The very popular Jesse Stone Mystery Series, formerly written by the now-passed Robert B. Parker, has recently had a few new books released by author Michael Brandman. I haven’t had time yet to continue the series (it seems like my back log of mysteries grows every day) but I’ve heard that Brandman has managed to fully capture the “voice” of the characters I’ve come to know so well. Of course, this has gotten me thinking about some of the other popular mystery series that have seen multiple authors over the years.
Sometimes the new author is related by blood to the previous author, and often may have either directly or indirectly influenced the work. Relatively recently, the popular Dixie Hemingway Mystery Series was taken over by John Clement, following the passing of his mother, Blaize Clement. Lucky for us, he appears to be continuing the series indefinitely, though this isn’t always the case – Graham Landrum‘s son, Robert Graham Landrum, finished the fifth and final book in the Club Mystery Series, and hasn’t added to the series since.
Other times it seems that the publisher is responsible for the transition between authors, as in the case of the transition of Lawrence Sanders‘ Archy McNally Mystery Series to then-relatively unknown author Vincent Lardo. As far as I know Lardo and Sanders never even met, much less worked together – this was simply a case where the publisher thought that the series could be profitably continued with a new author whose style was similar to the original author’s technique.
Can you think of any other mystery series (other than the Nancy Drew series) that have been taken over by a second or even third author?
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Since you all have mentioned so many good examples, I’m going to go ahead and list them. Here are some other mystery authors who have taken on another mystery author’s series:
Margery Allingham: Albert Campion Mystery Series to Mike Ripley
Lucy Arlington (Jennifer Stanley & Sylvia May): Novel Idea Mystery Series to Lucy Arlington (Susan Furlong)
Heron Carvic: Miss Seeton Mystery Series to Hampton Charles and Hamilton Crane
Agatha Christie: Various Plays to Charles Osborne
Agatha Christie: Hercule Poirot Mystery Series to Sophie Hannah
Lila Dare: Southern Beauty Shop Mystery Series to Joanna Campbell-Slan
Sir Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes Mystery Series to Adrian Conan Doyle (Son)
Sir Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes to Carole Buggé
Sir Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes to Laurie R. King
Sir Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes to Lora Roberts
Sir Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes to Frank Thomas
Sir Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes to June Thomson
Sir Conan Doyle: Sherlock Holmes to Barry S. Brown (Mrs. Hudson)
Dick Francis to Felix Francis (Son)
Randall Garrett: Lord Darcy Fantasy Mystery Series to Michael Kurland
Dashiell Hammett: Maltese Falcon Mystery Series to Joe Gores (prequel)
Tony Hillerman: Joe Leaphorn & Jim Chee Mystery Series to Anne Hillerman (Daughter)
Robert B. Parker: Spencer (for Hire) Mystery Series to Ace Atkins
Virginia Rich: Eugenia Potter Mystery Series to Nancy Pickard
Dorothy L. Sayers: Lord Peter Wimsey Mystery Series to Jill Paton Walsh
Rex Stout: Nero Wolfe Mystery Series to Robert Goldsborough
Margaret Truman: Margaret Truman’s Capital Crimes Mystery Series to Donald Bain
Kath says
Not really long standing, but recently Jennifer Stanley & Sylvia May handed their “Novel Idea” mystery series to Susan Furlong (all under the name of Lucy Arlington).. Talk about confusing :/
I truly hope Susan can pull this off, though.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kath, I have a feeling Susan Furlong will be able to “pull this off” >>> She’s been writing mysteries for a while now.
Kath says
Yeah, I know she has, and is good at it! But trying to write in someone else’s voice isn’t something everyone can do. Time will tell!
Sue says
The one series I thought of was the Eugenia Potter mysteries by Virginia Rich. I believe Nancy Pickard finished one and then wrote a couple more in the series.
mary says
Yes, Nancy Pickard did write 2?? Eugenie Potter mysteries. Unfortunately, I didn’t enjoy them nearly as much as those by the original author, Virginia Rich.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, that’s too bad. I know there have been some people who wish someone would continue Lilian Jackson Braun’s The Cat Who ***** Mystery Series, but I wonder if anyone could…
Marguerite says
Would love someone to continue the Cat who series, really enjoyed them. Also the Elizabeth Peters Amelia Peabody series
Kath says
I really wish someone would try, but the last book “seemed” to many of us that someone tried and failed miserably. So hopefully it’s someone that knows and loves the series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kath, Lilian Jackson Braun’s series was such a long-lasting one. It would be difficult to step into an author with so many books shoes.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sue, I had forgotten about this one!
PlumGaga says
Jill Paton Walsh finished the last Lord Peter Wimsey novel by Dorothy L. Sayers and has written several more since. Mike Ripley has just published a new book carrying on Marjorie Allingham’s Albert Campion. Felix Francis has followed in his father, Dick Francis’s footsteps.
mary says
Well, being a big dick Francis fan…..Felix Francis co-wrote 2?? books with his father, and is now continuing the Dick Francis series. Since Felix had helped with research and editing for quite a few years, the new books are very enjoyable. And each one gets a little stronger. Highly recommend!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, thank you!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
PlumGaga, where were you when I was writing this entry? It looks like I could have used your help!
Lee Ann says
There is a new Agatha Christie`s Hercules Poirot written by Sophie Hannah that just came out. I have not read it not sure I could read anything but Christie.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lee Ann, thank you. (Me too!)
Judith says
Robert Goldsborough continued the Nero Wolfe books. Hampton Charles and Hamilton Crane continued the Miss Seeton books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judith, shame on me! I love the Miss Seeton mysteries! (Thank you!)
Pat says
Ace Atkins took over the Spencer series of Robert Parker. Pretty true to form .
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Pat, I didn’t know about this. Thank you!
Brian says
I agree. Atkins nails mid-period Parker. He isn’t as good a Parker in his prime but his books are pretty close in voice and extremely entertaining.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Brian and Pat, thank you for letting us know how close Ace Atkins’ Spencer mysteries are to the originals.
MJ says
This isn’t a big deal, but Joanna Campbell-Slan wrote the 4th (and appears to be final) book, ‘Wave Good Bye’ in the Beauty Shop series created by Lila Dare. Campbell-Slan wrote the book under the name of Lila Dare.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, it is so a big deal! Thank you for reminding us.
mary says
Hello. Don’t know if this technically counts…. but Joe Gores wrote a prequel to Dasheill Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon, called Spade and Archer. Highly recommended.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, I just added it to the list. Thanks!
Anne says
Plus, the seemingly hundreds of authors who have taken over Sherlock Holmes!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anne, you aren’t kidding about “seemingly hundreds”! I just added the five I know about.
Susan* says
It don’t know if it counts, but several Agatha Christie plays were ‘adapted’ to novels a few years ago by Charles Osborne. (Probably not, since they were originally written by Dame Agatha, but…)
There was an excellent fantasy mystery series by Randall Garrett – The Lord Darcy Mysteries – that was continued for two further books by Michael Kurland.
This latter gentleman managed the very difficult task of making the new books almost completely indistinguishable from the originals!! Truly wonderful stuff!
There have been literally hundreds of “continuations” of the Sherlock Holmes canon – including by Conan Doyle’s own son! (Adrian Conan Doyle specialized in cases that were mentioned by Holmes / Watson, but never actually chronicled.)
Some of course, are better than others, but there have been several that have continued into series of their own.
1930’s pulp hero ‘Doc Savage’ was written by Lester Dent. (A House Name much like Carolyn Keene, and used by innumerable authors.) In the 1990’s a further half dozen books were written by Will Murray.
To get slightly off-topic, this is currently very common in the non-cozy world, where it’s known as ‘Share-cropping’. A well-known author will put their name on something, often a continuation of a series, but somebody lesser will actually write it. If they’re lucky getting a co-author credit.
Tom Clancy is famous for it, and so are various others in the crime, thriller, and SF genres.
Or sometimes somebody will write something set “In the world of…” which is, I think where the term ‘share-crop’ was first applied.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, thanks for telling us about all of these original to different authors. Also, I have never heard the term “share-cropping” (in this context) but certainly have seen authors doing it.
Victoria says
Tony Hillerman.s daughter, Anne, has continued his Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee mysteries.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Victoria, thank you. I just added Anne Hillerman to the list.
reginav says
I have just finished Sophie Hannah’s new Agatha Christie new book, “The Monogram Murders” and found it to very well done. To be certain there is a great deal of input by the narrator and not as much from Hercule but over all it is a welcome addition
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, thanks for letting us know. I just don’t understand why the Agatha Christie estate felt there was a need for another author to take over…
Stash Empress says
I have this book on my library hold list, mainly out of curiosity — as if anyone *can* do Christie other than Dame Agatha herself???? I mean look at how some of her plots were so butchered when turned into movies??? (The worst of all was where they changed which character was the murderer — can’t get worse than that!)
There are so many other series I’d love to see continued, but I’m afraid they’d just turn into parodies of themselves.
Sad though.
Edie says
In 2013, Anne Hillerman continued the mystery stories her dad, Tony Hillerman, wrote. She used the same characters. His novels weren’t cozies, but were mysteries.
Edie says
LOL! Didn’t see the comment just above. Didn’t mean to duplicate.
Really enjoying this thread – I didn’t realize so many had continued on with “new” authors.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Edie, thanks.
mary says
Hello. Well speaking of Sherlock Holmes, my favourites (besides the originals) are the ones by Laurie R. King about Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell, starting with A Beekeeper’s Apprentice. Very engaging, mysterious, good plotting, and the series “matures” along with the characters, particularly 15 year-old Mary Russell. Not a bad one in the bunch.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mary, looking at this list, I can see there certainly are a lot of authors who have chosen Sherlock Holmes as their sleuths!
Susan* says
There are ‘literally’ hundreds.
I was a 2nd hand bookseller for over a decade, and I had two ‘Holmes-o-philes’ on my books. One used to carry a folder of print-outs of the various books / series that he had or was looking for. It was incredible.
Just as a piece of trivia, both Colin Dexter (Author of Inspector Morse) and horror writer Stephen King have written Holmes short stories!
mary says
hello. just read a fun thing on Laurie R. King’s blog, having to do..in part..with other authors who had done Sherlock homes themed books. Carol Nellson Douglas, who wrote about Irene Adler, “the woman” in sherlock’s life. This series is a bit old, but very good. Irene is an excellent sleuth, and the books are highly entertaining. sort of fleshing out the world of sherlock, and the characters therein.
Susan* says
There’s a series featuring Mrs Hudson, Holmes’s housekeeper, as sleuth, too.
Hey, Danna! Maybe there’s an idea for another blog entry – Sherlock Holmes continuations / spin-offs. Lol!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, an entry about Sherlock Holmes continuations would apparently have to be a long entry!
Susan* says
A very, very long entry! Lol!