Yow! How exciting is this? You’ve just found a new-to-you Cozy Mystery author who you absolutely adore reading. How can things get better than this? Oh my gosh, this author has a whole back-log of books for you to read before you catch up with his/her current releases! How terrific is this?
Hmmm… Not so fast, leave it to me to find a negative side of this pretty phenomenal scenario. Should you “space” the mysteries with other books >>> the way it would have happened naturally if you had found the author right when he/she started publishing the books OR should you hurry up and play “catch-up” with the author by reading all of his/her mysteries back-to-back? (I told you I could see this book shelf half empty!)
The reason I’m asking this particular question is that I recently broke my spacing system with a new favorite author (Conrad Allen – aka Edward Marston & Keith Miles). He is still on my favorite authors list, but from now on I am going to space his books with my other TBR mysteries. Usually I never read two mysteries by the same author back-to-back. But in this case, since my husband started reading the second mystery in the series, I decided – why not?
Whereas Conrad Allen‘s fans from the beginning of his series had to wait a full year until they could again sail with George Dillman, my husband and I jumped right on to the Mauretania’s deck immediately after disembarking from the Lusitania. But here’s something I discovered: it was just a little too quick after our Lusitania cruise to be able to fully enjoy travelling with Dillman so soon. You’ve heard of the expression “too much of a good thing”, right? Well, I think that’s sort of what happened to both my husband and me.
While both of us enjoyed the second Dillman mystery, we felt that we should have taken a little time before embarking on another mystery cruise. Allen’s writing was still excellent, his descriptions, characters, and plot were all still very good. However, the village was a ship, which meant that Allen couldn’t keep the same “villagers”. So, because most ships in a line are going to be very similar, yet the characters couldn’t be the same people, it posed the problem of having the same village (ship) with a whole new cast of characters. (As I said earlier, Allen is still on my favorite authors list but I’m going to read a few other books before I go on to his third mystery in the series.)
When you discover a new-to-you Cozy Mystery author with a lot of mysteries already written, do you space them out or do you read them back-to-back? And if you do read them back-to-back, has this ever back-fired on you? [As usual, I ask that you don’t name an author/series if you are negative.]
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Wakar says
I began reading mysteries MANY years ago with Christie. Whenever I could find one in a bookstore,I read it. Pretty much the same with Marsh, Tey, etc. A few years ago I discovered Jo Dereske’s Miss Zukas series and began reading them one after another. But when I began to get close to catching up I stopped reading until another book had been published. A year and a half ago Louise Penny was recommended (and I will be forever grateful to the clerk who put Still Life in my hands). I read the first four one after the other. But again realizing the supply was not, alas, endless, I began to space then out. Am doing ditto with Winspear’s books.
With age comes wisdom. 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Wakar, ditto what you said about age…
Jackie J. Griffey says
Wakar and Danna: I space them out too – just didn’t realized it because I look at what’s coming out and when there’s one coming out whose books I like and new ones too which sound interesting, that’s how I make my choice. Even with some of my top favorite authors I have favorites too. Two at the top of my list have multiple series going but it is one series that I like best. 8-).
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jackie, your comment reminds me of Lynn T’s other suggested entry, which I’m hoping to get up soon.
Ann says
Another author to add to my list.
I space them out. I’ve found that I don’t enjoy the second one as much if I read them back to back.
Ann
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ann, that’s exactly what happened to us. While we still enjoyed the book, we didn’t feel the “urgency” one has when reading a very favorite mystery and simply having to hurry up and find out whodunnit.
Cathy says
I have tried the reading marathons and I agree with you…too much of a good thing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Cathy, I like your term “reading marathons”! That’s exactly what I feel like I did.
I remember when I first discovered Edie Claire‘s mysteries. I liked the first one so much that I was oh-so-tempted to quickly read the next. I made a consciouc effort not to, and I am so glad I did. I look forward to reading every one of them >>> which I have spaced out. As you say, Cathy: “too much of a good thing.”
MJ says
hmmm…………..I think I’ve just discovered another author!
I hadn’t heard of the Edie Claire books (although it does sound ‘vaguely’ familiar, especially the sleuths name, Leigh Koslow). I just checked and the mysteries look like ones I might enjoy. I’ll give it a try.
Thanks, Danna. I won’t read them back to back, though.
I rather space out a series, preferably a month or two apart. I’ve read some series that way including Fowler, Davidson, Sprinkle, and George. All very enjoyable.
However, oftentimes waiting a whole year is ‘painful’, especially when there’s an interesting continuing story. M. Sefton’s new series is riveting, however it’s written in an unusual style. Consequently, it’s tempting to wait for five years and then read them at a faster pace, other than yearly.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
MJ, I happen to really enjoy Edie Claire’s mysteries. My daughter is all caught up with her, and is anxiously waiting for her to release a new one. I am currently reading the second to the last book in the series, and hope Claire gets a new one out some time this year. Once I’m all caught up with an author, I hate having to wait for them to get it going!
Tony Renner says
I read all of the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe series pretty much back-to-back. I’m reading Margery Allingham’s Campion series spread out. I didn’t read Wolfe chronologically and won’t do it with Allingham either.
I also finally finished reading all of Dorothy Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimseys.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Tony, you just names some of the best mystery authors of all time!
Jackie J. Griffey says
Love hearing praise of favorite authors – I’ve got all of Ann George’s great ones along with all the Rumpole of the Bailey’s. It’s hard to let them go but sometimes I have to take some of them to my writing group (we all do this and enjoy them) just to make room for more. If I ever get to visit my son in NY (he lives in Brooklyn and works on 5th ave I’m going to look for a sweatshirt that says (not I love NY! but) has Rumpole on it and also a picture of She Who Must be Obeyed! LOL.
Jackie
reginav says
Danna When I discover a new author with a great season, I try to read all the previous books. If I do not, I lose track of “who is who”. I tried to do the way you suggested but the lure of a good read was too much. When I come to the end of the series, I do feel regretful that i did not space them out but who cares. By the way having a Nook enables me to obtain the previous books of an author and save the last one published to be read. I enjoy Mary Daheim’s books very much particularly her Alpine series and am very excited that her new one will be out soon. I am still trying to become skillful with my new laptop. It is soooo fast and corrects my errors as I type.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Regina, I think that with me, I savor the authors I really like more when I space them out. Some of the comments about this have been really right on the target as to why I have to space my favorite authors’ books out…
(When we go on trips we take our laptop>>> which I cannot say I enjoy using.)
Judith says
Typically when I find a new to me author, I am getting the books from the library. When I finish one book, I request the next book as a hold from the library. In the meantime, I will start another book, so I generally do not read the new series back-to-back. Since I check out a lot of books from the library and I’m trying to get them all read before they come due, I usually have several weeks between reading books in a series.
In any event, there are certain authors that I won’t read back-to-back, even if I have all of the books in front of me. For example, I love the books by Louise Penny, Jacqueline Winspear, and Charles Todd. They are wonderfully written with interesting characters and I enjoy spending time in their worlds. But, after reading one book, I am in need of something lighter.
With some of the lighter series, I may occasionally play catch-up by reading two or more of the books in a row. Even then, there are so many other series I’m reading (and falling behind on my TBR pile), that it won’t be that many in a series that I’m reading back-to-back for the first time.
Most of my back-to-back reading of series comes when I am re-reading a series, so I know what to expect. There are just times when I have to go on a Charlotte MacLeod or Elizabeth Peters binge (or another author – but I don’t want to start listing them all as I might never end).
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Judith, if I read my favorite authors’ mysteries back-to-back, I sometimes end up dropping them from that list. Spacing lighter mysteries with heavier ones sounds like a great idea. (Too much of a good thing, and all that…)
Deahna says
I usually start reading them one after the other, then cool off after the xth book (can be second, can be fifth or later) and get back to the series at a later date. I find that if I read too many in one go it will trigger the “oh, we know this by now, how about a bit more originality?” like Dillmann’s partner complaining each time that she doesn’t want to have her time monopolized by some other traveller because it would hamper her work. Nothing unusal if I read them spaced out but the repetitions begin to get on my nerves if I don’t.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Deahna, your “oh, we know this by now, how about a bit more originality?” is exactly how I end up feeling when I read an author’s mysteries back-to-back. Well said!
(I’m going to have to watch for the monopolization problem. Now that I think back, I did see it a few times…)
Lynn T. says
I space my reads. I have just started some long running series-Jane Haddam- Mary Daheim (up to G on the Alpine series) and J.A. Jance.(Johanna Brady) It seems that I will never catch up but have told myself not to think that way. Just think about all the good reading ahead for me. So I would not read a new book coming out by them as I am progressing through the series.
I read the first book by Veronica Heley (Ellie Quicke) last month. When I took it back to the library, I ordered the second book. This was very unusual for me. I read a book in between while I waited for the 2nd book. I found that I liked the 2nd book as much as the first book. The story/plot took place 4 months after the first book. I remembered all the characters and events from the first book were mentioned. I remembered those events. So from that aspect there was a better continuity for me. However, I still like spacing the reads the best so I will read another Ellie Quicke book a few months from now. Books seem fresher that way to me even though my memory of past events isn’t always 100%.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Lynn T, that’s the problem with spacing-out favorite authors’ mysteries. You’re always the last one to the party. I am way behind with some of my favorite authors, which is sometimes frustrating when I see other people recommending the authors’ latest mysteries. When I hear how good a current mystery is, I feel like I just want to rush through the books so I can get to that particular mystery.
Nancy says
I started reading cozy mysteries with Anne George. I immediately got the earliest book I could find and read them in order. I was devastated when I ran out and found out she was deceased. That’s how I got on to this site. Reading her books in order is good, but you are right, I should have spaced them out. Sometimes I felt I know this why are you telling me again. The information would not have felt repetitious, if I had spaced out the books.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Nancy, ditto, ditto, ditto! I so agree with you about reading a series back-to-back: “Sometimes I felt I know this why are you telling me again. The information would not have felt repetitious, if I had spaced out the books.“
Jackie J. Griffey says
“Yep, I have all eight of them in my ‘don’t loan these except to writing group’ shelf. LOL.
Susan* says
I’ve done the ‘reading marathon / binge’ quite often, and I still go back to those authors, but I enjoy something new, as well.
Everyone’s different, so what works for some people, may not work for others. I think it’s a case of ‘whatever works for you.’
In the case of the Conrad Allen’s it may be the same as a discussion from a little while ago about taking your sleuth out of their home village, if that makes sense? You get used to one setting, and then the author changes it, and it throws you off balance.
He does create quite a cozy – and very immersive – world in each of his books, and I do find it hard to leave, sometimes.
So, perhaps, in that case, spacing, and letting things fade a little, is a good thing, while in other series, where the setting is always the same, a binge is more do-able.
Each to their own, though. I don’t think there’s really any right or wrong. Just as long as you’re enjoying yourself – and a good cozy? Definitely enjoyable for me!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Susan*, you’re right about there not being a right way to do this.
Kay says
I like to mix it up! As much as I may like an author, reading all of her/his books in a row would be like eating the same food at every meal. There are too many authors I want to read, so I like to do a smorgasbord of books!
Lynn T. says
Kay
Really liked how you described why you like to mix up your reading. I feel the same way but your explanation of how you like to read books states it so well. I liked the smorgasbord of books term.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kay, I’m with Lynn T. I think a smorgasbord of books is a good way of putting it!
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
I usually regret not spacing them out, but it can be really difficult for me to find humorous mysteries that I like and want to read! Some humor is too silly. Some I can’t relate to. Some is simply not funny. So when I do find a writer I like…it’s pretty easy for me to read them back-to-back. Of course, I’m working a lot of hours these days so even though I’m reading a series back-to-back, there’s quite a bit of time between books!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Maria, I think humor is a very difficult thing for an author to be able to pull off well. It is just so subjective.
Stacey T. says
I find myself spacing them out. I rarely ready two books from the same series in a row. Sometimes, I will even read an entirely different genre (romance, classics, or non-fiction) during the summer since my children are small and on vacation from school. But my beloved mysteries are never far from my mind because I also use this time to enjoy the new season of Masterpiece Mystery on PBS!!! Any my oldest daughter, who is now 7, has The Westing Game on her summer reading list and I cannot wait to read this book with her. I absolutely fell in love with it when I her age!!
It always amazes me how excited I am to get back to my beloved cozies after taking a small break. To me, picking up a series after taking some time away from it allows me to appreciate it further. To me, it’s like re-visiting a friend that I haven’t seen in a while.
BTW, I just added May Kay Andrews to my Kindle. I am looking forward to reading it based on your wonderful recommendation!!!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stacey T, I hope you enjoy Mary Kay Andrews’ (writing as Kathy Hogan Trocheck) Every Crooked Nanny. (The Callahan Garrity Mystery Series is one of the ones I was very sorry to get caught-up on!)
Stash Empress says
I just started Every Crooked Nanny! alas my library no longer has any print copies, so I got on the waiting list & borrowed the “ebook” version as soon it as it became available. I’m enjoying it very much! The later books in the series are still available at the library as print volumes, but the earlier ones only as ebooks — which I will now work through one at a time… of course since the Ipad belongs to my son (severely handicapped little boy who uses it for school), I need to wait my turn to use it… so it could take awhile to read these LOL! I just CANNOT read a book on the big computer screen — guess I’m just an old 20th century gal LOLOL!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash, there is no way I could read a book on a computer screen, either!
Stash Empress says
If its a series that only has 2-3 books prior to the one I started with, I’ll read all 2 or 3 in a row so that I’m caught up (and to prevent confusion if I pick up at a later date & can’t remember who did what when). But if its a series that has many books — I space them out — I try to make a point to read 2 different books between each series book — to sort of “clear the brain” between courses, as it were. My only gripe is with a certain series that adds a bunch of new characters in each new book, keeps all the old characters, and only publishes a new book every few years — by the time I get the new book I’ve totally forgotten who most of the (minor) recurring characters are & feel that I’m constantly missing something (since there’s obvious emotional baggage going on between them & I can’t remember what it is).
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash Empress, perhaps that is why some of my favorite authors are those who start with an almost clean slate of characters. Ngaio Marsh and Agatha Christie usually have just their main sleuths and a whole new group of well-developed/fleshed-out characters in each of their books. (A lot of the time you don’t even see Inspector Alleyn until you’ve read about a fourth/third of the book!) I can’t rely on my memory, either.
Stash Empress says
OK, dunno if this is an aging thing or what (I’m 54) — I read & reread all the Agatha Christie books in my teens & 20’s (the 1970’s & ’80s) — must have read each of them several times through & at some point owned nearly all of them — I’d search them out in 2ndhand bookstores wherever I found myself. I really truly loved them all. Recently I watched the movie version of one of them & it was so different than the original (that is — they changed even who the murderer was!) that I totally didn’t recognize the story, even though I’d read it many times. So I pulled out the book to reread it… and after a few chapters… I just found I couldn’t get through it! It was paced sooooooooooooo sloooooooooooooooowwwwwwwwwwww!!!! Its 5 pages & she’s still crossing the street LOL! So I don’t know what it is — I guess things have become so fast paced that we no longer have the attention span we had as recently as 20 years ago? (and these books written 40-50 years before that so even slower) The action in the books we love & read now moves so much faster. As much as I hated to do it, I left that book in the middle, I just COULDN’T work my way through it! Am I the only one????
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Stash, recently they have been changing Agatha Christie’s work when they make it for television movies. While Christie and her daughter were alive, they pretty much stayed true to the mystery books.
As for Christie’s books seeming so slow for you these days. I wonder if it has anything to do with the favct that you read them so many times before.
Bess says
If I find a new author I start from the beginning and read thru all the published books. When it’s been a year between the last published book and the newest published book I have a hard time remembering who is who and who did what. I have a horrible memory!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Bess, my memory is probably right on par with yours. However, when you’re reading a series back-to-back, don’t you ever feel sort of “Been there. Done that”?
Ritter A. says
Interesting discussion. I’ve been a mystery reader from way back (having spent my middle school years alternating between series featuring Jane Marple, Trixie Belden, and Nero Wolfe. I remember devouring any newly discovered series with ease until adulthood called and I actually had to pace myself between daily tasks, jobs, etc. I’ve never had a problem reading back-to-back books in a series, but I also haven’t lately had the luxury of reading more than two in a row before I had to break for some reason. On the other hand, when I decide to do a re-reading marathon of a whole series–usually for summer reading during a vacation break–I have no problem with overload there. However, this is always a planned event, and something I’ve anticipated for several months (as I find all the books on the bookshelf and tuck them away for later), so that anticipation may be part of why I don’t get overwhelmed by any sameness. I probably just skim without really thinking about it. Good question!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ritter A, I don’t re-read many books, but when I do, I do so because they are favorites. And, now that I think of it, I can read them back-to-back. I have two authors (so far) that I have re-read, one of whom isn’t a mystery author (E.F. Benson), and with his books, as well as Agatha Christie’s, I can re-read them back-to-back-to-back, and then back again.
Cathy says
Danna, as usual you posted a great question for us!
I enjoyed everyone’s comments.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thanks, Cathy. I, too, have enjoyed everyone’s comments!
Julie P says
I actually found this blog/site by typing “i’ve read all agatha christie now what” in my search engine, a few weeks ago. LOL
I’m 35, married with kids, etc. I definitely inherited my parents’ love for reading. But I refused to read some of the same books they read, deeming them “old people” books (they were 42-ish by the time I started noticing what they read… I know, I know. I was stupid.). My mother loved mysteries! Anyway, skip ahead a few decades, and I have read several different authors, different books, and I found that I do not enjoy reading smut. I don’t like swearing, sex, or even violence (especially sexual violence, no thank you!) in my books. I like wrongs being righted. I like justice. I bought a Kindle, and logged into my library. Agatha Christie happened to be on the first page. “Why not?” I thought. If I didn’t like it, I could just return it, and I wasn’t even out any money.
Um… it took me about 4 months, but I read every single AC that I could find. While I was waiting for books I had on hold, I was led to another series, Agatha Raisin, which led me to Hamish MacBeth. Then I remembered the “cooking” series I had tried several years back, and found that.. etc.
Which brings me to my google search… which brought me here.
Having said all that…
I think it depends on the author. Or maybe even the series? I read over 10 AC books before I had to pause. I haven’t had any burnout yet, but I have found that I do enjoy when I have a rotation of sorts. Right now I’m reading an AC Miss Marple; when I’m done with that, I already have an Agatha Raisin ready, followed by a Hamish MacBeth, and then Joanne Fluke. By that time, the AC that I have on hold will be ready, so I’ll read that… etc. It helps prolong my enjoyment of reading AC for the first time, and other new authors at the same time. 🙂
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Julie P, welcome to the Cozy Mystery site! Isn’t it great the way one thing can lead you to another, and then to another?
Sally says
I guess I feel differently. If I like an author well enough to read another of their books, it’s because I really like them, the characters and especially the setting. I like the continuity of reading the stories in order and following their friends, activities, etc. as I would a good friend’s, with no break in between which tends to ruin the “mood” for me. I also like enjoying my favorite characters in the surroundings I first met them in. like Jessica Fletcher in Cabot’s Cove, Dorothy Martin in Britain, etc. For me, reading the descriptions of the local areas, is as important as the action. When the action takes place in another location, I find it as jarring as watching a “Midsomer” mystery taking place in Brazil, lovely as that country is. I read many different authors, as I’m now retired I have more time and appreciate all the suggestions I find on this site, thank you!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sally, I totally agree with you about a favorite sleuth leaving the village/town/shop that made you want to read about that sleuth. I actually dropped one of my favorite authors because she kept taking the main sleuth out of town with a secondary character I didn’t like at all. Leaving her town, especially with that character, was enough to make me feel like I had had enough! (I am guessing that authors get tired of writing about the same villages/towns, but usually those places are one of the things that draw us to their series.)
Kathey says
What an interesting topic. I usually find the new author (almost always on your blog or on my kindle recommendations) and read the most recent. Then I go back and get all the rest and read them in order if I enjoy the author.
But–about two years ago, I began ONLY using a kindle and found that some of the older books aren’t available electronically so that causes issues. I really want to read all of them because they are their own little world so you don’t want to miss whole pieces of that world.
I also have an issue in that I have about 1200 cozy mysteries in hardcover. I can’t find anyone who wants them and I refuse to just let them go to waste. If anyone knows of a place in Arizona that could use them, I’d be happy to donate them.
I add to my favorites all the time but never fail to go back to Joanne Fluke, Leslie Meier, and J A Jance (who isn’t cozy but is certainly a series writer). I also like Perry O’Shaunnessy who is not cozy and Sue Grafton who isn’t either. I started out years and years ago reading Del Shannon (who also wrote as Leslie Egan). I loved her characters despite not liking their politics. I have all her books, many of which I had to get from resalers.
I work in health care and am married to an artist so I need something that keeps me occupied when my husband is creating stuff or I’m tired of doing my very technical jobs.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Kathey, I used to donate my books to the library, but for several years now, I have been donating to Goodwill. I did a “behind the scenes” visit to a Goodwill store years ago while I was in college. I don’t think that everyone knows they sell the donated items so that they can employ people who might otherwise not have had jobs. They train and employ with the money they make, and every little bit helps! (Now I’ll get off my soapbox!)
Mel says
I had success giving books to local nursing homes & senior centers. A lot of time buying a book or two just isn’t in the budget.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mel, when I used to get magazines I would give them to a local nursing home. I don’t know if the people who lived there liked them, but I now the receptionist did…
Judith says
When I was growing up in Phoenix (many moons ago), one of the highlights was our annual trip to the Visiting Nurse Book Sale. It was a wonderful way for our family of readers to get a quantity of books at a reasonable price. Through those sales, I built up a collection of Nancy Drew and Judy Bolton books (amongst others), including some of the original Nancy Drews, while my brother was picking up the Hardy Boys and others (I got twice the reading since I read his books too!). I just looked them up online, and next February will be their 59th annual sale.
Judith says
I just noticed that it is no longer Visiting Nurse, but is now Volunteer Nonprofit Service Association
Ruth says
Hi, when I find a new author that I like, I read the whole series but spaced out. Then I watched Longmire on tv and fell in love. Started with book one and kept on going, only problem Craig Johnson can’t write fast enough and the last page leaves me wanting the next book sooner than later. I sometimes read a few cozy mysteries after an intense mystery read but love both, intense and cozy.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ruth, I, too, have caught up with some of my favorite authors, which forces me to space them out more than I would like!
Teressa says
I have learned to space them out. My reasoning is that I have found that authors sometimes quit writing and I want to “savor” the time I can spend with my favorite characters. The last time I “binge” read the author was Ann George, and I was so sad to find out that she had passed away and couldn’t have anymore adventures with the Southern Sisters. I am now spacing out Barbara Colley’s Maid series since she has quit writing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Teressa, I also try to save my authors so I can spend an elongated amount of time with them.
Suzanne says
I found if the author is very prolific then I have a tendency to read them in order, usually it is because it is an author I found here and I need to catch up. If it is an author I know that only writes 1 or 2 books a year, I will space them out. Since this winter is extremely snowy and cold (4-8″ of snow expected tomorrow) I have been reading more of the authors series even re reading from my own collections. Am re reading all of Lillian Jackson Braun “cat who…” books and it is like she is still writing since I haven’t re read her in a few years.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Suzanne, your commented just reminded me it’s still winter. Enjoy your reading!
Anne says
Depending on the author, I will space them out, but with Anne George, when I found her, they were so hilarious (I could relate totally) I read them all in order one after the other. There are some others that I’ve come across like that as well. If the series is not as easy reading, then I need to space them.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Anne, Anne George is an author I plan to re-read in the future. It has been so long since I read them that they will probably seem brand new to me. (Wow, it’s almost twenty years since I started reading them! That is hard to believe!)
Mel says
Not only do I have to read them in order,I read them all at once.Then I go through withdrawal , waiting for the next one : ( !
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Mel, I know the feeling you’re talking about when you catch up to one of your favorite author and then have to wait.
Angela says
I’ll admit to being a little OCD when it comes to my book reading habits. I have to read a series in order, it bugs me not to! As for reading a series straight through, typically when I find a new to me author with a large series I will space it out but I set a timetable for finishing, in other words I’ll read one or two a month until I am caught up with the series. The only exception to this is when a series is complete, meaning no new books are being published. That usually pertains to the older series such as Christie, I still haven’t read all of her books and I will read one or two a year to make the experience last longer. (I’m still sitting on my last Jane Austen book because I don’t want to face that fact that I will never again experience a first read of one of her classics! lol) With current series’ I have found that I have burned out on the series after a few books and I do wonder if I had spaced them out more if I would have been more tolerant of all the things that bugged me so much I decided to stop reading the series. But ultimately I figure there are so many books out there to discover and by dropping one series I just made room for another one that I will potentially enjoy so much more than the one I just dropped so either way I win. To take the question further, how many of us go back to a dropped series years later and find that we do like it?
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Angela, I have a good friend who shares a lot of my favorite authors. She has persuaded me twice to go back to an author who I finally decided to drop. Both times, she was absolutely sure I was going to add these authors right back to my favorite authors lists. Nope! The same things that caused me to drop the authors kept me from enjoying them.
(By the way, I think this will make a great topic in the future. Good question. Thank you!)