Book Review: Dark Harbor

Reviewed By: Pat Reid - RAM

Dark Harbor     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Stuart Woods
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Thriller   Police Procedural   Government Agency
Series: Stone Barrington # 12
G. P. Putnam & Sons, 2006, 294 pps.

Dark Harbor opens with Stone Barrington at Elaine’s his usual hang-out. Dino meets him there but not with good news. He has just split with his wife, Mary Ann, and is depressed and needs a place to stay. Stone invites him to stay with him. Lance Cabot appears on the scene and begins questioning Stone about his knowledge of a man named Richard Stone. Richard is Stone’s first cousin on his mother’s side and Stone spent a summer with him years ago and had dinner with him once eight years ago. The only other contact Stone has had is a FedEx package received that morning with instructions to Stone to place in his safe and only open it in the event of his death. Richard also sent a retainer with the package.

Stone can’t believe it when Lance announces that Richard killed his wife and only daughter the previous morning and then killed himself.

After the group leaves to go to Stone’s and open the package they find that it contains a new will leaving his home Dark Harbor in Maine to Stone for his use as long as he wanted. The will also cut out Richard’s brother Caleb.

Lance also revealed that Richard occupied a high office in the CIA. Stone, Lance, Dino and Holly Barker immediately left for Maine to begin their investigation.

Arrington makes a very brief appearance in Maine along with Peter, her son. Eventually after Holly goes missing her father Ham comes to Maine to help with the investigation.

There is a lot more violence on the little island after Stone’s arrival. Eventually he captures the real killer with some help from his sidekicks. If you like Stone Barrington you will find this book entertaining and the locale interesting.

Pat Reid - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Pat Reid - RAM

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