Stuart Woods Books in Order
Stone Barrington walks into Elaine’s, orders a Knob Creek, and trouble finds him before the ice melts. That simple formula carried Stuart Woods through more than 60 Stone Barrington novels and a long list of other thrillers. If you are trying to sort out the Stuart Woods books in order, the sheer number can feel like a lot.
Woods wrote fast. Some years he released four or five books. He also built several series that cross into each other, so a character from one set often shows up in another. This guide puts it all in order, from his debut in 1981 to the newest Stone Barrington books written after his death.
Who Was Stuart Woods?
Stuart Woods was born in Georgia in 1938 and worked in advertising before he turned to fiction. His first novel, Chiefs, came out in 1981 and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel. It became a TV miniseries with Charlton Heston.
He went on to write more than 90 books. Most of them follow smooth, witty heroes who enjoy fine food, fast planes, and good company. Woods was also a pilot and a sailor, and both hobbies show up all over his work.
Stuart Woods died on July 22, 2022, at age 84. His publisher chose to keep the Stone Barrington series going, and author Brett Battles now writes the new books.
Who Is Stone Barrington?
Stone Barrington is a former NYPD detective who became a lawyer. He handles delicate cases for the rich and powerful as “of counsel” at a big Manhattan law firm. His best friend, Dino Bacchetti, is still a cop, and the two solve problems over dinner more often than in the office.
The books are breezy, fun, and fast. Plots move quickly, chapters are short, and Stone never seems to run out of romance or enemies. That light touch is why so many readers burn through them like potato chips.
Stone Barrington Books in Order
Here is the full Stone Barrington series in order of release.
1991 to 2009
- New York Dead (1991)
- Dirt (1996)
- Dead in the Water (1997)
- Swimming to Catalina (1998)
- Worst Fears Realized (1999)
- L.A. Dead (2000)
- Cold Paradise (2001)
- The Short Forever (2002)
- Dirty Work (2003)
- Reckless Abandon (2004)
- Two-Dollar Bill (2005)
- Dark Harbor (2006)
- Fresh Disasters (2007)
- Shoot Him If He Runs (2007)
- Hot Mahogany (2008)
- Loitering with Intent (2009)
2010 to 2016
- Kisser (2010)
- Lucid Intervals (2010)
- Strategic Moves (2011)
- Bel-Air Dead (2011)
- Son of Stone (2011)
- D.C. Dead (2011)
- Unnatural Acts (2012)
- Severe Clear (2012)
- Collateral Damage (2013)
- Unintended Consequences (2013)
- Doing Hard Time (2013)
- Standup Guy (2014)
- Carnal Curiosity (2014)
- Cut and Thrust (2014)
- Paris Match (2014)
- Insatiable Appetites (2015)
- Hot Pursuit (2015)
- Naked Greed (2015)
- Foreign Affairs (2015)
- Scandalous Behavior (2016)
- Family Jewels (2016)
- Dishonorable Intentions (2016)
- Sex, Lies, and Serious Money (2016)
2017 to 2022
- Below the Belt (2017)
- Fast & Loose (2017)
- Indecent Exposure (2017)
- Quick & Dirty (2017)
- Unbound (2018)
- Shoot First (2018)
- Turbulence (2018)
- Desperate Measures (2018)
- A Delicate Touch (2018)
- Wild Card (2019)
- Contraband (2019)
- Stealth (2019)
- Treason (2020)
- Hit List (2020)
- Choppy Water (2020)
- Shakeup (2020)
- Hush-Hush (2020)
- Double Jeopardy (2021)
- Class Act (2021)
- Foul Play (2021)
- Criminal Mischief (2021)
- A Safe House (2022)
- Black Dog (2022)
- Distant Thunder (2022)
2023 Onward
- Near Miss (2023)
- Smolder (2024)
- Finders Keepers (2025)
- Deep Water (2026)
- Hostile Intent (November 17, 2026)
Two more Stone Barrington titles, Fool Proof and Knifepoint, are already listed for 2027.
The Brett Battles Era
After Woods died, the series kept going. Brett Battles, a thriller writer known for his own Jonathan Quinn books, took over, and his books carry the “Stuart Woods'” name in the title.
- Smolder (2024) was the first full Battles book.
- Finders Keepers (2025) and Deep Water (June 2026) followed.
- Hostile Intent (November 17, 2026) sends Stone to Los Angeles to help fight off a hostile takeover of a film company, while someone may be targeting his pilot.
Fans have mixed feelings about any new writer, but most agree Battles keeps the tone close to the original: fast, light, and full of banter.
Other Stuart Woods Books in Order by Series
Woods built several other series alongside Stone Barrington. Many of these characters cross over into Stone’s world.
Will Lee
Will Lee is a Georgia lawyer who rises to become a senator and later president. This series mixes Southern small-town drama with politics.
- Chiefs (1981)
- Run Before the Wind (1983)
- Deep Lie (1986)
- Grass Roots (1989)
- The Run (2000)
- Capital Crimes (2003)
- Mounting Fears (2009)
Holly Barker
Holly Barker is a former Army MP who becomes a small-town police chief in Florida, then joins the CIA. She later becomes a regular in the Stone Barrington books.
- Orchid Beach (1998)
- Orchid Blues (2001)
- Blood Orchid (2002)
- Iron Orchid (2005)
- Hothouse Orchid (2009)
Ed Eagle
Ed Eagle is a sharp Santa Fe lawyer with a taste for risky cases.
- Santa Fe Rules (1992)
- Short Straw (2006)
- Santa Fe Dead (2008)
- Santa Fe Edge (2010)
Rick Barron
Rick Barron is a former cop who becomes head of security at a Hollywood studio in the golden age of film.
- The Prince of Beverly Hills (2004)
- Beverly Hills Dead (2008)
Teddy Fay
Teddy Fay is a former CIA operative who works under fake identities, often as a Hollywood film producer. He first appeared as a villain in the Stone books before getting his own series.
- Smooth Operator (2016)
- The Money Shot (2018)
- Skin Game (2019)
- Bombshell (2020)
- Jackpot (2021)
Stuart Woods Standalone Novels
Not every Stuart Woods book belongs to a series. A few of his standalones include:
- Under the Lake (1987)
- White Cargo (1988)
- Palindrome (1991)
- L.A. Times (1993)
- Dead Eyes (1994)
- Choke (1995)
- Imperfect Strangers (1995)
These earlier books tend to be darker than Stone Barrington, so they are a good change of pace.
Do You Have to Read Them in Order?
For Stone Barrington, it helps but isn’t required. Each book has its own case, and Woods often recaps the key facts. Reading in order does let you follow Stone’s relationships, his son Peter’s story, and the slow changes in his circle of friends.
For the smaller series, order matters more. The Will Lee books follow one man’s whole career, and Holly Barker’s arc builds from book to book.
Here is a simple plan:
| Goal | Where to Start |
|---|---|
| Classic Stone Barrington | New York Dead |
| A quicker modern entry | Any book from the 2010s, like Paris Match |
| Political drama | Chiefs |
| Strong female lead | Orchid Beach |
| Spy-style fun | Smooth Operator |
Tips for Reading Stuart Woods
- Treat the books like comfort food. They are short and easy, so reading two in a weekend is normal.
- Follow the crossovers. Holly Barker, Teddy Fay, and Ed Eagle all drift into Stone’s books, so reading their series first adds depth.
- Try the audio. Tony Roberts narrated many of the Stone books, and his voice suits the tone.
- Save the Battles books for last. Read the Woods originals first, then move into the new era.
Common Questions About Stuart Woods Books in Order
How many Stuart Woods books are there? Counting every series and standalone, Woods wrote more than 90 books in his lifetime. The Brett Battles novels push the total even higher, so the list of Stuart Woods books in order keeps growing each year.
Which Stone Barrington book is the best? Fans often name early entries like Dirt, L.A. Dead, and Dark Harbor. Many also enjoy Son of Stone, which brings Stone’s son Peter into the story.
Is there a Stone Barrington TV show? No TV series exists so far. Chiefs is the only Woods novel that became a major screen adaptation.
Do the Brett Battles books count as part of the series? Yes. The publisher treats them as official Stone Barrington novels, so they belong on any list of Stuart Woods books in order.
What is the best way to track the Stuart Woods books in order? Keep a simple checklist on your phone or in a notes app. With 68 Stone Barrington books alone, it is easy to lose your place, and a quick list saves you from buying the same book twice.
Are the books family friendly? Not quite. Stone’s romantic life gets plenty of page time, and there is some violence and strong language. Think of them as adult popcorn thrillers rather than gritty crime novels.
Final Thoughts
The Stuart Woods books in order cover more than four decades, from Chiefs in 1981 to the Brett Battles Stone Barrington novels coming out today. Start with New York Dead for Stone, Chiefs for Will Lee, or Orchid Beach for Holly Barker, and follow each series from there. With Hostile Intent out in November 2026 and two more books due in 2027, this list of Stuart Woods books in order will keep growing.
Key Takeaways
- Stuart Woods wrote more than 90 books before his death on July 22, 2022.
- The Stone Barrington series has 68 books through Hostile Intent (November 2026), with two more listed for 2027.
- Stone Barrington starts with New York Dead (1991). Brett Battles has written the series since Smolder (2024).
- Other series include Will Lee (7 books), Holly Barker (5), Ed Eagle (4), Rick Barron (2), and Teddy Fay (5).
- His debut, Chiefs (1981), won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel.
- Many characters cross between series, so Holly Barker, Teddy Fay, and Ed Eagle often appear in Stone’s books.
- You can read Stone Barrington books out of order, but the smaller series work best in sequence.
- His standalones, like Under the Lake and Palindrome, are darker than the Stone books.
