# Mystery Readers: How Do You Decide What to Read Next? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 17, 2015, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182 "2015-03-17T08:24:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/1 "2015-03-17T08:24:44Z")
Any websites you follow with recommendations? Best seller lists? Whatever? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![LynnM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b2d939/32.png) [@LynnM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LynnM)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 9:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/2 "2015-03-17T09:45:26Z")
Try **The Rap Sheet** : [http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/](http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/) See the hundreds of links in right column– ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/3 "2015-03-17T12:19:24Z")
I follow certain authors. Look forward to their newest releases and read them as they come out. Sometimes I stumble across a new author that I like. I like to read all their books in a series. So that keeps me busy. I’m working my way through the John Sanford Prey books right now. Since its a recurring character I like to read them in sequential order. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/4 "2015-03-17T16:14:11Z")
If you like (or want to explore) some of the older, classic mysteries, see the [Classic Mysteries](http://www.classicmysteries.net/) blog (and podcast). ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/5 "2015-03-17T18:59:11Z")
I thought this was going to be more of an existential question. Like, how do you decide what mystery to read when one of the most important parts is how well you can figure out the mystery–something you can’t know ahead of time. My answer was going to be friend recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/6 "2015-03-18T00:40:53Z")
I watch the **Khadaji’s Wacha Reading Thread** and follow the herd.😃 Totally how I found out about Michael Connelly. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/7 "2015-03-18T01:14:31Z")
It’s a mystery. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/8 "2015-03-18T02:04:20Z")
I read almost exclusively historical mysteries. I just have a huge to-read list of the first book in dozens of series. I pick one basically at random, then go see if they have it at the library. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/9 "2015-03-18T02:23:02Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I read almost exclusively historical mysteries. I just have a huge to-read list of the first book in dozens of series. I pick one basically at random, then go see if they have it at the library. I love historicals! Have you read Susanna Gregory’s Matthew Bartholomew series? ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/10 "2015-03-18T02:27:38Z")
What **aceplace57** said. I follow certain authors. As I come across new ones I like I try to read them in a series. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/11 "2015-03-18T02:34:44Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > I love historicals! Have you read Susanna Gregory’s Matthew Bartholomew series? I read the first two. I enjoyed the books but found the mysteries less satisfying than some. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/12 "2015-03-18T02:50:33Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > I read the first two. I enjoyed the books but found the mysteries less satisfying than some. Yeah, I can accept that. I like the atmosphere being a medieval geek and all 😃 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/13 "2015-03-18T03:00:15Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > Yeah, I can accept that. I like the atmosphere being a medieval geek and all 😃 Ooh. I think that’s definitely my favorite period for mysteries. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/14 "2015-03-18T03:16:36Z")
Marilyn Stasio’s regular (biweekly?) Sunday column in the NY Times Book Review gives short reviews of 3-4 new mysteries and that helps a lot. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/15 "2015-03-18T03:27:40Z")
Candace Robb is kind of hit and miss, **jsgoddess** , I really liked the first Owen Archer book, the second wasn’t bad and the third is totally skippable. Cadfael, of course, tops the medieval charts and I like the mysteries and supporting cast in Margaret Fraser’s books, I just don’t like Sister Frevisse. (There’s one with an Irish nun Sister Fidelma that I’ve liked the short stories I’ve read) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/16 "2015-03-18T03:38:34Z")
> [@DZedNConfused](#): > > Candace Robb is kind of hit and miss, **jsgoddess** , I really liked the first Owen Archer book, the second wasn’t bad and the third is totally skippable. > > Cadfael, of course, tops the medieval charts and I like the mysteries and supporting cast in Margaret Fraser’s books, I just don’t like Sister Frevisse. (There’s one with an Irish nun Sister Fidelma that I’ve liked the short stories I’ve read) I hated the only Sister Fidelma book I read. Frevisse is okay, but not great. I like Frazer’s other series more, the Joliffe books. Though I think they might be a bit of a weird taste. Catherine LeVendeur is good and then I hit the wall with them. I just read the first Gil Cunningham book and really liked it, by Pat McIntosh. ---
**Author:** ![DZedNConfused](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dzednconfused/32/15991_2.png) [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/17 "2015-03-18T11:51:14Z")
I’ve not read the Joliffe books, our library doesn’t have them. But they are as Koko said “on my list”. ---
**Author:** ![No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_umlaut_for_U)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/18 "2015-03-18T16:47:56Z")
I’m having a very hard time finding new series as my old favorites ether die, quit writing, or seem to become so unfathomably odd that I can’t even bring myself to check out their books any longer. I tend to use NoveList, to which most libraries subscribe. However, I have found that finding a library staff member with similar tastes is the way to go. My current favorite series is the Flavia De Luce mysteries, set in postwar Britain. However, the most recent book is a bit of a clunker. Any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/19 "2015-03-18T16:53:56Z")
> [@No\_umlaut\_for\_U](#): > > I’m having a very hard time finding new series as my old favorites ether die, quit writing, or seem to become so unfathomably odd that I can’t even bring myself to check out their books any longer. > > I tend to use NoveList, to which most libraries subscribe. However, I have found that finding a library staff member with similar tastes is the way to go. > > My current favorite series is the Flavia De Luce mysteries, set in postwar Britain. However, the most recent book is a bit of a clunker. > > Any suggestions? Just to clarify: Suggestions for how to find them, or suggestions for new series? Are you on Goodreads? A number of us are on there, and you can Goodreads stalk someone once you find out their tastes are similar. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182/20 "2015-03-18T16:58:12Z")
How do you define mystery? Are you talking Agatha Christie one-murder-lets-solve? or a “A serial killer is loose in London lets talk about the bodies and find the guy”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mystery-readers-how-do-you-decide-what-to-read-next/715182.md?page=2)