Cozy Mystery Corner discussion

I was at my local library looking for some of the new authrs/ series that i have read about here and am now interested in and I get frustrated because they almost never seem to have book one in a series, so I end up reading out of order. In some series this doesn't really seem to matter, but in others i think I miss things because of the development of the characters/relationships over time. I was wondering do you always read in order? How important is it? Do you think it differs frm series to series? For instance, I started reading Agatha Raisen books, not in order and for a couple it was okay then later in the series I realized I was missing things. Meanwhile, I have read Joanne Fluke's series out of order and it doesn't really bother me, primarily because it doesn't seem like the love triangle will ever be resolved.

I always read series in order. I find that the character development is something that is important to me and you can't follow it if you don't start at the beginning.

I normally try to read a series in order. I also find that if a new book in the series comes out, I like to go back to the beginning of a series, and read everything through to prepare for the new book.

Virginia wrote: "I normally try to read a series in order. I also find that if a new book in the series comes out, I like to go back to the beginning of a series, and read everything through to prepare for the new..."

That is what I am doing right now with the Miss Zukas series. It has been so long since I read the others that I want to reread them before i read

LynnB wrote: "I always read series in order. I find that the character development is something that is important to me and you can't follow it if you don't start at the beginning."

My daughter does as well. In fact she has been known to rip books out of my hands when she finds out I'm not reading them in order. :) My issue has been that even though we have a great library system they often do not have older series books. I am inpatient so I take the ones they have and read them.

I also read series books out of order. I too like the character development, but so far I haven't missed anything/or anticipated anything that has ruined a series for me.

I prefer to read series in order, but if I can't find the first one I'll start with the earliest I can find. It's easier these days with interlibrary loans and downloads, but there are still a few that elude me. I have a great library system, but I've heard a lot of people mention paperbackswap.com.

Back in the olden days, I remember when paperback books were so cheap, I could buy a bunch and still afford to eat :)

Paperback swap works really well, as long as you read a genre that a lot of people like! This one should work great for you and it keeps books circulating instead of ending up (Heaven forbid) "trashed"!

I do my best to read them in order. But, it really depends on the author. It's really important to read Louise Penny's books in order. To some extent, it's also important to read Deborah Crombie's books in order. As fanficfan noted, I think you could easily read Joanne Fluke's out of order. Some authors I like well enough to read every one of their books. Others, I'm only going to read the ones I've found cheap at used book stores and estate sales. If I have a handful of books from a series with a lot, I'll read the ones I own in order, sometimes filling in from the library. Also, I'm kind of anal. So, something like this might be more important to me than it is to others.

I often don't start with the first book in a series, for whatever reason. If I really like it and think that I want to follow the series, I will then go back and get all the earlier ones and read from the beginning. It probably varies from series to series, but finding out how the various characters entered the story, how the relationships developed, etc., really helps in the enjoyment and appreciation of the later books.

Although back when I first really started reading some of the classic authors, like Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Ngaio Marsh, I kind of read them in random order, depending on which ones I found in the bookstore.

Put me on the from-the-beginning list. I like reading from book one on. However, as with many of you, I will read out of order if I absolutely cannot get the next in order and I really want to read that series NOW.

Though, I do try pretty hard to get them in order (I'm kind of OCD about it!). I'll pick up another book/series while searching different library systems in the area (I have 5 library cards), hitting local and online used book stores---favorites include Half-priced Books, Cozy Book Cellar , Powell's Books, AbeBooks, etc.---to get what I need before settling for an out-of-order addition. I'm hoping e-versions (available via library!) will make reading in order easier.

What's changing my want to read in order now is FREE e-versions (I don't pay for "air" books I'll only read once). I download freebie cozies that look good, but not all freebies are book 1 in a series. Since cheapskates can't be chooses, I will sample those series out of order. If I like it, I will seek hard copy additions---in order---if other additions are not offered for free. What makes it hard is if an author does not offer paper versions or I can't get a reasonably-priced paper version.

If I find a book I think I'll like, I read it. Whether it's the 1st, the 3rd or the 12th! I used to be a real freak about RIO. The gal who cut and colored my hair for years was one of those people who read whatever she felt like and it drove me nuts. She always said she wasn't going to deprive herself of a good read. Then she died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in a Walmart parking lot. After that happened it dawned on me that she was SO right. The same thing could happen to me and I deprived myself of a good read (or a good ANYTHING!)because I didn't have all the books or whatever that came before it? Not bloody likely anymore! Life can be far too short! :-)

Melodie wrote: "If I find a book I think I'll like, I read it. Whether it's the 1st, the 3rd or the 12th! I used to be a real freak about RIO. The gal who cut and colored my hair for years was one of those peop..."

I hadn't thought about it that way. Your experience certainly puts a different light on the subject.

I almost always read a series in order with the exception of the Lucy Stone series because i simply cannot read a Christmas book in July! And since that series is so holiday based i did read it out of order.

Melodie wrote: "Then she died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in a Walmart parking lot. After that happened it dawned on me that she was SO right. The same thing could happen to me and I deprived myself of a good read (or a good ANYTHING!)because I didn't have all the books or whatever that came before it? Not bloody likely anymore! Life can be far too short! :-)"

As LynnB said, Your experience certainly puts a different light on the subject. However, it's not that I deny or deprive myself of a good read. I have other good things to read. So, setting aside one good read or series for another while I look for the next-in-a-series, still means reading something good or something I want to read.

I'll read out of order; I just prefer not to if I can help it.

I am a little too compulsive, I am bothered if I read a book and then find out it is part of a series, but not the first one. I really try to read the books in order.

I read them in order too. Looking for the first book often leads to great finds, sometimes an out-of-the-way, but awesome used bookstore, other times a prolific new author. So, there's a silver lining to the hunt itself, with the pot 'o gold at the end, being THE FIRST BOOK that started it all and the start of a new series.

I always read in order. If I cannot find the first one, I keep looking and in looking I find other firsts.

Fanficfan44 wrote: "I was at my local library looking for some of the new authrs/ series that i have read about here and am now interested in and I get frustrated because they almost never seem to have book one in a s..."

Fanficfan44 wrote: "I was at my local library looking for some of the new authrs/ series that i have read about here and am now interested in and I get frustrated because they almost never seem to have book one in a s..."

I was talking to one of my librarians and he said that with some of the older series, the problem is not being able to get the first books now. Unfortunately, they're not going to be searching Amazon or pbswap to look for used ones :)

I have to read a series in order. It drives me nuts if I don't.

Fanficfan44 wrote: "I was at my local library looking for some of the new authrs/ series that i have read about here and am now interested in and I get frustrated because they almost never seem to have book one in a s..."

I like to read a series in order and I agree that the libraries never seem to have all the books by the authors. I find if they don't have them in the regular section I go to the big print section and they sometimes have them there, not always but sometimes.

I, too, prefer to read books in a series in order. If I can't find the next one in a series that I need on the shelf at the library, I'll put in a hold request for a copy, so when one becomes available, the library sets it aside for me. And, if the library doesn't have a copy of a book in the series, I'll ask that they get it on interlibrary loan for me.

Beth wrote: "I, too, prefer to read books in a series in order. If I can't find the next one in a series that I need on the shelf at the library, I'll put in a hold request for a copy, so when one becomes avail..."

I think the interlibrary loan programs are awesome!!! It really helps our small town library!!! I have had our librarian get me books several times.

Interlibrary loans are wonderful! I'm in WV and I've gotten books from as far away as Phoenix, AZ.

jaxnsmom wrote: "Interlibrary loans are wonderful! I'm in WV and I've gotten books from as far away as Phoenix, AZ."

The library here is in a group with others in the state and are able to borrow from each other. Like it alot because it doesn't take so long to get the books.

Well, you've all heard my comment about the libraries here in AU being a bit eccentric - we have ILL as well, but each book requested via ILL costs $5 dollars. That's each book. Weird weird weird...

Needless to say, another reason I buy my books - it's the same price or cheaper! :D

I haven't had to avail myself to ILL at this point. I'm in an area with lots of libraries and library systems (greater Phoenix area). So far -- knock wood pulp! -- I've been lucky tracking down full series. I may have to hit three cities' libraries to do it, which I've done it, but I do it. -- I guess it's my own version of ILL only I get the books myself.

If I couldn't find an early-in-the-series book in the libary system, I'd look at purchasing it used. There are so many outlets, especially with the internet. I may have to pay few bucks, but I could always resell it when I was done. Worst case, I'd skip that book and move on.

I prefer to read them in order if I can. If the library doesn't have a book or two in the series, they have a "Suggest a Purchase" function. They have so far purchased every book that I suggested when I pointed out that it was part of a series they already have. They're great and very responsive. I've also done interlibrary loan, which is also great.

I prefer to read cozies in order, mainly because my favorites are those with a lot of character development as the series goes a long. I agree that some series this is more necessary than others.

I agree completely that the lives of the people in the JoAnn Fluke books have not moved on much so I don't see the need to read them in order though I'm caught up with them so do so anyway. However both Agatha Raisin and Bennie Harper do have a lot of character changes and a huge back story so I think it helps to read them in order.

Sometimes if you read out of order they will reveal a killer from an earlier book. That happened to me with Maggie Sefton's knitting series.

They never seem tom order books that I suggest, Carol. You used to be able to do interlibrary loan online but not anymore. I have to call now. I would love to know what your secret is.

I don't always read in order. It depends on how much of a standalone the book is in this respect. You always gain more insights into the personal relationships by starting at the beginning but it's not necessary if the author has done her job of filling in new readers without too much repetition.