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Stand alone books

I love series books, but I prefer to read stand alone books as I enjoy a final conclusion in one book.

Stand alone books

I really enjoy series books as you can continue a journey with the hero/heroine and if you enjoy the first book you can usually be pretty confident of enjoying the next ones.

Cereals are best

Stand-alone novels/stories are great, but there are times when it's nice to 'get to know' a character and follow them - like an old friend - through a series of escapades. Donna Leon's, 'Commissario Brunetti', series is just such a literary indulgence. So, Miss Stacey, make the most of this atrocious weather and put pen to paper: your fans eagerly await the fruits of your imagination!

Both!

It depends which I'm reading at the time! There are arguments for and against both, and I look forward to getting to know your serial hero. Keep up the good work!

Serials please!

I love novels which have a satisfying beginning, middle and end, but still leave room for the author to carry on developing the main character(s) in the next book or books. Hard to sustain through more than two or three books - though I reckon Gideon is good for another couple!

It Depends

Getting to develop characters more is the best thing about serials, but sometimes the plot runs dry when it gets dragged out too far. I really liked learning more about Gideon Blake though. 

Mostly Stand Alone

I usually don't like series books because you start to wonder how much can really happen in one persons life? But there are some books where you like the characters so much that you actually miss them and want to see them come back.

Stand Alone

I like being able to read one book with an ending. I think its nice to go back to old charachters. I agree how many mysteries can one person get into.

Has to be serial.....

I definately agree with Leonberger here. It really is good when you get to know the character and learn a little bit more about them, and see how they've developed or changed after their last "adventure". I can see where Criminalistw and Crazyface are coming from with the believable issue, but then I've known real people who seem to suffer problem after problem after problem. It's just a case of is this the sort of person who is somehow drawn to trouble, or not?? It's always good to see some old faces reappearing!!! 
**Operation: BRING BACK ROSS WAKELIN!!!!** 
:D   

The  main trouble with 'serial' books is that you  have to  read them in order.  If you  borrow from the library then this  can  be difficult.

I would love to read another book with Gideon as the hero.  I love series books.

Gideon again - Hmm.....

I like Gideon, too, and it's not out of the question that he could return. However, some of my reviewers find him a little too laidback and not edgy enough, and some think he's had an unfeasibly hard time already.
What do you think? I think he's tough enough to take it :-)
I'd quite like to bring back Ben from Outside Chance - I think he's got great potential for further adventures - especially being a journalist with a history of poking his nose in where it's not wanted.

Series

As long as the story lines are kept interesting.  Nothing worse than one story being the same as the next.  I enjoy becoming engrossed in a book and feeling as if I actually know the characters.

Need more than one book to establish a character

I dont mind either but have noted that in stand alone crime novels unless the main character is in crime detection a lot of space goes into establishing that the person has a reason for pursuing the investigation or setting up a plausible process. With a series you can slot into the character more esily. However in contrast I often find that if I try a new author and purchase half way through the series (the older ones having dissapeared off shelves)I miss a lot of the background. As I read backwards I then see these books in a different light as I understand more about the character. If the book is really good often I am upset because the character is not going to continue.

Series

I love series, I get attached to and miss the characters of the book when I finsh. Wanting to know more. I have just finished cut throat and at the end there was "a little taste of blind fold", I have to say I was a little disapointed to see the name Gideon and not Ross. I suppose I will have to morn the loss of my new friendship with Ross a little before I move on. But from the posts above it looks like it should be a good read.  

Series

Hi, this is my first post on the site.  I tend to prefer series characters but I still have searched out authors' books where there is no series.