From Publishers Weekly
A recently demoted police detective gets caught up in the privileged and often dangerous world of 1939 Hollywood in Wood's solid 29th novel. His first night back in uniform, Rick Barron witnesses a car accident in which Clete Barrow, a drunk Hollywood A-lister, is involved. Though the other driver dies, Rick performs "Hollywood damage control," whisking Clete away from the scene. Centurion Studios' vice-president, grateful for Rick's "professional ethics," offers him the director of security post previously held by John Kean, who died in a suspicious murder-suicide a month earlier. Rick delivers Clete to the sets on time and keeps the star's drinking problem in check while dining at restaurants buzzing with vintage Hollywood royalty like Greta Garbo, Jack Benny and Spencer Tracy. He also comes to the studio's rescue again by covering up gorgeous starlet Glenna Gleason's apparent suicide attempt and budding actress Martha Werner's botched abortion. X-rated pictures that Rick finds in Kean's old safe get him into discussions with L.A. mob boss Bugsy Siegal while ducking blows from his henchman, Chick Stampano, who, along with Glenna and the Keans, appears in those pics. While romancing Glenna and gaining heroic notoriety, Rick learns of Stampano's involvement in a variety of crime scenes and, after the violence notches up, the men square off in an exciting head-to-head climax. Woods's sturdy, self-assured crime thriller is satisfying enough to expand an already immense fan base. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From AudioFile
This fast-paced period mystery concerns a Beverly Hills cop, one Rick Barron, who, through some quick thinking at a tragic accident, is hired to be head of security for an up-and-coming studio in 1939. Assigned to keep British actor Clete Barrow on the wagon, Rick rubs elbows with Samuel Goldwyn, Clark Gable, and Greta Garbo, and has a run-in with one of "Bugsy" Siegal's thugs. This last drama makes for most of the action, but there's plenty of romance, as well as WWII, to make this a first-rate story. Guerin Barry's steady, confident voice gives individual voices to all characters, male and female, British and American. His lively presentation makes this story a fine listening experience. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
From Booklist
The prolific Woods has started yet another mystery series, this one set in L.A. in 1939. Rick Barron is a recently demoted detective who made the grave mistake of sleeping with the police chief's niece. When Hollywood star Clete Barrow crashes his car into another car that ran a stop sign, Rick hustles the drunken actor away from the scene. Centurion Studio executive Eddie Harris is so grateful for Rick's intervention that he offers Rick the position of head of security at the movie studio. Centurion's previous security chief recently died in a murder-suicide, and Rick, grateful to be away from the police department, steps into his shoes. His main duty is to get Clete to work on time, sober and ready to shoot. Woods does a bang-up job of evoking old Hollywood, and famous faces such as Greta Garbo, Clark Gable, and even Bugsy Siegel make cameos. The story is less engrossing than his usual offerings, but Rick is the real problem here. Neither smoothly charming like Stone Barrington, nor tough and spirited like Holly Barker, Rick Barron is a rather dull and occasionally unsympathetic hero. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Book Description
In Hollywood's Golden Age, brash detective Rick Barron enters the Hollywood fast lane-jammed with the sort of wealth, glamour, and blackmail that made this town famous-in this new thriller by the bestselling author of the Stone Barrington series.
The Prince of Beverly Hills FROM THE PUBLISHER
"Rick Barron, a sharp, capable detective on the Beverly Hills force, finds himself demoted after a run-in with a superior officer, but he soon lands a job other cops only dream about: the security detail for Centurion Pictures, one of the hottest studios in the midst of Hollywood's golden age of the late 1930s. As the protector of the studio's interests, Barron looks after the elite of filmdom's stars - among them Clete Barrow, a British leading man with a penchant for parties, and Glenna Gleason, a peach of a talent on the verge of stardom." Rick's easy charm has society columnists dubbing him "the Prince of Beverly Hills," the white knight of movie stars, until he stumbles across a murder cover-up and a blackmail scam that threaten the studio's business and may have origins with some unsavory characters. When two suspicious deaths begin to look like a double murder, and an attempt is made on someone who has become an intimate friend, Barron knows he is up against wise guys whose stakes are nothing less than do-or-die. A dicey war of nerves is on.
FROM THE CRITICS
Publishers Weekly
A recently demoted police detective gets caught up in the privileged and often dangerous world of 1939 Hollywood in Wood's solid 29th novel. His first night back in uniform, Rick Barron witnesses a car accident in which Clete Barrow, a drunk Hollywood A-lister, is involved. Though the other driver dies, Rick performs "Hollywood damage control," whisking Clete away from the scene. Centurion Studios' vice-president, grateful for Rick's "professional ethics," offers him the director of security post previously held by John Kean, who died in a suspicious murder-suicide a month earlier. Rick delivers Clete to the sets on time and keeps the star's drinking problem in check while dining at restaurants buzzing with vintage Hollywood royalty like Greta Garbo, Jack Benny and Spencer Tracy. He also comes to the studio's rescue again by covering up gorgeous starlet Glenna Gleason's apparent suicide attempt and budding actress Martha Werner's botched abortion. X-rated pictures that Rick finds in Kean's old safe get him into discussions with L.A. mob boss Bugsy Siegal while ducking blows from his henchman, Chick Stampano, who, along with Glenna and the Keans, appears in those pics. While romancing Glenna and gaining heroic notoriety, Rick learns of Stampano's involvement in a variety of crime scenes and, after the violence notches up, the men square off in an exciting head-to-head climax. Woods's sturdy, self-assured crime thriller is satisfying enough to expand an already immense fan base. Agent, Anne Sibbald at Janklow & Nesbit. (Oct.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Library Journal
It is Hollywood, 1939. Rick Barron, demoted from homicide detective to beat cop, witnesses a fatal automobile crash that allows him to save movie star Clete Barrow from the embarrassment of a police investigation and Centurion Studios much ugly publicity. As a result, he becomes head of security at Centurion, is mentored by his boss, and eventually is made a film producer. Life is good until Rick stumbles across a murder cover-up and blackmail scam. A departure from Woods's popular Stone Barrington thrillers, this is not quite an action/suspense story; nor is it a Hollywood glitz saga (although stars from Clark Gable to Greta Garbo make guest appearances). Instead, it is a no-frills tale of Tinsel Town when there were no rules and careers could be made just by being in the right spot at the right time. Woods is a smooth storyteller, and even in this less-than-perfect effort, he manages to capture the reader's attention until the very end. For most popular fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/04.]-Jo Ann Vicarel, Cleveland Heights-University Heights P.L., OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
AudioFile
This fast-paced period mystery concerns a Beverly Hills cop, one Rick Barron, who, through some quick thinking at a tragic accident, is hired to be head of security for an up-and-coming studio in 1939. Assigned to keep British actor Clete Barrow on the wagon, Rick rubs elbows with Samuel Goldwyn, Clark Gable, and Greta Garbo, and has a run-in with one of "Bugsy" Siegal's thugs. This last drama makes for most of the action, but there's plenty of romance, as well as WWII, to make this a first-rate story. Guerin Barry's steady, confident voice gives individual voices to all characters, male and female, British and American. His lively presentation makes this story a fine listening experience. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
In Hollywood of 1939, a handsome young policeman makes good as a studio security officer, battling a sadistic mobster, finding love, and rubbing elbows with movie stars. While patrolling the Sunset Strip late one evening, Beverly Hills cop Rick Barron happens upon the immediate aftermath of a bad two-car accident. He recognizes the barely injured occupant of one vehicle as highly intoxicated British matinee idol Clete Barrow. The quick-thinking Rick, at the instruction of Barrow's handler Eddie Harris, whisks the movie star away from the scene, allowing the studio to spin its own version of the crash and Barrow to emerge unscathed. As a result, Rick lands a job as Barrow's shadow, charged mainly with keeping the star sober and ready for his early morning calls. Other security odd jobs come Rick's way. He becomes pals with Barrow, whose heavy drinking stems in part from concern over the nascent conflict in Europe and his desire to help the British war effort. Through Barrow, Rick meets Gable & Lombard, Garbo, Niven, and other luminaries, who make cameo appearances. Mystery swirls around Rick's predecessor, John Kean. The distraught Kean allegedly shot his wife before turning his gun on himself. In Kean's office safe, Rick finds incriminating photos of four people having kinky sex, the Keans and another unidentified couple, whom Rick meets shortly. The man is hotheaded soldier of Bugsy Siegal, Chick Stampano, in appearance a latter-day Valentino who likes to take out his anger on starlets. (Organized crime is moving into Hollywood in a big way; Lucky Luciano also has a foothold.) One of these starlets is the girl in the picture, Glenna Gleason, whom Rick woos by inches. Stampano becomesRick's nemesis, their confrontations progressively escalating until a final showdown becomes inevitable. Woods (Reckless Abandon, 2004, etc.) writes with smooth confidence as famous names add spice to a diverting summer read that simmers but never gets hard-boiled. First printing of 225,000; agency: Janklow & Nesbit
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