Great Book Series that are New Classics

Normally I detest being late to the game on anything. But when it comes to discovering an awesome author or great books series, it is okay to be tardy to the party. Catching on to a novelist that has been in the writing world for numerous years (or decades) is bookworm gold. It means there are tons of stories to devour and no waiting on library hold-lists or for the author to pen the continuing saga.

Stories that have been on the shelves for awhile are still great stories! Keep reading to see some of the best series I have stumbled upon in the last year.

The Alphabet Series by Sue Grafton

I am almost embarrassed that it took me until 2018 to pick up this smart mystery series by Sue Grafton. I am getting ready to start “G is for Gumshoe” and so far the novels A through F have not disappointed. My husband and I are actually in a race to keep up with each other on this series, as I read them in old-school paperback while he listens via audiobook.

It was after hearing famed novelist Lee Childs speak at an author panel that I decided to give Grafton’s series a try. If the creator of the Jack Reacher character said Grafton was one of his fave writers, I could at least skim the pages of “A is for Alibi”.

Well I have done more than skim; I actually need to start pacing myself to make these great books about private investigator Kinsey Millhouse last longer. She is a complicated and strong character with layers that unfold with each new book. It pains my heart that Grafton passed away in 2017 and left this series as a cliffhanger at “Y is for Yesterday”. She is a lost and treasured narrative voice.

I love mysteries and this series always keeps me guessing regarding whodunit and why. The narrative style is: practical sense meets a sort-of dark grit, which I admire. Plus the author is a hero at writing tension scenes that lead to a big ending full of adrenaline. I find myself scooting to the edge of the seat as I read the last few chapters of these books.

They are not fluffy hallmark reads despite the gimmicky A-Z series tagline. “D for Deadbeat” is probably my favorite so far because it showed the readers a little more regarding Millhouse’s childhood and orphan upbringing by a no-nonsense and loving aunt. The series had its debut in 1982, so the material is dated, but still engaging. A plot that involves intelligence and no smart phones is fine by my.

I love this series because there is a strong female lead who does not need a man to complete her or save her. Fans of Michael Connelly, Charlaine Harris, and John Sandford will want to peruse these pages.

Artemis Fowl by Eion Colfer

Fans of Harry Potter, Land of Stories, and Kingdom Keepers may rejoice, as there is another young adult series out there with epic characters and great adventures. I just finished  Artemis Fowl by Eion Colfer, and am already getting peer pressure from my 5th grader to read the next book in the series (Artemis Fowl: The Artic Incident)…and I will. My daughter and some of her STEM loving friends talked about these books non-stop. This series is a science fiction fantasy of the best kind as it involves fairies, goblins, dwarves, and a risk taking lead character who has too much money, confidence, and intelligence.

Colfer is the mastermind behind these tales and in the series debut, he did an excellent job showcasing his fairy world, which resides under the Earth’s crust, as it co-exists unbeknownst to humans (aka: mud people).

The supporting characters are almost as cool as Artemis. The bodyguard known as Butler and his sister Juliet provide military grade security and a loyalty that is tough and touching. Holly Short is a fairy with the sensitive role of being a recon officer in an all-male department. She is so cool that my daughter plans to dress up as her for Halloween this year. Plus there is Foaly, a centaur with mad tech skills and Julius Root a no-nonsense fairy commander.

Read these books and be amazed at how far young adult fiction has come since The Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley High, and Hardy Boys. There are eight books in the series, plus four have been made into graphic novel editions. Oh, and Disney owns the movie rights with the first blockbuster set for release in August 2019.

Myron Bolitar Series by Harlan Coben

This series is an oldie, but a goodie. My dad introduced it to me a couple of decades ago, and the storylines are still pretty crisp in my head. Myron Bolitar is a sports agent who dabbles in investigative work of the violent nature. His best friend, the uber rich Win Lockwood III, is a different kind of sidekick in that he is loyal, but also borderline psychotic.

There are ten books in this series, which started in the 1990’s, and they are a neat combination of mystery meets sports. Almost every investigation deals with a pro athlete in trouble and involves a mystery dealing with a murder, kidnapping, blackmail, or theft. The first three books (Long Lost, Fade Away, and Drop Shot) are great and the whole series by the talented Harlan Coben progresses well. Book #6, The Final Detail, was one of my faves. It had a storyline that revolved around Bolitar’s colleague Esperanza being accused of murdering a baseball player. Esperanza has a cool backstory and is an interesting fixture in all the preceding books.

Awhile back, I bought my friend the first two books in the Myron Bolitar saga for her birthday. She only reads e-books, but got so into this series that she had to revert to a hardback for one of the books in the middle of the series because her library did not have an electronic copy immediately available to borrow.

Readers of John Sandford, Ridley Pearson, or Michael Connelly will like this type of fiction.

Reading a good book series is that feeling of going home again to see great friends. Characters and authors that can take readers on a journey that goes beyond a single story are the absolute best.