Ahira's Hangar

Have you ever stopped reading a series of books that you initially really liked because they...changed?

Change of quality, change of content, complete change of genre?

Now, I am not speaking of stopping series that you initially did not like or felt only lukewarm towards initially.

I mean series that you really actually enjoyed.

Here are some of mine and a brief reason of why I stopped:

Lilian Jackson Braun - The "Cat Who" mysteries - the books started out very strong and good and stayed that way for decades but the last few have started sinking in quality - the author still has some great ideas and still has the courage to eliminate major characters - but the execution is no longer quite there. It is like reading an outline rather than a fleshed out novel. This is probably due to the writer now being in her mid-nineties. It's amazing that she can still write these books - but after the last one I think I will pass from now on. It has gotten to be painful. I actually admire the writer for still working, but...

Rita Mae Brown - the "Mrs. Murphy" mysteries - started out as cozy and fun little mystery books in small town Virginia that include two charming cats and a corgie as important characters. The last few have really been pretty bad, as the author has decided that her "mystery" books are a great platform to preach her rather odd political and social beliefs. I've given her plenty of books and chances to start writing charming stories again and stop preaching at me, and she has failed. No more Rita Mae for this girl!

Patricia Cornwell - the "Kay Scarpetta" mystery series - started out as being books about a smart strong female medical examiner who helps track down serial killers and eventually devolved into bizarre conspiracy crap and endless emo whining May God help us all!

And the greatest train wreck of all - when writers go bad. Laurell K. Hamilton and the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, which abruptly went from being tightly plotted little mystery books with supernatural elements to being badly written and boring porn. Including furry porn and bird bestiality! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid! Avoid!

Does anyone else have a series they intially greatly enjoyed and now just stay away from?