Mysteries in a Series – In Order or No?
by Mary Lee Ashford aka 1/2 of Sparkle Abbey
When asked most authors will say that each book stands alone and that they don’t neccessarly need to be read in order. And, of course, that’s the goal, right?
Whether it’s the tenth book in the series or the first, the goal of the writer is always to create a story that can stand on it’s own. A self-contained adventure that doesn’t rely on the reader knowing something that’s not on the page in the installment they’re reading.
Many well-known authors with long-running series, such as the late Sue Grafton with twenty-five books from “A is for Alibi” to “Y is for Yesterday” or Janet Evanovich, who is headed for her twenty-sixth Stepanie Plum novel, have purposely created story arcs (and character arcs) of limited changes.
Others such as G.A. McKevett aka Sonja Massie, author of over seventy books, defty uses life changes and character growth to add richness to her plots. Her latest “And the Killer Is…” is on my bedside table right now.
And then there’s yet another approach. The inimitable Laura Levine, simply tells you, the reader, in an aside what you need to know. “You’ll have to read about when that happened in…” And though I was always taught that author intrusion is something to be avoided at all costs. I’ll be darned if it doesn’t work just fine when she does it.
You know, I have to say that I enjoy each of these different approaches to storytelling.
But I also have to admit that my preference is always to read a series in order. I like getting to know the people and the places as the series unfolds. Occasionally, I have started with a book that was in the middle of a series. Usually because a friend has shared it or it was part of a conference giveaway. But if I really enjoyed the story, I’m going to track down book one and start at the beginning. Otherwise, to me anyway, it would seem like starting with season three of Downton Abbey or any other great continuing television series. I want to be a part of the story from the beginning.
Is it just me?
How about you? Are you a reader that always wants to read a series in order or do you not care about reading the books strictly in order?
Mary Lee Ashford writes the Sugar & Spice mystery series for Kensington Books and also writes as half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey, authors of the Pampered Pets series from Bell Bridge Books.
GAME OF SCONES is the first book in the Sugar & Spice series.
DESPERATE HOUSEDOGS is the first book in the Pampered Pets series.
Leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for both of these “first in the series” titles. Or if you already have them both, any book you’re missing in either series!
I am obsessive about reading a series in order. If I happen to end up with a book out of order, I save it until I catch-up. I like to see how the character grows over the course of the series. cking78503(at)aol(dot)com
I agree, Chris. I like to see that character growth. It makes the story even more enjoyable!
I do both but I prefer to read the series in order. For example, Stephen King wrote the Shining and now I'm reading Doctor Sleep the continuation of the story.
Juliana, I also do both but like you my preference is in order. The Sue Grafton novels I mentioned I have read out of order when I first started reading them but then realized that there were situational things that made much more sense with the backstory.
There is a pet series?! Wow I'm now in heaven.
I like to read books in order and if I encounter a book that is in the middle, I will read the previous book. Of course, that is if the book is #3 or #4.
I read a series in order. Otherwise, I might miss an important fact about a character.
I often start a series out of order because of availability. But, if I like it enough, I will go back and read previous in the series.
browninggloria(at)hotmail(dot)com
I always read books in series in order. I feel like I'll miss something if I read them out of order.
diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com