For Readers Who Like Mystery Series

                                                       

Many authors write mystery series moving the protagonist from one adventure, or misadventure, to another. When we enjoy a book of this type, we often want to read more. The author has created a character that we like, one we perhaps can relate to, and one with whom we want to spend more time.

I first got hooked on the mystery series books when, at age 10, I started reading the Nancy Drew mysteries written by Carolyn Keene, the pen name of Mildred Wirt Benson. My husband read all the Hardy Boys mysteries written by Franklin W. Dixon when he was a child. We both continue to read mysteries to this day.

Two of my favorites are Charles Todd's Ian Rutledge series and Louise Penny's books that feature Inspector Armand Gamache of Montreal. Both have been extremely popular, although I think Louise Penny's books are the more commonly known. Still, if anyone reads a Charles Todd mystery, he/she is likely to go back for more. 

Charles Todd is actually a mother/son writing team. Their character, Ian Rutledge, is a Scotland Yard Inspector in the early years after WWI. Rutledge fought in France and arrived home suffering from what we now know as PTSD. He had to shoot one of his soldiers while in France, and the man has never left his mind. Hamish goes with Rutledge on all his assignments, making both good and bad comments throughout an investigation. Sound weird? Well, it works. Even though the Inspector's job is in London, many of his cases take him to small villages in England. The reader follows the clues right along with him and tries to work out the mystery. A combination of Mystery and Historical Fiction. Charles Todd has another series about Bess Crawford, an English nurse in WWI. Also well done.

Louise Penny takes her readers on many an adventure with Armand Gamache and the many regular characters that appear in the books. Among them are Jean-Guy Beauvoir, his assistant detective, his wife Reine-Marie, and several memorable characters in the small village of Three Pines who appear in many of the books. The village itself is a character. Louise Penny has mastered the art of storytelling and keeping her readers interest as a mystery evolves. Her readers can hardly wait for the next book in the series.

There are a great many other mystery series that are from way back and ones that are current. To name only a few:  Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple. They are all from series written in the 1800s and early 1900s. Another well-known author of contemporary mysteries is Daniel Silva who writes about Israeli spy-art restorer, Gabriel Allon. Fascinating and suspenseful. 

When you read a mystery series, do you have to begin with Book 1 and move on with each book in succession? It's probably helpful but not fully necessary. The authors generally put enough background story to allow a reader of Book 12 to know what has happened to the protagonist in the earlier books. It's not always possible to read the books in perfect order. One thing I find is that, when there is a reference to an earlier book or experience the main character has had, it makes me want to go back and read the earlier books. 

We come to know the character well. His/her habits, fears, loves, friends, and more. He/she becomes almost a friend after we have read several books in a series. We fear for them. We cheer for them. We care about them. The author has a difficult job in keeping us interested in the character and devising new mysteries to be solved. I greatly admire them.

Will all mystery series appeal to all readers? No. If you read one book in a series and it leaves you ok but not wanting to pursue any others, that's alright. Authors who write these kinds of books are ones who write character-driven stories. Not all people appeal to us and neither will all characters in one of these mystery series. 

Do you have a particular favorite mystery series? Share in the comments section if you would like to recommend a series to other readers.