Dead in the Water (Woods novel)

Dead in the Water is a 1997 novel by author Stuart Woods. It is the third novel in the Stone Barrington series. It belongs to the Thriller and Mystery genre.

It takes place after the events in Dirt, on the island of St. Marks. The main protagonists of the novel are Stone Barrington, a retired detective turned lawyer/private investigator, and Allison Manning, a young woman accused of murder.

Plot
Stone Barrington, once a police officer, now an up-and-coming lawyer, goes on a short vacation to escape his hectic life in New York City. He sets his sights on a romantic getaway to the islands of St. Marks, where his beau, Arrington Carter, a high-profile host and interviewer, is to join him the next day. Three events ruin Stone's plans for a romantic boat cruise about the islands and leave him amid a life-or-death trial. Firstly, the New York weather, snowing in every airport available. Next, the saddening and fearsome ambition of Carter, who decided to track down another must-have editorial and cancel on him for it. Lastly, the sweet and gorgeous Allison Manning, standing trial for murdering her husband and disposing of his body at sea, in a place where conviction meant death by hanging. Racing to prove the young widow innocent of any wrongdoing pits Stone against a determined protector standing on the verge of becoming the next Prime Minister of St. Marks. While hoping he doesn't lose the new love of his life to his own newfound ambition, Stone uses every skill in his possession to protect his client.