Here's the deal.   I'm participating in the Southern reading challenge, so it seems like the ideal time to dive into one of Charlaine Harris' mystery series. (They are all set in the South, right?).   I've got at least a few books from each of her series on my TBR.   Which series do you think I should go for first?

You'll note that the Sookie series is NOT listed as an option.  I do have Books 1-6 in that series, but am also watching the second season of Trueblood this summer on HBO.   Since the HBO series is slightly different from the books, I'm going to wait until Season 2 is over before diving into that series.  It would probably be confusing to both read the series and watch the ongoing developments in Season 2 at the same time.

Options:

• Aurora Teagarden Mysteries (I have the entire series on my TBR.)
• Lily Bard / Shakespeare series (I only have two books from the series, but may be able to get the rest from the library.)
• Harper Connelly series (I have them all on my TBR).

I have read all of the Lily Bard books and three of the Aurora Teagarden books.  I can't say that I really love either of the series but both are good.  The Lily Bard series is quite a bit darker than the Aurora books and I didn't find Lilly to be a particularly likable or sympathetic character.  I did read all the  books, though, so that must say something.

If you want a short series that is a little darker and grittier, go with the Bard series.  If you want something that is lighter, go with the Teagarden series.

Although I have the first three Harper Connelly books sitting here, I have yet to read one.  I have the first seven Sookie Stackhouse books as well but I've only read the first one.  I have to say that I really enjoy Sookie. :)

Lynne ~ I enjoyed the Lily Bard/Shakespeare series (a few were hard too find), but I couldn't get past the 1st book (in fact I didn't finish it) in the Aurora Teagarden series.  So....maybe you could be different and go for the Harper Connelly series :)  I've never even heard of that one.

I loved all 3 of her series. 

Hmm. Go for Lily Bard or Aurora Teagarden because those are dead series now. She won't be writing anymore. Save the Harper Connelly books because that one is still going. 

Harper Connelly, definitely. It's a very interesting series.  I read both the Harper Connelly books and the Sookie books as soon as they come out, but the Lily Bard books bore me . The Aurora books aren't bad, but they're nowhere near the top of my reading list either---nothing special, IMO.

I wasn't a huge fan of Lily Bard, but I did enjoy the books.  I was pleased with how Harris ended the series.  I was pissed off at the end of the Aurora Teagarden series.  I hated it.

And right now, I'm annoyed as all get out with the most recent installment of the Sookie Stackhouse series.  With the advent of the HBO series, I swear she's sold out.

Doh, Melani!  I have 20 pages left on book 4 and will begin book 5 immediately!  I am loving the Sookie series (and the whole concept of "Bubba" is cracking me up to no end!)  I already have 6,7, 8 and 9 so I will pretend that I didn't read that you are annoyed with the last one....I don't get HBO, so I haven't even seen previews of the show or anything.  I am curious to know what the characters on the show look like tho, I think I will wait until I am done reading the series.  I hate it when authors sell out!!!  They really shouldn't mess with us readers!

"McPeople"  HHHHHAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!  from book 5, sorry, just had to share!

I have read the first books in the Lily Bard and Harper Connelly series.  I loved the Lily Bard but the Harper Connelly was a real snoozer..... I could barely finish it!

I find it so interesting to read the different responses to each of these series by the same author.  It seems that Charlaine Harris appeals to many different readers in many different ways.  I have the first two Harper Connelly books in my TBR pile, I've completed the Lily Bard Series and I've read the first three Aurora Teagarden books.  So far, I've liked everything to varying degrees.  I'm interested to see what my response to Harper is.

I've really been enjoying the Sookie Stackhouse books, and I'm planning to start the Lily Bard series shortly...not the least because I am a huge Shakespeare fan :-p

I've read 1 of the Teagarden books - it was just OK for me.  Liked the Harper Connelly series better.

I've read all four series

I recently read my way straight thru the Sookie's and I really enjoyed them.  But, I do wish the last one would have been different, not sure I like where it is going..........

I read the first four or five Sookies and really liked the first few. Then it got too romancy and "oh! which man shall I choose?" for me...I stopped it. I've listened to the first three Harper Connelly series in audio and enjoyed them, although I think it may be heading the way of the Sookie books, too. Maybe not. I'll get the fourth from the library in audio download again rather than rushing to WL it here. There were a couple of sex scenes in the last one that to me just were...silly. Graphic sex doesn't bother me, but I just thought those were not all that well done. I laughed out loud and I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to. ::snicker::

I tried the LIly Bard series and DNFd the first one. The only one I haven't tried yet are the Teagarden books, just 'cause I haven't gotten around to them yet. One day I will, I'm sure.

So which did you pick, Lynne? It's been several weeks...come up for air and report back! LOL

Cheryl

I haven't picked any yet LOL.    I'm also playing in a challenge game on the Games Forum called The More The Better.  Basically you accumulate points for reading books that have a large number of either wishlists or copies available in the system.   And while Harris' books are usually wishlisted, they are wishlisted that much (comparatively).    Right now I'm running 2nd in the challenge, so I can't give up right now!   The challenge will be over in a few weeks and I'll pick up the Harris books then.

For now, it's fun reading everyone's opinions.  I find it fascinating that there are so many differing opinions!