Unnatural acts : a Stone Barrington novel

 by Stuart Woods. The cover and the opening chapter of Woods' new Stone Barrington entry feature a tribute to Elaine's, the famous New York eatery that Stone and his best friend, Dino Bacchetti, have patronized since the series' inception. Their mourning for their beloved haunt and its proprietress is interrupted by the reappearance of seductive serial killer Shelley Bach, who can't seem to get Dino out of her head. The feeling, to Stone's dismay, is mutual, and Dino puts his job at risk when he gives in to his attraction to Shelley. Stone romances a ballet director with a deadly ex-beau, while lawyer Herbie Fisher tangles with the sociopathic son of a new client. Former thorn-in-Stone's-side Herbie gets the most development here. He's grown from a hapless dope into a rather sharp and savvy lawyer, wrangling an impressive promotion for himself and even fielding a competitive job offer. It's all familiar territory for Woods, but that doesn't stop the pages from flying by fast and furious as the novel builds toward several exciting and dangerous confrontations HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Woods is a perpetual reader-magnet, and his latest installment in the long-running Stone Barrington series will be supported with a national tour and ad campaign. --Booklist (Check catalog)