Authors / Series you no longer recommend?

[IceRebel]

I love when people recommend books and authors to me, it certainly saves scouring the shelves looking for the next gem. However, recently i've been more hesitant in passing on some brilliant books to others. Perhaps it's unfair of me as most of the books i've actually really enjoyed, but I don't want others to be left frustrated by long waits, or series which start off strong then taper off into jumbled chaos.

I was just wondering if anyone else has ever felt this way?

One to start off which has caused me much frustration over the years, is Patrick Rothfuss' The Kingkiller Chronicle. It's such an immersive and detailed series, but it has been hanging unfinished now for 8 years.

[TheWanderingMinstrel]

I find that often when authors write many books in quick succesion (such as several books in a 2 or 3-year time period), the latter books are usually not as good. Lucy Vine is a recent example. I loved her first two books and couldn't stop reading them, but had to put the third down after some time (though I think that was mainly due to the nature of the materialistic blogger main character... or at least that's how she was coming across, she was travelling around the world and had to see all the GLAM places rather than take the time to learn about the cultures. I've also known of a few authors who are "hit or miss" with their books, regardless of order in which they were written.
I can't think of one particular author that fits your question, but I do know of a few where it is the opposite case, where their books improve with time, such as Mike Gayle.

[DancelikeEmmaGoldman]

JD Robb’s “In Death” series. To be fair, it held pretty strong for 30+ books, but the latest few have been terrible; I’m not convinced she’s not using a ghost writer.

Mary Moody’s autobiographical series about running away to France at age 50. Started out a bit smug and then got unbearably so.

Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake series. Up to about book 6, super entertaining, gory, urban fantasy. And from then on, basically not-so-soft porn devoid of any attempt at a plot. Her other series didn’t even have a 6 book grace period.

[DancelikeEmmaGoldman]

Thinking about it - the other part of this is popular series continued by another author when the original writer dies. Not only does it seem all about the money, but the books never live up to the originals.

Felix Francis might be Dick Francis’ son, but his take on the series is not worth reading. Ditto the author now writing Robert B Parker.

That goes also for attempts to finish books left unfinished by their author’s demise. I’m looking at you Jill Paton Walsh.

Thank goodness for Sue Grafton who ensured that her series would not continue after she was gone.

[CarolinePooter]

Yes, RIP Sue Grafton. She was a one-off. Sad she never got to Z.

I still buy Peter Robinson books out of long habit, but they have been really hit and miss recently.

Gave up on JD Robb several years ago!

[tessiegirl]

How did Sue Grafton ensure her series wouldn't be continued?

[CarolinePooter]

Also, I really enjoyed the first few "Rivers of London" books, but the last one I read was not really up to the same standard.

[CarolinePooter]

Jessie I assume her family could follow her wishes if she left instructions?

[CarolinePooter]

Sorry, I meant tessie !

[DrCoconut]

I thought the Diana Gabaldon outlander books lost momentum after the first couple. It seemed very samey. Someone gets kidnapped/attacked/beaten. Jamie and Claire have a row followed by a shag. Army stuff. Cheesy highlander stereotype. And repeat.

[Tawdrylocalbrouhaha]

The Stephanie Plum books by Janet Evanovich started out well, but after the first five or so they have gone downhill. I still pick them up occasionally in the library (the series is up to 25 now) and I don't know why she bothers, they are so poor now.

[greenelephantscarf]

patricia cornwell - the scarpetta series started off to well. until she attempted humour and the characters all went weird

[DeRigueurMortis]

Name of the Wind (book 1) and A Wise Mans Fear (book 2) by Patrick Rothfuss.

Loved these books but the wait for Book 3 has been over 4 years now and there is still no publication date.

The author took some time out after his child was born (totally understandable) but following this break seems to be suffering writers block.

As I said the first 2 books are brilliant but waiting so long for the end to the trilogy means I'll have to re-read them again (not exactly an issue) and can't really recommend them because it could be another 4 years at this rate before the series concludes.

[Frouby]

Jane Green. I absolutely adored her early stuff. Jemima J, Mr Maybe, Babyville etc. But the stuff she wrote when she moved to America is pure shite. It's always been chiclit, but not really fluffy, more empowering girl about town stuff.

[BernardBlacksWineIcelolly]

YY to Anita Blake

started off fantastic and got so bloody weird

[IceRebel]

I find that often when authors write many books in quick succesion (such as several books in a 2 or 3-year time period), the latter books are usually not as good.

Oh I agree this can be a definite factor. Especially if the first book gets a lot of interest, as they want to release another to ride on the success.

Someone gets kidnapped/attacked/beaten. Jamie and Claire have a row followed by a shag. Army stuff. Cheesy highlander stereotype. And repeat.

It drives me up the wall when a good story goes south because the author feels like they have to follow the same script by rote. I'm always moaning at the characters to make a different choice, yet they never do.

@DeRigueurMortis Sorry to hear you're another one being driven to despair by the lack of book 3. As I said in the OP i've stopped recommending the Kingkiller chronicle, which is a shame as they're amazing books. It's actually been 8 years, not 4 since the wise man's fear was released. Although he did publish a side story (the slow regard of silent things)

[DeRigueurMortis]

I read the side story and tbh I thought it was a load of self indulgent twiddle :-(

You're right about the first book being eight years ago - I thought the gap between book 2 and book 3 was 4 years - might be wrong tbh feels like a decade.

I'm half inspired to write the blummin thing myself

So many questions - who is lord ash? What's behind the doors? What's in the lacless chest? Is Kvotve a lacless via his mother? Who is the king that's killed?

[IceRebel]

So many questions - who is lord ash? What's behind the doors? What's in the lacless chest? Is Kvotve a lacless via his mother? Who is the king that's killed?

You're doing better than me, I can barely remember the plot points at this point in time. I remember an inn, bast and a guy called Kvothe who played the lute

I read the side story and tbh I thought it was a load of self indulgent twiddle

I can't bring myself to read it. I suspect he only released it to say he'd released book 3.

[HaventGotAllDay]

Agree about Scarpetta. Utterly bonkers conkers now and though I still download them on a 99p kindle day, I don't rush to read them like I used to.

Marian Keyes- very hot and miss. Last totally fab one was Sushi for Beginners IMO.

[IamEarthymama]

I agree that Ben Aaronavitch's Rivers of London series is floundering
I usually devour them in one go, but, reading Lies Sleeping, I had to go back a few pages every time I put it down in order to remember what was going on.

The passion and belief in the Demi-monte seems to have disappeared.
I am very sad, I love Peter Grant in the early books.

[CarolinePooter]

Exactly, earthy it dìdn't have the same touch at all. What a shame!

[AlpacaLypse]

Oh don't depress me about the new Ben Aaronovitch! I was looking forward to taking it on holiday when it comes out in paperback. A friend has read her sister's Christmas present hardback copy and said it was much much better than the last two.

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

I waited 12 years for a sequel to one off Jean M Auel's books and it wasnt worth the wait. It was a monster kf a book and i never finished it.

[CarolinePooter]

Sorry alpaca ! Just my opinion and I did finish it! But I think it's because the first books were so good, my expectations were raised ;-)

[CarolinePooter]

Hey Madeline St Mary's series is still top notch!

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

It certainly is!