I felt much the same with the latest in the Hamish Macbeth series by M.C. Beaton - I have always said I will read them no matter what, but she seriously tested me with her latest. I don't even remember the name, it was so bad. When I finished the book I wondered if she had Alzheimer's, and if so, why doesn't her publisher give some talented young pen the task of churning out a few more in the series.

It is so sad to see a series absolutely disintegrate.

I wonder if there are authors whose long series maintain the established uality as they churn out the last book.

mudlady - Marcia Muller and her Sharon McCone series! The last few years I've been blown away with how she seems to keep getting better. I think this series started in 1977.

I have started 17 and have had some laughs at the absurdities.
I remember that Grafton has had a few let-down books for me. There is always the hope of the next one being better in these long series which is why we keep buying them, after all!
I agree with Jaxnsmom about Marcia Muller. Her characters do progress and the books are always interesting.

Wow, mudlady, don't hold back! LOL. I am reading the Monk books by Ann Perry and thought I was getting lucky not losing interest but sure enough, I'm getting that repetitive feeling on book 11, although I guess 11 is quite an accomplishment.

Jaxnsmom, I bought the Sharon McCone book about being locked in. So far, I am satisfied. I am having problems becauase there are so many characters involved. If I still like the book when I am finished I will go to Muller's first book of the series and read in order.

I gave up on Evanovich at about 10.

Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' historical fiction series, the Morland Dynasty, is up to number 32, and there is not a bad book among them. Astonishing!

Astrokath, I agree about the Morland Dynasty books. I love them and have them all in paperback, which means I have to wait about 18 months to get the newest one. Guess I could buy the hard covers, but I hate to spoil my pretty collection (and pay the price for hard covers).

I also like her Bill Slider mystery series.

fingers crossed-I have been fighting with this site for days-trying to post and when I hit preview being bumped to glyphland! But I hope it is cleared up now.

Series: Most of the series I loved at the beginning do seem to struggle after a while. I was sadly disappointed in the newest Rita Mae Brown/Sneaky Pie Brown book-the first few were light, frothy bonbons just perfect for balancing crazy weeks at work. I have no doubt that Rita Mae Brown is a fervent supporter/opponent of the issues she brought up in the book, and they are serious issues worthy of attention-but using 2 cats and a corgi, who communicate in English and work together to solve mysteries, to deliver a heavy-handed series of speeches on societal ills ruins the mystery experience and creates serious concerns about the author's credibility.

Series that have held up for me are:
the Hugh Corbett series by P.C. Doherty-era of Edward I (17 books)
the Roger the Chapman series by Kate Sedley-era of Richard II (20 books)
the Three Pines series by Louise Penny-contemporary Canadian-admittedly, there are only 6 published with #7 due in August, but her prose is stunning.
the Amelia Peabody series by Elizabeth Peters-Victorian (19 books)-I know some readers are unhappy with a direction the series has taken but I like it, and the level of wordcraft remains high. I never get the feeling that she has just slapped 40,000 words onto a page because she had a deadline and "so what the name will sell it"

Oh, cc, I don't read that many serials but the one that jumped the shark for me is definitely Elizabeth Peters.
I gave up on her around Ramses and Nefrets marriage.
I can't believe I made it that far...

I'm still waiting for 17 from the library ... glad I didn't buy it! I will still read it, though, since Evanovich's books are good for the beach when my mind might not be exactly focused :)

Evanovich has fans propose names for future nivels in the numbered series. I think Enough Already Eighteen and No Thank You Nineteen might be appropriate. :-)

or how about - "Once is Not Enough -- but Eighteen Sure Is!"

I came across a web site with e-novels written by an Evanovich fan which mimic the Plum series. What dedication!
I only read a few pages which I thought at first were from the new book which I had Googled with an incorrect title. Then thought "Huh? What is going on?" as the story was so different with Stephanie married. Then I realised what I had done. Do many authors have their books copied like this, I wonder?

ann, there is a genre called 'fanfic' where fans write more stories with characters created by other authors. I think it's rather strange and don't think I would like it if I were an author.

I have heard of 'fanfic'; I think the Twilight series inspired a lot of that. I can understand it as I have in the past - I wish it happened more often - not wanted a book to end and have let my mind wander off with some of the characters just to spend more time with them, but I would never write it down, especially publicly. It seems too much like plagiarism.

Mudlady....I agree with you on the Plum books. This last one I will get at the library and the last couple of her books have not been very good. I love the ideas for titles for her 18th book!!

Thanks for jogging my mind about Marcia Muller, Sharon McCone series. I really like them and haven't read the last couple of books. Mudlady, you should start with the first or near the first part of her series.

I also haven't read the last couple books in the series by Rita Mae Brown/Sneaky Pie because I didn't like the last one I read and loved all the earlier ones.

I finally read Smokin' Seventeen and it was ... eh. Not good, not bad, just a lot of same old, same old, though Stephanie was actively thinking about making a choice between Ranger and Morelli. But unlike the majority of the other books, this one didn't have any laugh out loud moments for me at all. It was all just very formulaic and predictable. I knew who the murderer was as soon as he was introduced, and I'm really tired of Lula and Grandma. Stating the obvious, this has definitely run its course.

I do wonder why Explosive Eighteen is coming out in November, rather than next summer. Is the series wrapping up (she asked hopefully)?? Or does Evanovich sense her fan base is dwindling?

Here is a link that might be useful: Explosive Eighteen

Mudlay you are funny :) I never 'got' the appeal of the Stephanie Plum series. Many of my reading friends and co-workers rave over them and I thought I was just off.

Our library spine label printer won't print the apostrophe after "Smokin'". Every time I run a label I have to deftly hand write it with my trusty felt tip pen.

Sheriz, possibly for the Christmas market? Grafton's new book is coming out in November too. It used to be important to do this and cash in on the problem of what to give bookloving friends and relatives before vouchers and book tokens became acceptable!

Ann, it is still important. Many of the popular authors have a Christmas release. Di Morrisey does every year, and this is the first year for a very long time that we won't have a Bryce Courtenay to sell - he is ill apparently. There was also the 'Christie for Christmas' when she was alive, and John Grisham has a new one out too this year.

I guess I am in the minority because I loved all of the books. I agree that Janet does a lot of repeating, and it is the same old, same old type of situations.......but these books do make me laugh. I have yet to try a peanut butter and olive sandwich though. I have 18 pre-ordered.