Action & Adventure
![Stuart Woods - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B000APXDEA.jpg)
![Brett Battles - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001I9W7PI.jpg)
Near Miss (A Stone Barrington Novel)
Stone Barrington faces down a deadly foe in the latest thrilling adventure in the #1 New York Times bestselling series.
Following a string of adventures, Stone Barrington is enjoying some downtime in New York City when a chance encounter introduces him to a charming new companion. Too bad she also comes with the baggage of a persistent ex-boyfriend intent on retribution.
As Stone skillfully dodges each disturbance, it becomes clear that there's an even more treacherous game being played behind the scenes. When long-standing grudges resurface, Stone is brought back into the orbit of some familiar enemies. He must use all of his tricks-as well as those of a few old friends-to evade trouble before it's too late. But this time, danger just might catch up with him.
Following a string of adventures, Stone Barrington is enjoying some downtime in New York City when a chance encounter introduces him to a charming new companion. Too bad she also comes with the baggage of a persistent ex-boyfriend intent on retribution.
As Stone skillfully dodges each disturbance, it becomes clear that there's an even more treacherous game being played behind the scenes. When long-standing grudges resurface, Stone is brought back into the orbit of some familiar enemies. He must use all of his tricks-as well as those of a few old friends-to evade trouble before it's too late. But this time, danger just might catch up with him.
Readers Top Reviews
TahoeDonna Schmidtsa
As always I love the Stone Barrington books. He's always very adventurous. However I became somewhat irritated with Carly. I hope that Stone has decided against a relationship with her in the next book. Always very entertaining
Callie
This is the first Stone Barrington book in years that didn’t include threesomes, a sex scene on every page and so many partners I couldn’t keep up with who was doing whom. The banter between the characters at times was somewhat childish, but readable. I enjoyed this book more than I did the last several where it was Mr. Woods writing alone. Stone looks like he’s trying to make a comeback!
Ed Henry
While I have no 1st hand knowledge of how much Mr Battles contributed to Barrington #64, please accept my gratitude. I've grown to need these books badly from time to time. Mr Woods has entertained me considerably over the years and will be missed personally as I had the opportunity to meet him some time ago. I highly hope Mr Battles continues to pitch hit, excuse the pun.
Michael
As always Stuart Woods has delivered a new masterpiece. The addition of Carly was an unexpected delight. I really hope we have not seen the last of this character. Teddy Fay was also inserted at just the right time. I have taken to drink Knob Creek as a way of inserting myself into the story line. My thanks to Mr. Woods for writing this 64th edition of Mr. Barrington. I look forward to reading number 65.
Starla
I was upset to hear Mr. Woods had passed. When I learned of a last Stone Barrington book I was thrilled but cautiously optimistic if would be as good as Mr. Woods knowing it would be completed by Mr. Battles. Mr. Battles this book was so seamless and so perfect I have no idea where Mr. Woods left off and you began. This book has romance as usual, action, suspense & more of my favorite characters from other series that I did not expect. I loved if and I will miss these books. Mr. Battles I believe Mr. Woods chose the perfect author to finish this book & I look forward to reading the Teddy Fay book in October you wrote. RIP Mr. Stuart Woods!
Short Excerpt Teaser
Chapter 1
Stone Barrington stood in the shooting range in the basement of his New York City home, held the Colt Model 1911 semiautomatic .45-caliber pistol out in front of him with both hands, and squeezed off a round.
The president of the United States, Holly Barker, stood next to him. "Near miss," she said.
"I hit him in the chest," Stone protested. "All right, sort of in the chest."
"You should be able to hit him in the center of the chest or in either eye," Holly said. "I don't know why I can't fix you. If my father, Ham, were here, he'd fix you in a minute. Why can't I do that?"
"It just may have something to do with the quality of your student," Stone said.
"You can shoot the eye out of a gnat with a rifle. Why can't I get you to do that with a .45?"
Stone tried again. "Maybe I'm unfixable. Maybe I've been hit over the head too many times, and my brain is wobbly."
"I could always fix anybody, like Ham does."
"Maybe serving as president has cut into your range time," Stone suggested.
"What range time? The Secret Service gets all wobbly anytime I'm in the same room with an unholstered handgun," she said. "I guess they're afraid I'll shoot myself."
"Then they don't understand whose daughter you are."
"Right about that. They're all so, young. They can't remember as far back as when Ham was national pistol champion two years in a row."
"Maybe Ham has faded a little?"
"Forget about that. He only competed twice. He could win it again today."
"If I ever need somebody shot, I'll get Ham to do it for me," Stone said.
"Good idea."
"I'm fatally limited to having no more than one good idea a day, without a healing infusion of Knob Creek," Stone said. "Let's adjourn to my study."
"Okay," Holly said. "Then, after I've loosened you up, I'll take you upstairs and fuck your brains out, if we can get past the Secret Service."
"You must be the only female president to talk that way," Stone said.
"Wrong. Kate Lee served two terms and never stopped talking that way. She still does."
They let themselves out of the shooting range, past a nervous-looking Secret Service agent, and sought solitude in Stone's study. Stone poured.
They took a swig of the bourbon, then Holly sat back on the sofa and gazed at him. "Stone," she said, "there's something I've never been able to figure out about you."
"What's that? I'm an open book."
"Why are bad people always trying to kill you?"
"I've often wondered about that myself," Stone said. "And I can't figure it out, either."
"Why are you such an inviting target?" she asked.
"Your guess is as good as mine," he replied.
"Dino says it's because you're sloppy. He can't get you to carry all the time, and you're constantly forgetting to set your very expensive alarm system. I mean, Mike Freeman or Bob Cantor is always updating it with the latest feature, yet people keep getting into your house."
"Well, not when you're here," Stone said. "Those Secret Service people are the best alarm system on the planet."
"That's what they think, too. A tip: don't bring up Jack Kennedy or even George Wallace in their presence. They get all defensive."
"Then I'll never bring up those names," Stone promised. He rose and went to get a fresh bottle of Knob Creek from the cabinet next to the bar.
"They'll never need to watch your ass," Holly said. "I'll do that for them."
"That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me in this millennium," Stone said, putting that part of himself back on the sofa.
"Have you loosened up yet?" Holly asked.
"I believe I have," Stone replied.
So, they went upstairs, past two Secret Service agents, and did what Holly had suggested earlier. They did it well, too, being accustomed to each other's bodies.
Chapter 2
Stone got Holly into his Bentley, which was nearly as well armored as the car the government supplied for her, and shipped her off to the East Side Heliport. She was wearing a burka that Ralph Lauren's people had made for her, which saved her from recognition by the public. Her helicopter was something smaller than Marine One, and that helped, too. It was normally used by the CIA, but they were happy to loan it to her, especially at budget time.
Stone went back into his study and called Dino Bacchetti.
"Yo."
"'Yo'? Is that the person to whom I am sp...
Stone Barrington stood in the shooting range in the basement of his New York City home, held the Colt Model 1911 semiautomatic .45-caliber pistol out in front of him with both hands, and squeezed off a round.
The president of the United States, Holly Barker, stood next to him. "Near miss," she said.
"I hit him in the chest," Stone protested. "All right, sort of in the chest."
"You should be able to hit him in the center of the chest or in either eye," Holly said. "I don't know why I can't fix you. If my father, Ham, were here, he'd fix you in a minute. Why can't I do that?"
"It just may have something to do with the quality of your student," Stone said.
"You can shoot the eye out of a gnat with a rifle. Why can't I get you to do that with a .45?"
Stone tried again. "Maybe I'm unfixable. Maybe I've been hit over the head too many times, and my brain is wobbly."
"I could always fix anybody, like Ham does."
"Maybe serving as president has cut into your range time," Stone suggested.
"What range time? The Secret Service gets all wobbly anytime I'm in the same room with an unholstered handgun," she said. "I guess they're afraid I'll shoot myself."
"Then they don't understand whose daughter you are."
"Right about that. They're all so, young. They can't remember as far back as when Ham was national pistol champion two years in a row."
"Maybe Ham has faded a little?"
"Forget about that. He only competed twice. He could win it again today."
"If I ever need somebody shot, I'll get Ham to do it for me," Stone said.
"Good idea."
"I'm fatally limited to having no more than one good idea a day, without a healing infusion of Knob Creek," Stone said. "Let's adjourn to my study."
"Okay," Holly said. "Then, after I've loosened you up, I'll take you upstairs and fuck your brains out, if we can get past the Secret Service."
"You must be the only female president to talk that way," Stone said.
"Wrong. Kate Lee served two terms and never stopped talking that way. She still does."
They let themselves out of the shooting range, past a nervous-looking Secret Service agent, and sought solitude in Stone's study. Stone poured.
They took a swig of the bourbon, then Holly sat back on the sofa and gazed at him. "Stone," she said, "there's something I've never been able to figure out about you."
"What's that? I'm an open book."
"Why are bad people always trying to kill you?"
"I've often wondered about that myself," Stone said. "And I can't figure it out, either."
"Why are you such an inviting target?" she asked.
"Your guess is as good as mine," he replied.
"Dino says it's because you're sloppy. He can't get you to carry all the time, and you're constantly forgetting to set your very expensive alarm system. I mean, Mike Freeman or Bob Cantor is always updating it with the latest feature, yet people keep getting into your house."
"Well, not when you're here," Stone said. "Those Secret Service people are the best alarm system on the planet."
"That's what they think, too. A tip: don't bring up Jack Kennedy or even George Wallace in their presence. They get all defensive."
"Then I'll never bring up those names," Stone promised. He rose and went to get a fresh bottle of Knob Creek from the cabinet next to the bar.
"They'll never need to watch your ass," Holly said. "I'll do that for them."
"That's the nicest thing anyone has said to me in this millennium," Stone said, putting that part of himself back on the sofa.
"Have you loosened up yet?" Holly asked.
"I believe I have," Stone replied.
So, they went upstairs, past two Secret Service agents, and did what Holly had suggested earlier. They did it well, too, being accustomed to each other's bodies.
Chapter 2
Stone got Holly into his Bentley, which was nearly as well armored as the car the government supplied for her, and shipped her off to the East Side Heliport. She was wearing a burka that Ralph Lauren's people had made for her, which saved her from recognition by the public. Her helicopter was something smaller than Marine One, and that helped, too. It was normally used by the CIA, but they were happy to loan it to her, especially at budget time.
Stone went back into his study and called Dino Bacchetti.
"Yo."
"'Yo'? Is that the person to whom I am sp...
