuart Woods

Carnal Curiosity by Stuart Woods debuted at #1 on The New York Times Best Sellers list.

Carnal Curiosity by Stuart Woods debuted at on The New York Times Best Sellers list.

My first interview of the year was with the legendary thriller writer Stuart Woods, famous for his Stone Barrington series that has been going strong for decades. The newest installment in the series, Carnal Curiosity, just debuted at on The New York Times Best Sellers list. Once I’m done Lisa Scottoline’s Keep Quiet, this one’s next, so stay tuned for my review. Based on how enjoyable Woods’ recent novels have been, I also recommend you pick up a copy of Carnal Curiosity.

Carnal Curiosity Synopsis 

Stone Barrington seems to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. When Manhattan’s elite are beset by a series of clever crimes—and Stone is a material witness—he and his former partner Dino Bacchetti find themselves drawn into the world of high-end security and fraud, where insider knowledge and access are limited to a privileged few, and the wealthy are made vulnerable by the very systems meant to keep them safe. As Stone and Dino delve deeper into their investigation, they learn that the mastermind behind the incidents may have some intimate ties to Stone . . . and that the biggest heist is still to come.

Book Review: Standup Guy by Stuart Woods

Standup Guy jacketI just returned from Mexico and during my trip I finished reading Stuart Woods’ latest Stone Barrington novel, Standup Guy. As expected, it’s a terrific read that goes down as smoothly as a glass of Knob Creek. In addition to having a wonderfully unpredictable plot, the book references and builds on previous storylines and there’s an interesting political element as well. The Stone Barrington series has been around for 23 years and it’s not showing any signs of slowing down. For those looking to read a high-quality mystery filled with action and intrigue, look no further: Standup Guy delivers.

Synopsis

Stone Barrington’s newest client does not seem the type to bring mayhem in his wake. A polite, well-deported gentleman, he comes to Stone seeking legal expertise on an unusual—and potentially lucrative—dilemma. Stone points him in the right direction and sends him on his way, but it’s soon clear Stone hasn’t seen the end of the case. Several people are keenly interested in this gentleman’s activities and how they may relate to a long-ago crime . . . and some of them will stop at nothing to find the information they desire.

On a hunt that leads from Florida’s tropical beaches to the posh vacation homes of the Northeast, Stone finds himself walking a tightrope between ambitious authorities and seedy lowlifes who all have the same prize in their sights. In this cutthroat contest of wills, it’s winner-takes-all . . . and Stone will need every bit of his cunning and resourcefulness to be the last man standing.