The Cozy Mystery List Blog

Cozy Mystery (and Other Favorite) Books, Movies, and TV

Cozy Mystery Series with Very Many Books vs. Cozy Mystery Series with Just a Few…

MJ recently wrote me about a very interesting question, which I think makes a terrific blog topic. It’s something that probably a lot of us have wondered about while we made our way through rather long Cozy Mystery series.

MJ:

I have been pondering another question. Do cozy readers like a really long series from an author? OR do they prefer shorter (perhaps 6 to 10 books) and more of a variety from an author?

I ask this because I find that I’ve gotten bored with some of the longer series. I’ve stopped reading ****. ****, and ****. Now I can’t say that about every author. I still like Katherine Hall Page and Susan Wittig Albert and their 20+ book (Coyle at 18) series.

I was thinking about this as I was reading Connolly’s new series. She has her Orchard series (11 books) and it looks like she isn’t writing any more in the Museum Mysteries (7 books). Also, the County Cork series and that ‘Dead’ series. In other words she likes more variety, as do many other authors (McKinlay, Bartlett/Barrett, Gerber/Aames, Flower, Logan, Minichino, et al to name just a few).

Maybe it’s a dumb question…………..I was just curious.

MJ, this is definitely not a “dumb question”! I have wondered about this also. A lot of the time, when a favorite author of mine continues writing and writing more and more Cozies in a series, I find that I sort of start feeling like I need a change, and wonder why they don’t. This has happened several times. It almost feels like sometimes the author is simply “phoning it in”. Let’s face it, there are a lot of Cozy Mystery authors out there today, and to me, some long-running series tend to morph into too-long-running series.

What about you? Do you prefer it when your favorite authors keep each of their Cozy Mystery series shorter (as MJ mentions 6 to 10 books)(or even shorter) or when your favorite authors concentrate on just one very long series? Please post a comment below. Thank you!

Comments

  1. I find that if the characters are appealing and the story well written that I look forward to continuing my relationship with them. It is always a disappointment when for some reason they quit. Case in point: Sharon McCrumb stopped writing about her heroine from Danville, Va and her brother. Her husband was lost at sea and now we will never know what happens next.

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  2. 95% of the time I like the series done in 10 books. There are a few exceptions, Joanne Fluke’s Hannah Swensen Series is close to 20 books and I am waiting in anticipation for the new one in February. This series is very entertaining because of all the main characters that are in all the books. Joanne does a good job of advancing the characters so it is never boring or “phoning it in”. The series I wish had a few more is the Aurora Teagarden series. Charlaine Harris left me wanting more and it doesn’t look like she has plans to write another any time soon.

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    • Interesting about Joanne Fluke. She finished the one before last: the Raspberry Danish murder, with a real cliff hanger so, yes, I am waiting for the next one. This was when I was ready to give the series a rest since, when all the “usual suspects” have been cleared, all of a sudden we are introduced to a new character and, of course, he “done it.” I thought that she just got tired of new plots and I really liked her stand alone “Dead Giveaway.”

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  3. Don’t many of the authors have contracts to fulfill? Maybe they think the series should end but are obligated by that.

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    • I do think that the publisher of Janet Evanovichs’ Stephanie Plum series has pushed for far too many books. I really liked the series, but probably should have ended after number 18 or 19, but 25 will be out soon. In the past, I would rush to buy them, but the past few years and books have not motivated me to do so. I will probably wait for 25 to hit the used book stores instead of spending $25+ for a book where I want the main character to “Just grow up and make a choice already!”. I still enjoy here other series, but Stephanie has gone too long.

      On the other hand, I Catherine Coulters FBI series (definitely NOT cozy) continues to be very good after I don’t know how many years.

      Off the top of my head I can recall two series that I really wish had gone on a little longer – the Ellery Adams Books by the Bay series and the Julie Hyzy White House Chef series.

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  4. Depends on the series & the author. Mostly it depends on the main character; can this character grow and develop just as real people do or does this character seem stuck like an overweight wrinkly 65 year old who insists on wearing too short, too tight clothing and bright blobs of makeup?

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  5. It depends, really. If the author can keep it fresh, keep it moving forward story line wise, then I love longer series. But like you guys, if it starts to feel stale, then definitely move on.

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  6. It just depends on the author and the series. Two of my favorites, Brother Cadfael and Sister Frevisse, ended at 20 books by the death of the author. I would love to have more of both. Some do get boring by repetition of the plot and there’s nothing more to learn about the characters. For some reason I find this more true of modern settings than I do of historical mysteries.

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  7. I like long series if they are good (i.e. the China Bayles series). Most series are not THAT good, however. That being said, I’ll read almost any cozy ? I wish there were more that were humorous. The romance angle is OK, but for me a little goes a long way. One of my new favorites is the Southern Ladies (only 4 books so far) by Mirada James.

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  8. I love a long series. Mrs. Jeffries by Emily Brightwell is great! Meg Langslow by Donna Andrews is fabulous!

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  9. I am usually sad when I have finished a series. Feel like I am losing a friend. I like long series, but if it is short it helps to end it so you know it is the end.

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    • Dottie, I’ve read authors who were dropped by their publishers who haven’t been able to finish their series – so they end without a nice conclusion. I wish their publishers would have given them notice and let them sort of end the series…

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    • replying to Dottie Burns. I agree with you Dottie, I too get sad when the series ends. After reading your comment about loosing a friend, through the characters, I could really relate too. My first set of cozies I read was by Waverly Curtis (BARKING DETECTIVE MYSTERY Series:) I was very disappointed when it ended.

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  10. It depends on how well written they are. Good plot, good story and especially good characters you can care about and want to learn more about with each successive book keeps me wanting more. The better authors create ever developing characters with lives we care about. This keeps both the author and reader wanting to create/read more. Many cozy authors use a gimmick to get published and very shortly thereafter we are all bored. It takes a lot of time, thought, effort, skill and talent to effectively create real characters. Thank God for Susan Wittig Albert, Alexander Mccall Smith, J A Jance, and others. These 3 also have more than 1 series that they continue to create.

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    • Totally agree with you! To me the Donna Andrews series with Meg Langslow continues to be interesting even though there are a zillion “old friends” to me (her husband, parents, brother, cousins, more cousins, not to mention various friends, all growing and changing) to participate in the story along with the victim and his/her set of friends and colleagues. I find myself admiring her plotting skills!

      I also like the Sheila Connolly series — I think the “Dead” batch came to a natural stopping point (without totally ending), but she might bring it back if she sees a plot. (It’s harder now the the main character heads the historical society, however, and is living with her FBI guy.) I have stopped reading (a number of years ago) the apple series set in Western Massachusetts, because it stopped making me excited when I saw a new one was out!

      Another series I’ll mention with a limited time/place setting is the Daisy Dalrymple series by Carola Dunn — she has a new one out, and the twins are still 3 years old! These are set in England after WWI and before the Great Depression.

      I do like Carola Dunn’s writing, and have out from the library Buried in the Country, part of her Cornish mystery series that I’m currently in love with! It’s set in the ’70s with Eleanor Trewynne as the lead character, who runs a thrift shop and has an unusual background (of course!). This is the 4th in the series, which started with Manna from Hades a few years ago.

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  11. At the risk of playing devil’s advocate, some long series can become boring, equally I have found myself loosing interest in “who done it” half way through a book because I was bored by it, and really lost interest.
    Some of the greatest mystery writers created characters who went on book after book, Conan Doyle, Christie, Marsh, Colin Dexter etc and perhaps there might have been more Lord Peter Wimsey stories.
    The paradox is that readers often grow to know and love a character as a series goes on and the author paints a fuller picture of the detective, and we feel we know him or her better.
    I think with so much more to entertain us these days, that even the most enthusiastic mystery reader is not as excited as in the past, when a new book by a favorite author is about to be released, but maybe that is just me!
    Love to hear other people’s comments about long or short?

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    • Brian Anderson, I do like long series as well — when the characters and the stories are really good. I guess the classics (including the more modern classics such as Colin Dexter’s Morse series) are classics for a reason! I guess that just, on average these days, I think that somewhat shorter series tend to be better for me.

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  12. I have always liked long series. Unfortunately I am not very patient waiting for the next book to come out.

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  13. I don’t really care how long the series is, but there has to be some growth in the main character or I am done with the series. I have stopped reading a few series because nothing changed or the character had a hard time choosing between two love interests and that became the plot rather than the mystery.

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    • KG, I know what you mean! If the character does make a decision when there are two possible love interests within a realistic amount of time (and I don’t mean several years!!), I just can’t go on with the series any more >> unless there is something otherwise really special about the stories.

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  14. As long as the author is still clearly engaged with the series, and keeping it fresh, I much prefer longer series!! The more, the better! With a few exceptions, I dislike it when a favorite author is obviously pushing a new series, to the detriment of a series I like!

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    • Marsha Bly, I agree with you that it all depends on the quality of the characters and the stories. There are some long series that I still can’t get enough of >> however, I guess I have to admit that I am finding fewer of them these days than I used to.

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  15. Good article! Shorter series would be my preference. I tend to lose interest about the 4th or 5th book. My loyalty is to the author, not the series. The same would hold true for TV, the short mini series has more of an impact IMHO. We are not all the same though, and a loyal reader is what authors really want.

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    • Janice J. Richardson, thanks about the article — MJ deserves all the credit! I guess you can see by the comments that very many of the blog’s readers have an opinion about this question. I really love great mini-series too. I do think that loyal readers are more attracted than ever to great characters and stories >> and the quality of the mysteries are pretty important in this genre too.

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  16. I love the long series. I’m rereading the Agatha raisin series right now. I just finished Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight mystery series. I’m always sad when I’m done.

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  17. I prefer shorter series, actually 4 to 6 books. In my opinion the stories begin to lose their momentum. Such as when I watch a series on tv; usually after the second series I begin to lose interest. It has to be better than the first and most don’t hold up….the creativity gets lost.

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    • Sharon L, good comment about creativity. As you say, it applies to both books and TV. There are many TV series that I stopped watching after one or two seasons. When that doesn’t happen, it seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

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  18. I have several long series that I still enjoy, but the reason I keep reading is the author does not have the characters and problems/events just lag in time. Thepeople progress and it’s fun to see the changes.
    My biggest objection now is authors putting thei political beliefs in their stories. I’m fully aware we all have opinions and the right to express them, but when those opinions kind of leap out in dialog or background statements and they have no bearing or fit in with the character, it’s rather sad.
    I understand if you block this statement because I said the word political.

    I entirely enjoy this blog.

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    • Karen Simpson, I guess I would extend your thought to my dislike to any author who tries to keep pushing a particular point of view. Many times I even agree with the point of view, yet I find the “preaching” to be distracting from an otherwise good story. I’m glad you enjoy the blog!

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    • Karen, your interesting comment could be a whole new topic………..

      I was very surprised when Jeanne Dams’ character Dorothy Martin commented a couple of times on current political situations ‘back home’ (in USA) in her latest book. She made the remarks in passing and didn’t focus on them, BUT it is very unusual for her to do that! I actually chuckled because this was such a departure from her normal writings.

      Susan Wittig Albert often includes ‘issues’ in her stories, I would assume to bring it to the attention of the reader. They will vary, but some border on political matters (often with a certain opinion). Actually, I really like these side stories because I find them informative. They generally are focused on a Texas issue which I know nothing about, thus I’m learning something. She certainly doesn’t ‘overdo’ it, but obviously has done a lot of research and writes with much intelligence. There are other authors (H. Phillippi Ryan) that do this, too. Since I find these ‘issue’ stories enjoyable, I know I’m probably in a minority…………but then ‘different strokes for different folks’! 🙂

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  19. If the author is continuing to develop the characters, their relationships or their story, I love reading the longer series. If each new book seems to be a “formula” that doesn’t further develop the story or characters, I think it’s time to end the series.

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  21. I’d prefer three or four in a series. Perhaps though it’s the publisher, not the author who wants to prolong the ending of the series??!!!

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    • Penny, it would seem a shame if publishers governed how many books should be released in a series. Some authors clearly don’t have enough character development or story plots to continue just for the sake of their publishers’ whims…

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  22. Craig Johnson can write about Walt Longmire ’til the cows come home and I’ll read (and reread) them all! There are several authors in that category for me. I have come across some series, tho’, where it gets to be the same ol’….same ol’. It all depends on the author’s ability to keep readers engaged.

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    • Pmoore, so true about an author being able to keep the readers engaged. Of course, not all of us remain engaged as long as others do. Sometimes I feel like I might be missing out when I read the monthly recommendations and see other readers still enjoying an author who I have dropped.

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  23. I read all 17 books in Lee Harris’s (Christine Bennett) series and was so disappointed when it stopped..She also broke away and started a second series. I read those books also and recently ordered them again from World Books ( a great place to find OLD books). I also was reading Janet Evanovich long standing series but ran out of time so gave all my books to a co-worker who had just found her..There are many authors that I have read all of their books and am on 25+/-..
    It helps when you are a compulsive reader..I went nowhere without a book in my purse and had a backup in the car..)just in case) ha ha

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  24. I like to go with the 6- 10 series. I love getting to know my characters but agree that after a while it gets too formulaic… is that a word??

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    • J.Peters, it’s a word I’m guessing authors don’t like to hear when referring to one of their books. Too many times that happens. You know it’s time to drop an author when you get the déjà vu feeling at the very beginning of one of their books!

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  25. I prefer the long running series because the characters become “friends”, and I want to know what happens in their lives. It seems to me that the series that feel like they’ve gone on too long are the ones that don’t show their characters evolving. The same story told over and over does get boring, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

    I am more likely to start a series that already has lots of books because I know I won’t be left hanging, wondering what happened to my new “friends”.

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    • Casey C, I had a favorite author whose sleuth was a somewhat cantankerous senior citizen. At first a reveled in her caustic personality, but after several books featuring this sleuth (who never evolved) she just became a mean, old lady.

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  26. Most authors just don’t have it in them to write a new scenario for a character after several books. I like their writing style but get tired of the characters or situations, and maybe they do, too. But I have to say I am going to miss Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone. Through 25 books, her character developed in such a full way that I looked upon her as a friend or family member that I met for lunch once a year to catch up. Sara Paretsky’s and Louise Penny’s stories also always seem fresh to me, and I’m awfully glad they haven’t abandoned them to start new series.

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  27. I don’t know. I have some series that I have quit because I got bored. On the other hand, I feel cheated if they don’t last long enough. I loved Victoria Abbott’s Book Collector series and am sad that she appears to have quit writing them. Some, I quit reading in favor of another series and some I pick up after several years and begin again where I left off. Personally, I don’t think I will live long enough to read the books I have on my kindle, yet I pick up new ones all the time. I guess the answer is, I have no idea.

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  28. That is not a “dumb question.” Some series I agree 6-10 is good enough. But others, as the characters evolve I want to know more about them and what happens next.

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  29. I stop reading when the series goes to long and you find their just not as interesting as the first in series. Then I go to more of a mystery book instead of a cozy, which are always my first pick. I also don’t like when they run on with repeating things already read to make the book longer. I think when one writer, writes too many books in a row really fast, they tend to not put as much effort in the final project.

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    • Michelle, you’re probably right about an author writing “too many books in a row really fast”. I’m amazed at some authors who are able to put out something like six books in a single year. And, some release even more than that!

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  30. I enjoy a long series its like having a best friend and most only come out once a year. In fact miss Diane Mott Davidson’s Goldie the caterer mysteries. It’s like visiting a friend and catching up on news. I enjoy Fern Michael’s sisterhood and brotherhood series and miss the godmothers.

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    • Reggy, I really like it when I start to think of the characters as my “friends”. I takes a really good writer for that to happen, for me at least. When it happens, it is almost magical! That’s when I get impatient for the next book to come out.

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  31. This is a good question. For me, it depends on the author and also the characters. If the plot is interesting and the characters are well-developed and sympathetic, I get excited when a new book in a series comes out and cannot wait to read it. (Elizabeth Peters/”Amelia Peabody” series is an example). But if the plots and/or characters begin to get stale, I may read the newest book, but only after it’s been out for a while and/or I have nothing else (better) to read. For the most part, I don’t mind how long a series goes on. I usually want to see what’s happening to my favorite characters.

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  32. It would be better if an author could realize when they are out of ideas.
    So the answer to me is just that. Some series are over at 6 books and
    others at a far larger amount.

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  33. I have read some series that seem to drag on, but I also feel let down when an author such as Sheila Connolly switches to a new character and setting; I’ve fallen in love with the characters and want to know what happens next. However, I think I understand the reasoning. A cozy sleuth is usually an amateur. How many times can a sleepy little town have a murder that can be solved by a goat farmer? Except Cabot Cove, Maine, of course!

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    • Melissa Zabower, Agatha Christie moved Miss Marple around to prevent that small town dilemma from happening! However, I agree that it can be aggravating when the author starts a new series (or changes the character or location) when you had been enjoying the old series the way it was!

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  35. I like the long ones. Like Donna Andrew’s series and Ann B Ross. They feel like family and I would mourn their loss. Ellery Adams is one of my favorite authors and she ends her books too soon for me.

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  36. I wrote earlier about Donna Andrew’s and Ann B Ross. I couldn’t find my post so maybe I didn’t do it correctly. I have to add Livia Washburn who as a retired teacher, I dearly love.

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  37. I love the longer series I have read because it’s fun to keep up with the characters’ lives. I always look forward to the next book to see what will happen to them next other than the murder they solve, although 0f course I love that too. My favorites have been Hannah Swenson, the Bibliophile, the Tea Shop mysteries and Cat in the Stacks. Thanks for keeping us updated on new books and new series coming out. I love this blog and love reading everyone’s comments.

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    • Pat D, I also enjoy everyone’s comments. They seem like such a good way to find out about authors and series we haven’t tried yet. Perhaps when someone reads this comment of yours, he/she may want to read one of the series you said you enjoy.

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  38. I happen to love long series cozy mysteries. Here are some of my favorites:

    Carolyn Haines-Sarah Booth Delaney series
    Casey Daniels-Pepper Martin series
    Peggy Webb-Southern Cousins series
    E.J. Cooperman-Haunted Guesthouse series
    Donna Ball-Raine Stockton series

    They always keep me coming back wanting more. It’s like visiting with friends when I pick up the newest book from one of those series. I’m invested now into the characters and the authors who write them.

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    • Bonnie, ever since Agatha Christie began writing about Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, and Tommy & Tuppence it seems like we’ve come to expect to be able to keep on “coming back” to our favorite characters’ lives. They really do become our friends!

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  39. I read both, but I do binge reading. The whole series from the beginning to end. I have a love for Monica Ferris and Mary Deihim(sorry can’t spell her last name). She has two series that I read one is the Emma Lord and the other is the B&B. But with most of the posts the books need to be well written to hold my attention.

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    • Robynn, I’m afraid I’m usually the opposite. I try to not read two books in a row (in the same series) because two of the times I binge-read, I came out never wanting to read another word by the authors. Since those two occurences I’m careful to not binge read.

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  40. Some of the longer series remind me of Nancy Drew – she never changed or matured. Same character-same plot-new year.
    I do like it when I can find an author with several books in their series so I can keep reading. But if it has too many I may not attempt the series.

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  41. I find that long series of characters are best read in intervals, that’s how they were written, with months between titles. There are plenty of other series to slot into the gaps. My favorite current reads is the Aunt Bessie series. I,m up to the N title and it looks like the author is going to do the alphabet.

    I, just picked up the first of a new (to me) series called A Talent for Murder, where Agatha Christie is the protagonist. A second book is promised next year.

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    • Joppy, I agree that long series are often best read with some breaks in between. I admit that sometimes I binge read a series right through, but I don’t doubt that, unfortunately, this sometimes leads to series “burn out” for me.

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    • I agree. I love the Aunt Bessie series. A wise woman on the Isle of Man. Love the Manx dictionary. I’ve ordered her new one ahead of time. Can’t wait. I recently read an older English series by George Bellairs whose descriptions of the characters in the stories are marvelous, both major characters and minor ones. I ended up reading the entire Inspector Littlejohn series. Each one took place in a slightly different neighboring locale. Can’t wait for another #1 Ladies detective story.

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  42. I’ve only been reading cozies now for a little less than two years, so when I see a really huge series, I get a little nervous and I feel like I’ll never get caught up in it. But it always makes me happy that the publisher and readers must like that series well enough to allow it to continue. I have been sad when I’ve come across a lonely little 3-book series.

    Sometimes in the Facebook groups, the authors are willing to tell you if the third or whatever the last book is actually does wrap it up. Example would be Sarah Fox’s A Music Lover’s Mysteries. She had told us in a FB group that the publisher was the one that stopped that series, but she was able to give it some closure since she knew that book 3 would be it. I read all 3 of those this summer and I do agree she did just that. Long or short series, I am obsessed with cozies! 🙂

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    • Tari, I guess you can tell that I am obsessed with cozies too! Many times I have enjoyed really short series such as the “lonely little 3 book series” you mention. However, a lot of times I am reluctant to get involved with a series if I know it will be over too soon!

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    • Tari, I think we all hate it when a series suddenly ends without resolution or closure for character situations. Almost always this is a publisher decision. Many, many kudos to Amanda Flower who self-published a fourth book in her Appleseed Creek series after the publisher stopped the series after three books She felt it important (even at her own expense) to give her readers/fans a wrap up of the characters and dangling story lines. Well done!

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  43. As others have said, depends on the author and the characters. I read all Anne Perry’s books, of both series, but stopped with Monk when there was inconsistency, or sloppy editing, of facts and names of characters from one book to the next, or even in the same book. I lost interest with the Pitts when it appeared that the background was too tedious.

    I lost interest in Lorna Barrett after her fourth book since she did not know when to end – contract on number of pages? – the last few pages went on and on bantering with her sister and the sister’s boyfriend..

    But I am glad to find new series on these pages.

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  44. I love the series. I get caught up in their lives as if they were real people. It’s always sad to me if the series ends. I also enjoy when a favorite author has several series going. It’s like catching up with old friends when a new book comes out.

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  45. I like both..short series and long series. It just depends if the characters and storyline are well written ( and the stories dont seem like they are just kind of repeating themselves )

    I’m currently reading a “older” series by Elizabeth Lynn Casey called a Southern Sewing Circle series. There are 12 books in the series, and I think the 12th book is the last one.

    Great question! =)

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  46. As a writer, this question interests me very much. Readers have been asking for more of my Drew Farthering series, and I’ve been wanting to extend it — possibly four more books. Now I’m wondering whether I should stop where it is (at six) and start something new.

    Opinions?

    Me personally? I love long series, if I like the characters and the writing. My problem is just finding time to read. 🙂

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    • Julianna Deering/DeAnna Julie Dodson, I am so excited to see you posting! I have been watching anxiously for another book in your Drew Farthering series. I have enjoyed the previous books so much.
      I hope you continue for at least another four books.

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      • Hi, Linda!

        I ‘m so glad to hear that you want more Drew books. I would like to write four more at least, but of course that all depends on how the sales go (pesky business matters!). But if enough people want them, then I will still write them. I have a lot of fun with Drew and his friends. 😀

        Bless you!

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    • Often times an author knows when she/he is burned out or lacks interesting ideas for her/his stories. Margaret Maron stated this when she ended her Judge Deborah Knott series after 20 books. Her decision, not the publisher’s.

      If you still have good ideas for future books and interesting character stories, then by all means continue writing the series. AND, I think most of us agree 6 books isn’t a ‘long’ series, 4 more books would be great as long as your creative juices flow.

      I think most of us are talking about a ‘long series’ in excess of 20 books. I mentioned some that could continue writing excellent stories in their series…………..others, not so much.

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  47. MJ, I’ve often wondered about this very thing! My personal preference is about 10 books or so, as long as the author wraps up all the loose ends of the continuing story arcs and doesn’t leave us wondering about the fate of favorite characters.

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  48. I have a lot of Cozy Mystery authors and I read a few books from each author at a time so I have a good variety and don’t get bored. I like reading about different parts of the country in the Cozy Mysteries because it’s like my mind is going on vacation to these places while reading the books.

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    • Andrea, I’m trying to remember which blog post it was that we talked about sleuths leaving their home towns. I remember a lot of readers liked it when the sleuths went out of town, sort of providing a “mind vacation”. I think there was at least one sleuth who we preferred staying in her hometown. I am sort of remembering that a lot of us preferred it when Jessica Fletcher stayed in Cabot Cove.

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  49. When I finish a book and wonder what happens next, the longer the better. There have been several of the shorter series that have left me hanging. However long the series, I always feel like I have lost someone when it is over.

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  50. Just my two cents. I love J. A. Jance series all of them. And Mary Daheims as well as Laura Child’s series. But I have others that I stopped just because it was the same story over again and again. Then I pick up new authors and go from there. Some who have several books to a series and others who don’t. I read any where from one to three books a week, depending on my schedule. So I look for new books all the time. I say it depends on the storyline and how vested I am and the author is.

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    • R, it sounds like whether you prefer a long series if the author can keep the story fresh, which is a reasonable stance. There are definitely some authors where I can read as many books as are available, regardless of how many that is.

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  51. I agree with most it depends on the characters. Some I just never tire of. Ellery Adams series ‘The Supper Club Mysteries’ and ‘The Cherringham Mysteries’ by Neil Richards and Matthew Costello are two that come to mind. I can’t get enough of these series.

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  52. When I’m considering a new series, I do look at how many books have been published so I have some idea what the effort will be to “catch up” if I like the series. Once I’m hooked I like to anticipate the next book be it #10, #20 or more. A good series is like visiting old friends! I think many of my favorite writers get better with maturity and skill but don’t overlook the importance of a good editor! I’ve noticed really good writers whose later works and just “blah, blah, blah” and I think it’s because they intimidate their editor/publisher. It’s the kind of relationship that must have a check & balance for best results. If a series gets too silly or repetitive, I shelve and move on. There are so many books to read!

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    • Leslie, sometimes you do just have to move on from a series that has run its course. I’m sure that a good editor who can keep the page count at a reasonable level would help keep a series more appealing to return readers.

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  54. I will keep reading my favorites unless things get really bad. I abandoned several series that didn’t have any mysteries in their mysteries anymore. Also some that got too silly.

    If I had to say, I prefer the long series but would still read a short one or even a single novel if it sounds interesting, especially if it’s by a regular author.

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  55. This is a really fascinating discussion and I find myself agreeing with most of your comments. I am thinking of Georges Simenon’s Maigret series. First one published in 1931 and I think the last in 1971 and there are over 100! but the stories are never repetitive. The stories do develop some are better than others, but always entertaining. I seems to be stuck on police procedurals, but Naigo Marsh is another who had a very long series with varied settings. I think some authors use a gimmick to begin with and then are stuck in a place with no room to grow.

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    • Arlene, I do tend to agree that more gimmicky book series might be harder to maintain interest. There are a lot of highly focused “theme” books in Cozies these days, and I wonder if that will be a problem for some of them when they start reaching 10+ entries.

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  56. If the series is well written I enjoy a new one every year. Love Maddy Hunter, Kate Carlisle, Alyssa Maxwell, and Joanna Fluke. Really hate that Diane Mott Davidson isn’t writing the Goldie Schulz series anymore and Amanda Carmack’s Elizabethan series too.

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  57. As long as the writing and storylines remain good, I’m in the long series camp. There are some series that I loved and read, but after the 10th or longer book, they just got really bad! There are authors that have past away or stopped the series years ago that I could keep on reading as long as they published. Charlotte Maccleod’s Peter Shandy, Emma Lathen/r.b.Dominac’s John Thatcher and Ben Stafford series. Jane Haddam -more Gregor Demarkian! Shirley Damsgaard, Connie Fedderson, Earline Fowler, and More Miss Marple titles. the list goes on and on.

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  59. Great topic that now has me thinking what I prefer.
    I have to go with – up to a 6 book series.
    Now with that being said, there are two series for me that I will keep on reading as new books come out.
    1.Heather Blake – Wishcraft Mystery series.
    2.Sally Goldenbaum – A Seaside Knitters Mystery series.

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  60. I’m like a lot of commenters here, it doesn’t matter if the characters are likeable and the story is really interesting. I love cozies that are set in a lot of different areas, like cooking/catering, dogs, quilting (even tho I don’t sew at all), tea shops, scrapbooking (even though I don’t like tea and I don’t scrapbook!), different cities – esp.if I’ve been to them. What I really dislike is when I find an author who writes in one of my favorite settings, and there is cursing all through it. Just b/c we hear trashy language everywhere doesn’t mean we want to read it in our leisure time. I just found a new dog setting, and forgot that the author adds in a lot of icky language. I started the book and decided to finish it – and realized, it’s just not good enough to put up with bad language. I also agree with a previous commenter about adding in their political views, or their unkind comments about people of faith. I’ve noticed that some authors make people of faith be the killer or that they’re crazy. I drop those immediately. I actually wrote to an author about that last issue and she apologized and said she’d be more careful in future books! I was shocked and very impressed. I really like a lot of the authors other commenters mentioned, and now have learned about some that I have been wanting to try, so thanks, y’all!

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    • Rickee, one of my pet peeves is when an author writes about some place and gets it WRONG. If you do not know an area, get a local to review your writing or don’t write about it. I grew up in the Phoenix, AZ area and have found that several authors make huge mistakes when writing about the area (one in particular had mesa in between Tempe and Phoenix which just looking at a map would have fixed). That is part of why I first read Jenn McKinlay and the Cupcake series. I saw that she lives in Scottsdale and figured she would get the detail right. Now I read her as soon as I can get my hands on the books because I like her characters and her stories.

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  61. What is awful for me is when the author dies – Robert Parker* and Margaret Truman come to mind. I was *devastated* when Robert Parker died – I felt like Spenser and Hawk and Susan died too!

    I know other people have taken over writing those mystery series but I just can’t bring myself to read them.

    *I know he’s not a cozy author!

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  62. I may have missed a mention but a great long series is Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody series. Amelia and her husband Emerson meet, marry and have grandchildren.

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  64. I’m going to mention a series that is not a cozy but I will read as long as it continues. J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) In Death series, now in the 40plus books. I can’t wait for the new book “Leverage in Death” coming out Sept.4. Her writing is wonderful and the characters have all grown in the series.

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  65. I love longer series. If the characters and plot draw you in and you feel “connected”, then each new title is like catching up with dear old friends.

    The flip side of that is short series, where you’ve just finally got to know the characters — and the series ends — and you have to get to know a whole new set of characters in a new series. Sort of like if you picked up and moved every year — just as you were starting to make friends, and now you have to leave them and adjust to all new people and make friends all over again!
    (And I’ve mentioned how many times that I’m not crazy about all the new series popping up like mushrooms, I much prefer the old familiar beloved series any day.)

    And it can be done right to prevent it from becoming stale! We watched Tommy and Tuppence age gracefully from two bright young things eager for adventure to a cozy old married couple of grandparents — still game for adventure!

    Similarly Faith Fairchild started out as a young newlywed and now she’s the mother of teenagers.

    Thomas Pitt started his career as a young police officer awed by the beautiful young society miss — and together they’re now the parents of two teenagers and he’s head of Special Branch. (If he still is, I don’t remember the last one.)

    Long series are good — but only if they’re GOOD!

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    • Margaret, I think you hit on an important thing with the examples you listed of how a long series can be done right by having the characters grow and change – a big factor is that a series is more likely to become stale if nothing ever seems to change, even after ten or twenty years of books (which should reasonably take place over about 10 or 20 years in the setting as well). A bit of growth from the characters, not just going through the same old routine, can really help a series stay fresh through decades.

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  66. It depends on the quality of the writing, as with *any* book series (not just cozies). I stopped reading Sue Grafton after about the 4th one because it seemed to me that Kinsey didn’t grow or learn anything (judging from a comment above, I may just have to revise that thought!)

    They’re not cozies or even mysteries but the Bolitho series by Alexander Kent is a textbook of excellent writing and character building. I was devastated when he ended the series.

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  67. I think the quality of a particular series is what sustains my interest. For example, I hope Nancy Atherton, Jeanne M. Dams, Charles Todd, Jacqueline Winspear, Charles Finch, and Laurie King will continue to write their main series as long as they are able to do so. I can’t imagine ever tiring of going on adventures with their main characters and hope they continue writing these books for many years to come. I’ve been reading these series since the beginning and am a devoted fan who looks forward eagerly to the next installment. Weak series will naturally die away. Good ones live forever!

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