Stone Barrington discovers that all the botox in Bel-Air can’t keep its biggest power players from cracking under pressure in this New York Times bestseller. Stone is no stranger to Bel-Air—and to the beautiful and wealthy widow who needs his help to become even wealthier. At stake is the sale of her investment in Hollywood's world-famous Centurion Studios. But when Stone arrives in Bel-Air to finalize the sale, he discovers that one of L.A.'s most rapacious power brokers has Centurion in his sights. Now, Stone must play a surprisingly complex and high-stakes game, the kind only the truly rich and dangerously ambitious can win—and survive. Praise for  Bel-Air Dead “A fast-paced mystery with an inside look into Hollywood and the motion picture business.”— The Oklahoman   “Fans will enjoy the Stone invasion of Hollywood...The story line is fast-paced from the moment Stone arrives in California.”— Midwest Book Review   “Dizzyingly paced...Series fans will find Barrington as shrewd, sexy, and glib as ever.”— Publishers Weekly   “Woods’ many fans will enjoy seeing the characters from his various novels interacting, and the story moves along at an exciting clip.”— Booklist More Praise for Stuart Woods “Stuart Woods is a no-nonsense, slam-bang storyteller.”— Chicago Tribune “A world-class mystery writer...I try to put Woods’s books down and I can’t.”— Houston Chronicle  “Mr. Woods, like his characters, has an appealing way of making things nice and clear.”— The New York Times “Woods certainly knows how to keep the pages turning.”— Booklist “Since 1981, readers have not been able to get their fill of Stuart Woods’  New York Times  bestselling novels of suspense.”— Orlando Sentinel “Woods’s Stone Barrington is a guilty pleasure...he’s also an addiction that’s harder to kick than heroin.”— Contra Costa Times  (California) Stuart Woods was the author of more than ninety novels, including the #1 New York Times bestselling Stone Barrington series. A native of Georgia and an avid sailor and pilot, he began his writing career in the advertising industry. Chiefs , his debut in 1981, won the Edgar Award. Woods passed away in 2022. 1 Elaine’s, late. Stone Barrington sat with his client, Mike Freeman, of Strategic Services, and his former partner from his NYPD days, Dino Bacchetti, over the ruins of dinner and a bottle of excellent Cabernet. “That was good,” Mike said. “I never knew how good the food was here, until you started bringing me.” “Comfort food,” Dino said. Elaine sat herself down in the spare chair. “Comfort food?” she asked. “Is that some kind of crack?” “It’s high praise,” Stone said quickly, not wanting to get her started. Elaine’s did not enjoy a high reputation with the food critics of the local media, because they didn’t come often enough to get the good tables, but the regulars knew how good the food was, and that was all she really cared about. “I’ll take high praise,” Elaine said. Stone’s cell phone hummed on his belt, and he dug it out of its holster. “Stone Barrington.” “Stone, it’s Arrington,” she said. Stone and Arrington had once been a very big item, to the extent of his having fathered a son by her. “Well, hello there,” he said. “I thought I’d never hear from you again.” They had spent one night together in his Maine house, on Islesboro, at Dark Harbor, and then she had taken her leave, saying it was over. “I want to hire you,” she said. “I’m for hire. How’s Peter?” “He misses his father,” she said. Stone wondered which father she meant, himself or her late husband, movie megastar Vance Calder, whose son the world believed Peter to be. Stone didn’t know what to say. “I mean Vance,” she said. “He hardly knows you.” “All right,” Stone said. “Why do you want to hire me?” “I’m going to say this fast, because I’m sleepy, and I want to go to bed. I know you’re at Elaine’s at this hour, but I’m not.” “So, say it fast.” “You remember Centurion Studios? A large Hollywood film factory.” “I believe so.” “You remember that Vance owned a third of the shares when he died?” “I didn’t know it was that much.” “He’d been buying the stock for many years, every time somebody died and some shares became available.” “Got it.” “There’s a stockholders’ meeting coming up, and there will be a vote on whether to sell the studio. It has always been closely held, and Vance wanted to keep it that way.” “Who’s buying?” “I don’t know, some corporation or other. They’ll sell the property to developers, and the studio will just be a letterhead.” “And what do you want me to do?” “Vote my shares against the sale, and do what you can to get the other stockholders to vote against it.” “How many are there?” “A couple of dozen, maybe. I’ll send you a list, along with my signed proxy, to the Bel-Air house. You can have the guesthouse, as usual. Manolo and Carmen will take good care of you.” Manolo and Carmen were the Filipino houseman and his wife who ran the place. Stone knew he would be taken care o