I have recently been “trying out” new authors, in hopes of finding a few authors who I can add to my “Favorite Authors” list. Unfortunately, I have hit a few snafoos… which has me going back and revisiting authors who I really like, but who I have (for some reason) put on a type of “hold.” These are authors whose books I own, and whose books are sitting on my TBR (To Be Read) bookshelves.
When I get recommendations from site readers I add the authors to my list of authors to post, and when I finally get to their names, I do some research and then make up their pages. A lot of the time there are authors who look like they will be really good matches for my taste in mystery books. So even though I am a very slow reader these days, I put those authors who truly look interesting (to me, that is!) on my “authors to try” short list. Unfortunately, some of the time I find an author or two who I simply cannot read. I know I have said this before, but if the author can’t grab my attention in (+/-) the first fifty pages, then I feel like it simply is NOT going to happen.
Anyway, I have decided that it is time for me to go with the “tried and true” authors (for me, that is!) so I will be reading three authors who I have really enjoyed in the past, but for some reason I haven’t read in a while: Susan Wittig Albert, Carola Dunn, and Monica Ferris. All three are authors who I started reading YEARS ago… All three are authors who I revisited throughout the years, but for some reason, never read their series all the way through. I wonder if the reason I never “caught up” with these authors is because I always wanted to have books in my TBR bookshelf that I knew I would enjoy.
Do you have authors who you have “saved for a rainy day?“ Author who you know will pull you into their novels and make you want to read, read, and read?
Alfred says
Hi Danna, am saving Emily Brightwell and Hazel Holt to read – have all of them in the series. I am working on my third Monica Ferris novel since I emailed you my letter but completed all of Kate Collins Flower Shop books, as well as Joanna Carl’s Chocolate Shop series. One I forgot – finished all of Laura Childs Tea Shop series and Lorna Barrett’s books as well. Take Care.
Anne says
I just tried a new author who didn’t grab me and my grandson (bless his young heart) said if it isn’t a pleasure pitch it. So I did. And started yet another new author but this one has me well pleased. I also have a few tried and true that always please. One is Donna Andrews. Another is Debbie Macomber the Cedar Cove Series. Even though it isn’t considered a mystery it does have some mystery in the story and I love them.
A.F. Heart says
I have many such authors.
Christine Goff Birdwatcher’s Mysteries I feel confident I will like, but just haven’t gotten to them. Also the James Patterson Women’s Murder Club – I know I am probably going to love those and I keep meaning to start with book 1 and just have not gotten to them.
Perhaps this will spur into action!!
A.F. Heart
http://mysterysuspence.blogspot.com/
Jeanne says
I have many, but I will name just a few:
My all time favorite is Victoria Thompson’s Gaslight series
Also, Maggie Sefton knitting series
Leslie Meier
Cleo Coyle CoffeeHouse
Kate Kingsbury Pennyfoot Hotel
I could go on and on……. 🙂
Laura says
Danna: You are so right about the 50 page rule. If the book doesn’t grab you by then, forget it! There are so many other really good books to read. I have a lot of favorites, but what I like about your website is that I have been introduced to so many new mystery series. I definitely want to try the “Gaslight” series next.
Petie says
I think my all time favorite is Lilian Jackson Braun’s CAT WHO series. I’m in the process of re-reading all of them. But since those are ‘history’, I’m thoroughly enjoying Nancy Atherton’s AUNT DIMITY series (have them all so far – have read first four) and Leslie Meier’s LUCY STONE and Joanne Fluke’s HANNAH SWENSON. Always buy their latest & set them aside to ‘savor’ when I can.
Paul says
We make frequent all-day road trips so we listen to mysteries on CDs rather than read them. We can’t get enough of Sue Henry’s mysteries based in Alaska and down the Alaska highway. My wife was a middle-school librarian for 15 years and found the Anthony Horowitz series of Alex Rider mysteries about a 14-year-old British spy – terrifically fast paced for the kids but very addictive – makes you want to keep on going to find out what happens next, and there is a cohesive story about Alex that runs through the series. I visited this site to find another mystery series for the next trip.
Misa Ramirez says
I hope you don’t give up on new authors altogether! When I get in a rut, I always go back to the classic Agatha Christie, Charlaine Harris, especially her Aurora Teagarden series, and Julia Quinn (who’s not mystery, but always fun). My other trick is to read outside my normal reading choices–like women’s fiction.
Pat says
Three of my all time favorites unfortunately are no longer living… or writing, Patricia Moyes, Anne George and Dorothy Gilman but I think that I will reread all of Patricia Moyes since she was the one who first introduced me to the “cozy” type of mysteries in the 60’s although I did not know at the time that that was a genre. I have enjoyed all of M.C. Beaton’s “Hamish McBeth” series as well as Braun’s “The Cat Who”. I have put aside the Donna Andrews, Joanna Carl, Rhys Bowen and Laura Childs books and will start reading them while reading the new Coyle, Atherton, and a few other – not so cozy – mystery authors as their newest books are released. So many books, so little time 🙂
Dru says
I have several cozy mystery authors that I enjoy reading and will re-read Donna Andrews, Lorna Barrett, Jennie Bentley, to name a few. I do love discovering new-to-me authors and this year most were cozy-mystery authors.
Molly says
I always save the Pennsylvania Dutch mysteries by Tamar Myers for tried and true. There’s always something in them to make me smile.
Edie says
Susan Wittig Albert, of course, is always a favorite. I am looking forward to Wormwood, but will wait for a while to read it. Also on the bookshelf list is the newest Cleo Coyle, Holiday Grind. That book will wait for a cold day in Michigan and a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows. I also have a Laura Childs book on the shelf that I haven’t yet read. I’m looking forward to a cozy winter!