Action & Adventure
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A Safe House (A Stone Barrington Novel)
In this adrenaline-charged thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Stuart Woods, Stone Barrington takes on a vengeful rival.
Stone Barrington is looking forward to some quiet time in New York City, until he is asked to transport precious, top-secret cargo across the Atlantic. Taking on the challenge, Stone flies off unaware of what-or who-he is bringing with him.
But his plans to lie low are quickly spoiled when a dangerous dispatcher tracks down Stone and his tantalizing mystery guest, intent on payback-and silencing anyone who poses a threat. From the English countryside to the balmy beaches of Key West, Stone is on an international mission to hide and protect those closest to him.
Stone Barrington is looking forward to some quiet time in New York City, until he is asked to transport precious, top-secret cargo across the Atlantic. Taking on the challenge, Stone flies off unaware of what-or who-he is bringing with him.
But his plans to lie low are quickly spoiled when a dangerous dispatcher tracks down Stone and his tantalizing mystery guest, intent on payback-and silencing anyone who poses a threat. From the English countryside to the balmy beaches of Key West, Stone is on an international mission to hide and protect those closest to him.
Editorial Reviews
"Stone and friends take countermeasures amid lots of light banter, good food, and great sex." –Publishers Weekly
Readers Top Reviews
Lynne RandallUwe G.
Dear Stuart I don't like reading about my heroes being this vulnerable and not in control. Joan, at least, should have been the one to shoot the bad guys.
R Steven Johnston
Usual fun read. Ended rather abruptly. Sorry to lose him. Stone is an enduring character, and what stamina he has!
Midwest Rider
Mr. Woods is at it again with Stone getting action in his first few chapters. Twists and turns keeps you guessing! First book in aa while that Stone doesn't fall into $$$. Just women!
Ken KarcherJoseph Ma
These novels are a special treasure that I'm fortunate to be able to enjoy, my guilty pleasure so to speak. It begins with Stone and Dino being drafted by Lance Cabot to provide protection and safe haven for a congressional witness; who they don't even get to meet until they have left New York airspace on the way to England. This is a delightful romp with our heroes jetting from New York City to the south of England, and from Maine to Florida attempting to safeguard the former wife of a crooked senator and his henchman. These books are pure fun and an enjoyable experience, I look forward to each new one like it's my birthday, I'm excited for it to come but then it's over too quickly. I know there will be another book after a time and that makes it alright. Stone won't save the world or teach us any meaningful life lessons but he is great company for a long afternoon or a lazy weekend. I recommend these titles wholeheartedly, at least until Stone starts chasing ambulances, but knowing Stuart Woods, he'd find a way to make it an interesting read.
Short Excerpt Teaser
1
Stone Barrington and Dino Bacchetti were dining at their favorite restaurant, Patroon, on East Forty-Sixth Street in New York City, when simultaneously their chateaubriand for two was served as two gentlemen sat down at their table. Their names were Lance Cabot, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Henry Wilcox, his recently appointed deputy director for Operations.
"What a surprise!" Stone said. "And we were only expecting the steak."
"I apologize for interrupting your dinner," Wilcox said.
"Do you apologize for Lance, as well?"
"He does," Cabot said. "Don't let us slow you down."
Stone carved a slice of beef and put it into his mouth. "Well?" he said, after he had swallowed. "Would you like to see a menu?"
"We'll just order dessert," Lance said, raising a finger, which instantly summoned a waiter. "Two apple pies ˆ la mode." The waiter vanished.
"Neither of you is watching your weight, then?" Stone asked.
The pies were set down before them and place settings produced. They dug in.
"We'll wait until you finish the pie before we ask what you're doing here," Stone said.
Neither of them spoke, but both kept eating. Lance finished first and held up the magic finger again. "Coffee for two," he said to the respondent waiter.
Stone and Dino kept eating.
The coffee arrived. "Now," Lance said.
"We're listening," Stone said, while still chewing his steak. "It may not seem so, but we are."
"There are two more gentlemen at this table than we require," Lance said.
"Are you telling my dinner guest and your deputy to go away?" Stone asked.
Lance said, "Since they both have my complete confidence, they may remain."
"Swell," Dino said.
"Stone," Lance said, "I am recalling you to active duty."
"You make it sound as if I'm in the Army Reserves."
"Pretty much the same thing," Lance said. "You are aware that you collect a monthly salary as my associate director."
"I seem to recall that," Stone said. "But the amount must be very small, since I can't remember how much it is."
"It's the principle of the thing," Lance responded.
"What is it you want, Lance?"
"I need you to provide a safe house for a person who shall remain unidentified, even with regard to gender."
"So, it's a woman?"
"Stop guessing. It's unbecoming. The person will be referred to in the editorial masculine."
"Okay, we'll pretend it's a man. What does he need? A bed for the night?"
"Several nights, perhaps many."
"At my house?"
"At your house in England."
"Will he make up his bed and be neat at all times?"
"I believe you employ staff to attend to those details."
"When may I expect him?"
"As soon as you can transport him there."
Stone blinked. "You want me to transport him to my home in England and house him there, indefinitely?"
"For reasons I cannot explain to you, he may not be transported on an airline or government aircraft."
"So, you want me to fly him to England in my aircraft?"
"Yes, and accompany him-all in the strictest secrecy, of course."
"Of course. Why?"
"It's a secret."
"Oh, yes, you mentioned that."
"This is a person who has been of considerable value to the Agency. And if he survives, we trust he will be again."
"So his survival is in question?"
"There are powerful people who do not wish him well."
"Well, I would sure hate to be him," Stone said.
"Do not make light of this, Stone. It is too important."
"Important to whom?"
"Powerful people."
"I trust these are not the same powerful people who don't wish him well."
"There are all sorts of powerful people involved in this, Stone."
"And what will they do to me, if they should discover that I have transported this fellow to England and put him up in my house?"
"If they don't know that, they can't do anything to you, can they?"
"Don't make light of this, Lance."
"Stone, do you have any questions that are not annoying?"
"Two: Who pays for the airplane? And why me?"
"You may present me with a bill for the airplane and fuel, at standard rates. As for why you, I have already reminded you that you are on salary."
"And when do you want me to do this?"
...
Stone Barrington and Dino Bacchetti were dining at their favorite restaurant, Patroon, on East Forty-Sixth Street in New York City, when simultaneously their chateaubriand for two was served as two gentlemen sat down at their table. Their names were Lance Cabot, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Henry Wilcox, his recently appointed deputy director for Operations.
"What a surprise!" Stone said. "And we were only expecting the steak."
"I apologize for interrupting your dinner," Wilcox said.
"Do you apologize for Lance, as well?"
"He does," Cabot said. "Don't let us slow you down."
Stone carved a slice of beef and put it into his mouth. "Well?" he said, after he had swallowed. "Would you like to see a menu?"
"We'll just order dessert," Lance said, raising a finger, which instantly summoned a waiter. "Two apple pies ˆ la mode." The waiter vanished.
"Neither of you is watching your weight, then?" Stone asked.
The pies were set down before them and place settings produced. They dug in.
"We'll wait until you finish the pie before we ask what you're doing here," Stone said.
Neither of them spoke, but both kept eating. Lance finished first and held up the magic finger again. "Coffee for two," he said to the respondent waiter.
Stone and Dino kept eating.
The coffee arrived. "Now," Lance said.
"We're listening," Stone said, while still chewing his steak. "It may not seem so, but we are."
"There are two more gentlemen at this table than we require," Lance said.
"Are you telling my dinner guest and your deputy to go away?" Stone asked.
Lance said, "Since they both have my complete confidence, they may remain."
"Swell," Dino said.
"Stone," Lance said, "I am recalling you to active duty."
"You make it sound as if I'm in the Army Reserves."
"Pretty much the same thing," Lance said. "You are aware that you collect a monthly salary as my associate director."
"I seem to recall that," Stone said. "But the amount must be very small, since I can't remember how much it is."
"It's the principle of the thing," Lance responded.
"What is it you want, Lance?"
"I need you to provide a safe house for a person who shall remain unidentified, even with regard to gender."
"So, it's a woman?"
"Stop guessing. It's unbecoming. The person will be referred to in the editorial masculine."
"Okay, we'll pretend it's a man. What does he need? A bed for the night?"
"Several nights, perhaps many."
"At my house?"
"At your house in England."
"Will he make up his bed and be neat at all times?"
"I believe you employ staff to attend to those details."
"When may I expect him?"
"As soon as you can transport him there."
Stone blinked. "You want me to transport him to my home in England and house him there, indefinitely?"
"For reasons I cannot explain to you, he may not be transported on an airline or government aircraft."
"So, you want me to fly him to England in my aircraft?"
"Yes, and accompany him-all in the strictest secrecy, of course."
"Of course. Why?"
"It's a secret."
"Oh, yes, you mentioned that."
"This is a person who has been of considerable value to the Agency. And if he survives, we trust he will be again."
"So his survival is in question?"
"There are powerful people who do not wish him well."
"Well, I would sure hate to be him," Stone said.
"Do not make light of this, Stone. It is too important."
"Important to whom?"
"Powerful people."
"I trust these are not the same powerful people who don't wish him well."
"There are all sorts of powerful people involved in this, Stone."
"And what will they do to me, if they should discover that I have transported this fellow to England and put him up in my house?"
"If they don't know that, they can't do anything to you, can they?"
"Don't make light of this, Lance."
"Stone, do you have any questions that are not annoying?"
"Two: Who pays for the airplane? And why me?"
"You may present me with a bill for the airplane and fuel, at standard rates. As for why you, I have already reminded you that you are on salary."
"And when do you want me to do this?"
...
