Prolific thriller writer Stuart Woods has died at 84, the Associated Press reports.

Woods, a Georgia native, was a fixture of bookstore and library shelves for decades, dating back to his debut novel, Chiefs, which was published in 1981 and won the Edgar Award for best first novel.

Dozens of novels would follow, including New York Dead in 1991, which introduced the character of Stone Barrington, a former New York cop with a law degree who investigates cases for a group of lawyers. A critic for Kirkus called the novel a “silky-smooth cop thriller” featuring “a winsome hero and agreeable dollops of sex, gore, and demented mayhem.”

Barrington would be a featured character in 60 more novels, most recently A Safe House, published in March. The AP reports that Putnam will release two more books featuring the character later this year.

Woods published a memoir, An Extravagant Life, last month.

The author was remembered on social media by readers and admirers. Author J.T. Ellison tweeted, “Just saw the news about Stuart Woods passing. He gave me some of the best writing advice I’ve ever received: ‘You create the rules, page by page.’ Freed me from my formal creative writing training and made my first novel come alive with possibility. RIP, sir.

And writer Bryon Quertermous wrote, “Just heard that Stuart Woods passed away. Even though I only wrote one book with him, it was one of the most enjoyable writing experiences I’ve had.”

Michael Schaub, a journalist and regular contributor to NPR, lives near Austin, Texas.