Stone Barrington Books in Order
Part ofStuart Woods Books in OrderFind every Stone Barrington novel in order by Stuart Woods, with quick summaries, series background, crossover notes, and easy where-to-start guidance.
Last updated: June 7, 2026
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Publication Order
67 books
New York Dead
by Stuart Woods
1991
Stone Barrington, a former NYPD detective, is starting over as a lawyer when a death in his circle pulls him into Manhattan’s mix of money and murder. To survive, he has to learn who he can trust in a city built on secrets.
Dirt
by Stuart Woods
1996
A high-profile case drops Stone Barrington into a messy tangle of ambition and hidden deals. As he digs for the truth, the danger keeps escalating, and Stone learns how quickly a New York favor can turn lethal.
Dead in the Water
by Stuart Woods
1997
A trip on the water turns ugly when Stone Barrington stumbles into a crime tied to powerful people. Sorting out who’s lying, and who’s willing to kill again, becomes the only way to get back to shore alive.
Swimming to Catalina
by Stuart Woods
1998
Stone heads west when a glamorous problem leads him toward Catalina Island. What looks like a simple search becomes a run through Hollywood egos and organized crime, with Stone caught between cops and crooks.
Worst Fears Realized
by Stuart Woods
1999
Stone Barrington thinks he has seen every kind of scam, until a new client pulls him into a plan with deadly consequences. With enemies closing in, he has to pick allies carefully and move faster than the people hunting him.
L.A. Dead
by Stuart Woods
2000
Stone’s work takes him to Los Angeles, where a favor for a friend turns into a murder investigation. In a city built on image, everyone has a story, and Stone needs the right one before he becomes the fall guy.
Cold Paradise
by Stuart Woods
2001
A supposedly peaceful getaway becomes anything but when Stone Barrington lands in a beautiful place with a nasty underside. A sudden crime makes him the person asking the wrong questions, and the answers come with real consequences.
The Short Forever
by Stuart Woods
2002
Stone is pulled into a politically sensitive mess that reaches far beyond the courtroom. As powerful people scramble to control the story, he has to protect his client and himself while figuring out who is really calling the shots.
Dirty Work
by Stuart Woods
2003
Stone Barrington gets handed a job that looks straightforward, until it drifts into murder, betrayal, and a disappearing act. With friends in law enforcement at his side, he follows the trail through New York’s elite.
Reckless Abandon
by Stuart Woods
2004
Stone Barrington agrees to help Holly Barker track a dangerous fugitive, and the chase pulls them into New York’s darker corners. With the clock running, they have to spot the trap before it snaps shut.
Two Dollar Bill
by Stuart Woods
2004
Stone takes on a new client with deep pockets and deeper secrets, and the case quickly turns personal. The closer he gets to the truth, the more he realizes someone is determined to keep him from finishing the story.
Dark Harbor
by Stuart Woods
2006
A trip north drops Stone into a coastal world where old money and old grudges still matter. When violence erupts, he has to navigate small-town loyalties and big-city enemies, and the line between them keeps shifting.
Fresh Disasters
by Stuart Woods
2007
Stone Barrington’s plans go sideways when a new problem comes with a familiar pattern: charm first, trouble second. As the stakes rise, he has to decide who he can trust, and whether he’s already too late.
Shoot Him If He Runs
by Stuart Woods
2007
A fugitive on the move, a deadline, and enemies who don’t play by the rules, that’s a typical week for Stone Barrington. Tracking the target means stepping into a fight where the wrong move could end everything.
Hot Mahogany
by Stuart Woods
2008
Stone thinks he’s taking on a simple assignment, until it drags him into a dangerous circle of wealth and obsession. With a new romance in the mix, he has to keep his head clear long enough to survive the fallout.
Kisser
by Stuart Woods
2009
Stone gets tangled in a case where the crime is brazen and the motive is slippery. As pressure mounts from every side, he leans on his instincts as a former cop to spot the pattern before it’s too late.
Loitering with Intent
by Stuart Woods
2009
Stone Barrington meets a client who seems to have it all, and quickly learns that appearances are expensive. The job pulls him into a web of betrayal, and the people around Stone start getting hurt.
Lucid Intervals
by Stuart Woods
2010
Stone Barrington is drawn into a situation that feels almost unreal, until the threat turns physical. With enemies circling and motives unclear, he tries to stay one step ahead of a plot meant to throw him off balance.
Strategic Moves
by Stuart Woods
2010
A high-stakes chess game plays out around Stone Barrington, with clients, rivals, and hidden agendas moving at once. One wrong alliance could cost him everything, and the people pulling strings are better at it than he expects.
Bel-Air Dead
by Stuart Woods
2011
Stone heads to Bel-Air and finds the kind of trouble that comes with big houses and bigger secrets. As a murder investigation closes in, he realizes someone is using him as a pawn, and the next move could be fatal.
D.C. Dead
by Stuart Woods
2011
Washington, D.C. brings Stone into a world where favors are currency and secrets have bodyguards. When a case turns violent, he has to move through politics and paranoia to find the person behind it.
Son of Stone
by Stuart Woods
2011
Stone Barrington faces a threat that hits close to home, with someone targeting his world from the inside out. As his circle tightens, he has to act fast, because the enemy isn’t interested in second chances.
Collateral Damage
by Stuart Woods
2012
A mission that starts as a favor spirals into a chain reaction of threats and unintended victims. Stone has to balance loyalty with survival, and he quickly learns that one mistake can hit everyone he knows.
Severe Clear
by Stuart Woods
2012
Stone Barrington tries to keep a new situation under control, but the danger escalates with every step. With enemies circling and allies stretched thin, he has to figure out what’s real and what’s a setup before time runs out.
Unnatural Acts
by Stuart Woods
2012
Stone is pulled into a scandal that turns into something much darker. The deeper he digs, the more he learns that some people will do anything to keep their private lives private, including making sure Stone doesn’t walk away.
Doing Hard Time
by Stuart Woods
2013
Stone Barrington finds himself locked in and cut off, surrounded by people who would love to see him fail. To get out alive, he has to outthink both the system and the criminals who control it.
Unintended Consequences
by Stuart Woods
2013
Stone thinks he’s cleaned up one mess, only to discover it was connected to something bigger. Old grudges and new money collide, and the consequences land right on his doorstep.
Carnal Curiosity
by Stuart Woods
2014
A glamorous world and a brutal crime collide when Stone takes a closer look at a case that won’t behave. As the pressure rises, he has to stay focused on the facts, because someone is counting on distraction.
Cut and Thrust
by Stuart Woods
2014
Stone Barrington’s next adventure comes with charm and sharp edges. A new entanglement leads him into a dangerous mix of money, influence, and sudden violence, and he has to cut through the noise before he becomes the target.
Paris Match
by Stuart Woods
2014
Stone’s trip to Paris should be all good food and good company, until a threat follows him overseas. In a city built on secrets, he has to figure out who is playing him, and why the stakes feel so personal.
Standup Guy
by Stuart Woods
2014
Stone returns to his favorite places to relax, and quickly discovers someone else has plans for his time. A new scheme puts his friends in the crosshairs, and Stone has to hit back before the joke is on him.
Foreign Affairs
by Stuart Woods
2015
Stone’s work takes him to Rome, where a glamorous invitation quickly turns into a dangerous obligation. With criminals and power brokers watching his every move, he has to solve the problem fast and get out intact.
Hot Pursuit
by Stuart Woods
2015
Stone Barrington is enjoying the perks of success, including a new private jet, when a high-speed problem lands in his lap. The chase pulls him across borders and into a plot that won’t slow down.
Insatiable Appetites
by Stuart Woods
2015
Stone’s world of rich friends and risky favors takes another sharp turn when a new job comes with too many temptations. The deal looks sweet, but the people behind it are hungry for something far more dangerous.
Naked Greed
by Stuart Woods
2015
Stone helps a Texas friend launch a new beer, and the celebration doesn’t last long. Competition turns nasty, bodies start to appear, and Stone has to find who is behind the sabotage before it hits again.
Dishonorable Intentions
by Stuart Woods
2016
Stone Barrington makes a powerful enemy who refuses to stay in the past. As attacks come from unexpected angles, Stone and his friends have to spot the betrayal and shut the threat down before it turns lethal.
Family Jewels
by Stuart Woods
2016
A wealthy divorcee hires Stone Barrington to handle a delicate problem involving her family’s jewels. What starts as protection turns into a sharper kind of threat, and Stone has to figure out who wants the fortune.
Scandalous Behavior
by Stuart Woods
2016
Stone travels to England and winds up in the middle of arson and murder. With local police suspicious and the real culprit bold, he has to unravel the case before the chaos spreads.
Sex, Lies & Serious Money
by Stuart Woods
2016
Stone gets pulled into a scandal where sex and money are used as weapons, and the people involved are experts at hiding their tracks. To protect his client, he has to follow the lies to the source.
Below the Belt
by Stuart Woods
2017
A favor for a friend drags Stone into another high-end mess, with someone fighting dirty from the start. The hits keep coming below the belt, and Stone has to strike back without losing the people he’s trying to protect.
Fast and Loose
by Stuart Woods
2017
A late-night collision between two yachts sets off a chain of suspicion, blame, and violence, and Stone Barrington can’t resist digging in. The investigation pulls him into waterfront power games where the truth is slippery.
Indecent Exposure
by Stuart Woods
2017
Stone Barrington tries to help a client keep a private life private, but the situation turns into blackmail and danger. As secrets spread, Stone learns someone is using them as leverage, and they won’t stop at embarrassment.
Quick & Dirty
by Stuart Woods
2017
When a Van Gogh painting is stolen, Stone Barrington is drawn into a fast-moving hunt that mixes art, greed, and hard criminals. The job looks simple, until it’s clear the thieves planned for every move.
A Delicate Touch
by Stuart Woods
2018
Stone thinks he’s handling a delicate favor, until it turns into a dangerous test of loyalty. The people involved have polished manners and sharp knives, and Stone has to keep his touch light while he digs out the truth.
Desperate Measures
by Stuart Woods
2018
With time short and options shrinking, Stone Barrington takes desperate measures to protect someone close to him. The plan only works if he can stay ahead of powerful enemies who are used to buying results.
Shoot First
by Stuart Woods
2018
Stone heads to Key West expecting an easy stretch, then a tech-fueled problem follows him from Silicon Valley to Florida. When someone winds up dead, he has to move quickly, because the killer isn’t waiting for questions.
Turbulence
by Stuart Woods
2018
A massive storm hits Florida just as Stone Barrington and his friends are trying to keep a low profile. In the chaos of Hurricane Irma, a new crime takes shape, and Stone has to separate bad luck from a trap.
Unbound
by Stuart Woods
2018
Former CIA operative Teddy Fay takes center stage under a Hollywood alias, and Stone Barrington gets pulled into the fallout. A kidnapping and a deeper conspiracy force them to act fast, because the people behind it don’t negotiate.
Contraband
by Stuart Woods
2019
Stone Barrington is drawn into a case that starts with contraband and ends with violence. As he follows the trail, he runs into criminals who are better organized than expected, and he has to decide whether to fight or disappear.
Stealth
by Stuart Woods
2019
Stone Barrington faces an enemy who prefers stealth over headlines. The attacks are quiet, the motives are murky, and Stone has to rely on his instincts and his contacts to find the source before the next strike lands.
Wild Card
by Stuart Woods
2019
A chance encounter becomes a wild card in Stone Barrington’s carefully managed life. When a new player enters the game with a hidden agenda, Stone has to learn the rules fast, because the penalty for losing is permanent.
Choppy Water
by Stuart Woods
2020
Stone Barrington is forced to navigate choppy water, both literal and personal, when a new problem erupts during what should have been a smooth trip. The danger comes in waves, and Stone has to keep his balance.
Hit List
by Stuart Woods
2020
Stone learns that someone has a hit list, and his name is too close for comfort. With friends helping him connect the dots, he has to stop the killer before the list gets any shorter.
Hush-Hush
by Stuart Woods
2020
A hush-hush assignment pulls Stone into a situation where nobody wants paper trails and everyone has leverage. The secrecy makes it hard to know who is on his side, and one wrong call could turn a quiet job into disaster.
Shakeup
by Stuart Woods
2020
A shakeup hits Stone’s world when a sudden event changes who has power and who is exposed. As the dust settles, he finds himself in the middle of a fight he didn’t start, and the new rules are brutal.
Treason
by Stuart Woods
2020
A whisper of treason pulls Stone Barrington into a world of spies, double-crosses, and people who know how to vanish. He has to find out who is betraying whom, while making sure he isn’t the one left holding the bag.
Class Act
by Stuart Woods
2021
In a world of private jets and private grudges, Stone Barrington runs into someone who may be too good to be true. As trouble spreads through his social circle, he has to uncover what’s being hidden behind good manners.
Criminal Mischief
by Stuart Woods
2021
Stone Barrington runs into criminal mischief that starts small and quickly turns dangerous. A seemingly minor incident points to a bigger scheme, and Stone has to move before he becomes the easiest loose end to cut.
Double Jeopardy
by Stuart Woods
2021
Stone Barrington takes on a case with double jeopardy written all over it, legally and personally. As the same danger surfaces twice, he has to keep his client safe and keep himself from becoming collateral.
Foul Play
by Stuart Woods
2021
What looks like bad luck turns into foul play, and Stone Barrington can’t ignore it. The case forces him to dig into motives that don’t add up, and the closer he gets, the more someone wants him to stop.
A Safe House
by Stuart Woods
2022
When a threat forces someone close to Stone Barrington into a safe house, he learns that hiding is its own kind of trap. With enemies pressing in, Stone has to turn protection into a counterattack before the walls close.
Black Dog
by Stuart Woods
2022
Stone Barrington’s quiet moment is interrupted by a problem that won’t let go. As he chases answers, he realizes the threat is tied to someone who knows his habits, and is using them against him.
Distant Thunder
by Stuart Woods
2022
Distant thunder turns into real trouble for Stone Barrington when a new case arrives with warnings he can’t ignore. The danger feels far off at first, then hits close, and Stone has to decide how much he’s willing to risk.
Near Miss
by Stuart Woods
2023
Stone Barrington survives a near miss, then realizes it wasn’t an accident. Tracking who took the shot leads him into a fresh tangle of wealth, crime, and secrets, and the only way out is straight through.
Smolder
by Stuart Woods
2024
Stone Barrington is in Santa Fe for a friend’s art exhibition when the event collides with a ring of art thieves. A death turns the evening into a hunt, and Stone has to find who’s playing the long game before he’s next.
Finders Keepers
by Stuart Woods
2025
Stone Barrington tries to help a friend, only to find himself caught between an old ally and a secret enemy who has been waiting for the right moment. As threats escalate, Stone has to protect his circle and expose the unseen hand.
Deep Water
by Stuart Woods
2026
After a series of brutal attacks hits people connected to Stone Barrington, he and his allies decide to strike back. The search pulls him into deeper water, where the enemy has planned for every move and wants Stone finished.
Series background & context
Stone Barrington is introduced in New York Dead as a former NYPD detective who’s trying to put a rough chapter behind him. He’s smart, stubborn, and more comfortable asking questions than sitting still. When his life pivots toward a new career in the law, he ends up with a fresh start, and a front-row seat to the kinds of problems rich and powerful people are happy to pay someone else to handle.
These books read like glossy, fast-moving thrillers with a legal backbone. Stone is an attorney in Manhattan, but he still thinks like a cop, and he keeps a foot in both worlds. One day he’s dealing with a client who wants discretion, the next he’s chasing leads that put him in real physical danger. The cases often start as favors or introductions, then spiral into murder, blackmail, and the kind of conspiracies that don’t stay contained.
A big part of the fun is Stone’s network. He has close friends in New York law enforcement, and he also has connections in the intelligence world, which means a local crime can suddenly become a national problem. Allies show up, disappear, and reappear in new roles, so the series rewards readers who like recurring faces and inside jokes without requiring you to memorize every past plot.
The setting is anchored in New York, but the books love to travel. Stone turns up in places like Florida, Los Angeles, Washington, and overseas, and the change of scenery usually comes with a change of rules. Wherever he goes, the tension is the same: someone is lying, someone is scared, and someone is trying to control the narrative.
You can read most of the Stone Barrington novels as standalones, especially once you know who Stone is and how he operates.
If you enjoy crossovers, this is the series where they happen. Characters from the Holly Barker books, the Will Lee political thrillers, and later spin-offs often drift through Stone’s orbit, sometimes for a quick cameo, sometimes for a full book. That shared world gives the series a lived-in feel, like you’re checking back in on the same extended circle of friends, enemies, and frenemies.
Expect quick chapters, plenty of dialogue, and a steady rhythm of surprises. The books aren’t slow-burn mysteries, they’re built for momentum. Stone’s confidence can look effortless, but the danger is real, and the consequences tend to arrive fast. And he rarely gets to quit while he’s ahead.
Edited by
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