Your thoughts on authors who aren't very good anymore?

[Redpepperflakes14]

This question came to me after reading the thread started about Angelina Jolie playing Patricia Cornwell's Kay Scarpetta in a future movie based on Cornwell's books.

A few that come to mind for me are:

Dean Koontz -- I loved his books when I was much younger, but after the 450th alien and/or government conspiracy story, I felt his novels were becoming a tad formulaic .

Stephen King-- He was always a little out there to me, but his older books, especially those under Richard Bachman were at least enjoyable.

Robin Cook -- I felt he too was becoming a little bogged down in formula.

Every now and then I will pick up a new release from one of these authors (or others I've liked in the past) and sadly it's like going back to an ex-boyfriend -- I quickly realize why we broke up in the first place!


Also, are there any suggestions for any new authors who might be pretty good? I do love a good mystery (I'm writing one of my own!) and I am starving for a fresh, compelling story to read.

And please, no flames! These are merely my thoughts about authors I thought wrote captivating stories in the past, but as the years went on, their books only got more strange or more unbelievable.

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm a huge fan of King, and do like his older books, but I really enjoyed The Dome. Mary Higgins Clark - the last book I read of hers was HORRIBLE!

 

[babytrees]

I love Jonathan and Faye Kellerman....sometimes one of them will slip into but in the next book will redeem themselves.

 

[PeterPan09]

I still like King, but I agree about Dean Koontz. I also felt that Cornwall's books got old after a while.

I know lots of people still enjoy them, but the Stephanie Plum books have gone downhill for me as well.

 

[momof1princess]

i used to read all of stephen king's books, but since his car accident, his books are so far out there, i just can't get through them. the only one i've managed to finish was "from a buick 8", which i understand is being made into a film to be released in 2011.

 

[jen0610]

Once VC Andrews passed away and the ghost writer(s) took over, working from her drafts, outlines and whatever - "her" books went down hill fast. I can't even remember the last full series that I bought of hers and enjoyed.

 

[PK Disney Dork]

King's work has certainly lost their luster. I can't think of the last King book I thought was truly quality story telling.

Koontz's work hasn't been great either...except for the Odd Thomas books! Those just seem to continue to improve.

Anne Rice's quality hasn't been the same since her health issues. I'll wonder forever just what might have been if not for the heart problems.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Lillian Jackson Braun (The Cat Who...) is just phoning it in (actually, I'm not sure she's still alive!) To the pp lookng for good mystery authors - Ruth Rendell, P. D. James, Elizabethh George, Anne Perry. None of them write fast enough for me!


Queen Colleen

 

[clutter]

Jodi Picoult. Now that she's mass-producing books, I don't find them as wonderfully written. John LesCroart. There was another one I was thinking of just this morning, too. I'll have to see if I can remember!

Ridley Pearson, but that's not who I was thinking of.

Michael Connolley has NOT deteriorated at all.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Stephanie Meyer.



Oh wait, she was never a good author imo. She knows how to through together an interesting plot but the delivering of said plot leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

Jodi Picoult. Now that she's mass-producing books, I don't find them as wonderfully written. John LesCroart. There was another one I was thinking of just this morning, too. I'll have to see if I can remember!

Ridley Pearson, but that's not who I was thinking of.

Michael Connolley has NOT deteriorated at all.

I definitely agree with you on that one!

 

[Redpepperflakes14]

Stephanie Meyer.



Oh wait, she was never a good author imo. She knows how to through together an interesting plot but the delivering of said plot leaves a lot to be desired.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Stephen King - he was my favorite author for decades. No more...

Michael Crichton - he has become too political...

 

[LunchladyDoris]

Once VC Andrews passed away and the ghost writer(s) took over, working from her drafts, outlines and whatever - "her" books went down hill fast. I can't even remember the last full series that I bought of hers and enjoyed.

The books were always a bit overdone, but that is what was great about it. The books were cheesy but good. I read some books by the new guy and it is so awful! The new author just recycles the older stories, lines and names.

 

[PeterPan09]

Stephanie Meyer.



Oh wait, she was never a good author imo. She knows how to through together an interesting plot but the delivering of said plot leaves a lot to be desired.

Oh man...I had so many people tell me about that Twilight book and how I just "had" to read it. Well, that's two evenings of my life I'll never get back...thank God the download was cheap.

 

[LunchladyDoris]

Stephanie Meyer.



Oh wait, she was never a good author imo. She knows how to through together an interesting plot but the delivering of said plot leaves a lot to be desired.

Ha!

 

[Gabes_mommy]

I think James Patterson has gone way downhill. The last few books I read of his just weren't nearly as great as his earlier work.

I agree about Stephenie Meyer never being good.

 

[bicker]

King's work has certainly lost their luster. I can't think of the last King book I thought was truly quality story telling.

I can: 1996 -- The Green Mile, Desperation, and The Regulators. Bag of Bones and Hearts in Atlantis weren't certifiably bad, but weren't great. Then it was a few stinkers in a row before I gave up completely.

Stephanie Meyer.

Stephanie Meyer actually went the other way. Her best, and perhaps only "great" work, was her last book, The Host.

 

[BCV513]

I think James Patterson has gone WAY downhill. I doubt he's even writing them anymore - he's cranking out a book every six weeks. There's no way he's doing that by himself!

 

[frndshpcptn]

I love Jonathan and Faye Kellerman....sometimes one of them will slip into but in the next book will redeem themselves.

Agreed - I especially like Faye's books!