I love a good mystery, but even more, I appreciate and try to follow authors that I feel are good writers.That is very subjective, especially given all the peer pressure.The award givers tell you who the best authors are.These include the Edgar, Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, Ellis Peters, Hammett, Barry, Dilys, Shamus and Nero Wolfe awards to name a few.Then there are the bestseller lists that tell you, who the most popular writers are and what everyone else is reading.Popularity does not necessarily mean good writing, although Stieg Larrson's Salander trilogy was not only popular, but an exceptional read.And then there are you, who have a limited amount of time.How do you decide the age-old quandary, so many books, and so little time?When I find a new mystery author, I like to begin at the start of the series unless it has fifteen or more books.With people like Marcia Muller, who has 28 books in her Sharon McCone series, I did start at the beginning.The books are small, so it did not seem like too big of an investment.Looking for some of the early books can be like a treasure hunt, but your library often has what you need.If an author has more than one series, choose the one with the fewest titles and the most recent publication date.Or if the author has written a stand alone, get a feel for his or her writing style by reading it first.Stand alones are a great way to experience a mystery author before investing in a series.A word of warning. If I had begun with Muller's other series, I might not have given her a second chance.I love Alexander McCall Smith's Ladies Number 1 Detective Agency series, but his other books are not my cup of tea.So there is the danger that you might miss a good read, because you chose the wrong book or series.Try to give authors a couple chances to "wow" you.Sometimes I pick a book in the middle of a series to see what all the fuss is about and then start at the beginning afterward.Other times I am entranced by a mid-series book and then find, when going back, that the writing is not as good.It can still be interesting to see an author develop their talent over the years.Check the awards and see how the first book in a series performed in the year it came out.Noting the winners of a best first novel award lets you see who the upcoming talents are.There is also the danger that a series may begin strong and then get a little formulaic by books five or six.Of coarse, recommendations by others are also a good way to find those haystack needles.A few popular authors, who I find to be very consistent in their entertainment level, are Harlan Coben, Jeffery Deaver, C.J.Box, Carol O'Connell, Dennis Lehane and Karin Slaughter.Any recommendations?
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