Are you ready to dive into a world of high-stakes legal drama, glamorous lifestyles, and pulse-pounding mysteries? If you’re searching for the Stone Barrington books in order, you’ve come to the right place. Stuart Woods’ iconic series follows the adventures of Stone Barrington, a sharp-witted attorney and former NYPD detective who navigates the elite circles of New York and beyond. With over 60 novels packed with suspense, romance, and unexpected twists, this series has captivated millions of readers. Whether you’re a longtime fan or a newcomer, this guide will help you tackle the Stone Barrington reading order with ease.
Who Is Stone Barrington?
Stone Barrington is the suave, resourceful protagonist at the heart of the series. Formerly a detective with the New York City Police Department, Stone was forced out after 14 years due to his outspoken nature. He holds a law degree from NYU and joins the prestigious firm Woodman & Weld, handling their more “undesirable” clients. Starting broke and renovating his inherited Turtle Bay townhouse, Stone evolves into a wealthy, well-dressed bachelor who’s equal parts charming and sarcastic. He’s an experienced pilot (much like his creator), often jetting off in his private plane, and trouble seems to find him effortlessly—whether it’s murder investigations, romantic entanglements, or clashes with powerful figures.
Fans love Stone for his wit, class, and ability to land in deep trouble without seeking it out. As the series progresses, he crosses paths with recurring characters like his ex-partner Dino Bacchetti and various love interests, blending legal thrillers with elements of espionage and high society intrigue.
About the Author: Stuart Woods
Stuart Woods (1938–2022) was a prolific American author whose love for adventure mirrored his characters’. Born in Manchester, Georgia, he graduated from the University of Georgia with a sociology degree and served in the Air Force before diving into advertising. Woods moved to London and then Ireland, where he penned his debut novel, Chiefs (1981), which won an Edgar Award and was adapted into an Emmy-nominated miniseries. A passionate sailor and pilot—he owned a Cessna Citation Mustang—Woods infused his stories with real-life thrills.
The Stone Barrington series is his most famous, with 30 consecutive New York Times bestsellers. Woods also wrote other series like Will Lee, Holly Barker, and Ed Eagle. After his passing, the Stone Barrington novels continue under his name, co-authored by Brett Battles. Woods lived a jet-set life with homes in Florida, Maine, and New York, shared with his wife Jeanmarie Cooper and their Labrador, Fred.
List Of Stone Barrington Books In Order
Below is the complete list of Stuart Woods books from the iconic Stone Barrington series in order of publication, including release years and co-author details for later titles. These bestselling novels showcase Woods’ signature blend of suspense, luxury, and intrigue. The series is best read in this order to experience Stone Barrington’s thrilling and ever-evolving journey.
| # | Title | Release Year | Author(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Dead | 1991 | Stuart Woods |
| 2 | Dirt | 1996 | Stuart Woods |
| 3 | Dead in the Water | 1997 | Stuart Woods |
| 4 | Swimming to Catalina | 1998 | Stuart Woods |
| 5 | Worst Fears Realized | 1999 | Stuart Woods |
| 6 | L.A. Dead | 2000 | Stuart Woods |
| 7 | Cold Paradise | 2001 | Stuart Woods |
| 8 | The Short Forever | 2002 | Stuart Woods |
| 9 | Dirty Work | 2003 | Stuart Woods |
| 10 | Reckless Abandon | 2004 | Stuart Woods |
| 11 | Two-Dollar Bill | 2005 | Stuart Woods |
| 12 | Dark Harbor | 2006 | Stuart Woods |
| 13 | Fresh Disasters | 2007 | Stuart Woods |
| 14 | Shoot Him If He Runs | 2007 | Stuart Woods |
| 15 | Hot Mahogany | 2008 | Stuart Woods |
| 16 | Loitering With Intent | 2009 | Stuart Woods |
| 17 | Kisser | 2009 | Stuart Woods |
| 18 | Lucid Intervals | 2010 | Stuart Woods |
| 19 | Strategic Moves | 2011 | Stuart Woods |
| 20 | Bel-Air Dead | 2011 | Stuart Woods |
| 21 | Son of Stone | 2011 | Stuart Woods |
| 22 | D.C. Dead | 2011 | Stuart Woods |
| 23 | Unnatural Acts | 2012 | Stuart Woods |
| 24 | Severe Clear | 2012 | Stuart Woods |
| 25 | Collateral Damage | 2013 | Stuart Woods |
| 26 | Unintended Consequences | 2013 | Stuart Woods |
| 27 | Doing Hard Time | 2013 | Stuart Woods |
| 28 | Standup Guy | 2014 | Stuart Woods |
| 29 | Carnal Curiosity | 2014 | Stuart Woods |
| 30 | Cut and Thrust | 2014 | Stuart Woods |
| 31 | Paris Match | 2014 | Stuart Woods |
| 32 | Insatiable Appetites | 2015 | Stuart Woods |
| 33 | Hot Pursuit | 2015 | Stuart Woods |
| 34 | Naked Greed | 2015 | Stuart Woods |
| 35 | Foreign Affairs | 2015 | Stuart Woods |
| 36 | Scandalous Behavior | 2016 | Stuart Woods |
| 37 | Family Jewels | 2016 | Stuart Woods |
| 38 | Dishonorable Intentions | 2016 | Stuart Woods |
| 39 | Sex, Lies & Serious Money | 2016 | Stuart Woods |
| 40 | Below the Belt | 2017 | Stuart Woods |
| 41 | Fast & Loose | 2017 | Stuart Woods |
| 42 | Indecent Exposure | 2017 | Stuart Woods |
| 43 | Quick & Dirty | 2017 | Stuart Woods |
| 44 | Unbound | 2018 | Stuart Woods |
| 45 | Shoot First | 2018 | Stuart Woods |
| 46 | Turbulence | 2018 | Stuart Woods |
| 47 | Desperate Measures | 2018 | Stuart Woods |
| 48 | A Delicate Touch | 2018 | Stuart Woods |
| 49 | Wild Card | 2019 | Stuart Woods |
| 50 | Contraband | 2019 | Stuart Woods |
| 51 | Stealth | 2019 | Stuart Woods |
| 52 | Treason | 2020 | Stuart Woods |
| 53 | Hit List | 2020 | Stuart Woods |
| 54 | Choppy Water | 2020 | Stuart Woods |
| 55 | Shakeup | 2020 | Stuart Woods |
| 56 | Hush-Hush | 2020 | Stuart Woods |
| 57 | Double Jeopardy | 2021 | Stuart Woods |
| 58 | Class Act | 2021 | Stuart Woods |
| 59 | Foul Play | 2021 | Stuart Woods |
| 60 | Criminal Mischief | 2021 | Stuart Woods |
| 61 | A Safe House | 2022 | Stuart Woods |
| 62 | Black Dog | 2022 | Stuart Woods |
| 63 | Distant Thunder | 2022 | Stuart Woods |
| 64 | Near Miss | 2023 | Stuart Woods, Brett Battles |
| 65 | Smolder | 2024 | Stuart Woods, Brett Battles |
| 66 | Finders Keepers | 2025 | Stuart Woods, Brett Battles |
| 67 | Deep Water | 2026 | Stuart Woods, Brett Battles |
Note: Deep Water is an upcoming release scheduled for 2026.
Stone Barrington Books in Order To Read
The Stone Barrington series should be read in publication order for the best experience, as each book builds on Stone’s personal and professional life. There are no major novellas or standalone crossovers mentioned, but some characters appear in Woods’ other series. Here’s the complete list, including publication years and brief summaries where available. Note that starting with Near Miss (book 64), the series is co-authored with Brett Battles to continue Woods’ legacy.
- New York Dead (1991) – Stone witnesses a famous newscaster’s near-fatal fall and gets drawn into a mysterious case when she vanishes. As suspicions fall on her lover, Stone digs deeper into the truth.
- Dirt (1996) – Stone investigates a blackmail scheme targeting gossip columnist Amanda Dart, who’s now the victim of an anonymous smear campaign.
- Dead in the Water (1997) – On vacation in St. Marks, Stone defends a widow accused of murdering her husband at sea, facing off against a corrupt minister of justice.
- Swimming to Catalina (1998) – Stone searches for his missing ex, Arrington, at the request of her Hollywood fiancé, relying on intuition in a leadless case.
- Worst Fears Realized (1999) – When people close to Stone start dying, he reunites with old partner Dino to hunt a killer from his past—amid romantic complications.
- 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)
- Kisser (2009)
- 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) – Stone offers legal advice to a client, only to get entangled in a web connected to an old crime.
- 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 & Serious Money (2016)
- 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)
- Near Miss (2023) (with Brett Battles)
- Smolder (2024) (with Brett Battles)
- Finders Keepers (2025) (with Brett Battles)
- Deep Water (2026) (with Brett Battles) – Upcoming
Why You Should Read the Stone Barrington Series
If you enjoy fast-paced thrillers like those by John Grisham or James Patterson, the Stone Barrington books are a must-read. They blend mystery, action, and a touch of glamour, making them perfect for beach reads or cozy nights in. Start with New York Dead to meet Stone at his beginnings, and you’ll be hooked on his jet-setting escapades. With new installments still coming, there’s always more intrigue ahead.
Have you read any Stone Barrington novels? Which is your favorite? Share in the comments below, and happy reading!
