Hmmm... what types of mystery series do I like? The only way I know to answer that is to tell you what I've read and liked.

I grew up on Trixie Belden, Nancy Drew, and Agatha Christie.

I did start the E George Inspector Lynley series, but as you know, I got a bit tired of them, so I passed about 2/3 of the way through. I may pick them back up again, though ....

I love the Preston & Child books with Agent Pendergast. I'm not sure if these qualify as true 'mysteries', but there's always a puzzle to solve.

I enjoy some of the fluffier, less substance mysteries -- like Janet E's Plum books and Diane Mott Davidson's Goldie series. They're mostly just fun reads -- almost not true mysteries, at all, because the plot hinges more on the characters than the actual story/mystery.

I think I appreciate a really well-written mystery -- one where the characters are well-developed and the end makes sense. One where it's possible to figure out whodunnit if you pay close enough attention ... not the stories where the author conveniently forgets to give you the one clue that would have allowed you to figure it out for yourself. I also like twists -- I'm rarely surprised by a mystery, so I appreciate an author who doesn't "cheat" (either by not giving all the clues or by writing something that doesn't make sense in the light of day), but who can still make me guess up to almost the very end.

Does that help?

I will check the Stop You're Killing Me link ... Didn't you guys really enjoy the "Interpretation of Murder" book? I think I have that one on my list.

I'm just starting to get intimidated by the authors who already have TONS of books out -- like Connolly or the author with the alphabet book crimes. Guess I just have to get busy, huh?