Publisher's Weekly Review
Hitting the lottery jackpot can be a lot of fun, as shown in bestseller Woods's satisfying 39th Stone Barrington novel (after Dishonorable Intentions). Laurence Hayward, an Eton schoolmaster with American roots who has won $612 million playing Powerball, turns to New York lawyer Stone for guidance on spending his fortune on such items as a Manhattan apartment, a Bentley, and a new wardrobe. At a Ralph Lauren store, Laurence falls for his beautiful personal shopper, Theresa Crane, whose brother, Butch, has recently been released from prison, where he served time for bank fraud. Butch is determined to go straight, but he has a buddy also released from prison, known as Curly for his resemblance to the Stooge, who wants Butch to help him steal money and valuables from Laurence and Stone. The mostly low-key action builds to a violent showdown that promises complications to come in this irresistible, luxury-soaked soap opera. Gun control advocates will approve of Stone's advice to Laurence not to buy a handgun. Agent: Anne Sibbald, Janklow & Nesbit. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
The title says it all. So do New Yorks tabloid headlines: LIMEY POWERBALL WINNER LANDS IN BIG APPLE, LIVES LARGE.Laurence Hayward taught at Eton, his old-school old school, until a $612 million lottery win made it impossible to go home, or almost anywhere else, without attracting the unwanted attention of paparazzi. So he flies to New York to consult Stone Barrington, who introduces him to his junior partner Herbert Fisher, investment banker Conrad Trilling, and Ralph Lauren personal shopper Theresa Crane. Laurence relaxes enough to spend several million dollars on three cars, two apartments in the same Park Avenue building, and an extensive selection of Lauren clothing. Unfortunately, purchasing his wardrobe under the expert advice of Theresa soon brings him into contact with her kid brother, Butch, recently released from stir and eager for a score. Together with his prison pal, the even more recently sprung Curly Jones, Butch quickly hatches a scheme to separate Laurence painlessly from $300,000. But thats not enough for Curly, who loses his share on the ponies and leans on Butch to go back for another round. When Butch, whom Theresa has insinuated into Ralph Lauren without knowing about his partnership with Curly, turns him down, Curly sets his sights a little lower, resolving to clean out Stones own apartment in Turtle Bay. Stone, whos busy finding two new bedmates, is oblivious, confident that the security personnel of Strategic Services are looking out for him 24/7. Or are they? Reads like a remake of Family Jewels (2016) with nary a homicide until very close to the end. Not much sex, no more lies than usual, but some very serious money does indeed get spent on every possible status symbol you can imagine. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
The long-running and still-popular Stone Barrington series appeals as much to fans of Kardashian-style excess as to those of legal thrillers. In his twenty-ninth appearance, the former police officer assists a young man who has just come into some serious money. Laurence Hayward won $612 million in the Florida Powerball. Fortunately for this Eton schoolmaster, Barrington is the perfect man to teach him how to spend it. From $100K shopping trips to Ralph Lauren to multimillion-dollar penthouse purchases, Laurence drops his dough in a way that will forever be beyond all but the one percent of the one percent. The suspense comes in when Laurence's new girlfriend leaves a penthouse key in easy reach of her ex-con brother. Checks are forged; guns are bought, borrowed, and stolen; and Barrington beds a couple of new ladies, along the way to a somewhat predictable wrap-up. Series fans will continue to enjoy this bird's-eye view of the high life.--Keefe, Karen Copyright 2017 Booklist