Stuart Woods Books in Order
Stuart Woods wrote fast, fun thrillers full of fine dining, private jets, and dangerous people. His most famous hero, New York lawyer Stone Barrington, appeared in more than 60 novels. Woods also created several other series and wrote standalone thrillers, including the Edgar Award-winning Chiefs.
Woods died in 2024, but the Stone Barrington series lives on with author Brett Battles. Here are the Stuart Woods books in order, from his first novel to the latest releases.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Author | Stuart Woods (1938 to 2024) |
| First novel | Chiefs (1981) |
| Most famous series | Stone Barrington |
| Stone Barrington books | 67 so far |
| Continuation author | Brett Battles |
| Latest release | Stuart Woods’ Hostile Intent (November 17, 2026) |
Who Was Stuart Woods?
Stuart Woods was born in Manchester, Georgia, in 1938. He graduated from the University of Georgia and worked in advertising in New York and London before turning to writing. His first novel, Chiefs, won the Edgar Award for best first novel and became a TV miniseries.
He went on to write more than 90 books. He was also an avid sailor and pilot, and those passions show up in his stories. Woods died in July 2024.
Stone Barrington Books in Order
Stone Barrington is a former NYPD detective turned high-priced lawyer. He lives in a Manhattan townhouse, flies his own plane, and solves crimes with his friend Dino Bacchetti.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Dead | 1991 |
| 2 | Dirt | 1996 |
| 3 | Dead in the Water | 1997 |
| 4 | Swimming to Catalina | 1998 |
| 5 | Worst Fears Realized | 1999 |
| 6 | L.A. Dead | 2000 |
| 7 | Cold Paradise | 2001 |
| 8 | The Short Forever | 2002 |
| 9 | Dirty Work | 2003 |
| 10 | Reckless Abandon | 2004 |
| 11 | Two Dollar Bill | 2005 |
| 12 | Dark Harbor | 2006 |
| 13 | Fresh Disasters | 2007 |
| 14 | Shoot Him If He Runs | 2007 |
| 15 | Hot Mahogany | 2008 |
| 16 | Loitering with Intent | 2009 |
| 17 | Kisser | 2009 |
| 18 | Lucid Intervals | 2010 |
| 19 | Strategic Moves | 2011 |
| 20 | Bel-Air Dead | 2011 |
| 21 | Son of Stone | 2011 |
| 22 | D.C. Dead | 2011 |
| 23 | Unnatural Acts | 2012 |
| 24 | Severe Clear | 2012 |
| 25 | Collateral Damage | 2013 |
| 26 | Unintended Consequences | 2013 |
| 27 | Doing Hard Time | 2013 |
| 28 | Standup Guy | 2014 |
| 29 | Carnal Curiosity | 2014 |
| 30 | Cut and Thrust | 2014 |
| 31 | Paris Match | 2014 |
| 32 | Insatiable Appetites | 2015 |
| 33 | Hot Pursuit | 2015 |
| 34 | Naked Greed | 2015 |
| 35 | Foreign Affairs | 2015 |
| 36 | Scandalous Behavior | 2016 |
| 37 | Family Jewels | 2016 |
| 38 | Dishonorable Intentions | 2016 |
| 39 | Sex, Lies & Serious Money | 2016 |
| 40 | Below the Belt | 2017 |
| 41 | Fast and Loose | 2017 |
| 42 | Indecent Exposure | 2017 |
| 43 | Quick & Dirty | 2017 |
| 44 | Unbound | 2018 |
| 45 | Shoot First | 2018 |
| 46 | Turbulence | 2018 |
| 47 | Desperate Measures | 2018 |
| 48 | A Delicate Touch | 2018 |
| 49 | Wild Card | 2019 |
| 50 | Contraband | 2019 |
| 51 | Stealth | 2019 |
| 52 | Treason | 2020 |
| 53 | Hit List | 2020 |
| 54 | Choppy Water | 2020 |
| 55 | Shakeup | 2020 |
| 56 | Hush-Hush | 2020 |
| 57 | Double Jeopardy | 2021 |
| 58 | Class Act | 2021 |
| 59 | Foul Play | 2021 |
| 60 | Criminal Mischief | 2021 |
| 61 | A Safe House | 2022 |
| 62 | Black Dog | 2022 |
| 63 | Distant Thunder | 2022 |
| 64 | Near Miss | 2023 |
| 65 | Stuart Woods’ Smolder | 2024 |
| 66 | Stuart Woods’ Finders Keepers | 2025 |
| 67 | Stuart Woods’ Deep Water | 2026 |
| 68 | Stuart Woods’ Hostile Intent | 2026 |
Some numbering lists differ by one or two books, but the order stays the same.
Holly Barker Series
Holly Barker is a former Army officer who becomes a police chief in Florida and later joins the CIA.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orchid Beach | 1998 |
| 2 | Orchid Blues | 2001 |
| 3 | Blood Orchid | 2002 |
| 4 | Iron Orchid | 2005 |
| 5 | Hothouse Orchid | 2009 |
Will Lee Series
Will Lee is a Georgia lawyer who rises to become president of the United States.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chiefs | 1981 |
| 2 | Run Before the Wind | 1983 |
| 3 | Deep Lie | 1986 |
| 4 | Grass Roots | 1989 |
| 5 | The Run | 2000 |
| 6 | Capital Crimes | 2003 |
| 7 | Mounting Fears | 2009 |
Some lists treat Chiefs and Deep Lie as related standalones, since Will Lee plays a smaller role in them.
Ed Eagle Series
Ed Eagle is a Santa Fe lawyer with a dangerous ex-wife.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Santa Fe Rules | 1992 |
| 2 | Short Straw | 2006 |
| 3 | Santa Fe Dead | 2008 |
| 4 | Santa Fe Edge | 2010 |
Rick Barron Series
Rick Barron is a Hollywood cop turned studio head in the golden age of film.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Prince of Beverly Hills | 2004 |
| 2 | Beverly Hills Dead | 2008 |
Teddy Fay Series
Teddy Fay is a former CIA operative and a key character in many Stone Barrington books. Woods gave him his own series, co-written with Parnell Hall.
| # | Title | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smooth Operator | 2016 |
| 2 | The Money Shot | 2018 |
| 3 | Skin Game | 2019 |
| 4 | Bombshell | 2020 |
| 5 | Jackpot | 2021 |
Standalone Novels
- Under the Lake (1987)
- White Cargo (1988)
- Palindrome (1991)
- L.A. Times (1993)
- Dead Eyes (1994)
- Imperfect Strangers (1995)
- Choke (1995)
Stone Barrington After Stuart Woods
In 2024, thriller writer Brett Battles took over the Stone Barrington series, and he has kept it going since Woods died that July. Battles is known for his Jonathan Quinn series. His books carry titles like Stuart Woods’ Smolder, Stuart Woods’ Finders Keepers, Stuart Woods’ Deep Water, and Stuart Woods’ Hostile Intent, which comes out on November 17, 2026.
Where Should You Start?
You can start with New York Dead, the first Stone Barrington book. Many fans say the series gets better and more fun as it goes. The books are short and fast, so you can read several in a week.
If you’d like to start with his best writing, try Chiefs, his award-winning debut.
Why Fans Love Stuart Woods Books
Stuart Woods books are easy, escapist fun. Stone lives a glamorous life, and the plots move at a brisk pace. Woods filled his books with fine food, fast planes, and sharp dialogue. Readers often call them perfect beach reads.
How to Read the Stuart Woods Books in Order
The simplest way to read the Stuart Woods books in order is to start with New York Dead and follow the Stone Barrington list. Read his other series alongside it, since characters like Holly Barker and Teddy Fay often appear in Stone’s stories.
If you prefer, you can also read the Stuart Woods books in order of publication across all series. This shows how his characters crossed paths over time.
How Long Are the Books?
Most Stone Barrington novels are about 300 pages and move at a fast clip. Many fans read one in a single evening. With dozens of titles, working through the Stuart Woods books in order can take a year or more.
Crossovers Between Series
Woods loved mixing his characters. Holly Barker shows up in Stone Barrington books, Ed Eagle crosses paths with Stone, and Teddy Fay becomes a close ally. Reading the Stuart Woods books in order helps you catch every cameo.
Audiobooks
Tony Roberts narrated many Stone Barrington audiobooks, and his voice became tied to the character for many fans. The audiobooks make the series easy to enjoy on the road.
The Legacy of Stuart Woods
Woods left behind one of the biggest series in thriller history. Fans who read the Stuart Woods books in order often say Stone feels like an old friend. Thanks to the continuation novels, that friendship can keep going.
Final Thoughts
The Stuart Woods books in order cover more than 40 years of thrillers, from Chiefs in 1981 to the Stone Barrington novels still coming out today. With dozens of Stone books, plus Holly Barker, Will Lee, Ed Eagle, and Teddy Fay, there’s plenty to read. Thanks to Brett Battles, Stone’s adventures continue.
Stuart Woods built a world fans don’t want to leave.
Key Takeaways
- The Stuart Woods books in order begin with Chiefs (1981), which won the Edgar Award.
- The Stone Barrington series starts with New York Dead (1991) and includes more than 65 books.
- Stuart Woods died in July 2024 at age 86.
- Brett Battles continues the Stone Barrington series, starting with Stuart Woods’ Smolder (2024).
- Stuart Woods’ Hostile Intent comes out November 17, 2026.
- Other series include Holly Barker, Will Lee, Ed Eagle, Rick Barron, and Teddy Fay.
- Stuart Woods books are short, fast, and often called perfect escapist reads.
