Dead Paradise: L.A. Dead / Cold Paradise

Stone Barrington #6-7

by Stuart Woods

In the hands of bestselling author Stuart Woods, Manhattan cop-turned-lawyer Stone Barrington has seen his share of the dark side of human nature. But nothing compares to what he finds in the sunny climes of California and Florida...

L.A. Dead-When a celebrity murder threatens his former flame Arrington Calder, Stone must plumb the depths of film society to find the killer-before a court trial rips away his last chance at a life he once desperately wanted...

Cold Paradise-In the dead of a New York City winter, Stone gets paid a small fortune to track down a Palm Beach femme fatale. But her true identity unearths a part of Stone's past-and a crafty killer...

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Stuart Woods was an American novelist best known for Chiefs and his long-running Stone Barrington series. A Georgia native, he initially pursued a career in advertising before relocating to England and Ireland, where he developed a passion for sailing. His love for the sport led him to write his first published work, Blue Water, Green Skipper, about his experiences in a transatlantic yacht race.
His debut novel, Chiefs, was inspired by a family story about his grandfather, a police chief. The book, a gripping crime saga spanning several decades, won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel and was later adapted into a television miniseries. It launched Woods' career as a novelist, leading to a prolific output of thrillers.
Woods' most famous creation, Stone Barrington, is a former NYPD detective turned high-profile lawyer who navigates elite circles while solving crimes. The series became a bestseller and remained a staple of his career, often featuring crossover characters from his other books, such as CIA operative Holly Barker and defense lawyer Ed Eagle.
Beyond writing, Woods was an experienced pilot and yachtsman. He maintained homes in Florida, Maine, and New Mexico, where he lived with his wife and their Labrador, Fred. His literary career spanned decades, with dozens of bestsellers to his name.

Reviews

[✨ Gramy ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some people complain that the content of the 'Stone Barrington'series is not developed enough. After reading that Stuart Woods wrote two books a year for quite some time, it is understandable that they may not be as in depth as some readers yearn for. For other readers, it's just what they ordered ... a quick and fast paced that is interesting enough to keep you wanting more.

[Will · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stone meets Palm Beach society; Paul Manning Part 2. Stone is retained by billionaire Thad Shames to find a mystery woman. Stone is parlayed to Palm Beach to conduct this mission, and soon discovers that Thad's flame, Liz Harding, is former client and lover Allison Manning. Stone melds into a perfect union with Thad's major domo Callie Hodges. HQ'd on a luxury yacht, Stone is forced to deal with Allison and Paul, both legally declared dead, and try to protect his client Thad, who is in heat. After feints and fits, Thad decides to marry Liz and Stone engineers and official divorce for two dead people. Paul attempts to kill Thad at the wedding, but is shot and Stone gets shot by Dolce, seething revenge.

[Kerry]

Ok - I was driving myself nuts trying to figure out how I missed this Stone Barrington book. Well, I didn't and since I figured it out maybe I'll save you the trouble. This is a combination of L.A. Dead and Cold Paradise combined in to one book. Maybe that's obvious - but I missed it :)!

[Cheryl Vitale · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say it's a Stone Barrington Novel. *swoon* A thriller or mystery with a character that always lifts my spirits and makes me chuckle.

[Amy Ellison · Rating 4 out of 5]

THis was the 1st of his stuff I ever read.... its an easy and entertaining read.

[John Lagrone]

Nice light reading