Why We Love Series by Marilyn Levinson

I love writing mystery series. I enjoy focusing each book around a sleuth who develops and grows with each escapade, a large supporting cast of characters, and a familiar setting. Mystery readers love series, too. In fact, I've felt a stab of guilt each time a reader asked why I hadn't continued a series I'd begun a few years ago, a series I hope to return to when I have more time. ("More time" requires the attention of another blog.)

I know the appeal of series as a reader. Ever since the pandemic began, I've been listening to Jacqueline Winspear's Maisie Dobbs mysteries. I'd read three or four some years ago, and decided that now would be a good time to listen to the rest in order. Maisie is an appealing protagonist, as her millions of fans will attest. We are familiar with her humble beginnings, her education and experiences as a nurse, a psychologist and an investigator from World War One to World War Two.

Characters in a series often loom larger than life. Who isn't familiar with Dame Agatha's Miss Jane Marple and Hercule Poirot? In fact, Poirot's obituary appeared in The New York Times.
Then there's Elizabeth Peter's marvelous Amelia Peabody series. I love the way Amelia's family grows with each book.

Superman, Batman, and Spiderman--to name a few—are often viewed as our nation's heroes and are known throughout the world. They appeared first in comics and later on in films.

I love watching series on TV, Netflix and Amazon Prime, and release a sigh of sadness each time the series comes to an end. Think of the emotional outpour regarding Downton Abbey. MASH. I've watched twenty-one seasons of "Silent Witness," about forensic pathologists in the UK. Like "Midsomer Murders," another favorite, I'm glad to say it's still going strong.

What are some of your favorite series—in books, TV or film?