Stuck on I-35 just south of Austin—bumper-to-bumper, 104 degrees outside, AC struggling to keep up. That's usually when I switch from the heavy geopolitical podcasts to something that doesn't require a security clearance to understand. Enter Stuart Woods.
Look, I've listened to enough Stone Barrington novels to know the drill. It's comfort food. But sometimes, comfort food is exactly what you need when you're five miles from home and moving at four miles an hour.
The Voice on the Comms
Tony Roberts handles the narration here, and for the most part, the man is a pro. I had some of the same read on Roberts in Criminal Mischief: steady hands, clean delivery, occasional trouble when the room gets crowded. He's got this smooth, almost rhythmic delivery that fits the wealthy, high-society vibe Stone Barrington lives in.
(My German Shepherd, Ranger, seemed to like his tone, anyway. He usually whines if a narrator is too screechy.)
Roberts really shines when he's voicing Dino Bacchetti. He nails that cynical, seen-it-all cop attitude that I've heard a thousand times from guys I worked with in the Green Zone. It feels authentic.
But—and here's the friction point—when the scene gets crowded, the distinctiveness fades. There were a few moments during the briefing scenes (or what passes for them in this book) where I honestly lost track of who was talking. Stone sounded like the bad guy, who sounded like the waiter. I had to hit the 15-second rewind button more than once. Not ideal when you're trying to merge.
Standard Operating Procedure
Let's be real about the plot. If you're looking for the technical accuracy of a Jack Carr novel or the grit of The Things They Carried, you are in the wrong AO.
This is pure, unadulterated formula. Stone is rich, Stone is handsome, Stone gets targeted by a bad guy with a grudge, and Stone wins. Mission accomplished.
Insatiable Appetites runs on that same Stuart Woods operating system, for better and for worse.Comparing this to other thrillers on my shelf—like Greaney's Gray Man series—Woods plays it way looser. The stakes feel high, but you never really worry about Stone. He's got plot armor thicker than an MRAP.
That said, the pacing is solid. I cranked it to 1.25x speed (my standard), and it flew by. Snappy. The dialogue—especially the banter between Stone and Dino—is the best part. Reminds me of the downtime between patrols, just guys busting each other's chops.
Where the Intel Failed
I have to flag one thing, though. The bedroom scenes.
Maybe I'm just old school, or maybe it's because I listen to these with the windows down, but they feel completely unnecessary. Drags the pacing down. We get it, Stone is charming. We don't need the play-by-play. It's not essential to the mission. (Linda would've made me turn it off, frankly.)
Who's This Mission For?
If you're already a Stone Barrington fan and want easy listening for a road trip or flight delay, this delivers. Skip it if you need tactical realism or high stakes that actually feel dangerous—go grab a Jack Carr instead.
Mission Complete
Wild Card isn't going to rewrite the rules of engagement. It's predictable, a little silly, and relies heavily on the fact that you already like these characters. But for a long drive or a flight to nowhere? It works. Keeps you awake without stressing you out.
Just don't expect it to change your life. It's a standard patrol in a friendly sector.
