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Quick answer: If you like Stuart Woods's Stone Barrington novels, try Lee Child's Killing Floor, Robert B. Parker's The Godwulf Manuscript, John Sandford's Rules of Prey, Michael Connelly's The Black Echo, Harlan Coben's Tell No One and David Baldacci's Absolute Power. They offer fast plots, wry heroes and quick chapters.
Stuart Woods (1938–2022) wrote dozens of brisk, glamorous thrillers, most famously the Stone Barrington series that began with New York Dead in 1991. His books are short, fast and easy to read. Readers who miss them want more series with the same pace and charm. These 15 books cover crime, legal and detective thrillers that read fast.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York Dead | Stuart Woods | Adult | the start of the series |
| Chiefs | Stuart Woods | Adult | readers who want his first book |
| Killing Floor | Lee Child | Adult | readers who like action |
| The Godwulf Manuscript | Robert B. Parker | Adult | readers who like wry detectives |
| Rules of Prey | John Sandford | Adult | readers who like cat-and-mouse |
| Absolute Power | David Baldacci | Adult | readers who like conspiracies |
| The Black Echo | Michael Connelly | Adult | readers who like procedurals |
| Tell No One | Harlan Coben | Adult | readers who like twists |
| The Gold Coast | Nelson DeMille | Adult | readers who like social comedy |
| Along Came a Spider | James Patterson | Adult | readers who want speed |
| A Is for Alibi | Sue Grafton | Adult | readers who like a female detective |
| The Monkey's Raincoat | Robert Crais | Adult | readers who like humor |
| Get Shorty | Elmore Leonard | Adult | readers who like witty crime |
| The Bone Collector | Jeffery Deaver | Adult | readers who like forensic thrillers |
| The Firm | John Grisham | Adult | readers who like legal thrillers |
1. New York Dead by Stuart Woods
The first Stone Barrington novel, in which a New York detective turned lawyer becomes entangled in a murder. Start here if you are new.
Best for: the start of the series.
2. Chiefs by Stuart Woods
Woods's 1981 debut spans decades of small-town Georgia and the hunt for a killer. A saga rather than a quick thriller.
Best for: readers who want his first book.
3. Killing Floor by Lee Child
Jack Reacher arrives in a Georgia town and is arrested for murder. The first Reacher novel and a model of the fast thriller.
Best for: readers who like action.
4. The Godwulf Manuscript by Robert B. Parker
Spenser, a Boston private eye, looks into a stolen manuscript. Witty and tough, with short chapters.
Best for: readers who like wry detectives.
5. Rules of Prey by John Sandford
Lucas Davenport hunts a killer who leaves notes. Fast and dark.
Best for: readers who like cat-and-mouse.
6. Absolute Power by David Baldacci
A thief sees the President commit a crime and is hunted. A big, fast political thriller.
Best for: readers who like conspiracies.
7. The Black Echo by Michael Connelly
Harry Bosch investigates a body in a drainpipe. The first Bosch novel and a strong police procedural.
Best for: readers who like procedurals.
8. Tell No One by Harlan Coben
A doctor receives a message from his wife, who was killed eight years ago. Twisty and quick.
Best for: readers who like twists.
9. The Gold Coast by Nelson DeMille
A lawyer in Long Island gets mixed up with the Mafia. Witty and sharp.
Best for: readers who like social comedy.
10. Along Came a Spider by James Patterson
Alex Cross faces a kidnapper who plans a perfect crime. Very short chapters.
Best for: readers who want speed.
11. A Is for Alibi by Sue Grafton
Kinsey Millhone investigates a murder. The first of the alphabet series.
Best for: readers who like a female detective.
12. The Monkey's Raincoat by Robert Crais
Elvis Cole looks for a missing husband in Los Angeles. Funny and tough.
Best for: readers who like humor.
13. Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard
A loan shark goes to Hollywood to make a film. Dialogue-driven and sharp.
Best for: readers who like witty crime.
14. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
A quadriplegic forensic expert and a young cop hunt a serial killer. Twisty and tense.
Best for: readers who like forensic thrillers.
15. The Firm by John Grisham
A young lawyer discovers his firm's secrets. Fast, legal and suspenseful.
Best for: readers who like legal thrillers.
How to Choose
For the same polish and pace, read Killing Floor or The Monkey's Raincoat. For legal intrigue, pick The Firm or The Gold Coast. For procedurals, choose The Black Echo. For a breezy classic, try Get Shorty. If you want to read Woods himself, start with New York Dead and enjoy the series. If you like audiobooks, thrillers such as these are perfect for car trips. Pick one series and read the first three books to see whether the hero and pace suit you. Most of these authors have written dozens of books, so there is plenty to follow.
Related: The God of the Woods Book Club Discussion Questions (With Summary and Themes) · Sherryl Woods Printable Book List
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Stuart Woods book should I read first?
New York Dead starts the Stone Barrington series.
How many Stone Barrington books are there?
More than 60 have been published, and the series continues with other authors.
Who wrote the Stone Barrington books after Woods died?
Co-writers have continued the series since 2022.
Are the books very violent?
They contain crime and some violence, but the tone is light and glamorous.
Where should new readers start with Lee Child?
Killing Floor is the first Jack Reacher novel and works as a starting point.
Are there other authors like Woods?
Robert B. Parker and Elmore Leonard are good for wit and short chapters.