Stone Barrington, who still practices law in New York City, is drawn into a case of double dealing, backstabbing, politics, the dissemination of an enormous estate and murder. As INSATIABLE APPETITES opens, Stone and his friends are at the White House to celebrate the election of pregnant (PARIS MATCH) Katherine Lee as the first female President of the United States. He makes his way successfully in the business, political and everyday worlds, though he rarely has a chance to huddle with the masses.

"Woods is known for his exciting, plot-driven novels, and INSATIABLE APPETITES is one of his best. He has so many subplots running simultaneously that readers at times may fear that they won't be tied up at the end."

Stone is stricken when his friend and mentor, Eduardo Bianchi, dies. He was called to the old man's bedside for some last-minute instructions on how to handle his awesome estate and to be told that one of the women in his life is really his daughter, Carla. She is to be given an equal share of the inheritance his other offspring will receive. He also tells Stone about a collection of journals he has been keeping for years and says, "I'd let you read it but it is written in a Sicilian dialect...quite impenetrable to the uninitiated." But he does give Stone the eight volumes, and ironically the mother of his illegitimate child is an experienced translator. She is hired on the spot and goes to work immediately turning the eight volumes into English. They are accompanied by a note from Eduardo warning Stone to be careful now that the journals are in his keeping.

As the novel unfolds, Dolce, one of Eduardo's daughters, is released from the nunnery she has been in for over three years due to her mental illness. She is treated by a priest who is also a psychiatrist, and they have a long affair. Dolce is an enigmatic woman who comes to the United States and renovates an ancient barn on the grounds of her father's estate so that she can paint. Readers get a real look at what she is capable of when the young priest comes to visit her and refuses to leave the church.

Another important theme in the book takes place after Kate wins the election and a coterie of Republican senators hold a clandestine meeting vowing not to cooperate with her on anything. Evan Hill, a young congressman, finds this appalling and records the whole thing. He wants to bring it all out in the open. But things don't go his way, and terrible consequences arise. Elton Hill is a recluse who is sorry that he shut his only son out of his life. Now he feels that he has a last chance to do right by Evan.

As the narrative comes to an end, readers are still on the edge of their seats. One thing they can always depend on in a Stuart Woods book is that guessing doesn't help to figure out the finale. Woods is known for his exciting, plot-driven novels, and INSATIABLE APPETITES is one of his best. He has so many subplots running simultaneously that readers at times may fear that they won't be tied up at the end. But fans of his books know he doesn't leave his characters, or readers for that matter, in the lurch.