Cozy Mysteries discussion

Juliet wrote: "Do you guys buy kindle books that have a low price? I kind of feel like if they are under $7.00, or so, that they may not end up being too good. Even the ones that are free, if they have a regular ..."

I've only read 5 books so far on my Fire and have enjoyed all of them. The most expensive one was $3.99. One was $.99 and the other 3 were free. One of the free ones is one of the best books I've read this year. I refuse to pay more than $3.99 for an electronic book. I feel I'm being ripped off at a higher price point than that as I essentially have nothing to show for my money. If a book is more than that I buy the actual book and turnaround and sell it on eBay. Ends up costing me usually about 1/2 and sometimes less than if I did the electronic thing with no way to recoup any of what it would have cost.

I only buy ebooks on sale or free. I am pretty picky about the amount of reviewers and ratings though.

Melodie wrote: "One of the free ones is one of the best books I've read this year. "

Which one??? :)

❂ Jennifer wrote: "Melodie wrote: "One of the free ones is one of the best books I've read this year. "

Which one??? :)"

! It's a YA, and after a long string of mediocre YA's I thought this one was excellent!

Melodie wrote: "❂ Jennifer wrote: "Melodie wrote: "One of the free ones is one of the best books I've read this year. "

Which one??? :)"

! It's a YA, and after a long string of m..."

Loved it! I got it for 99 cents!

Not only Kindle books, ebooks in different format which have a low price. Quality and price are not related at all.

I've bought several free and cheap (<$3)Kindle ebooks that I've really enjoyed.

I am always adding to my archives. Free or less than $2.99. Now they are bringing out some of the older books like John Jakes. Then there is the duo buy the kindle book and get the audio for a reduced price.

I was able to get 27 classics value of $600 for $.00 both kindle and audio. Can't wait to use them in the challenges.

I used to get anything that was free-now I check to see if it's something I like. I got a Dana Stabenow for like .99

Price doesn't have any effect on whether I will like a book or not. Over-priced Kindle books are the ones I skip - if I really want to read it, I will get it from the library or buy the hardcover if I want to keep it (and most of those I buy used).
A lot of times when an author has a new book in a series, the previous book(s) will be free or cheap just to get you into the series or the author. I just don't see the price of a book indicating the value of it at all.

I refuse to pay more than $5 for an ebook.** So yes I buy cheap ebooks. Since I got my Kindle a year ago 12 of my print TBR books have popped up as freebies. Several are available in ebook for under $2 but I've resisted the temptation to rebuy them. At least 10 of my paperbackswap WL books have popped up as Kindle freebies.

Don't write off a book because it's cheap. If the book interests you, send a sample to your Kindle. The samples are usually the prologue, if there is one and most if not all of the first chapter.

**I will pay more than $5 for an ebook if it's lendable or a bundle of 2 or more books.

I think I've only paid for 3 kindle ebooks so far. And it really upset me too because less than 24 hours after I paid $5.99 for an ebook was it then offered for FREE! ARGH!

I spend my money on dead tree books. I just prefer them and I tend to buy used books. I got the cheapest kindle just so I could read all the free books I was getting for it. Most I've read were good. Many were older, some were to introduce you to authors you may not have been familiar with.

I have a Nook, not a Kindle...but yes, I do buy books that are cheap. I get *so* frustrated in paying almost the same exact price for an ebook as a paperback or more. Not that I've paid more, refuse to do that on principle - but it's just irritating to see that. I browse the B&N "under $5" section. I don't always have a lot of luck, but sometimes I get lucky.

I do have the Kindle app on my iPhone, and will only do free books for that.

A lot of the less expensive and free books could be small press/self-published authors, but that doesn't necessarily mean bad storytelling or that the author isn't a grammatically capable writer. Don't the big name publishers prefer trend over variety? For instance jillions of books about the Tudor Court to the general exclusion of other less common settings (in hist. fiction) versus varied settings and periods from smaller press authors who are probably as good as the big name ones.

Cheryl wrote: "Price doesn't have any effect on whether I will like a book or not. Over-priced Kindle books are the ones I skip - if I really want to read it, I will get it from the library or buy the hardcover ..."

O would agree exactly.

Karen wrote: "Cheryl wrote: "Price doesn't have any effect on whether I will like a book or not. Over-priced Kindle books are the ones I skip - if I really want to read it, I will get it from the library or buy..."

Ignore my previous reply, Karen! :)

I've brought books at $9.99 on the Kindle. Usually it is from a series of an establish author and the wait list is too long at the library. Do I make a habit of purchasing books at that price? No way. I only buy 1 or 2 books at that price. I prefer the actual paperback instead.

However, I've purchased many books, several a month for under $4. That seems to be my price point. When it is a new author for me, I like getting the first one for free. I love books in a series and am a loyal series reader if the books are good.

Price is not a reflection of good writing. As a matter of fact, sometimes I prefer the indie publisher because as a budding novelist, I know how hard it is to get your manuscript published. In addition, they also publish their next book faster which is a plus for me. There have been series that I followed for over a decade and sometimes I get tired of waiting for the next one. However, most new authors only get one shot with me. If they don't impress me with the first book I pick up, it is usually the last book from them for me.

One of the best things about my Nook is the incredible amount of free works by new authors. I found some astounding books and met some wonderful writers because of them.

I buy cheap books for my Kindle and have found many great writers I've never heard of (Ann Charles, for example). Many of the freebies have also turned out to be terrific reads.

Books4Chicks wrote: "Do you guys buy kindle books that have a low price? I kind of feel like if they are under $7.00, or so, that they may not end up being too good. Even the ones that are free, if they have a regular ..."

The only eBooks I buy (at nearly any price) are books by authors I know I will like and will most likely want to keep to re-read. All of my new-to-me authors come from either free downloads to my Kindle or from the library.

The much wider choices I've had in the year I've had my Kindle have not been kind to my book budget, however. In the 5 years before I had the Kindle, I added just 3 'new to me' authors to my auto buy list from library books.

In the one year I've had my Kindle, I've added 5 new authors to my 'must buy' list and I'm waiting for new ones to come out. They are rarely on the free lists now, but vary between $2.99 and $7.99 as far as pricing goes.

The only ones that are higher priced that I buy are the ones by well established authors that have been on my buy list for years ... John Sandford, Mercedes Lackey, Lois Bujold are three of them.

Sharon wrote: "Books4Chicks wrote: "Do you guys buy kindle books that have a low price? I kind of feel like if they are under $7.00, or so, that they may not end up being too good. Even the ones that are free, if..."

I have a Nook Color, a Kindle Fire, and iPad 1 and the Nook and Kindle apps on my phone as well as both computers. So far I have yet to pay more than $2.99 for a book. I have found some real crap and some gems who make it on my 'read future titles by this author list'.

I am cheap by nature. I shop at used book stores and make it a point to hit the $1 racks every time I am in. To me, cheap is good and if it is a good read, then it is even better.

@Kenneth -- you just described me! Before I moved to my current location, I used to visit the local used bookstore & go through the 10 books for a dollar bins...

Sure, I buy Kindle books that are cheap, but not because they are cheap. I pass up many free ones and cheap ones. Since Kindle (and other venues) provide a chapter or two to read before you decide, I read until I'm either bored, decide it's nothing special, or I'm so involved I discover I'm about to read chapter 2. In the last case, I buy the book. And I've discovered great books that way, despite the author.

Yes, I buy Kindle books. I have bought goods ones free or very inexpensive.

Yes! There are some really good ones for a $3.99 or less!

Norma wrote: "Sure, I buy Kindle books that are cheap, but not because they are cheap. I pass up many free ones and cheap ones. Since Kindle (and other venues) provide a chapter or two to read before you decide,..."

I love the sample feature. I still have a stack of unread paperbacks I brought years ago because of the back cover description, but only to find out 2-3 chapters later that I've bored. But since they are new and unread books, I don't want to donate it to the library yet. I'm so glad those days are over for me.

I don't buy Kindle ebooks because they are cheap. It's whether the book is one I want to read. My time is valuable and I won't waste it on a book just because it's cheap. There are lots of promotional offers for first in a series or older books making them available for free or at a lower price. And lots of classics are free downloads. There's no correlation between quality and price.

Like others, my price point reflects why I bought a Kindle. My reasons were space related: I was making frequent trips and wanted to take multiple books without the weight of carrying them. Also, I live in a condo and books occupy a significant amount of space in my home. Space and price are both important for me.

FYI - Here is a site that will email you when the price drops on a book you want. www.ereaderiq.com

Yes, I read a lot of low-cost or free Kindle books. I've discovered some good, new writers. Some REALLY good ones. Don't be afraid to give them a try.

there is an author forum thread on amazon that lists free kindle mysteries almost daily, if you want to take a chance on them. my own mysteries are listed for $2.99 on all retailers. like Nell who posted in Nov., I am reluctant to read freebies, ofen finding them worth about that. But, for a limited time to get exposure most new ebook authors do give their book away. my 1st was on freebooks.com at the recommendation of my publisher, and did well. now that I'm meeting other authors, I give many of their books a try but do not want to pay too much, because frankly some of them are disappointing. not all, mind you. if I'm not buying a book from an author I've already gotten attached to, I'm reluctant to pay a lot.

MaryJo wrote: "there is an author forum thread on amazon that lists free kindle mysteries almost daily, if you want to take a chance on them. my own mysteries are listed for $2.99 on all retailers. like Nell wh..."
I will have to find this thread on amazon. Thank you.

You can find some treasures in the free category. I got hooked by the Myrtle Clover Mystery series that way. I'm very picky on what I choose. I read the reviews closely. I do not like tons of foul language, sex, or over-rated romance.

ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ wrote: "I think I've only paid for 3 kindle ebooks so far. And it really upset me too because less than 24 hours after I paid $5.99 for an ebook was it then offered for FREE! ARGH!

I spend my money on dea..."

Amazon has a 7 day return period. I have the same problem but as long as I love the book and it is by and author I like, I just "darn it" and keep going. Usually I have already gotten at least on book by that author for free or I wouldn't be buying this one, so it seems fair.

Books4Chicks wrote: "Do you guys buy kindle books that have a low price? I kind of feel like if they are under $7.00, or so, that they may not end up being too good. Even the ones that are free, if they have a regular ..."

On Amazon Kensington seems to have figured out what the Smashwords model has shown us for two years. They make the most money in the 2.99-5.99 range because that is where books sell. Unfortunately Kensington has only lowered their prices from 7.99 to 5.99 at Amazon and I buy my JD Robb books from Amazon. Darn it!

Not only are my two newer favorite authors (and many more near the top now)in the $2.99 range, many of the bigger names that I own, I got on sale. Once I read a book by an author I like, I am hooked and have to space them out to keep within my budget.

My favorite,JD Nixon, offers the first of both of her series (not cozy mysteries) for free and doesn't want to raise her prices above $2.99 because she wants people to be able to afford them.

Shelly Fredman's books, not quite cozy mysteries but close enough most of you would love them, are $2.99 and the first one is $. 99, I think. I have read each of the three series for these two authors at least 4 times and now days don't reread as much as I did before I got my Kindle. Already had a Nook.

I am retired so every penny counts and I love books, even in eformat. Since I have problems holding paperbacks, used books are seldom and option so I am grateful for the authors who or publishers who offer their books for free or reduced prices.

Kathleen wrote: "You can find some treasures in the free category. I got hooked by the Myrtle Clover Mystery series that way. I'm very picky on what I choose. I read the reviews closely. I do not like tons of foul ..."

Me too on all of your points, including Myrtle Clover.

All the time! I rarely buy a book priced over $7. The majority of money I've spent this year on books has been from buying the complete catalogs of authors who I read first as a free download. Nothing ruins a book more for me than paying over $4 and being disappointed in the quality. The majority of publisher books are now priced at $5.99. And honestly when I go through my reading log it is the Big 5 publisher books that have more editing errors. The high cost has soured me on a lot of authors, because they just keep putting out the same tried and true stories with only the names changed. I very much prefer the lower priced books that tend to display more creativity and thinking outside the box plot lines.

Besides Amazon and B &N where could i buy cheap ebooks?(any format)

no sorry:(

I read most of my books on my Nook. I do have the kindle app though and only download free ones from amazon.

Salisa wrote: "Besides Amazon and B &N where could i buy cheap ebooks?(any format)"

Try Smashwords.

Salisa wrote: "Besides Amazon and B&N where could I buy cheap ebooks?"

You can also find a lot of free books, especially classics (but not exclussively), at Project Gutenberg

i am more interested in the book, so I have paid anywhere from cheap to 11 bucks. But i only gets books i really want for my ereader

Heather L wrote: "Salisa wrote: "Besides Amazon and B&N where could I buy cheap ebooks?"

You can also find a lot of free books, especially classics (but not exclussively), at Project Gutenberg"

Public domain books (pre-1925 or so) are available at Project Gutenberg and several other websites (feedbooks is another good one).

Personally, I resent paying more than a few dollars for Kindle books as I don't actually own them (can't leave them to someone in your will, can't give them to another, etc.). Basically you are renting the book...