PBS was doing a pledge drive with lots of Agatha Christie (and they kept calling her "Agatha" as though she were a friend, which annoyed me no end) and at the (frequent) breaks, they'd have the officially approved writer for the continuation of her books ... and I was just, no. So often the writers taking up to continue a much-loved author's work seem to miss what was so appealing about the books. Either they miss it or aren't capable of picking it up ... or, possibly, a publisher/estate demands that they do something specific.

Exactly, Toddson. Like they don't understand what was good about the original.

Sometimes authors do that with their own creations, too, but it's so damn common with the baton-passing projects.

I feel like it happens less with fannish creations? Or maybe it just doesn't bother me because it's not officially endorsed.

I've been thinking about this. I tend not to like authorized extensions. The last Amelia Peabody, which was apparently finished by a writer and close friend of Elizabeth Peters was beyond awful. The characters were stereotypes of themselves and there was no humor.

I don't know whether I'll give new Miss Marple stories a chance. Short stories may work better, but I think I just have a very specific vision of certain characters and it's like fingernails on the chalkboard when the new version doesn't match up to the original.

On the other hand, I enjoy re-envisioned versions of classics - the Cumberbatch Sherlock, the Laurie King Mary Russell books, "Clueless", "10 Things I Hate About You", etc. They're more creative and I don't have the same expectations of the characters - they're new versions, they shouldn't match up exactly.

I seem to be assuming that with multiple authors writing for the same collection they'll want to put their own spin on Miss Marple and not actually try to produce more Agatha Christie. That may not be warranted.

I was browsing through Amazon and it turns out that there's a collection of mystery stories by Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Michaels, real name Barbara Merz? Mertz?).

edited to close the tag ... sorry ....

Thank you, Toddson. I must investigate.

Mertz, yes. As in EtheI, and I confess I snicker every time. I love Barbara Michaels, supernatural mysteries. Some are better than others, of course, but they're all entertaining. Coming from that whole Holt/Plaidy/Carr and others of that ilk, the all the Mertz books were lovely.

This author has probably come up before, but I'd like to ask a question about KJ Charles. The books have been rec'd, but there are approximately nine hundred of them, apparently. Anybody know a good title to start with?

I just read Charles' Will Darling series and enjoyed them thoroughly! Haven't read anything else by her yet, but I'd say you can't go wrong starting there.

(makes note) Thanks!

Which KJ Charles book should I start with? (Flow chart).

Proper English / Think of England are not among my personal faves, but they do share continuity with the Will Darling books (set about 20 years earlier, 2-3 characters appear in both series) if that appeals.