Reviews

Dirt by Stuart Woods

jasmincarlton's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

mike_68's review against another edition

5.0

Stone's client, gossip columnist Amanda Dart, loves dishing the dirt on New York celebs until she starts to be on the receiving end from a publication called ``DIRT''. As the faxes unravel Amanda Dart's secrets, Stone Barrington finds himself caught up in a fascinating mix of intrigue and charm. But Amanda is not alone, Richard Hickock, Amanda’s publisher, and Alan Peebles, Amanda’s rival, emerge as key players in the scandal. Eager to find out who was behind the unauthorized messages, he embarks on an adventurous journey, flirting with Amanda, diving into the world of journalism alongside Arrington Carter, and even getting into some tricky situations with a suspect's sister. Amid all this excitement, Stone stumbles upon some wiretaps that invade his privacy, sparking a daring surveillance mission that would lead to surprising outcomes.

While some might view the characters as stereotypes, that’s precisely what makes Stone Barrington’s novels enjoyable. “Dirt” offers a captivating mix of intrigue, humor, and insightful social critiques. The story, with all its ups and downs, provides a fascinating insight into a life that is both admired and mysterious to most.

tmisch's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

pawsreadrepeat's review against another edition

3.0

I read the first book in this series just as the pandemic began and had been anxiously awaiting the reopening of my local library so I could read it.

I enjoyed the story and the characters. I also like the writing style. I gave three stars because I felt like the ending was a bit flat. Toward the end, we learn some of the characters go way back. Given that I thought the culprits would have been connected in some way by the past. Thus were out for revenge, instead it was just greed.

Despite this, I look forward to reading more of the series.

halamo's review against another edition

2.0

I don't think he's ever met a woman. Does anyone else feel that way?

llrobinett's review against another edition

4.0

I can't believe I hadn't read this book before. This book is the second in the Stone Barrington series, about a gossip columnist (and her lover) who is targeted by a scandal sheet being faxed to various individuals and entities, filled with, well, scandalous information. Amanda hires Stone to identify the person or persons behind "Dirt." Stone has a few romps along the way, and Dino gets involved. The story does well as a stand-alone, and the characters are intriguing, and the whole book is entertaining. I had to laugh a few times, though, as Stone answered his "pocket telephone" and inserted a floppy disc to his computer to search for addresses. In spite of the dated techniques and tools, this was a good book, even today. Stone Barrington books aren't high literature, but they're entertaining. Kind of like candy - not much substance, but you like 'em anyway.

tiff123_reads's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

mikek694's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

jakque's review against another edition

mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

dominique_endeavors's review

4.0

The plot was interesting