Series vs Stand Alone

[[deleted user]]

I'm about a third of the way into "A" and really enjoying it - I like Kinsey's down-to-earth, straight forward personality!

[Karen]

I like series reads but I will break up a series with a stand alone read every few books. I like to see what other authors have to offer. I also like to give my mind a break from the charaters. I always return to the series in the end.

[[deleted user]]

Robert B. Parker's SPLIT IMAGE will be out on Feb. 23 - A Jesse Stone novel, with Sunny Randall. Bless him for leaving us some new books!

[Barb H]

I just finished, Night and Day, Parker's Jesse Stone character. What a pleasure it was to chuckle along with this mystery. It's the 2nd 2009 book that I read by him this month. I discovered another 2010, Blue Eyed Devil and a 2008 that I missed, The Boxer and the Spy!

[Vanessa]

I just finished U is for Undertow and I really liked it. Kinsey was extra hilarious in this one; or maybe it just seems that way because I missed her and forgot how funny she is. I love her in the first person. I can't remember how many times she commented about rolling her eyes, but I'd laugh every time. I loved the end; it made me smile. Her character has progressed, but I feel these can be read a little out of order, without too much problem. I think I started with S, and then began with A after that. Eventually returning to the beginning is always good for enjoying an excellent series.

[Barb H]

Agreed, Vanessa! As I have said to you on another thread about this book, I hope Grafton doesn't do away with her after "Z". I can't picture either Sue Grafton or Kinsey retiring!

[Bernadette]

I've just finished T is for Trespass, was up until 2:30AM it was so great:) Starting U is for Undertow today. I just started this series with a QRST bundle on my Kindle and I absolutely love Kinsey. It makes me happy to know I've got A-P waiting for me. I think I tend to read series but occasionally like stand alone books. The only series I quit was the Alex Delaware, Johnathann Kellerman books. I love Stephen White's Dr. Alan Gregory novels and his book The Siege was a wonderful spin off of one of the characters, a kind of stand alone book. I'm hoping he actually starts a new series based on Sam Purdy!

[Vanessa]

Bernadette,

Thanks for mentioning the Alan Gregory novels; I had never even heard of this author before, and they look interesting. I will definitely try them out!!

[Kathy]

Vanessa wrote: "I just finished U is for Undertow and I really liked it. Kinsey was extra hilarious in this one; or maybe it just seems that way because I missed her and forgot how funny she is. I l..."

Vanessa, I thought U is for Undertow was one of the best ones yet in the series. I agree that Kinsey was especially fun in this one.

[Kathy]

A cozy mystery series that I've enjoyed lately is M.C. Beaton's Hamish Macbeth series set in Scotland.

[Susan]

I also love to read series books. I like cozy and am just getting into thriller books.

[Vanessa]

Kathy wrote: "Vanessa wrote: "I just finished U is for Undertow and I really liked it. Kinsey was extra hilarious in this one; or maybe it just seems that way because I missed her and forgot how f..."

Kathy, I totally agree!!

[L.J.]

I love Leslie Glass' Detective April Woo series too. And John Sandford's Lucas Davenport, and Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch. I love standalone thrillers too. I enjoy writing a series for the familiarity of all the characters, then breaking out with a single thriller just for a change of pace. There's no reason to stick to one or the other.

[Mike]

Favorite series:
Jonathan Stride by Brian Freeman
Harry Bosch by Michael Connelly
Lincoln Rhyme by Jeffery Deaver
Kenzie & Gennaro by Dennis Lehane


Favorite stand alone author:
John Hart

Jeffery Deaver can write a good ones in-between series books

Overall, I prefer a series because I think an author can do alot more with the characters.

[Terri]

Just finished It Happened One Knife by Jeffrey Cohen. Very entertaining

[Kaye]

Westbankmama wrote: "I am so happy someone finally mentioned Reginald Hill. I absolutely love the Dalziel and Pascoe series and just finished "Death Comes for the Fat Man"."


Just finished Midnight Fugue and it was very good too.

[Kaye]

Sandra wrote: "I'm always looking for new authors. I like a strong female protagonist. (Surprise!) Way toward the top of this string, I see some authors I've never read -- Leslie Glass & Michelle Martinez -- a..."

Oh, I so loved the Ann George books. The two sisters are so different and yes definitely laugh out loud books.

[Linda]

Do try Michelle Martinez. I like a strong in-charge female (I really hate the "wounded" ones) too and this series has that.