A Broadway actress has a pout to die for, a past to hide from, and Stone Barrington on her case in this page-turning thriller in Stuart Woods’s #1 New York Times  bestselling series. Stone Barrington is back in New York, working on some simple cases for Woodman & Weld when he crosses paths with a aspiring actress and gets a little more involved with show business than he’d expected...   Then the fleecing of a wealthy art dealer’s daughter leads him into the worlds of financial fraud, “Big Art,” and Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where opulent co-op apartments are hung with multimillion-dollar paintings and family scandals never remain hidden for long. No stranger to high society or the foibles of the rich, Stone must now uncover the truth in a world where wealth and beauty sometimes come at the ultimate price. Praise for Kisser   “POW!!! He’s back with more twists and trysts.”— The Mystery Reader   “Entertaining … Woods devises plenty of snarls to provoke laughs and keep the action interesting in a series that excels at playing out male fantasies.”— Publishers Weekly (starred review)   “A fun, breezy page-turner.”— 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 and his former NYPD partner, Dino Bacchetti, were dining in the company of herself, Elaine, who, as usual, was making her rounds. “So?” Elaine asked as she joined them. “Not much,” Dino replied. Stone was deep into his spaghetti alla carbonara. “Nice, isn’t it?” she asked. Elaine had a good opinion of her food. “Mmmmf,” Stone replied, trying to handle what he had stuffed into his mouth and speak at the same time. “Never mind,” Elaine said. “Enjoy.” Stone swallowed hard and nodded. “Thank you, I am.” The waiter came with the wine and poured everybody a glass. Stone began to take smaller bites, so as to better participate in the conversation. As he took his first sip of wine, he froze. Dino stared at him. “What’s the matter? Am I gonna have to do a Heimlich?” Stone set down the glass but said nothing. He was following the entrance of a very beautiful woman. She was probably five-eight or -nine, he thought, and closer to six feet in her heels. She was dressed in a classic Little Black Dress that set off a strand of large pearls around her neck. Fake, probably, but who cared? She had honey-blond, shoulder-length hair and a lot of it, cascades of it, big eyes, and plump lips sporting bright red lipstick. Dino and Elaine followed Stone’s gaze as the woman turned to her left and sat down at the bar. “She can’t be alone,” Dino said. “Who is she?” Stone asked Elaine. “Never saw her in here,” Elaine replied, “but you’d better hurry; she’s not gonna be alone long.” Stone put down his glass, got up, and walked toward the bar, straightening his tie. Normally, the people at the tables didn’t have much to do with the people at the bar; they were different crowds. But Stone knew when to make an exception. “Good evening,” he said to her, offering his hand. “My name is Stone Barrington.” She took the hand and offered a shy smile. “Hello, I’m Carrie Cox,” she said, and her accent was soft and southern. Stone indicated his table. “My friends Dino and Elaine agree with me that you are too beautiful to be sitting alone at the bar. Will you join us?” She looked surprised. “Thank you, yes,” she said after a moment’s thought. Stone escorted her back to the table and sat her down. “Carrie Cox, this is Elaine Kaufman, your hostess, and Dino Bacchetti, one of New York’s Finest.” “How do you do,” Carrie said. “Finest what?” “It’s a designation meant to describe any New York City police officer,” Stone said, “without regard for individual quality.” “Stone should know,” Dino said. “He used to be one of New York’s worst.” Carrie laughed, a low, inviting sound. “You must be from out of town,” Dino said. “Isn’t everybody?” Elaine asked. “I’ve only been in New York for three weeks,” Carrie said. “Where you from?” Elaine asked. “I’m from a little town in Georgia called Delano, but I came here from Atlanta.