Why nit start with the first in the series
581347
Vey easy read  good story  Actually purchased this book because the second book in the series was recommended by a friend and when I obtained the second book I discovered the Gold Coast was the first in the series.  So I started  reading Gold Coast first.  Not disappointed in the least and am anxious to move on the  second.
3299646
Give us Region 1.  Purchased the first Whitechapel back in 2011.  Still waiting for Series 2, 3 and 4 to be available in region 1.
Greatly enjoy the different British series but they tease us with the first one released in region 1. Then we have to wait, and wait for
for other releases.  Silent Witness is another perfect example.  Giving this a 1 star only because can't get the rest of the series.
1940057
The first two series were OK.  It was getting to know the characters and then getting into the varied stories.  You will need series 1 & 2 to really start to enjoy series 3.  You'll find that one is the best and after that it only gets better.
2979169
Love the later books in this series, which I read first. So while this first mystery is good, it doesn't have the ensemble that comes in later books and really makes the series special. This is a good starting place, but the subsequent books get better and better.
4875746
Just read it! Following series in numerical order... This is a great series, and am looking forward to completing them, as well as getting the one that started them all (due out March 14, 2017)!
4757914
This is the first of the series that I've picked up, and though I liked it well enough, I have one serious problem with it:

I hate having to have read all the books previously in a series to get what's going on!

Now, I understand that in a series, there are a few things you can take for granted, and things that can be referred to, as well. However, as I depend on my library for most of my reading material, I can't always pick up the first 15 books in a series to decide whether or not I like them.

There's no real explanation of why the protagonist is a bad you-know-what. There are mentions of his mother, but the author assumes that you're just going to know what it's all about. Same with some of the bad guys. What's a jonah? Why is a jonah to be feared? Some of the questions I had I sort of figured out, but I finished the book with more questions than I had answers.

If this were just an installment of a serial story, fine, I could  understand the gaps, but it's supposed to be a stand-alone book -  part of a series, but definately a book in its own right.

If I come across other books in the series, I may indeed pick them up, but I was sufficiently annoyed by this book that I probably won't go out of my way to find the others.

Bottom line: If you're familiar with the series, it'll probably be a great read. If you aren't, it might not be that great.
2880478
A great beginning, and I'd strongly recommend building on the knowledge with the rest of the series.

As these books are literally "firsts" it probably would be a good idea to later build on them with other resources.
725304
Give it a read...if you've followed it this far you HAVE to see the end.  Start at the beginning of the first series.
4156202
Interesting way of writing.  Some of it seems to be repetitious but by the end of the book it all makes sense as to why it was written that way.  This is the first of 14 books for this character.  I read number 7 of the series and liked it so decided to read this first one. His writing style changed somewhat between this one and number 7.  It didn't hurt not to read the series starting with this one but the background of Diamond which is given in this book does help to understand him better.
3268064
Always good to know what the order of reading material..and if u want to skip ahead to the end first then go back; might be fun. Make yourself the critic!!!
3461820
The first 3books involved the main character Owen who grew up in the narrative and left us wondering what would happen to him. This book begins years later and we are left with a gap, which would be fine except Owen became a bit player and not very important apparently in the years that passed. I recommend the series for a lot of reasons and will read the next installment. I personally thought the transition to the new main characters should have been more gradual or inclusive of the past.
2534116
To a certain extent, this series works differently than others.  The books in the series, although interconnected, are not necessarily in a linear order (Part 1, Part 2, etc.) that leave you hanging at the end of every book, wondering what happens next.  One book can reach what feels like a natural stopping place; another book in the series may look at what's happening in Goldstone Wood from another character's perspective.  That individual may only have been a minor character in the previous book; certain events may overlap or repeat.
46176
I hate to take away one star because of the way the publishers currently number the books, so I won't. However, I would like to question the reason for the re-ordering of the books. I'd hate to think it's because the publishers thought it would be easier for kids to understand, because each book makes it pretty clear when each story occurs (and the original sequence worked for a good 30 or so years; if it ain't broke, etc). Also, the sense of mystery and discovery is taken away with the new sequence; the mystery of who the professor is, for example. For example, Narnia is discovered by Lucy. It is not mentioned, introduced or even described (initially)by the author. Thus, the reader's discovery and sense of wonder comes by way of Lucy's point of view. The word Narnia isn't even mentioned till the second chapter. In "Magician's Nephew," Narnia is mentioned on the very first page.

The original sequence just works better. I see it thusly: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe is the first book; it serves as the introduction and ends with the kids coming back to their reality. The original second book is the classic sequel, essentially giving the fans what they want by having the original four heroes go back to Narnia and help Aslan kick butt. Book 3, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, is a changing of the guard, somewhat, introducing a new human protagonist, Eustace, to replace Peter and Susan Pevensie, apparently now too old to visit Narnia. Book 4, The Silver Chair omits Edmun and Lucy (like Peter and Susan, now also too old to go back to Narnia) brings back Eustace and introduces his friend Jill. Book 5, The Horse & His Boy is a break from the author's previous trend of having kids visiting or revisiting Narnia kids visiting & revisiting Narnia and instead tells a story that happened under the original 4 children's reign. Book 6, The Magician's Nephew goes back to the aforementioned trend of kids visiting/revisiting Narnia but tells the story of the first time it ever happened. NEPHEW is arguably the best book, but I think it's much better if read in its original place, which is 6th. The sense of discovery is just much stronger, in my opinion. Book 7, the only book that keeps its original place, wraps it all up, bringing back all the human protagonists (sans Susan).

So, in closing, I'll just say there's absolutely nothing wrong with the original sequence. It is, in fact, much superior. Heck, the movies are allegedly going to follow the original sequence (they at least started with the right book).
3849368
Part of a series start at the beginning and enjoy the families.
3583961
This is not a new book.  It is a reprint and should be mentioned in the offer.
This book, the 6th of the series, was published in 1999.
For anyone interested, it is much more fun to start with the first book and follow the adventures of the Heroine.
Nahid Mahdavi
461797
It was a preview!  However, I have gone back to start at the beginning of the series.  Nuff said?
3339127
it would be nice to know u are buying a series so u could start at he beginning  or not buy it !!!