I have often been asked (by Cozy Mystery site readers) if a particular author has stopped writing his/her mystery series, or not. Lilian Jackson Braun is probably the author who has been asked about the most. There are so many fans who miss Quill, Koko, and YumYum…
This whole question about Cozy Mystery authors stopping a mystery series without “wrapping up” all of the story lines got me thinking… I wonder how many people wish that one of their favorite authors hadn’t stopped writing his/her mystery books. So, today I am asking this question:
If you could add one last book to a Cozy Mystery series, what series would that be, and why?
I am going to start the ball rolling with Anne George‘s Southern Sisters Mystery Series. I believe that I would never have gotten tired of the Mouse and Sister duo. These two sister-sleuths are truly believable opposites who solve crimes while really appreciating each other. The humor in these mystery books is present, without it being forced, which is one of my top peeves in any book I read. I love humor sprinkled throughout my books, but when an author tries too hard to be funny>>> he/she loses me FAST!
If you could add one last book to a Cozy Mystery series, what series would that be, and why?
Marti says
I am a great fan of Agatha Christie. If she could have written one more book, I would have loved to see Miss Marple meet Hercule Poirot.
I think that could have been a lot of fun.
Marianne says
This is a little off-topic, but I really dread when Sue Grafton reaches “Z.” I love her books and Kinsey Milhone. Hate to think about them ending!
Ann says
I find that after a while I get the sense that the authors of series that go on for five books or more are fulfilling a quota rather than enjoying the journey. I must admit though that I have stayed with Sue Grafton through her series and every book is fresh and inviting.
Ann
http://www.cozyintexas.blogspot.com
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
Virginia Lanier wrote books that weren’t terribly cozy, but I always wished she had been able to write at least one more. She did an awesome job of wrapping things up in the last book she wrote, but I can’t help but feel that in some ways it was unfinished–those characters still had so much room to grow.
On the other hand, I was very glad when Elizabeth Peters wrote a final Vicky Bliss book. Boy, do I feel lucky she did! I had missed Vicky over the years and while it is never quite the same to go back to a series so long left behind…I am so glad she wrote that last book.
Leslie says
I loved Virginia Lanier’s books. If you haven’t read the bloodhound books, you really should!
Angela says
hmmm…do I see another list coming? Cozy series that have ended? I really liked Christine Goff’s “bird” series and wish she had done a few more.
Maria (BearMountainBooks) says
I also wished for a sequel to “Escape to Witch Mountain” and more Mary Poppins!!!
I’m not sure if those count as cozies, but I always wanted more!!!
Stephanie says
That’s a great question!
Hmm… I guess I’d have to cheat and go with a book that wasn’t a series at all: An English Murder by Cyril Hare. It was the only book he wrote that wasn’t part of a series, and I really could’ve used some more country house mysteries from him.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marti, that really would have been fun… Poirot and Miss Marple meeting. Who knows! With the liberties that some of Christie’s television shows have recently been taking, we might just see them working together… in a Tommy and Tuppence book!
Marianne, I am guessing that there are a lot of Grafton fans who are also wondering how she is going to wrap it up in her “Z” book. Maybe she’ll go to another system… perhaps Roman numerals? (The “V” would be extremely easy to work into a title…)
Maria, it sounds like both of your authors (Elizabeth Peters and Virginia Lanier) were able to provide a final wrap-up to their series. Now that a lot of publishers are dropping authors, I have a feeling that we are going to be finding more and more series left dangling…
Ann, I always have a difficult time dropping an author who I feel is “fulfilling a quota” rather than writing a good mystery. I keep thinking that I’ll read one more book, hoping that it will be back up to par with the author’s previous books. It rarely works out that way, and I finally end up dropping the author. It makes me rather sad when I have to attach my “YUCK” rating next to an author who gave me so many hours of fun reading.
Thanks, Leslie. Sounds like you and Maria really like Lanier’s work!
No, Angela, this will definitely not be a new theme. But, it would be interesting to find out which authors (or in the case with many authors, their publishers!) are retiring their sleuths.
Stephanie, I have all of Cyril Hare’s mysteries right upstairs in my TBR bookshelf, and am really looking forward to reading them. Not having read them, I can’t tell you if any of them take place in a country house.
JoAnn says
There are a couple of series that both my sister and I really miss, the first is the “Molly Doyle” series by Elaine Flinn and the other was Chief Sue Wren series by Charlene Weir. I really loved these characters and miss them. Can anyone find out what happened?
Leah says
I would love to have so many more of the Julian Kestrel mysteries by Kate Ross.
Maureen says
I don’t know where else to put my question about a book that I’m looking for so I hope this is alright? I read a cozy sometime last year and can’t remember what the title is. I’d like to read another in the series and I looked through your culinary cozies but didn’t see it. The main female character was divorced and had a young man living in her house that wouldn’t couldn’t eat and she would cook different foods to tempt him to eat. I believe she had a son and his father was accused of murder. Boy my memory is awful or maybe the book was awful. Does anyone remember the author or the series? Thank you so much!
Judith says
I recall that there was a sequel to Escape to Witch Mountain – although it may just have been a novelization of the second movie (Return from Witch Mountain).
I also enjoy the Molly Doyle books, but I believe the author died a couple years ago.
Lenita says
I’m longing for more books in the Thoroughly Southern series by Patricia Sprinkle. Ms. Sprinkle is writing other series books, but I miss MacLaren and Joe Riddley Yarbrough like I miss old friends.
Kathryn says
The last Jeanne M. Dams – DOROTHY MARTIN Mysteries was in 2004. The author went on to write 2 Hilda Johannson mysteries. It seems to be a truth about mystery authors that just because you love a series, that is no assurance that you will like their other series. That was true for me in this case.
I was always sorry that there were no new Dorothy Martin mysteries and thought I’d include them in this list and got a real shock when I went to Amazon and found this new book.
A Dark and Stormy Night (Dorothy Martin) by Jeanne M. Dams (Hardcover – Apr 1, 2011)
It is rare in life that I get my wishes answered. This was a nice surprise and will be worth the wait. So, never mind!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
JoAnn and Maureen, I am going to go write an entry (today) asking for help on finding answers for your “mysteries”…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Thank you, Kathryn, for telling us about Jeanne M. Dams’ new Dorothy Martin mystery. I just added it to my New Releases list for April 2011.
Thanks, again!
Maggie says
I would love to see another Dorothy Gilman book out. I loved her series with the intrepid Emily Polifax, senior citizen spy!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I spent so many wonderful hours listening to my Emily Polifax tapes. I was sad when I finished the last one…
Carrie says
Although I can understand why an author might want to move away from a series and write about new characters and places. It is always sad when a well loved series comes to an end. For instance I was really sorry when David Roberts decided to end his Lord Edward Corinth and Verity Browne murder mystery series.
However, maybe it is just as well that authors finish their series of books, at least that way we all have more time to sample other authors of cozy mysteries!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Carrie, you make a good point about it being nice when an author is given the chance to end a series. Unfortunately, it seems like more and more authors are being dropped by their publishers, and have to leave their characters dangling. I just heard from a Cozy Mystery author who had that very thing happen to her. She did, however, tell me that she was going to continue writing her mystery series and provide the books as “e-books” so that her readers could continue to enjoy her Cozies.
Karen says
I miss the Amanda Pepper series by Gillian Roberts. Surely she could find new mysteries to solve after she moved away with CK.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Karen, have you read the letter that Gillian Roberts posted on her site’s home page? (I’ve included the link.) It’s truly a touching farewell to Amanda, and Roberts’ reasons for retiring Amanda are commendable… I wish more authors would end their mystery series while their characters are still fresh and interesting!
Tassia says
I really wish that Rett MacPherson would continue her series! I started with “The Blood Ballad” and then began again at the beginning of the series only to discover that the first book I read was the last! So bummed.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
I have quite a few authors of whom I feel the same way, Tassia… especially when there are so many authors who are busy putting out their (+/-) mystery!