Cozy Mysteries discussion

Do you prefer it when your favorite authors keep each of their Cozy Mystery series shorter (6 to 10 books or even shorter) or when your favorite authors concentrate on just one very long series?

I like when the series keeps going on and on. I hate when they end.

Paula wrote: "I like when the series keeps going on and on. I hate when they end."
Thanks for your thoughts on this! It helps me gauge how far I should take my current cozy series. :-)

Diane wrote: "Paula wrote: "I like when the series keeps going on and on. I hate when they end."
Thanks for your thoughts on this! It helps me gauge how far I should take my current cozy series. :-)"

You are very welcome. I just read the last book in one of my favorite series and it was like a part of me was gone. I will have to try her new series to see if it's just as good.

I prefer the series to go on. I hate when authors decide to write three or more series, mostly because you have to wait so long between books, and I think the series (plural) suffer. There are exceptions, of course, but normally not. Let the series go on!

JoAnne wrote: "I prefer the series to go on. I hate when authors decide to write three or more series, mostly because you have to wait so long between books, and I think the series (plural) suffer. There are exce..."

Thanks, JoAnne! I'm wondering if it's like a soap opera on TV. Many of them have gone on for decades. You get attached to the characters and want to know what's going on in their lives.

I enjoy longer series, but only up to a point. After awhile, it seems that even authors I love start to write the same book with only slightly different characters and situations. I don't know that there's a 'magic number,' but I think 50+ books is just plain absurd.

At the same time, I get really frustrated by a series I'm enjoying with characters I like that ends after just four or five books. It sometimes makes me wonder why I invested my reading time in getting to know the characters and location for such a short duration.

Barb wrote: "I enjoy longer series, but only up to a point. After awhile, it seems that even authors I love start to write the same book with only slightly different characters and situations. I don't know that..."

Thanks, Barb! You make valuable points. It sounds like taking a series to its logical conclusion after the characters are fully explored and their circumstances are settled may create a high level of reader satisfaction. I hear you about repetition. If the characters have nowhere to grow, then maybe it's time to retire them. Am I hearing you correctly?

Some writers have no choice in the length of their series. Many publishers initially offer a two- or three-book contract for a new series. If sales are weak, the contract is not renewed. Not fair as sometimes it takes several books to build an audience or to explore the characters.

Sally wrote: "Some writers have no choice in the length of their series. Many publishers initially offer a two- or three-book contract for a new series. If sales are weak, the contract is not renewed. Not fair a..."

Great point, Sally. Fortunately, my publisher is along for the ride for as long as my readers want me to take it. :-)

Diane wrote: " It sounds like taking a series to its logical conclusion after the characters are fully explored and their circumstances are settled may create a high level of reader satisfaction... If the characters have nowhere to grow, then maybe it's time to retire them. Am I hearing you correctly? "

I think that's a good summation. There is no "magic number" when it comes to ending a series, IMO.

Makes sense. Thanks, Barb!

Who is your publisher, Diane? Fortunately, my publisher, Cozy Cat Press, lets her writers pen as many books as they want and what they want. She doesn't assign topics as some publishers do. One of our writers has 11 books in her cozy series.

Loving Healing Press under their Modern History Press label for my fiction. My non-fiction is under their Marvelous Spirit Press label. I'm glad you're in a similar position to keep creating!

There is no way I want a series to end when I have grown attached to the characters. There is always a new event that can be explored. I don't want the same thing over and over, but I don't want the series to end either.

Mara wrote: "There is no way I want a series to end when I have grown attached to the characters. There is always a new event that can be explored. I don't want the same thing over and over, but I don't want th..."

Thanks for your thoughts on this, Mara! Very motivating!

There is no set length I would like. Some series are good with only three or four books, some are too long with 20. It just depends. Naturally I want my favorite series to go for as long as I want, so I can enjoy as many visits with favorite characters as possible, but I know that's just not feasible.
I would prefer that series come to a logical and definite conclusion. If authors know that the series is going to end (either through their design or a publishing decision), I would like a final book to be written, wrapping up and loose threads from previous books. I don't really like it when there is no end book to say goodbye.

Lynn wrote: "There is no set length I would like. Some series are good with only three or four books, some are too long with 20. It just depends. Naturally I want my favorite series to go for as long as I want,..."

Thank you, Lynn! It makes sense and sounds fair to readers by providing a final book in the series.

Lynn wrote: "I would prefer that series come to a logical and definite conclusion. If authors know that the series is going to end (either through their design or a publishing decision), I would like a final book to be written, wrapping up and loose threads from previous books. I don't really like it when there is no end book to say goodbye."

Yes, this! I hate when a series ends when there are still loose ends hanging around. I know that sometimes it's unavoidable -- like Sue Grafton's series -- but it's really frustrating when that happens.

Barb wrote: "Lynn wrote: "I would prefer that series come to a logical and definite conclusion. If authors know that the series is going to end (either through their design or a publishing decision), I would li..."

Agreed!

I prefer a sort of shorter series otherwise it can get stale. Not too short.

Tammy wrote: "I prefer a sort of shorter series otherwise it can get stale. Not too short."

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm working on the third book in my current cozy mystery series and want to make sure the characters and storylines stay fresh for readers. Your opinion is well taken!

I like a longer series when I become attached to the characters, as long as they remained challenged and continue to grow. Same for the plots. You want different situations to keep things interesting.

Nancy wrote: "I like a longer series when I become attached to the characters, as long as they remained challenged and continue to grow. Same for the plots. You want different situations to keep things interesting."

Thanks for your point of view, Nancy! I agree about the characters needing to grow. If the characters stay the same, there's no use investing time with them -- for the writer or the reader. :-) And, you're right, the plots need to feel fresh, too.

I think a good cozy mystery is about two hundred pages of one complete story with a beginning, middle, and end. Each book in the series should be the same.

Thanks, Joe! I appreciate your input. I agree that each book should be a complete story with no cliffhangers and all issues from that particular segment resolved.

Diane wrote: "Thanks, Joe! I appreciate your input. I agree that each book should be a complete story with no cliffhangers and all issues from that particular segment resolved."

Agree.