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.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Never mind that he's just taken a professional tumble; Beverly Hills cop Rick Barron has a nifty new job bodyguarding a leading British actor and an upcoming starlet. But where there's Woods, there's bound to be murder. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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 becomes Rick'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. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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 2004 Booklist