I have a real problem! I can usually tell if an author is going to make my “Favorite Authors” list after I have read the first book in his/her Cozy Mystery book series. Yep! that’s usually all it takes. If the author can keep my interest, provides well-rounded characters, slips in enough red herrings, doesn’t keep important facts from me, and, in short, writes a really good Cozy Mystery >>> I’m hooked!
My “problem” then begins! I immediately feel this sense of urgency: I NEED to acquire all of the books in the series. I can’t “take my time” and get one book at a time. What if I can’t find the next book in the series when I want to start reading it?!? That’s when the “panic” sets in… Of course, I have to admit to being “somewhat” of an OCD (Obsessive/Compulsive Disorder) type of person, but if you’ve visited the Cozy Mystery Site you can probably already tell that!
I think that the reason I had to buy a new bookshelf recently is that my obsession doesn’t stop there! Once I have acquired all of the mystery books in my new favorite author’s series, I read the first few books, and then I stop! When I am really enjoying an author I don’t like the idea of not having any more books to read by him/her, so I simply stop reading the books, and keep the rest of the series’ books in my bookshelf so that I can read them later.
Do any of you do this? Do you try to prolong your enjoyment of an author by simply shelving the last few books in his/her series so that you can read them “later?” I’m not sure this is normal, and I guess that’s why I’m writing this entry. I either want to “come clean” about this particular peculiarity, or find out that it’s not as strange as it seems to some of the members in my family. (I should probably say “all” of the members of my family… or at least the ones who are aware of this behavior.)
When you discover a new “favorite author” do you read right through the series or do you “take breaks” so that you can look forward to some really good Cozy Mystery reading?
Shirley says
I am the same way. I have to find all the books in a series. I don’t like finding one smack in the middle of a series. I’ve done this so often. I will search high and low till I have them all. Thankfully your site lets me know how many books I need. I keep a list in my purse of books I’m looking for. Some series I start from the beginning and continue reading till they are all read. Some I’ve read a few and save some for another time.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Shirley,
I have read a few series all in a row… but I feel so sad when I catch up to the author that I have stopped doing that. I guess I like to “savor” the moment when I can get back to reading the series… If only authors could write faster!
Petie says
Well, Danna, we are in the same boat when it comes to compulsive book series buying! I do the very same thing. I guess I want to pick right up after I finish one book and start the next. Like so many others, these characters are acquaintances of mine and I want to keep up with them as much as possible. Naturally I have a life as far as house keeping, working, etc. but my books are my ‘escape’. My twin sister and my son are exactly the same way; and if there are numerous books in a series I have started, I will buy at least the first 5. Yep, compulsive is the perfect word for me when it comes to my books! Petie
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Petie,
I used to do that… but don’t you feel a little melancholy when you catch up to your author?
We are indeed compulsive!
Maria BearMountainBooks says
I do hoard a good read. It may be from a series or just a book that I think is going to be really good. I snap it up during the buying period. Then I leave it there for a while to ‘bake.’
I actually have such a book in the wings at the moment. I loved Kaye C. Hill’s first book and her second is about to be released in the UK. I know I can get it from Bookdepository with free shipping. So here I am “hoarding” the purchase/read. I know I’m going to like it and I want to wait for just the right moment to read it!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maria, I know that you will be hosting a give-away for Kaye C. Hill’s first book (Dead Woman’s Shoes) on your site… as a matter of fact, I will be posting an entry about your contest in two days…
Dru says
I recently discovered Donna Andrews’ Meg Langslow series having read books 8-10 and went on a search to find the previous books in this series before I read her latest book #11. The only books I was not able to get were the first two books but luckily her publisher had combined the two which I have now read. I tend to read them all in a row, but since I have other library books that are due, I will pick this up again.
When I discover a new favorite author and she has a series, I will read them all at one time.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dru, the reason I no longer read books out of order is that sometimes the authors give away what happened in the earlier books of their series. Of course, at the same time, there are authors who totally ignore the things that happened in earlier books of the series, which I find frustrating. If they aren’t going to at least acknowledge previous actions, then they might as well write Stand Alone mysteries…
Laura says
Yes! Danna, I totally get what you are saying. I can tell from the first book if I am going to like a series or not and try to get all the books in the rest of the series. I remember as a child being absolutely delighted to discover that a book I loved was part of a series. There wasn’t anything better than going to the library in the summer to get the next “Mary Poppins” or “The Borrowers”. I don’t put off reading a series, but do feel lost when the series ends. Here is a question for you: have you ever lost interest in a series and stopped reading it?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
YES!!! Laura, that has happened several times! What a drag!!! I absolutely hate it when that happens! I have gotten through several authors’ fourth or fifth books and then discovered that I no longer like their work… If I feel like the author is resorting to using the same formula, or the characters become stale, ETC., then I have several books that I no longer want to read! And lately, I have been reading so slowly, that I simply will not waste my time on books that don’t keep my attention.
I have to admit, though, that if an author has written (let’s say) twenty books in his/her series, I don’t acquire all twenty of the books unless I am doggone sure that I am going to continue to read his/her mysteries.
I don’t get all of my books in “hard copy” form… a lot of them are in audio, and are books my husband also enjoys listening to. We have both been making our (individual) ways through all of the Ngaio Marsh, Ruth Rendell, Agatha Christie, and Alexander McCall Smith books. And, we were lucky enough to pick up the audios of Queen Lucia and Miss Mapp by E. F. Benson. (We have belonged to audible.com for years and years!)
Anne says
Talk about obsessive. There was about a year in the past when I could not even finish a book because I didn’t want it to end. That was before I became entranced with cozies and the series. I am getting better but am like some of the others commenters that want the authors to write faster. Of course, credit where credit is due. There are so many unknown series on this site that it has kept me with many new authors to read and new series to acquire.
Tori Lennox says
I’m the same way! If I find an author I really like I must have all their book. Right Now. Not that I always succeed but the desire is there. 🙂
Dennis says
When I find a good series I like to read it thru. But lately there has been so much it just happens when it does. Later I discover my author has come out with a couple of more books in the series. So much to read … so little time!!!!
-V- says
I collect a few authors and have all of the books they have written. My new ‘weirdness’ is reading a series in order if I’ve just found the author or series. I don’t read an author’s books back to back, I have to take a break for at least a book in between, usually more.
My deal is that I have a lot of books on Mt Git’r’Read….lots and lots and lots….
Donna Lea Simpson says
I really wish I had the willpower to put off reading when I’m caught up in a series. I’ve finished a couple recently (Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone… now I have to wait for December for U is for Undertow – and M. C. Beaton’s Agatha Raisin series) and I’m so bummed!
I’m starting to read M. C. Beaton’s Hamish Macbeth series, now, though, and there are lots of books in it!
Judith says
I also need to read series in order. Since I have more books than I have space for – I’m trying to read more from the library – so I’ll check out the books one at a time and space out my reading of the series. Of course, when I really fall in love with a series, I end up buying the whole thing. I’m also a re-reader, so for a lot of authors I like, I’ll buy the books when they come out and hold on to them so that I’ll re-read the whole series when I have 2 or 3 new ones at the end – although there are some authors that I can’t wait for.
Kathy says
I too like to read series books in order and can’t wait until certain authors publish the next one. Thankfully, due to your cozy mystery list, I’ve found more and more new series to keep me going. Thanks much.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for the kind words….
I’ve found new authors to read (from site readers’ recommendations) also.