Book Series on my Shelves: The Oldies but Goodies, the Shamefully Unread, the Guilty Pleasures and the DNFs
With an extensive collection of over 200 book series on my shelves, I've carefully selected the most relevant and intriguing ones to share in this post. I've also included several older published books that I believe deserve more recognition. If you have any beloved book series that you think deserve a spotlight, feel free to share and comment below. I'm always eager to discover new recommendations and engage in book discussions!
Jane Marple is a woman whose knitting needles are as sharp as her intellect. Beneath her seemingly innocent appearance lies a razor-sharp mind that can unravel the most complex of mysteries. With her keen eye for human nature and a knack for finding clues in the most unlikely places. Just like her namesake flower, she may be delicate and unassuming, but her wit and wisdom make her a force to be reckoned with in the world of crime-solving. The Miss Marple series was my introduction to whodunnit mysteries so it holds a special place in my heart and my shelf. There are 12 novels and 20 original short stories written by Agatha Christie, namely (1)The Murder at the Vicarage, (2)The Body in the Library, (3)The Moving Finger, (4)A Murder Is Announced, (5)They Do It with Mirrors, (6)A Pocket Full of Rye, (7)4.50 from Paddington, (8)The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, (9)A Caribbean Mystery, (10)At Bertram's Hotel, (11)Nemesis and (12)Sleeping Murder. I recommend the Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories edition which has all of the original short stories as well as a Marple: Twelve New Mysteries, a fresh anthology featuring contributions from popular contemporary authors like Elly Griffiths and Ruth Ware, two of my personal favorites. I am determined to give this series the recognition it deserves, so I will be posting a separate article where I rank my most favorite to least favorite books in the series. Stay tuned for that!
Sherlock Holmes is the great detective of Baker Street, he possesses a mind as keen and precise as a surgeon's scalpel. With his unruly mop of dark curls and piercing gaze, he is a master of deduction and observation, always one step ahead of everyone else. Like a master chess player, he navigates the intricate webs of crime with ease, unraveling mysteries that baffle even the most astute minds. With his trusty companion, Dr. Watson, by his side, Holmes fearlessly ventures into the darkest corners of Victorian London to solve the most perplexing cases. A true genius with a dash of eccentricity, Holmes is a timeless character whose brilliance continues to captivate and inspire readers to this day. Sherlock Holmes became popular as serialized short stories for The Strand Magazine before it was published into full novels and antholigies. There are four full novels and 56 original short stories which are (1)A Study in Scarlet, (2)The Sign of the Four, (3)The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (anthology), (4)The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (anthology), (5)The Hound of the Baskervilles, (6)The Return of Sherlock Holmes (anthology), (7)The Valley of Fear, (8)His Last Bow and (9)The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. I havent read The Valley of Fear yet as well as a couple of the anthologies but I'm not in a rush and I'll get to them eventually. It is interesting to note that C. Auguste Dupin's character written by Edgar Allan Poe's has inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to write Sherlock Holmes. A lot of adaptations of Sherlock Holmes are made in all medias especially in books taking inspirations from the character such as The Final Solution by Michael Chabon, The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King, A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas, A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro, The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer and The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz.
The Golden Age of Detective Fiction refers to a specific period in the early 20th century, roughly between the two World Wars, when detective stories and mystery novels experienced a remarkable surge in popularity and creativity. During this period, classic elements of detective fiction, such as intricate plots, ingenious puzzles, and brilliant detectives, were refined and popularized. The Golden Age brought us some of the most beloved and enduring fictional sleuths, like Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn by Ngaio Marsh, Albert Campion by Margery Allingham, Gervase Fenby Edmund Crispin, Hercule Poirot by Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen by 'Ellery Queen' pseudonym created by Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee, Nero Wolfe by Rex Stout, Lord Peter Wimsey by Dorothy L. Sayers, Perry Mason by Erle Stanley Gardner, Inspector Kendall by J. Jefferson Farjeon and Philip Marlowe by Raymond Chandler. Even today, the influence of The Golden Age continues to shape and inspire the mystery genre. This collection is vast and so far I have only read the following; The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, Murder on the Orient Express, The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder on the Links, Fer-de-Lance, Whose Body?, The Case of the Curious Bride, The Case of the Sulky Girl, The Case of the Velvet Claws, The Case of the Howling Dog, The Case of the Counterfeit Eye and The Big Sleep.
Honkaku is a Japanese term used to describe a subgenre of detective fiction that emphasizes fair play, logic, and puzzle-solving. In Honkaku mysteries, the reader is presented with all the clues needed to solve the crime alongside the detective, and there are no hidden or supernatural elements involved in the solution. The focus is on the intellectual challenge of piecing together the evidence and uncovering the truth. This style of mystery writing gained popularity in Japan during the early 20th century and has since become a well-respected and beloved tradition in Japanese crime literature. Honkaku mysteries are known for their intricate and clever plots, as well as the meticulous attention to detail given to the clues and the resolution of the case. The genre continues to captivate readers with its compelling puzzles and brilliant deduction, making it a staple in the world of detective fiction. Keigo Higashino's books stand out as some of the most engaging and accesible works in Japanese mystery literature. Among his notable series, I particularly enjoy the Detective Galileo books which includes (1)The Devotion of Suspect X, (2)Salvation of a Saint, (3)A Midsummer's Equation and (4)Silent Parade. Additionally, I have delved into his Detective Kaga series, having read the first book. The series includes (1)Malice, (2)Newcomer, (3)A Death in Tokyo and (4)The Final Curtain. I also have in my priority TBR list two of the most popular authors in the genre; Yukito Ayatsuji who wrote (1)The Decagon House Murders and (2)The Mill House Murder and Sōji Shimada who wrote (1)The Tokyo Zodiac Murders and (2)Murder in the Crooked House.
In these three series, we meet strong-willed young female narrators. Cold Comfort Farm and The Pursuit of Love skillfully satirize English genteel eccentricities, while Daddy-Long-Legs unfolds in the US, presenting an engaging coming-of-age story. Cold Comfort Farm series written by Stella Gibbons includes, Cold Comfort Farm and Conference at Cold Comfort Farm; Radlett and Montdore series written by Nancy Mitford includes, The Pursuit of Love and Love in a Cold Climate and Daddy-Long-Legs series written by Jean Webster includes, Daddy-Long-Legs and Dear Enemy.
Now it's time to delve into my DNFs, and there are quite a few. Most of these are older titles, especially the YA books from a time when my reading preferences were all over the place, and I hadn't yet discovered what books truly captivated me. Additionally, there are some newer titles where the first book received a lower rating from me.
Let's start with books that are not my cup of tea anymore and series that have grown tiresome for me over the years.
Finally, these are the next installments of series that I've placed on my priority TBR list. With a total of twenty-nine titles, I believe it's manageable; however, I must admit some of these books have been on my shelf since 2018, and I still haven't read them, which is quite shameful. So, I'm making it a priority to read these next installments, and if a year or so passes and I still haven't read the older ones, I think it's time to remove them from my shelf.
Jane Marple is a woman whose knitting needles are as sharp as her intellect. Beneath her seemingly innocent appearance lies a razor-sharp mind that can unravel the most complex of mysteries. With her keen eye for human nature and a knack for finding clues in the most unlikely places. Just like her namesake flower, she may be delicate and unassuming, but her wit and wisdom make her a force to be reckoned with in the world of crime-solving. The Miss Marple series was my introduction to whodunnit mysteries so it holds a special place in my heart and my shelf. There are 12 novels and 20 original short stories written by Agatha Christie, namely (1)The Murder at the Vicarage, (2)The Body in the Library, (3)The Moving Finger, (4)A Murder Is Announced, (5)They Do It with Mirrors, (6)A Pocket Full of Rye, (7)4.50 from Paddington, (8)The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, (9)A Caribbean Mystery, (10)At Bertram's Hotel, (11)Nemesis and (12)Sleeping Murder. I recommend the Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories edition which has all of the original short stories as well as a Marple: Twelve New Mysteries, a fresh anthology featuring contributions from popular contemporary authors like Elly Griffiths and Ruth Ware, two of my personal favorites. I am determined to give this series the recognition it deserves, so I will be posting a separate article where I rank my most favorite to least favorite books in the series. Stay tuned for that!
Sherlock Holmes is the great detective of Baker Street, he possesses a mind as keen and precise as a surgeon's scalpel. With his unruly mop of dark curls and piercing gaze, he is a master of deduction and observation, always one step ahead of everyone else. Like a master chess player, he navigates the intricate webs of crime with ease, unraveling mysteries that baffle even the most astute minds. With his trusty companion, Dr. Watson, by his side, Holmes fearlessly ventures into the darkest corners of Victorian London to solve the most perplexing cases. A true genius with a dash of eccentricity, Holmes is a timeless character whose brilliance continues to captivate and inspire readers to this day. Sherlock Holmes became popular as serialized short stories for The Strand Magazine before it was published into full novels and antholigies. There are four full novels and 56 original short stories which are (1)A Study in Scarlet, (2)The Sign of the Four, (3)The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (anthology), (4)The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (anthology), (5)The Hound of the Baskervilles, (6)The Return of Sherlock Holmes (anthology), (7)The Valley of Fear, (8)His Last Bow and (9)The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. I havent read The Valley of Fear yet as well as a couple of the anthologies but I'm not in a rush and I'll get to them eventually. It is interesting to note that C. Auguste Dupin's character written by Edgar Allan Poe's has inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to write Sherlock Holmes. A lot of adaptations of Sherlock Holmes are made in all medias especially in books taking inspirations from the character such as The Final Solution by Michael Chabon, The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King, A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas, A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro, The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer and The House of Silk by Anthony Horowitz.
Honkaku is a Japanese term used to describe a subgenre of detective fiction that emphasizes fair play, logic, and puzzle-solving. In Honkaku mysteries, the reader is presented with all the clues needed to solve the crime alongside the detective, and there are no hidden or supernatural elements involved in the solution. The focus is on the intellectual challenge of piecing together the evidence and uncovering the truth. This style of mystery writing gained popularity in Japan during the early 20th century and has since become a well-respected and beloved tradition in Japanese crime literature. Honkaku mysteries are known for their intricate and clever plots, as well as the meticulous attention to detail given to the clues and the resolution of the case. The genre continues to captivate readers with its compelling puzzles and brilliant deduction, making it a staple in the world of detective fiction. Keigo Higashino's books stand out as some of the most engaging and accesible works in Japanese mystery literature. Among his notable series, I particularly enjoy the Detective Galileo books which includes (1)The Devotion of Suspect X, (2)Salvation of a Saint, (3)A Midsummer's Equation and (4)Silent Parade. Additionally, I have delved into his Detective Kaga series, having read the first book. The series includes (1)Malice, (2)Newcomer, (3)A Death in Tokyo and (4)The Final Curtain. I also have in my priority TBR list two of the most popular authors in the genre; Yukito Ayatsuji who wrote (1)The Decagon House Murders and (2)The Mill House Murder and Sōji Shimada who wrote (1)The Tokyo Zodiac Murders and (2)Murder in the Crooked House.
Let's start with books that are not my cup of tea anymore and series that have grown tiresome for me over the years.
- The Shadow of the Wind (The Cemetery of Forgotten Books, 1) by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
- The Devil You Know (Felix Castor, 1) by Mike Carey
- Storm Front (The Dresden Files, 1) by Jim Butcher
- The Alexandria Link (Cotton Malone, 2) by Steve Berry
- Sandstorm (Sigma Force, 1) by James Rollins
- Flaggermusmannen (Harry Hole, 1) by Jo Nesbo
- Inferno (Robert Langdon, 4) by Dan Brown
- Pines (Wayward Pines, 1) by Blake Crouch
- The Black Echo (Harry Bosch Universe, 1) by Michael Connelly
- 11th Hour (Women's Murder Club, 11) by James Patterson
- The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern (Cat Who..., 2) by Lilian Jackson Braun
- Grave Sight (Harper Connelly, 1) by Charlaine Harris
- Shakespeare's Landlord (Lily Bard, 1) by Charlaine Harris
- Definitely Dead (Sookie Stackhouse, 6) by Charlaine Harris
- Death by Darjeeling (A Tea Shop Mystery, 1) by Laura Childs
- The Bad Break (A Riley Ellison Mystery 2) by Jill Orr
- Her Royal Spyness (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, 1) by Rhys Bowen
- Dying in Style (Josie Marcus, Mystery Shopper, 1) by Elaine Viets
- Murder with Peacocks (Meg Langslow, 1) by Donna Andrews
- Key Lime Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen, 9) by Joanne Fluke
- Lost in a Good Book (Thursday Next, 2) by Jasper Fford
- Revenge of the Spellmans (The Spellmans, 3) by Lisa Lutz
- The Ice Princess (Patrik Hedström, 1) by Camilla Läckberg
- Death du Jour (Temperance Brennan, 2) by Kathy Reichs
- The Surgeon (Rizzoli and Isles, 1) by Tess Gerritsen
- Ashes to Ashes (Kovac and Liska, 1) by Tami Hoag
- The Witch of Agnesi (Bonnie Pinkwater Mystery, 1) by Rober Spiller
- Fallen (Fallen, 1) by Kate Lauren
- City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments, 2) by Cassandra Clare
- Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, 1) by Becca Fitzpatrick
- Beautiful Creatures (Caster Chronicles, 1) by Kami Garcia
- Evermore (The Immortals, 1) by Alyson Noel
- Frostbite (Vampire Academy, 2) by Richelle Mead
- Betrayed (House of Night, 2) by PC Cast
- Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales, 1) by Holly Black
- Spell Hunter (Faery Rebels, 1) by RJ Anderson
- Wings (Wings, 1) by Aprilynne Pike
- The Iron King (The Iron Fey, 1) by Julie Kagawa
- Forgive My Fins (Fins, 1) by Tera Lynn Childs
- Oh. My. Gods. (Oh. My. Gods., 1) by Tera Lynn Childs
- The Sea of Monsters (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, 2) by Rick Riordan
- The Dead Girls' Dance (The Morganville Vampires, 2) by Rachel Caine
- Shadow Hills (Shadow Hills, 1) by Anastasia Hopcus
- Ghostgirl (Ghostgirl, 1) by Tonya Hurley
- Ruined (Ruined, 1) by Paula Morris
- Golden (Golden, 1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- Tattoo (Tattoo, 1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
- 13 Treasures (Thirteen Treasures, 1) by Michelle Harrison
- Divergent (Divergent, 1) by Veronica Roth
- The Brutal Telling (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, 5) by Louise Penny
- Stillhouse Lake (Stillhouse Lake, 1) by Rachel Caine
- Friends, Lovers, Chocolate (Isabel Dalhousie, 2) by Alexander by McCall Smith
- The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, 1) by Alexander by McCall Smith
- The Case of the Missing Books (Mobile Library Mystery, 1) by Ian Sansom
- Aurelia (Aurelia, 1) by Anne Osterlund
- Dead Is Not An Option (Dead Is, 5) by Marlene Perez
- Wish You Were Dead (Thrillogy, 1) by Todd Strasser
- The Angel of Death (Forensic Mysteries, 2) by Alane Ferguson
- I Am Not a Serial Killer (John Cleaver, 1) by Dan Wells
- The Body at the Tower (The Agency, 2) by YS Lee.
- Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder (Marion Lane, 1) by TA Willberg
- The Family Upstairs (The Family Upstairs, 1) by Lisa Jewell
- The Last Smile in Sunder City (The Fetch Phillips Archives 1) by Luke Arnold
- Missing, Presumed (DS Manon, 1) by Susie Steiner
- The Widow (Kate Waters, 1) by Fiona Barton
- Pride and Premeditation (Jane Austen Murder Mystery, 1) by Tirzah Price
- Before the Devil Breaks You (The Diviners, 3) by Libba Bray
- The Bride Wore Size 12 (Heather Wells, 5) by Meg Cabot
- The Collectors (Fright Watch,2) by Lorien Lawrence
- The Haunted Bookshop (Parnassus, 2) by Christopher Morley
- Dead Voices (Small Spaces, 2) by Katherine Arden
- Amari and the Great Game (Supernatural Investigations, 2) by BB Alston
- Peaches for Father Francis (Chocolat, 3) by Joanne Harris
- The Deck of Omens (The Devouring Gray, 2) by CL Herman
- Gemina (The Illuminae Files, 2) by Amie Kaufman
- In the Market for Murder (Lady Hardcastle Mysteries 2) by TE Kinsey
- Amongst Our Weapons (Rivers of London, 9) by Ben Aaronovitch
- The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle, 2) by Maggie Stiefvater
- Dark Corners (Rachel Krall, 2) by Megan Goldin
- House of Roots and Ruin (Sisters of the Salt, 2) by Erin A. Craig
- A Mask of Shadows (Frey & McGray, 3) by Oscar de Muriel
- A Red Herring Without Mustard (Flavia de Luce, 3) by Alan Bradley
- The Night Country (The Hazel Wood, 2) by Melissa Albert
- All the Little Liars (Aurora Teagarden, 9) by Charlaine Harris
- The Running Grave (Cormoran Strike 7) by Robert Galbraith
- When Will There Be Good News? (Jackson Brodie, 3) by Kate Atkinson
- Seventy-Seven Clocks (Bryant & May, 3) by Christopher Fowler
- Faithful Place (Dublin Murder Squad, 3) by Tana French
- Antsy Does Time (Antsy Bonano, 2) by Neal Shusterman
- The Night in Question (Agathas Mystery, 2) by Kathleen Glasgow
- The Butterfly Girl (Naomi Cottle, 2) by Rene Denfeld
- The Tiara on the Terrace (Young and Yang, 2) by Kristen Kittscher
- Gwendy's Magic Feather (The Button Box, 2) by Richard Chizmar
- Death and Fromage (Follet Valley Mysteries 2) by Ian Moore
- Arsenic for Tea (Murder Most Unladylike, 2) by Robin Stevens
Wow, that's a lot of series. I've read all the Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories, but I only have them in eBook form.
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