Author · updated September 2026
Stuart Woods Books in Order
Every Stuart Woods book in publication order — 105 in total, spanning 1977–2026.
Stuart Woods took the scenic route to becoming one of the most prolific storytellers in American publishing. Born in Manchester, Georgia, he studied sociology at the University of Georgia, spent the 1960s in advertising in New York and London, and didn't publish his first novel until he was in his forties — decamping to Ireland in the early 1970s to finally write the book he'd been dreaming of since he was ten, and falling hard for competitive sailing along the way. That debut, Chiefs (1981), won the Edgar Award and became a CBS drama starring Charlton Heston, and Woods never looked back: more than ninety novels and seventy-plus bestsellers followed, written at a famously brisk chapter-a-day clip by a man who was also an avid sailor and an instrument-rated pilot with thousands of hours in the air. All of that lived-in glamour poured into his signature creation, Stone Barrington — the New York cop turned high-flying attorney whose fine-wine-and-fast-planes adventures are pure, stylish escapism you can finish in a weekend and immediately want another of. Woods died in 2022, but the good times he built roll on.
Publication Order of Stone Barrington Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  New York Dead | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  Dirt | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 |  Dead in the Water | 1997 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 |  Swimming to Catalina | 1998 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 |  Worst Fears Realized | 1999 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 |  L.A. Dead | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 |  Cold Paradise | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 |  The Short Forever | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 |  Dirty Work | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 |  Reckless Abandon | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 |  Two Dollar Bill | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 |  Dark Harbor | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 13 |  Fresh Disasters | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 14 |  Shoot Him If He Runs | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 15 |  Hot Mahogany | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 16 |  Loitering with Intent | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 17 |  Kisser | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 18 |  Lucid Intervals | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 19 |  Strategic Moves | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 20 |  Bel-Air Dead | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 21 |  Son of Stone | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 22 |  D.C. Dead | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 23 |  Unnatural Acts | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 24 |  Severe Clear | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 25 |  Collateral Damage | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 26 |  Unintended Consequences | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 27 |  Doing Hard Time | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 28 |  Standup Guy | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 29 |  Carnal Curiosity | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 30 |  Cut and Thrust | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 31 |  Paris Match | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 32 |  Insatiable Appetites | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 33 |  Hot Pursuit | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 34 |  Naked Greed | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 35 |  Foreign Affairs | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 36 |  Scandalous Behavior | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 37 |  Family Jewels | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 38 |  Dishonorable Intentions | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 39 |  Sex, Lies & Serious Money | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 40 |  Below the Belt | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 41 |  Fast and Loose | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 42 |  Indecent Exposure | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 43 |  Quick & Dirty | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 44 |  Unbound | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 45 |  Shoot First | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 46 |  Turbulence | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 47 |  Desperate Measures | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 48 |  A Delicate Touch | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 49 |  Wild Card | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 50 |  Contraband | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 51 | Stealth | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 52 |  Treason | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 53 |  Hit List | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 54 |  Choppy Water | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 55 |  Shakeup | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 56 |  Hush-Hush | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 57 |  Double Jeopardy | 2021 | Amazon US UK |
| 58 | Class Act | 2021 | Amazon US |
| 59 | Foul Play | 2021 | Amazon US |
| 60 | Criminal Mischief | 2022 | Amazon US |
| 61 | A Safe House | 2022 | Amazon US |
| 62 | Black Dog | 2022 | Amazon US |
| 63 | Distant Thunder | 2022 | Amazon US |
| 64 | Near Miss | 2023 | Amazon US |
| 65 | Obsession | 2023 | Amazon US |
| 66 | Smolder | 2024 | Amazon US |
| 67 | Golden Hour | 2024 | Amazon US |
| 68 | Finders Keepers | 2025 | Amazon US |
| 69 | Blown Away | 2025 | Amazon US |
| 70 | Deep Water | 2026 | Amazon US |
Publication Order of Holly Barker Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Orchid Beach | 1998 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  Orchid Blues | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 |  Blood Orchid | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | Reckless Abandon | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 |  Iron Orchid | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 |  Hothouse Orchid | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Ed Eagle Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Santa Fe Rules | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  Short Straw | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 |  Santa Fe Dead | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 |  Santa Fe Edge | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Herbie Fisher Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Barely Legal | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Rick Barron Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  The Prince of Beverly Hills | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  Beverly Hills Dead | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Teddy Fay Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Smooth Operator | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  The Money Shot | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 |  Skin Game | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 |  Bombshell | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 |  Jackpot | 2021 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Will Lee Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Chiefs | 1981 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  Run Before the Wind | 1983 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 |  Deep Lie | 1986 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 |  Grass Roots | 1989 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 |  The Run | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 |  Capital Crimes | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 |  Mounting Fears | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Standalone Novels
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Under the Lake | 1986 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  White Cargo | 1988 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 |  Palindrome | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 |  L.A. Times | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 |  Heat | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 |  Dead Eyes | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 |  Imperfect Strangers | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 |  Choke | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Blue Water, Green Skipper | 1977 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 |  A romantic's guide to the country inns of Britain and Ireland | 1979 | Amazon US UK |
Every title by year All 105, oldest to newest
| # | Title | Year | Get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blue Water, Green Skipper | 1977 | Amazon US UK |
| 2 | A romantic's guide to the country inns of Britain and Ireland | 1979 | Amazon US UK |
| 3 | Chiefs | 1981 | Amazon US UK |
| 4 | Run Before the Wind | 1983 | Amazon US UK |
| 5 | Deep Lie | 1986 | Amazon US UK |
| 6 | Under the Lake | 1986 | Amazon US UK |
| 7 | White Cargo | 1988 | Amazon US UK |
| 8 | Grass Roots | 1989 | Amazon US UK |
| 9 | Palindrome | 1990 | Amazon US UK |
| 10 | New York Dead | 1991 | Amazon US UK |
| 11 | Santa Fe Rules | 1992 | Amazon US UK |
| 12 | L.A. Times | 1993 | Amazon US UK |
| 13 | Heat | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 14 | Dead Eyes | 1994 | Amazon US UK |
| 15 | The Run | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 16 | Imperfect Strangers | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 17 | Choke | 1995 | Amazon US UK |
| 18 | Dirt | 1996 | Amazon US UK |
| 19 | Dead in the Water | 1997 | Amazon US UK |
| 20 | Swimming to Catalina | 1998 | Amazon US UK |
| 21 | Orchid Beach | 1998 | Amazon US UK |
| 22 | Worst Fears Realized | 1999 | Amazon US UK |
| 23 | L.A. Dead | 2000 | Amazon US UK |
| 24 | Cold Paradise | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 25 | Orchid Blues | 2001 | Amazon US UK |
| 26 | The Short Forever | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 27 | Blood Orchid | 2002 | Amazon US UK |
| 28 | Dirty Work | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 29 | Capital Crimes | 2003 | Amazon US UK |
| 30 | Reckless Abandon | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 31 | Two Dollar Bill | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 32 | Reckless Abandon | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 33 | The Prince of Beverly Hills | 2004 | Amazon US UK |
| 34 | Iron Orchid | 2005 | Amazon US UK |
| 35 | Dark Harbor | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 36 | Short Straw | 2006 | Amazon US UK |
| 37 | Fresh Disasters | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 38 | Shoot Him If He Runs | 2007 | Amazon US UK |
| 39 | Hot Mahogany | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 40 | Santa Fe Dead | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 41 | Beverly Hills Dead | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 42 | Mounting Fears | 2008 | Amazon US UK |
| 43 | Loitering with Intent | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 44 | Kisser | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 45 | Hothouse Orchid | 2009 | Amazon US UK |
| 46 | Lucid Intervals | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 47 | Strategic Moves | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 48 | Santa Fe Edge | 2010 | Amazon US UK |
| 49 | Bel-Air Dead | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 50 | Son of Stone | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 51 | D.C. Dead | 2011 | Amazon US UK |
| 52 | Unnatural Acts | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 53 | Severe Clear | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 54 | Collateral Damage | 2012 | Amazon US UK |
| 55 | Unintended Consequences | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 56 | Doing Hard Time | 2013 | Amazon US UK |
| 57 | Standup Guy | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 58 | Carnal Curiosity | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 59 | Cut and Thrust | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 60 | Paris Match | 2014 | Amazon US UK |
| 61 | Insatiable Appetites | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 62 | Hot Pursuit | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 63 | Naked Greed | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 64 | Foreign Affairs | 2015 | Amazon US UK |
| 65 | Scandalous Behavior | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 66 | Family Jewels | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 67 | Dishonorable Intentions | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 68 | Sex, Lies & Serious Money | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 69 | Smooth Operator | 2016 | Amazon US UK |
| 70 | Below the Belt | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 71 | Fast and Loose | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 72 | Indecent Exposure | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 73 | Quick & Dirty | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 74 | Barely Legal | 2017 | Amazon US UK |
| 75 | Unbound | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 76 | Shoot First | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 77 | Turbulence | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 78 | Desperate Measures | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 79 | A Delicate Touch | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 80 | The Money Shot | 2018 | Amazon US UK |
| 81 | Wild Card | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 82 | Contraband | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 83 | Stealth | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 84 | Skin Game | 2019 | Amazon US UK |
| 85 | Treason | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 86 | Hit List | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 87 | Choppy Water | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 88 | Shakeup | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 89 | Hush-Hush | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 90 | Bombshell | 2020 | Amazon US UK |
| 91 | Double Jeopardy | 2021 | Amazon US UK |
| 92 | Class Act | 2021 | Amazon US |
| 93 | Foul Play | 2021 | Amazon US |
| 94 | Jackpot | 2021 | Amazon US UK |
| 95 | Criminal Mischief | 2022 | Amazon US |
| 96 | A Safe House | 2022 | Amazon US |
| 97 | Black Dog | 2022 | Amazon US |
| 98 | Distant Thunder | 2022 | Amazon US |
| 99 | Near Miss | 2023 | Amazon US |
| 100 | Obsession | 2023 | Amazon US |
| 101 | Smolder | 2024 | Amazon US |
| 102 | Golden Hour | 2024 | Amazon US |
| 103 | Finders Keepers | 2025 | Amazon US |
| 104 | Blown Away | 2025 | Amazon US |
| 105 | Deep Water | 2026 | Amazon US |
Frequently asked
What order should I read the Stone Barrington books in?
Publication order, beginning with New York Dead (1991). They’re largely self-contained, so you can wander — but in order the returning characters land best.
How many Stone Barrington books are there?
More than sixty — one of the great long-running series in the genre. Since Stuart Woods’s death in 2022, the series has continued in the hands of co-author Brett Battles, carrying on the style.
Who writes the Stone Barrington books now?
After Stuart Woods died in July 2022, the series continued with author Brett Battles, beginning with Near Miss (2023) and carrying on through the newest titles — keeping the series going in the same brisk, glamorous style.
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