Personally I wasn’t a fan of them, so was glad they didn’t continue on.
Eh, I have to admit, I have a hard time buying it, too. This is a guy who reads Shakespeare in his spare time, not trashy, pulp detective novels from the early-mid 20th century. He even thought taking a trip on The Orient Express would be too indulgent. Picard liking Dixon Hill novels makes no sense. Just like off-roading in an ATV.
Patrick Stewart, on the other hand…
However much you enjoy fine dining, now and again, you just want a dodgy burger from the van parked outside the student union.
There’s a reason Dan Brown was so popular. Some times, you need a bit of trash in your life.