Woods is a prolific writer of fluff fiction. Stories with continuing characters and decent plotting. He has 3 main continuing characters: Holly Barker, Stone Barrington, and Will Lee (there is a 4th, the Dead series: LA Dead, NY Dead, Santa Fe as well as a couple books from years past in the LA movie scene, and a couple others). He writes at a rate of about 1 novel a year. This is his current release.
This is a Will Lee story. Lee is the democratic President. This one opens up with Lee wakening from a dream of middle east terrorists and a nuke. His day when he to accept his party's nomination for another term begins with his nightmare revealed...terrorists have taken control of a Pakistani nuke base and control 2 missiles. then his VP tells Lee his prostate cancer has returned with a vengeance and is due for surgery that afternoon (he dies), and they have to scramble not only to get a running mate but a successor for the rest of the first term. then there is a problem with an actress from Lee's past wanting access for a favor...another typical day in the Oval Office. They choose the current Gov of California who, after accepting the nod, tells Lee he is in the tail end of a quiet but amicable divorce (yeah, right). The other problem that shows up is that this governor's idea of governance is focused on the gentler sex, not public policy. He can't seem to keep from tripping over his libido. Then, a character from past Will Lee novels shows up again. Teddy Fay is an ex-CIA identity expert who's idea of influencing policy is to assassinate right wing politicians, fake his own death and get away with it - the topic of 2 earlier Will Lee stories. Anyway, Fay is living the quiet life in Panama City and a chance sighting alerts the CIA and a supermarket tabloid to his existence. While Teddy tries to silence all who've recognized him, he flies back to the US and plans to kill a black candidate who threatens to sabotage Lee's campaign. A young CIA operative in Panama figures this all out and chases Fay to Jacksonville FL to thwart the attempt.
Anyway, Lee manages to get the ex-wife to quite being a creep about the divorce, convince one lady friend of the VEEP to back off, and for the VEEP to make an honest woman out of the third. Plus, he orders SEALS into Pakistan to recapture a missing Nuke. just another day as the POTUS. Our intrepid CIA agent manages to stop the assassination attempt and in doing so, shoots some holes in the gas tanks of Teddy's plane bound for Bermuda (or was it the Bahamas?) and we are left to wonder if Teddy crashes into the Atlantic (not likely) or manages to survive his predicament (very likely).
Don't go into a Stuart Woods book expecting great literature cuz that just ain't happening. There is little descriptive narrative to set a tone or mood for the story. just lots of good, quick dialogue that keeps the pages turning at a rapid pace. This is travel lit, on a plane, in the terminal, just before sleep in a hotel. if you know what you are in for, Woods will deliver and his multiple best sellers speak to his connection with his fans. I've read I don't know how many of his novels and will keep coming back. i like the Holly Barker series the best and she shows up in a supporting role here. If i'm in the need of a book, I can count on a Woods book to fill the time, I've still a number to get through when the mood strikes.
East Coast Don
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