Collateral Damage (Stone Barrington)
Picking up where Severe Clear (2012) left off, Stone Barrington and company are trying to keep the news that a nuclear bomb was almost detonated in Los Angeles from the public. As President Will Lee decides what he’s going to tell the nation, another threat arises. Jasmine Shazaz, sister of the bomber who almost took out the metropolis, is targeting U.S. dignitaries in London, and it isn’t long before she decides to mount a strike on U.S. soil. Holly Barker, an assistant director at the CIA, is tasked with stopping Jasmine, and she enlists Stone to help her out. As the two close in on Jasmine in New York, Jasmine decides to make them her next victims. Woods can be hit-or-miss, but as far as action goes, this latest entry is undoubtedly a hit. It starts off strong and never lets up, building to an exciting showdown. These days, Stone and Holly almost always share the spotlight, and the two make an appealing team. Woods’ fans won’t want to miss this action-packed thriller.       HIGH-DEMAND BACK STORY: With 35 consective hardcovers on the New York Times bestseller list, Woods is ramping up the appeal of his Stone and Holly duo in the latest magnetic installment in this popular series, and a new national tour and topnotch publicity will follow. --Kristine Huntley