I so loved this book! The mystery was well done, with lots of twists and turns!! I will definitely be reading more in this series!! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!

Stuart Woods is my guilty pleasure. I have read every fiction/mystery he's written. And this particular title was a Great read, a Great one night read. I will sorely miss Stone and Dino's banter.

Stuart Woods's Stone Barrington books are like literary cotton candy: nothing too serious but lots of fun to consume!

Black Dog follows the usual formula like the rest of the series but this one has a refreshing twist because Stone's secretary, Joan Robertson, takes center stage in this caper, and that's what makes this title more fun than usual. The snappy repartee between Stone and Joan are usually kept to a minimum in other books but this story is rich with many witty exchanges, which made Black Dog a thoroughly enjoyiable read.

Highly recommended for fans of Stone Barrington.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review.

Stone is a lawyer with a socialite client who wants her stepson to have a monthly allowance and nothing more after the passing of her husband.
Eddie, the stepson , is not pleased about this .
This begins the saga of a couple murders and a fair amount of mayhem.
To say this is a lawyer/ courtroom drama is wrong, nor is it a crime solving mystery…what it is a comedy disguised as both of the above. I liked it and I didn’t, both at the same time.
I recommend very much.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me this ARC.

I love this series! This one was fast paced & highly entertaining! I was sad to hear the passing of Stuart Woods and will seriously miss his books. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

Stone Barrington is back in book #62 in this well loved series. Since 1991 when we first were introduced to Stone, we've made many a journey with the road weary detective/ private investigator/ lawyer. The series is populated with so many of our favorite characters, it would be hard to pick a most loved or most hated among them. Stuart Woods writes the stories as if he's reading them in the paper, adding humor and lots of side notes along the way.

A new client brings in lots of money, but brings in her load of troubles with it. Her stepson, the black dog because he is too awful to be a black sheep, is just one of the many problems Stone must handle to earn his money. The story is, as always, entertaining enough to keep you reading long after you should have taken a break. The surprises had me looking for clues I missed and the end......well, you're just going to have to read it yourself. You can easily read this book as a stand alone, but you'd be denying yourself alot of good reading.

I enjoy the Stone Barrington series and this addition was one of Stuart Wood's more entertaining stories. An extremely wealthy woman shows up at Stone's door after receiving a huge inheritance that she does not want to go to her step-son. She wants Stone's help to keep the money away from the son. She also happens to be his secretary Joan's aunt. Joan is one of my favorite characters and I really liked seeing her personality come through in this story. I feel like each Stone Barrington novel is another chapter in an ongoing saga and I'm very sad that we have lost the author before he was able to write a great ending to Stone's adventures.

I recommend this new addition to any Stuart Woods/Stone Barrington fans. It does not disappoint!

Prolific author Stuart Woods passed away July 22, 2022, I'm sorry to say - just a few days before this book was released. But I'm comforted by knowing he wrote more than 90 novels in his 84 years and that I've read most of those in his popular Stone Barrington series (of which this is the 62nd). I'm sure I speak for other readers when I say he'll be missed.

As far as the Barrington books go, while I've grumbled about the somewhat boring content of some (at one point, I referred to him in my reviews as Stone Yawnington), the last few have been quite enjoyable. And I must say this one is notable to me because of the humor - yes, I out-loud chuckled my way through it, polishing it off in the equivalent of maybe half a day just because I wanted to.

This time out, Stone's uber-efficient secretary, Joan Robertson, plays a leading role. For openers, she brings her mother's youngest sister, Annetta Charles, into Stone's prestigious law firm as his client. An extremely wealthy recent widow, she wants to make a new will - and the firm gets the potential to earn a goodly amount of "rain," as Stone puts it (methinks he's become quite woke since the last book). It also puts Stone in contact with Annetta's stepson, a young man she dubs "Black Dog" because he's "too awful" to be a black sheep. To say he's an obnoxious pest would be a kindness; unfortunately, it just may be he's dangerous to boot.

As the story progresses, Stone (and Joan) try their best to keep him at bay and themselves alive, but most of the time the best they can do is play clean-up. No one is safe - not Stone, nor Joan, nor even Stone's friend and police commissioner Dino Bacchetti. But despite everybody's suspicions, the jerk somehow manages to elude detection and certainly arrest - even when murder is involved. Throughout it all, Stone and Dino don't miss a beat - and neither do they miss many of their nightly dinners at some of New York's finest restaurants. Stone's well-known penchant for bedding beautiful women seems turned down a notch, but that's probably more from lack of opportunity than desire.

I can't say the rather abrupt ending was satisfying to me, but for Stone, all's well that ends well as usual. All in all, it's another fun romp that loyal readers should love. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy.

thriller, threats, law-enforcement, lawyers, mystery, suspense, crime-fiction, situational-humor, verbal-humor, family-drama, family-dynamics, friction, friendship, entitled-attitude, murder, ex-cop, series, inheritance, stalker, teamwork, NYC*****

Over the top fun!
I hadn't read any Stone Barrington novels for a time and forgot what fun they are. Oh, sure, there's mystery, shoot 'em ups and all that, but I come for the fun. And it's got plenty of that along with plot twists, red herrings, and a cast of friends and associates that you needn't have read any others to appreciate. The publisher's blurb is interesting but kind of boring. NOT like the book! Read it in one morning avoiding dishes and laundry.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from PENGUIN GROUP Putnam/G.P. Putnam's Sons via NetGalley. Thank you!

Wow! Another great Stone Barrington Adventure! From details of the set scenes, and laugh out loud humor from the characters! I felt mildly annoyed at the pace, but overall a good read! Love these stories! Thanks so much Putnam/Penguin for this ARC in exchange for my opinion!/

Stuart Woods brings danger and suspense to book sixty-two in the Stone Barrington series. Stone’s secretary, Joan Robertson, introduces him to Annetta Charles who wants to make a new will. This socialite has a staggering inheritance and wants Stone to take care of it and she will consider giving him all of her legal business. Annetta has some unusual ties and an enemy that is threatening her.

By this time in the series, Stone’s character is well developed. The great thing about this novel is that Joan plays a large role in the story. Readers gain a greater understanding of how she responds to danger and how her outlook changes as events occur. There are always several new characters as well as some visits from characters from previous books giving the series even more continuity. Reconnecting with these old friends was effortless. The person thought to be the antagonist is very unlikeable and irritating, but smart. However, is he the villain or a red herring?

This riveting mystery keeps readers flying through the pages from start to finish. I found myself wondering which truths and lies would be revealed next. The dialogue feels natural and flows well. It pulls readers into the inner world of the characters. It’s well-plotted with characters that feel real and who respond to situations realistically. Unpredictable moments in the story keep readers on their toes. I enjoyed the subtle humor that was interspersed within the novel.

I only had two quibbles. The first relates to the house search, and what is found and not found. I can’t say more without spoilers. The second relates to the ending. I wanted a tad more closure through perhaps a short epilogue. Despite this, Woods continues to deliver exciting and well-written crime thrillers. He is a great storyteller, and this installment weaves murder, death, greed, jealousy, friendship, and family into a tale that pulls one in and keeps readers hooked to the end.

Overall, this was tense and exciting novel with danger, action, and the possibility of romance. I am looking forward to finding out what happens next in the series. If you enjoy crime and murder mysteries, then I recommend that you check out this series. If you enjoy quality drama that’s packed with suspense, this was it. While the series is best read in order, the crimes within this one are self-contained. However, readers would be missing a lot background and character development.

PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons and Stuart Woods provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for August 2, 2022. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

Another entertaining read with Stone Barrington tackling a case involving his own secretary, Joan.
Lots of action to keep you engaged.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Typical good, fast paced Stone Barrington tale by Woods. A little more interaction with best friend and NYPD Commissioner Dino Bacchetti than usual, as Stone finds himself immersed in a case involving his secretary Joan and her recent inherited millions.
Lots of action: murder, will fraud and other mayhem.
Good read if you are a die hard Barrington fan.
Bring on #63👍

I enjoyed this book. It is a quick read. Lots of humorous dialogue. The main characters have developed over the series. This book not as gritty as the earlier works.

After returning home from a treacherous adventure, Stone Barrington is all too happy to settle back down in his New York City abode. But when he's introduced to a glamorous socialite with a staggering inheritance, Stone realizes his days are about to be anything but quiet.  As it turns out, Stone's intriguing new companion has some surprisingly familiar ties and other far more sinister ones—including a nefarious enemy who gets too close for comfort. When it becomes clear that this miscreant will stop at nothing to get what he wants, and will endanger all whom Stone holds hear, Stone must step in to protect his friends and prevent a dangerous madman from wreaking havoc across the city. I chose to use the publishers summary of this book because to do otherwise would involve too many spoilers. This is the 62nd book in Woods’ Stone Barrington series, and in my opinion, one of the better ones. As always, Stone has his romantic adventures (much less descriptive than in earlier books in the series), complicated clients and friendship with Dino Bacchetti, NYPD police commission. This book also featured Joan Robertson, Stone’s secretary, which was different and enjoyable. Plenty of action with an opponent for Stone that you will not like! And number 63 in the series is coming in November! My thanks to Penguin Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

Stuart Woods delivers another effortless Stone Barrington story. While somewhat predictable, it’s a quick paced and entertaining read.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC. Pub. Date: August 2, 2022.
#NetGalley #BlackDog

My thanks to G.P. Putnam's Sons, and to NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Black Dog.

When Stone Barrington is introduced to a glamorous socialite who has a staggering inheritance, he realizes his days are about to be anything but quiet. The primary storyline tells of the difficulties in getting rid of an unwanted stalker, which doesn't sound hilarious, but it was! This person was referred to as a black dog, rather than a black sheep, hence the title of the book.

There's nothing like jumping into a series at #62 but it grabbed me from the beginning the first time I chuckled aloud, and the laughs kept coming! I so enjoyed the repartee between all of the characters! Hands down, Joan, with her quick wit, was my favorite character.

Black Dog was definitely an enjoyable, escapist read!

#BlackDog #NetGalley

Stone Barrington is back in New York City. Hoping for some downtime but that doesn’t seem to be in the cards for him.

I’m excited about this one. Joan, who is one of my favorite characters, is front and center in this one. Introducing her uber-rich aunt to Stone. Her aunt has somewhat of a chequered past but is also married to one of the wealthiest men in the world. Or she was until he recently died.

Although she’s sixty, she looks forty and has the hots for Stone. And who wouldn’t? She also wants to give him millions in business and make him the executor of her will and her stepson’s trust. The stepson is too bad for a black sheep even. And boy does this Eddie character not have a moral bone in his body.

He is desperate and we all know desperate people do desperate things. Like murder and forgery.

This was a very humorous book. Stone always has a good sense of humor but who knew about Joan?

Woods always gives us a good time with Stone, Dino, and Joan. This one was especially good!

NetGalley/02 Aug 2022 Penguin Group/Putnam

Spectacular as usual. How the author keeps writing such varied novels with Stone growing through the years is true talent
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Free ARC from NETGALLEY

Black Dog is yet another "starred attraction" to the Stuart Woods' Stone Barrington series. If you liked the last one and the one before that you will enjoy this one as they all follow the same predictable format. Beautiful women, mega-wealthy and dangerous situations still make the familiar fun.