I would definitely dissuade anyone from reading that series back-to-back precisely for that reason. Evanovich’s Plum series is one I would categorize as a guilty pleasure. But as frustrating as they can be, I will continue to read them, with the year or so in-between to publish, because at least once I laugh until I cry.

By the by, I once read a comment I thought hilarious re: the Ranger-Stephanie-Morelli triangle. In response to someone lamenting that Stephanie needs to choose, one person suggested that Ranger and Morelli walk up to Stephanie and say, “Screw you, Cupcake, we’re going gay” and walk off holding hands.

I have a favorite series that I had to start in the middle because the first 3 and the 5th were not published in the U.S. Have you read any of Zoe Sharp’s Charlie Fox series? The first U.S. published was First Drop (actually 4th in the series). I was able to get my hands on #3 and #5 (Hard Knocks and Road Kill), but the first two, Killer Instinct and Riot Act, even in paperback, were WAY out of my price range. So, I was thrilled when I heard that BUSTED FLUSH PRESS, bless ’em, were reissuing those 4 in the U.S., starting in May!

So far, that’s the only series where I’ve run across problems acquiring if not published in the U.S. You ever have that issue?

With the Kinsey Millhone series, I loved books A-C. I read them over 20 years ago and still remember the impact they had on me. But somewhere around P or Q, the cases weren’t as compelling and, if I remember correctly, there was one that just ended without the case being solved at all. I skipped a few installments after that but then last year, I picked up U is for Undertow (old habits die hard) and really enjoyed it. The quality of the writing had returned to what I loved about A-C so I’ll probably read V, too, but won’t go back and read the ones I skipped.

If it’s a series I really like that starts faltering, I’m more likely to, for lack of a better phrase, phase-out. By that I mean, that when the next book is published, I’d still probably buy it; but if it still seemed to be not up-to-par, then the next book I’d wait to check it out of the library. If it still isn’t doing it for me after that, probably drop it but keep tabs on reviews.

I’ll check in on your progress with Tattoo so we can discuss!