Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"Obsession," the latest collaboration between Stuart Woods and Brett Battles, is a thrilling addition to the Teddy Fay series that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. The novel, which continues the legacy of the late Stuart Woods, showcases Battles' ability to maintain the series' signature pace and excitement.

Set against the glamorous backdrop of Hollywood, "Obsession" follows the enigmatic Teddy Fay as he navigates a web of intrigue on the set of Centurion Studios' newest project. When a tech billionaire's wife is kidnapped, Teddy's unique set of skills is put to the test. The plot thickens with the introduction of an obsessive fan who poses a threat to the film's star, adding another layer of suspense.

Battles' writing is sharp and engaging, effortlessly capturing the spirit of Woods' characters and setting. The narrative is fast-paced, with twists and turns that are both surprising and satisfying. The dual storyline of kidnapping and stalking converges in a climax that is both action-packed and cleverly resolved.

"Obsession" is a testament to the enduring appeal of the Teddy Fay series. It's a quick read, perfect for those who enjoy a mix of action, suspense, and the allure of Hollywood drama. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and new readers will find it easy to get swept up in the excitement. Battles has done a commendable job of continuing Woods' legacy, and "Obsession" is a fitting tribute to his storytelling prowess.

✨ Obsession Review ✨

📚 Diving into the world of Teddy Fay is always an electrifying adventure, and "Obsession" by Stuart Woods and Brett Battles takes the excitement to new heights! 💥 Set against the backdrop of scenic Santa Barbara, this gripping thriller follows Peter Barrington and Ben Bacchetti as they navigate the cutthroat world of the movie business while facing danger at every turn.

🕵️‍♂️ Teddy Fay, the master of disguise, is called upon to unravel the mystery surrounding the kidnapping of a tech billionaire's wife. As he delves deeper into the case, old vendettas resurface, putting everyone in peril. But danger lurks closer than they realize, with an obsessive fan threatening to disrupt everything.

👏 "Obsession" delivers all the suspense and intrigue we've come to expect from Stuart Woods, with Brett Battles adding an extra layer of excitement to the mix. The plot thickens with each twist and turn, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Plus, who knew a screw bolt could cause so much damage? 🛠️

📖 While some found the storyline a bit challenging to follow at times, the overall consensus is that "Obsession" is an enjoyable read that will leave you craving more of Teddy Fay's thrilling escapades! 🔍💼

🌟 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is a smorgasboard of surprises. I love Teddy and his many faces.
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Obsession by Stuart Woods takes place on a movie set in Santa Barbara. Peter Barrington and Ben Balducci are supporting characters. Stone Barrington makes rare appearances. The bulk of the story is based on Teddy Fay and his various personas. There are two storylines in the book. Both move quickly and involve Teddy in some way. The book moves seamlessly between the two stories. However, if you are looking for some Stone Barrington (or Stuart Woods) debauchery, you won’t find it here. In my opinion, that is a nice change.

I very much enjoyed this book and was able to finish it it quickly. It starts out about a man named teddy who was a former CIA operative. Since retiring he’s taken on new personas of Matthew the actor and Billy the producer. But old habits die hard when someone they are trying to go into business with gets kidnapped. Teddy is determined to find her while keeping his other identities a secret.

Teddy Fay, retired CIA agent, Mark Weldon, an award winning actor, and Billy Barnett, a producer, have something in common. They are all the same person. Through the art of disguise learned as an agent, Teddy has remade his life and only a very few people know of the deception. While Teddy is supposedly dead, his friend Stone Barrington knows that he can call on his skills when a need arises. Weldon is currently filming an action movie when Stone contacts him. He and Ben Bacchetti own a studio that is in merger talks with Carl Novak when his wife Rebecca is kidnapped. As Barnett, he lets Novak know that his friend will help find his wife. As Teddy, he has contacts and resources to call on from his CIA days. She is being held by associates of a Croatian crime boss who blames Novak for the death of his brother and is obsessed with revenge.

On Weldon’s movie set his co-star is Stella, the wife of Ben Bacchetti. While their marriage is a happy one, there is a fan who is obsessed with having her to himself. Matthew Wagner will not let anyone stand in his way, including Ben. With time running down to save Rebecca, Teddy must also find a way to keep Stella and Ben safe. Stuart Woods and Brett Battles have performed a true juggling act with Obsession. It is a revolving door of disguises as Weldon ducks into his trailer and Barnett pops out, only to become Teddy before he even crosses town. The authors pull this off beautifully. Stuart Woods passed away last year and he is an author that I will sorely miss. I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group/Putnam for providing this book for my review.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin for this ARC e-book copy for my week-end enjoyment. I read Wood's first, Chief, and was so hooked way back then, and I'm here to tell you, he never changed, only got better. Thank you, and so sad that he died last year. Look forward to more from Battles now.

Excellent Stone Barrington novel, this one with a focus heavily on Teddy Fay and Stone's movie producer son.
Teddy, as is his style, assumes multiple personalities and undertakes his remarkable disguises and characters to achieve a hostage rescue and elimination of a number of enemies, on a film set and in other settings.
I moved through this book very quickly because it kept me captivated right through to the end. Well done, hoping that Mr. Battles will be able to continue this captivating series in the future.

I received and ARC for free, but gave my honest opinion voluntarily.

Join another thrilling adventure with Teddy Fay, or is it Billy? Whoever you choose to follow, they will have to unravel not one but two mysteries happening at once. Can they beat the clock in time to get back on set for the movie? Or will it be the end....of everyone.

Stuart Woods has a very devoted fan club of readers, including me. He skillfully got us all hooked on Teddy Fay stories many years ago and feeds us just enough new stories to keep us coming back again and again. In OBSESSION, Teddy Fay must investigate a wife's disappearance before her husband takes manners into his own hands. Hollywood will never be the same. SIGH!!! And now we wait again for the next book.

Obsession was like getting 2 novels in one.
Book 1, you read about a stalker, knew his identity and the movie star who was endangered. This book was filled with suspense and action-packed drama. Which Teddy Fay identity will save the day?
Book 2, a woman is kidnapped and a ransom demand made. Who is the person pulling the strings and what does he really want?
Stuart Woods and Brett Battles weave these two storylines together seamlessly and pace the actions of each masterfully. I found it amusing as I followed Teddy Fay's many incarnations. How did the authors keep them straight? LOL
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Obsession and give it 5 stars!

I love the character Teddy Fay and this book was a great addition to this series. Always an exciting plot and fun characters keep the pages turning! Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

There are TWO obsessions in play in this book. One, an obsession for revenge and another, an obsession over a movie star. And both need to be solved at the same time, but that is not too much to ask of the multi-talented Teddy Fay and his alter egos.

Teddy, as Academy Award winning movie star Mark Weldon, is filming a movie for his director friend Peter Barrington and his other persona, film producer Billy Barnett is the producer. Peter and his partner, Ben Bacchetti are looking for new backing for their studio from Carl and Rebecca Novak, but when Rebecca is kidnapped, they call on Teddy to help find her. While he simultaneously stars in the movie, produces the movie and looks for the kidnapped woman, another problem arises on the set. An actress and Billy's assistant are walking to their cars when gunshots ring out around them .and they are rescued by Matthew Wagner, who had been hanging around hoping to get a glimpse of his crush, Tessa Tweed. Turns out, Matthew is more than a fan of Tessa's and he finds the perfect opportunity to get closer to her as he is welcomed onto the set in gratitude for his heroics. The two cases are not related, but Teddy is heavily involved in both of them and sometimes it is hard to remember which persona he is.

A good, fast read, and I don't think I am giving anything away to say the good guys come out on top.

Title: Obsession
Author: Stuart Woods & Brett Battles
Publisher: PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons
Series: Teddy Fay Book 6
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Obsession" by Stuart Woods & Brett Battles
My Sentiments:

Wow, what a wonderful read as we see Teddy Fay is back at it again as an actor, Mark, and producer [Teddy/Mark/Billy]. We will see Teddy will also have to deal with an obsessive fan who was after a man's wife and there will be more...

It is good to see how well these authors bring it out to the reader as we see how this entertaining, filled with suspense, intrigue, twists, turns, and glitz read will be put so well in this series. 'Obsession' is one of those reads that it will be hard to put down until the end. For the story will be quite an enjoyable CIA/Double Agent type of story that will keep one turning the pages to see how these two plots are brought out in the end.

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for the review copy of your read.

Always a fun read with Teddy Faye and his alter egos. There really are no surprises yet you still want to find out how he “gets his man”!

An overly obsessive fan with access to a movie set. A tech billionaire who wants to make a deal with Centurion Studios. Then his wife is kidnapped by an old foe from years ago. Teddy Fay must avoid the damage and solve both issues so everyone stays safe.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I honestly haven't read any rececent Stuart Woods books. But I love his older work.
I find his newer books just doesn't keep me entertained like the older ones. I'm not sure why or how the style of writing changed.

This book is part of the Teddy Fay series and I have not read any books parts of this series. Maybe this is why I have no background. I will have to look into the earlier books to catch up.

With this being said, this will not deter me from continue to read Stuart Wood books.

Although I've never considered myself to be a big fan of ex-CIA operative Teddy Fay (at least not in comparison to the related Stone Barrington series), this one is in my mind the best of the lot so far (it's the sixth). Teddy, who by most accounts is considered to be dead, is trying hard not to be resurrected and takes on the persona of three different characters (yes, his ability to switch identities so quickly without anyone suspecting defies rational thought), so it's sometimes a little hard to keep them all straight. But somehow, it works.

The story takes place primarily in and around Santa Barbara, California, where Centurion Pictures and a Croatian billionaire are close to a deal on a joint venture. Centurion is owned by Ben Bachetti, and a film starring Mark Weldon - one of Teddy's alter egos - is being directed by Peter Barrington (both names will be familiar to readers of the Barrington series so I won't bother with details). Early on, the billionaire's wife is kidnapped, and Teddy agrees, under one of his other identities, that his "friend" (secretly the real Teddy) will try to rescue her. Meantime, another bad guy has the hots for Ben's dazzling model wife Tessa, and his quest to win her over turns from stalking to something way more threatening.

The rest of the story follows those two themes all the way to their conclusions, with plenty of action - and a lot of help from familiar friends including Stone - along the way. One hallmark of both series is that it's rare for any of the main characters to meet an untimely end - at worst, one might get roughed up a little - so I and other readers can stay on the edge of our seats without biting our nails to the quick. While situations certainly get serious and there are several casualties of war, so to speak, things tend to work out in the end, as they do here. All in all, it's another enjoyable romp and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy.

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This story begins with Teddy Faye on the movie set disguised as the actor Mark Weldon. In addition, there are other times when he is Billy Barnett, film producer. Later that day, Rebecca Novak, the wife of Carl Novak, a billionaire, is kidnapped. This incident will bring Teddy Faye into trying to locate her.

Teddy gets involved because Stone and Ben Bacchetti have been asked by Carl to discuss a partnership. While the meeting is being held, Rebecca was to be a part of, but she didn't show. Later that night, Stone and Billy met with Carl and his lawyer Mori. It was at that time that they were asked to locate Rebecca. Billy advised that he had a friend who might be able to help, Teddy. Teddy tells Billy he agrees and begins his search.

At the same time that this is going on, there is another individual that will come into play and it relates to his infatuation with an actress.

To discover what role the person with the infatuation played, who was responsible for Rebecca's disappearance and why, plus what steps Teddy had to take in order to handle Rebecca's case, when you need to read this book. You won't be disappointed.

While I used to be a big fan of Stuart Woods and own many of his books, the later ones don't seem to grab me in the same way. I found myself going backwards to see what I had missed when the characters (and their stories) often got confusing. I admit that I haven't read any of the Teddy Fay series, so I'm pretty sure that if I had, my interest would have been more piqued.