I went into Dirt hoping for a fast-paced mystery with a sharp protagonist, but what I got was a little more... bedroom than boardroom. Stone Barrington, our leading man, didn’t do much for me—his constant romantic escapades felt like filler, and I found myself flipping ahead just to get back to the actual plot.
While the story had its moments (Amanda's murder was a genuine surprise), the pacing overall dragged. I didn’t find many of the characters likeable—Amanda was grating, and Arrington’s temper didn’t help her case much. Honestly, no one really stood out in a good way.
The setting, though, was well-done. The world of New York media, complete with anonymous faxes spilling scandalous secrets, felt plausible and added a bit of edge. Still, the premise couldn’t quite carry the weight of my dwindling interest.
I wouldn’t recommend Dirt unless you're already a fan of the series. That said, I’m willing to give Stuart Woods another shot—this is only the second book in the Stone Barrington series, and maybe things pick up down the line. This one, in my humble opinion, is a 2 out of 5. At this point, I’m just hoping Stone Barrington eventually solves a case with his brain instead of his boxers.
