The Holly Barker series by Stuart Woods is, in many readers’ opinion, the second in popularity after the author’s Stone Barrington series. While it did end in 2009, it is still a series that is well-worth reading along with Stone Barrington.
Due to many of the series’ titles having the word “orchid” included, and also because the story takes place in the fictional Orchid Beach, Florida, the Holly Barker series is also called the Orchid series.
Holly Barker Series in Order
- Orchid Beach, 1998
- Orchid Blues, 2001
- Blood Orchid, 2002
- Reckless Abandon, 2004 (also Stone Barrington #10)
- Iron Orchid, 2005
- Mounting Fears, 2008 (Will Lee novel, Holly Barker is not the main character)
- Hothouse Orchid, 2009
The Orchid series focuses on Holly Barker, Chief of Police in Orchid Beach, a fictional town in Florida.
Until she was forced into early retirement at the age of thirty-seven, Holly was a military cop. Now, she has switched careers to become Deputy Chief of Police of the seemingly sunny and sleepy Florida town.
For the locals, Holly is an outsider who, at least initially, doesn’t get much help from her loyal dog, a Doberman called Daisy.
In Reckless Abandon, Holly joins forces with Stone Barrington, and also leaves her job of Chief of Police behind to work for the CIA, she begins her new job in an elite task force tracking Teddy Fay as her first assignment.
Originally, there are five Holly Barker books, however, Reckless Abandon can be also considered part of the series, even though it is also part of the Stone Barrington series. In addition, Mounting Fear is a Will Lee novel, but as Holly is also included (albeit in a secondary role), the series lists that book as well.
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