In this edition, Stone is offered a dream job by his law school friend Bill Eggers - go to Key West in the middle of the winter to get a signature from Warren Keating's son Evan which will allow him to sell his international business. For his trouble, Evan will get $21 million dollars. Dino comes along to get out of the New York cold.

Seems like a pretty easy gig, but unfortunately for Stone, from the minute he meets Evan and is knocked unconscious by his girlfriend it becomes much more complicated than expected. First, Evan states he will not sign the document and then Evan's friend Charley Boggs is found dead. After Evan hires Stone to be his lawyer, Evan states that the two friends switched identities. Evan also implicates his father, a chemist, in the death of his uncle and his grandfather's placement in a nursing home for dementia from which he does not suffer.  

Of course, it would not be a Stuart Woods novel without the appearance of characters from a prior novel. Loitering with Intent features tennis pro Chuck Chandler who sold his boat to Evan Keating and plays tennis with Dino and Stone on several occasions. Chuck was the protagonist in Choke ( one of my favorites). Also appearing is the Key West policeman Tommy Sculley who knew Dino and Stone and who also appeared in Choke. Yes, naturally there is a love interest for Stone: Annika is the beautiful Scandinavian emergency doctor who evaluates Stone after he is knocked unconscious.

Twists abound with Woods is back closer to top form and the ending portends the return of an interesting character. Bartender, I'll have another Knob Creek, please, with a Stone Barrington chaser.

--Jerry Solot