#1 New York Times bestselling author Stuart Woods delivers a riveting thriller that introduces his first female protagonist, Deputy Chief of Police Holly Barker.
Forced into early retirement at thirty-seven, smart, attractive, and fiercely independent Major Holly Barker trades in her bars as a military cop for the badge of deputy chief of police in Orchid Beach, Florida. But below the sunny surface of this sleepy, well-to-do island town lies an evil that escalates into the cold-blooded murder of one of Holly's new colleagues.
An outsider, Holly has little to go on for answers and no one to help her—except Daisy, a Doberman of exceptional intelligence and loyalty that becomes her companion and protector. The closer Holly gets to the truth, the more she knows that it'll take one smart dog with guts to sniff out this killer—before he can catch her first.
Download and start listening now!
"I thought this one tied together the Will Lee, Stone Barrington, and Holly Barker story lines very well. The plot hooked me early on. I sort of enjoyed the fact that I've read these out of order. Having already read about Holly in the Stone Barrington novels, I enjoyed getting more of her history."
— Rob (5 out of 5 stars)
“A highly entertaining thriller.”
— St. Petersberg Times"An action-packed puzzler.”
— People“Powerful stuff.”
— Detroit News“Smooth and satisfying.”
— Publishers Weekly" The first of the Holly Barker series. A thriller and I never new who to trust through the entire book. "
— Sheila, 2/20/2014" I enjoyed it, definitely had some unexpected moments. "
— Christine, 2/17/2014" I like the main character a lot. "
— Michele, 2/5/2014" Quick Read, first in Holly Barker Series. Enjoyable "
— Laurie, 2/5/2014" Very good book. Just ordered the rest of the books in the Holly Barker series and waiting for them to arrive. I love Stuart Woods books. "
— Bonnie, 1/27/2014" Stone Barrington's character is one of my favorites! Such a lady's man - he falls in & out of love faster than most change shoes! Very entertaining but not smut. "
— Nancy, 1/26/2014" One of the best books I've read in a long, long time. Stuart Woods is fab!! "
— Jim, 1/23/2014" I really liked this book up until theh last 5 chapters. It was susupense full until then. "
— Phoebe223, 1/18/2014" Got me hooked on Stuart Woods, thanks to my dad... "
— Lori, 1/13/2014" I like the Holly Barker series by Stuart Woods, but I don't like the Stone Barrington series - they seem juvenile and reduce women to sex objects. "
— Cheryl, 1/7/2014" Reminds me of Florida's east coast the way I knew it as a child and growing up ~ "
— Alicia, 12/22/2013" Somewhat interesting murder mystery that moved along well with a strong female hero. The plot was at times predictable and at times reasonably out of the ordinary. I'll read another one of his books. "
— Patty, 12/13/2013" You can't go too far wrong with a woman cop and a really great dog! "
— Mary, 12/9/2013" Another great book by my new favorite author! What's next? "
— Cheryl, 12/4/2013" A good mystery though the ending was a bit tidy for me. I listened to this one on CD, but I'll be looking for more Holly Barker mysteries. "
— Gwendalyn, 11/12/2013" Oh Boy! A "new" to me series with a heroine cop. YEA! "
— Lael, 11/3/2013" Nothing to write home about, and I love Stuart Woods. Let's put it this way, it took me over a month and a half to get through it - just wasn't inspired. Not really a page turner. Very predictable. But, was one of his early books. "
— Jennifer, 9/10/2013" Daisy the Dog was the best character in this book. I liked the idea a woman was in the senior role and it was a really well laid out story. Dale thinks we need to train Molly to fetch a beer like Daisy. "
— Cindy, 6/29/2013" love anything he writes about stone "
— Pm, 6/17/2013" All the Holly Barker books are fun, but the first is best, with a better defined plot line. "
— karen, 2/24/2013" Good mystery. I loved the writing style. It kept me interested until the end. "
— Jane, 10/4/2012" I enjoyed this book. It was great to read a story with a stong female character. I also enjoyed the character of Daisy...another strong "female" character. :) It kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading. I will definitely read more of this series. "
— Brenda, 9/9/2012" The book was enjoyable. I liked the dog. Yep I admit it, I added a star for the dog. Woods puts out a book a year. If I am to judge them all, they are formula based. I could tell from this one how the books go. I would rate this book with a very good detective/cop TV show. Maybe a two parter. "
— Craig, 9/8/2012" Not my favorite Stuart Woods book, but it was intertaining. "
— Jill, 5/28/2012" An entertaining story and I love the main character and her dog, Daisy. I will definitely continue reading the Holly Barker Orchid series, but I did not like it as much as the Stone Barrington book I have read (New York Dead). I would still recommend it, though. "
— Tasha, 3/28/2012" Of the Holly BArker series this is probably my favorite. I listened to it and it was very entertaining. "
— Jessica, 3/24/2012" Loved this quick read with a female lead. Couldn't put it down until the end! "
— Polly, 1/19/2012" I love reading about women who kick a$$! Good mystery and wonderful protagonist! "
— Leslie, 9/18/2011" I have now read several books in Woods' Stone Barrington series and two in the Ed Eagle series, but still like the Holly Barker series better. They read more like mysteries and are not so improbable as the other series. The Barker series has better plots and the same good dialogue. "
— Amber, 6/25/2011" Other than a mildly interesting plot line, this was book was poorly written. Characters are not well developed and they lack depth. I only finished it because I wanted to see if there was any plot twist. Not very satisfying. "
— Jean, 4/30/2011" I listened to this, was fairly good, parts are somewhat improbable but is an okay mystery. "
— Mary, 4/5/2011" From the military to small town chief of police searching to find out who killed the man who hired her. "
— Sandy, 3/27/2011" Nothing to write home about, and I love Stuart Woods. Let's put it this way, it took me over a month and a half to get through it - just wasn't inspired. Not really a page turner. Very predictable. But, was one of his early books. "
— Jennifer, 3/1/2011" Daisy the dog in this book is AMAZING! "
— Jamie, 2/9/2011" I love reading about women who kick a$$! Good mystery and wonderful protagonist! "
— Leslie, 2/8/2011" I loved the main character, Holly Barker. This was about my fave S. Woods (so far) and I've liked all that I've read. "
— Dennis, 12/31/2010" Holly Barker is a new favorite of mine. She's tough, but by the end of the book I found her heart. I will definitely be continuing this series. <br/> <br/>NL 2011 Book Crawl Challenge - Florida "
— Lulu, 12/27/2010" I enjoyed this story because it was about a woman who would not give up bringing people to their just rewards!! And her dog Daisy was amazing. "
— Carol, 12/11/2010" Good book, but the dog doesn't do that much. Maybe one smart dog is a euphemism for bitch. "
— Julie, 10/16/2010" First in the series for Holly Barker. This book actuall had a plot not unlike some on the Stone Barrington books which seem to be a perpetual romp in the sack. <br/> <br/> "
— Denise, 9/11/2010" Audio book, very good and needs a sequel. "
— Melinda, 9/9/2010" I have now read several books in Woods' Stone Barrington series and two in the Ed Eagle series, but still like the Holly Barker series better. They read more like mysteries and are not so improbable as the other series. The Barker series has better plots and the same good dialogue. "
— Amber, 7/29/2010Stuart Woods (1938-2022) wrote more than ninety novels, including the #1 New York Times bestselling Stone Barrington series. He is a native of Georgia and began his writing career in the advertising industry. Chiefs, his debut in 1981, won the Edgar Award.
Cassandra Campbell has won multiple Audie Awards, Earphones Awards, and the prestigious Odyssey Award for narration. She was been named a “Best Voice” by AudioFile magazine and in 2018 was inducted in Audible’s inaugural Narrator Hall of Fame.