Elements of Mystery: Theories on Series

Many of the most popular mysteries of all time have been parts of series. Think of those featuring Hercule Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Kinsey Milhone, Harry Bosch…and, dare I say, my own Rick Chasen. Readers love series mysteries. What makes them so appealing?

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• They make you want to read more. Publishers love series mysteries because, if they’re done right, they hook you on the continuing characters and make you want to follow them. Often (but not always) the main characters have a continuing plotline that extends from one book to the next.

• They provide perspective. Murders can get very dark and foreboding. Surrounding it with comfortable, familiar characters can take the edge off and make you feel you’re among friends (and remind you that not all the world is bad). They often provide the “cozy” in cozy mysteries.

• They save time. When you read a series, you don’t have to wade through a lot of backstory on the main characters to familiarize yourself with them, because you’ve met them already. They’re like old acquaintances who immediately make you feel welcome. Of course, authors must be careful to provide enough information about continuing characters to orient new readers.

• They look good on a bookshelf. Okay, this is a rather shallow attraction to read series mysteries, but they sure look impressive lined up on a bookshelf, especially when the book designers use complementary fonts and colors. (My Agatha Christie collection, pictured above, is one of the design highlights of my living room.)

• They’re fun for authors, too. I enjoy writing series because I can develop the main characters much more than I can in a single book. A series allows me to place my characters in new situations to see how they’ll handle them. So series are a win-win for readers and authors alike.