So, here's the thing about book series: I love them. Really love them. In fact, I'm reading so many of them at the moment that I had to make a spreadsheet to keep track of them all. Here's the other thing: I tend to languish in the middle of multiple series without ever actually completing any of them. That's why TTT prompts like the one we have today—Top Ten Completed Series I Wish Had More Books—are kind of tough for me. I managed to come up with ten for my list, but the majority of them, no surprise, are middle grade and YA series that consist of only a few installments. It's a lot easier to finish a MG trilogy, for me at least, than it is to complete an adult series with 20+ books in it!

Do you want to chat about your favorite series with a bunch of other passionate book lovers? Of course you do! You can get in on the TTT fun by clicking over to That Artsy Reader Girl, then making your own list. It's a good ole time, I promise.

Top Ten Completed Series That I Wish Had More Books 

(covers are for the first book in each series)

1. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling—I'm betting this series is the first one that came to a lot of people's minds for this topic. I adore the world of Harry Potter and would love to sink back into it via more novels, be they prequels, a spin-off series, whatever...just not screenplays!

2. The Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson—Up until yesterday, I thought this YA series featuring a teenaged true crime aficionado who uses her unique skills to solve cold cases, was complete at four books. Then, I noticed a new installment being promoted on NetGalley. Yay! I love this series, so I'm thrilled it's going to continue on. Even though it doesn't really fit this prompt, I'm keeping it on the list because I'm so happy it's not over.

3. The London Shades series by Maureen Johnson—Speaking of Johnson, I'm still irritated that she hasn't finished this YA series about a young woman who gained "the sight" when she almost choked to death in her school cafeteria and subsequently became part of a London "ghost squad" that investigates supernatural crimes. There were supposed to be four books in the series, but The Shadow Cabinet (#3) came out in 2015 and there's been no action since. All I can say is, this series better not be finished! I'm holding out hope that Johnson will pen that fourth book, even though I can barely remember who's who and what's what in the series. I'll happily re-read them all if Johnson can just do me a solid and bring the series to a satisfying close.

4. The Al Capone series by Gennifer Choldenko—This MG series is set in the 1930s and features a boy who lives on Alcatraz Island, where his father works as a security guard. I loved all four of the books in the series and would gladly read more adventures starring the lovable Moose Flanagan.

5. The Bloody Jack series by L.A. Meyer—I'm not sure how many installments were planned for this YA series about an orphaned girl who goes from living rough on the streets of London to becoming the most notorious pirate on the high seas, but her adventures ended with the death of her creator in 2014. The series is all kinds of entertaining. I'm sad that Jacky Faber's tale had to end and that Meyer will never write another book.

6. The Good Girl's Guide to Murder series by Holly Jackson—Although I didn't like the direction this story took in the last book, I still very much enjoyed the trilogy as a whole. I would read more books about Pip, especially if they were in the upbeat style of the first two installments. 

7. The Gold Seer Trilogy by Rae Carson—I adored this YA historical/supernatural series about a young woman with the ability to sense the presence of gold. Her adventures kept me totally enthralled. I would love to read more of them.

8. The Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness—It's been a long time since I read this YA trilogy (well, three full books and three novellas) of dystopian thrillers, so I honestly can't even remember what the books are about. I only know that I loved the trilogy when I read it and would gladly reengage with its characters and their world.

9. The Lewis Trilogy by Peter May—This adult mystery series set in the Outer Hebrides features Fin Macleod, one of my favorite May characters. More books featuring him would make me very, very happy.

10. The Big Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiani—I loved all four of the books in this series and would gladly read more featuring the same setting and characters. The novels are full of warmth and charm. I'm definitely going to need to re-read them at some point.

There you go, ten series I wish would be extended. Have you read any of them? Which series do you wish had more books in them? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog.

Happy TTT!

1. A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George (1988)—The first installment in George's well-known Inspector Lynley series, this one features a strange and vicious murder that has a village on edge. The plot summary describes it thus: "Fat, unlovely Roberta Teys has been found in her best dress, an axe in her lap, seated in the old stone barn beside her father's headless corpse. Her first and last words were, 'I did it. And I'm not sorry." Color me intrigued!

2. The Eight by Katherine Neville (1988)—A computer expert (in 1988??) is setting out on a work-related trip to Algeria. At the behest of an antiques dealer, she will be searching for a set of priceless chess pieces. What she doesn't know is that the game pieces are a whole lot more powerful than anyone could ever imagine... 

3. Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell (1990)—Another series debut, this one introduces Cornwell's beloved medical examiner Kay Scarpetta. The forensics expert is tasked with solving the case of a brutal serial killer. Can she find the murderer before she becomes the next victim?

4. Sleeping With the Enemy by Nancy Price (1991)—I've seen the Julia Roberts movie based on this book, but I've never read it. The story concerns a woman who changes her identity to hide from her abusive husband, who will do anything to find her.

5. Booked to Die by John Dunning (1992)—In yet another series opener, Cliff Janeway—a homicide detective in Denver who was forced to turn in his badge after enacting vigilante justice on a local murderer—has opened a bookstore. When valuable volumes start to disappear and bodies start to stack up, he finds himself with a new case to work, shield or no shield.

6. The Alienist by Caleb Carr (1996)—This historical mystery takes place in 1896 New York City, where psychologist (or "alienist") Dr. Laszlo Kreizler is tasked with helping the police investigate the murder of a young man. They seek to create a criminal profile, a revolutionary idea, which takes them into the disturbing mind of a brutal killer.

7. An Unsuitable Job for a Woman by P.D. James (2001)—This first-in-a-series introduces Cordelia Gray, a rookie private investigator, who is hired by a wealthy man who is desperate to find the truth behind his son's suspicious suicide. 

8. Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (2003)—Technically, I've read this historical mystery, but it's been a long time and I need to re-visit it before I continue on with the series. The story revolves around the titular character who, in 1929, has just opened her own detective agency. 

9. A Simple Plan by Scott Smith (2006)—When three men happen upon a wrecked plane harboring a dead pilot and four million dollars in cash, they devise a simple plan to hide their discovery and keep the money. Their plans, naturally, go awry. 

10. Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn (2006)—I adore Raybourn's Veronica Speedwell series, so I definitely need to get going with this one. It stars Lady Julia Grey, whose husband dies suddenly in the middle of a dinner party at their home. Assuming his death is the result of natural causes, she's outraged when his private inquiry agent suggests a murder may have taken place. When he convinces her that something nefarious has gone on, Lady Julia starts looking into the murder herself.

There you are, ten older mysteries that are still sitting on my TBR list. Have you read any of them? What did you think? What are your favorite older books? I'd truly love to know. Leave me a comment on this post and I will gladly return the favor on your blog. 

Happy TTT!