Dickens & Rumi

book

Standup Guy

Stuart Woods · 2014

Explore the age guidance, content cautions, positive qualities, and supporting notes for Standup Guy by Stuart Woods. This book is content notes include Violence, Alcohol or drugs, Death of a character; positive qualities include Courage & resilience, Creativity & curiosity.

Book 28 · Stone BarringtonSource checked

Where to get it

As an Amazon Associate and Bookshop.org affiliate, Dickens & Rumi may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you.

10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceNot listed
Strongest cautionsViolence 4/5 · Alcohol or drugs 3/5 · Death of a character 3/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 3/5 · Creativity & curiosity 2/5
Series positionBook 28 · Stone Barrington
Recommendation2.3/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: violence.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: violence.

Readiness snapshotMain watch-out: Violence 4/5
Recommendation 2.3/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
16Scored categories
16Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 6, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

Review depth16 scored categories16 evidence notes
Show Wikipedia summary

Open to load a short Wikipedia summary.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended ageNot listed

Strongest cautions

  • Violence4/5
  • Alcohol or drugs3/5
  • Death of a character3/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience3/5
  • Creativity & curiosity2/5
  • Good role models2/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

Next volumeBook 29 · Carnal CuriosityStrongest cautions: Romance 4/5 · Sexual content & nudity 4/5Open next review →
  1. Book 1 · New York Dead
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · Dirt
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Frightening scenes2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler
  3. Book 3 · Dead in the Water
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  4. Book 4 · Swimming to Catalina
    Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Death of a character2/5Frightening scenes2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler
  5. Book 5 · Worst Fears Realized
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    Gets more intense
  6. Book 6 · L.A. Dead
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  7. Book 7 · Cold paradise
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  8. Book 8 · The Short Forever
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  9. Book 9 · Dirty Work
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  10. Book 10 · Reckless Abandon
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler
  11. Book 11 · Two-Dollar bill
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Frightening scenes2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  12. Book 12 · Dark harbor
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  13. Book 13 · Fresh Disasters
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    Gets more intense
  14. Book 14 · Shoot Him If He Runs
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  15. Book 15 · Hot mahogany
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  16. Book 16 · Loitering with intent
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  17. Book 17 · Kisser
    Strong language4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Violence3/5Frightening scenes2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  18. Book 18 · Lucid Intervals
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Products & advertising2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5
    Gets gentler
  19. Book 19 · Strategic moves
    Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Products & advertising2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5
    About the same
  20. Book 20 · Bel-Air Dead
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Products & advertising2/5Graphic injury1/5
    Gets more intense
  21. Book 21 · Son of Stone
    Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Death of a character2/5Products & advertising2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5
    Gets gentler
  22. Book 22 · D.C. Dead
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    Gets more intense
  23. Book 23 · Unnatural Acts
    Death of a character4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Strong language2/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler
  24. Book 24 · Severe Clear
    Violence4/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  25. Book 25 · Collateral Damage
    Death of a character4/5Violence4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    Gets more intense
  26. Book 26 · Unintended Consequences
    Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Death of a character2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5
    Gets gentler
  27. Book 27 · Doing Hard Time
    Violence4/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Strong language3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Graphic injury1/5Products & advertising1/5
    About the same
  28. Book 28 · Standup Guy
    Violence4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising2/5Graphic injury1/5
    Gets more intense
  29. Book 29 · Carnal Curiosity
    Romance4/5Sexual content & nudity4/5Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Frightening scenes2/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    Gets more intense
  30. Book 30 · Cut and thrust
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Graphic injury2/5Products & advertising2/5
    About the same
  31. Book 31 · Paris Match
    Death of a character3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising2/5Graphic injury1/5
    Gets gentler
  32. Book 32 · Insatiable Appetites
    Death of a character3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Frightening scenes2/5Products & advertising2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5
    About the same
  33. Book 33 · Hot Pursuit
    Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Strong language3/5Violence3/5Alcohol or drugs2/5Death of a character2/5Products & advertising2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Graphic injury1/5
    About the same
  34. Book 34 · Naked greed
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Violence3/5Death of a character2/5Products & advertising2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5
    About the same
  35. Book 35 · Foreign Affairs
    Alcohol or drugs3/5Death of a character3/5Frightening scenes3/5Romance3/5Violence3/5Products & advertising2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Graphic injury1/5
    About the same

Keep going

What should you do next?

One review should lead naturally to the next useful choice.

What’s in it?

Products & advertising2/5
Why this rating?

Luxury goods, wealth, and high-end lifestyles appear as setting or character details, without evidence that the book promotes buying products.

Death of a character3/5
Why this rating?

Characters are killed as part of the crime thriller plot.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Violence and injuries occur, but the available evidence indicates they are not described in graphic, lingering detail.

Strong language3/5
Why this rating?

Frequent use of strong language and profanity consistent with the genre.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Romantic encounters and flirtatious interactions are standard elements of the series.

Frightening scenes2/5
Why this rating?

Criminal threats, danger, and pursuit create sustained suspense, but the story is not primarily horror or intended to frighten young readers.

Sexual content & nudity3/5
Why this rating?

Includes some sexual innuendo and implied sexual activity.

Alcohol or drugs3/5
Why this rating?

Characters frequently consume alcohol in social and professional settings.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Includes moderate action, threats, and occasional scenes of violence characteristic of a crime thriller.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience3/5
Why this rating?

Protagonist displays courage in high-stakes investigative situations.

Creativity & curiosity2/5
Why this rating?

Plot relies on clever, if formulaic, mystery problem-solving.

Diverse representation1/5
Why this rating?

The available evidence suggests limited representation across backgrounds and identities, with diversity not central to the narrative.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Little educational value; focuses on procedural thriller elements.

Kindness & empathy1/5
Why this rating?

Kindness is not a major thematic element.

Positive messages2/5
Why this rating?

Primarily an entertainment-focused thriller rather than a moralistic tale.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters are morally grey; not intended as role models.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story handle conflict or violence? Did the characters have other choices?
  3. Which choice in Standup Guy would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in Standup Guy, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

Add your perspective

Sign in from the homepage to rate this title.

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Something wrong with this guide? Report age, caution, series, cover, or title issues.