Blue Christmas Bones

Sarah Booth Delaney #28

by Carolyn Haines

Blue Christmas Bones is the next Christmas mystery in the series that Kirkus Reviews characterizes as “Stephanie Plum meets the Ya-Ya Sisterhood,” featuring sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney.

Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends can’t help falling in love with Christmas this year, which they plan to spend celebrating the King of Rock n’ Roll at the annual Elvis Festival in Tupelo. The main attraction is an Elvis impersonator competition, drawing impersonators from all over the world to honor the king.

But before the revelry can get underway, a priceless jewel-encrusted replica of a belt once worn by Elvis is stolen from its display case, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are roped into one of the biggest heists in the history of Mississippi. Soon suspicious minds are lurking around every corner, with one eyewitness even claiming to have seen Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s long deceased and highly questionable manager, prowling around the festivities. Sarah Booth will have to find the devil in disguise or she might just end up singing Jailhouse Rock herself.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Christmas, Holiday, Fiction, Audiobook, Paranormal

Kindle Edition

First published October 15, 2024

About the author

Carolyn Haines is the USA Today bestselling author of over 70 books. In 2020, she was inducted into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. She was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama Library Association, the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing, the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence, as well as the "Best Amateur Sleuth" award by Romantic Times. Born and raised in Mississippi, she now lives in Alabama on a farm with more dogs, cats, and horses than she can possibly keep track of.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Blue Christmas Bones, by Carolyn Haines, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 28 of 29 in The Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries series. I love a good cozy mystery, especially ones that keep you guessing til the end. This is an Elvis mystery, Sarah Booth Delaney has to find out who stole a replica of an Elvis belt at the Elvis festival. This was an enjoyable mystery.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyn Haines' Blue Christmas Bones was so much fun! In this adventure Sarah Booth et al. decide to go to Tupelo for an Elvis Christmas. At the festival they are attending a $3M belt is stolen and the owner tasks Sarah Booth and the crew on finding the belt. They are new in town and local law enforcement isn't very helpful. How will they solve the mystery of the missing belt?

I really liked this book. I was laughing out loud at some of the antics the crew got into. My favorite part was that we got to visit a new city so most of the suspects are completely new to the ladies. However, I think I figured out the mystery a little quickly which is why I took a star off, because it felt pretty obvious but it did not detract from the fun at all. I think I need to go back and read the entire series because what I've read so far is just so much fun!

I recommend this cozy mystery to anyone who likes cozy mysteries and anyone who is interested in a little bit of paranormal in their mysteries. Amateur sleuths who see ghosts are the best!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Carolyn Haines for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is only the second book in this well established series that I have read, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It’s Christmas time and Sarah Booth and her Mary group of cohorts are in Tupelo Mississippi for the annual Elvis festival. While they are supposed to be on vacation, Sarah booth is hired by a local woman to find a jewel encrusted belt that belonged to Elvis. There is no shortage of believable suspects, and the cast of supporting characters are interesting and give them many possible leads. This book could easily be read as a standalone because there is enough information given about the players that I didn’t feel like I was lost in the story at any time. If you are a lover of cozy mysteries, this one should not be missed. It is a quick read that gets right into the story and will leave you guessing all the way through. It would also make for the perfect Christmas gift for the reader in your life. Thank you to the author and the publisher for providing my review. Copy in advance. #netgalley #stmartinspress

[Linda Atkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I love this series and Elvis, I struggled getting through this story.

[CYIReadBooks (Claire) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Christmas Bones is Book #28 in the long standing Delaney Mystery series. This is my first book from the series and I didn't have any problems reading it as a standalone novel.

The main characters are well established, but still developed enough to distinguish them from one another. The new characters were a delight and fun to be around. Snarky humor pervades the atmosphere for a fun read. However, try as I might, I didn't find much humor or entertainment with Jitty, the friendly ghost. She somehow made the story "cheesy" and in my opinion, the narrative would be much better without her.

The story follows a whodunit trope. But there weren't any memorable plot twists. The mystery was pretty straight forward and the "who" was fairly easy to solve.

I did like the Elvis themed cozy mystery, and having a Christmas backdrop just exuded a warm holiday vibe.

Overall, Blue Christmas Bones was a delightful cozy mystery perfect for reading by the fire with a hot toddy. Four solid stars.

I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGally. This review is completely my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Michael crage · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Booth Delaney and several of her friends went to Tupelo, Mississippi, to attend and join in a couple of the contests at the annual Elvis festival. It was supposed to be strickly a vacation and she would leave all her detectiving work behind. Then a multi-million valued replica of a belt once worn by Elvis which had been put on display for the first time, was stolen. The owner of the belt, Grace Land, roped Sarah and her partner Twinkie into looking to find how it was stolen, who did it and get it back. There were several people who were suspects and there could have been more depending on the reason it was stolen. Grace was liked by almost no one so it could have been because of that it was stolen. Or it could have been stolen strickly to cut it apart and sell the jewels on it separately. During the time they were looking for what happened to the belt, there were several people involved who were almost killed. All this while there were hundreds of Elvis impersonaters all over the town often practicing their routines and songs. I found it to be interesting, but slightly replicate often. That knocked off one star. Other than that it was a great book.

[Jessica Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Christmas Bones is part of a long running cozy series but easy enough to read as a standalone as the author gives the reader a good feel for the characters in the story. Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends are taking a break from their investigations to enjoy an Elvis Festival in Tupelo just in time for Christmas. Elvis impersonators flood the town and Elvis memorabilia of all kinds can be found everywhere including an Elvis replica belt worth millions. Someone steals the belt and the owner hires Sarah and her friends to find the culprit. Since the owner is not most people’s cup of tea, Sarah quickly discovers the suspect list is pretty extensive. Cute and funny, the mystery is a fun read with little doses of the paranormal to liven things up. The main characters are likable and the story is light hearted for an easy to read mystery that will put the series on your must read list. My voluntary, unbiased, and non-mandatory review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Try as they might, Sarah Booth and Tinkie cannot make it through one Christmas getaway without stumbling upon a case. They are in Tupelo for the Elvis impersonators Christmas event when an expensive replica of his famous belt is stolen from the arena where the events are being held. The owner is beside herself and even more so when she discovers the belt was not covered by insurance because her premium was not paid.

This is but the start of a complex series of relationships that swirl around the owner who hires them to find her belt. Rehearsing and performing in a couple of the contests proves less of a hindrance than the scarcity of truth in Tupelo. They are told assorted stories. Whom to believe when everyone lies, including their client. Luckily, they have their intrepid posse who help investigate. Her boyfriend Colman also needs to get involves because the local police do not seem to be doing anything to help solve the mystery.

I just love the Deep South feel of this series. The characters are interesting and the story is always entertaining. Five purrs and two paws up.

[Jerri Cachero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A holiday "girls" trip to Tupelo, Mississippi, an Elvis Impersonator Contest, theft of a priceless jewel encrusted belt, Jitty everywhere, Maylin's first Christmas and murder makes for a holiday Sarah Booth and Tinkie won't soon forget!

I love this series! A "keep you guessing mystery, a setting that's pure Southern charm and characters that are strong, smart and kind make for a mystery you won't be able to put down!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington. The opinions in this review are my own.

[Anita (Hearts and Whodunits) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though the quirky characters in this mystery drew me in, I felt that the story just wasn't for me. It seemed like a mashup of different tropes, and it wasn't what I was expecting. I'm not a big fan of Elvis. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There has not been a book in this series I have not liked! I was in the mood for a Christmas story and this fit the bill!

The author is so creative with all the major characters plus adding in a missing 3 million dollar replicated Elvis Presley belt. The search is on with Tinkie and Sarah Booth in the trail! Lots of twists and turns figuring out what happened! So many interesting and quirky characters!! A delightful Christmas read and a mystery!

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Blue Christmas Bones by Carolyn Haines is amazing! I love the whole Elvis Christmas Festival.

Will Sarah Booth and Tinkie find the missing Elvis belt before Christmas?

Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and the gang head to Tupelo, Mississippi, for an Elvis Christmas Festival. They have been planning this vacation for months. Cece and Millie are with them, and they plan to enjoy the festivities and compete in some of the many contests. Yet, someone stole a one-of-a-kind belt made with real jewels and lots of gold, worth around three million dollars. Once the owner, reality star Grace Land (yep, you read that correctly), finds Sarah Booth and Tinkie in town, she hires them on the spot.

The Mystery
Everyone has an Elvis thing going. Since this is the birthplace of Elvis, they are capitalizing on that fame. So, we have multiple impersonators running around, and Colonel Parker and Priscilla look alike, too. There is also another reality star who lives in town. But the funny thing is none of them can tell the truth. Oh, and don't get me started on the lazy Police Chief. Our private eyes constantly get different stories from everyone, sometimes two or more times. However, there is no sign of the Elvis belt.

It is entertaining to watch them trying to find leads in a town where no one wants to truly help them. Sarah Booth and Tinkie must rely on each other and the gang to help follow the clues. I enjoyed catching up with the gang, seeing Sarah Booth and Coleman, Cece and Jaytee, Tinkie and Oscar, and Harold with Janet (who even made an appearance). I wish that Millie would find someone she could love. Maylin and nanny Pauline are also in Tupelo.

In the end, our investigators found the culprit. Enjoyed the festivities and won some Elvis trophies for their hard work.

Elvis Festival in Tupelo, Mississippi
Tupelo, Mississippi, really has an Elvis festival each year. The 27th Annual Tupelo Elvis Festival will be held on June 4-8, 2025!

Although our story is set at Christmastime, Ms. Haines sets up a festive time from drinks, a Fat Elvis, to doughnuts, supposedly using Elvis' mom's recipe. Then, the contests from trivia, amateur impersonators, singing on the street corners, dance contests, and so much more. I wouldn't mind attending the festival. My mom was a huge Elvis fan. Thank you, Ms. Haines, for introducing us to the world of Elvis again.

Five Stars
My rating for Blue Christmas Bones by Carolyn Haines is five stars. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series. I love the way Ms. Haines incorporates real life events into her mysteries. When one of her mysteries comes out, it is always the highlight of my week.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Blue Christmas Bones by Carolyn Haines.

Until the next time,



This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I was a relative late comer to this series, I am thoroughly enjoying it. Sarah Booth Delaney is likable and smart and, even better, she's surrounded by a cast of characters that are the same. Each has their quirks, some more than others, but they are well-fleshed out and add to the story, bringing their own strengths and, yes, weaknesses. Even in the short amount of time I've been working on catching up with the characters, I've come to enjoy them all. Sarah's private detective partner, Tinkie Bellcore Richmond is both tough and tender. I'm glad I tuned in in time to catch how motherhood has both strengthened her as a person as well as requiring some adjustments to her work life. It's absolutely adorable, especially in the middle of a case, to see the characters all soften up when her daughter is even mentioned. All this hasn't dulled Tinkie's sleuthing skills, fortunately, as this case involves a multi-million dollar heist and enough Elvis impersonators to make your head spin.

I'm not going to detail the plot but will say that it involves. let's see, a jewel encrusted replica of one of The King's famous belts that is worth millions, feisty pugs, artists, a ghost (or two?), insurance confusions, a dance contest or two, trivia, song titles galore, Grace Land, and, oh, yeah, was that Col. Parker? While we certainly move away from the investigation at times, it's to overdose on all things Elvis. One has to wonder how many credible impersonators there are for Elvis? Heck, there are even Priscilla lookalikes. But, would any of these people who seem to so adore Elvis have stolen the belt? How did they do it? It isn't like it wasn't being guarded. Or monitored. It's well enough known, too, that it'll be a tough sell to even the most shady dealer. Sarah and Tinkie have the hands full but first, of course, they have a trivia contest to enter. Will they be victorious? Not telling. Seriously, there' are no dull moments in this book and even if you're not an Elvis fan, you'll marvel at the virtual display that will probably be dancing around in your head. Yeah, the same head already spinning from being surrounded by so many Elvis impersonators.

Bottom line, this one is both a good mystery, with well-played baddies, humor, and relatively non-stop action. Even better, you'll get to spend some time with not only Sarah and Tinkie but their extended families of friends. Boyfriend Coleman definitely gets to play a part in the action, too, I should note, so the ladies don't hog all the action. And, oh, dog fans. Wait until you meet Avery and Kathleen. They are a terror but, oh, so dang cute. Thanks #StMartin'sPress - "MinotaurBooks for sharing this early peek at what Sarah and Tinkie are up to both family and professionally.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recently, I've been in the mood for cozy mystery books. Something with some serious aspects, but also more lighthearted and wholesome. I stumbled upon Blue Christmas Bones by Carolyn Haines and took a chance on a book partially through a series (meaning there are many more I could go back to read from the beginning if I wanted). This book definitely hit the notes I was looking for.

Elvis always held a special place in my grandma's heart, and she admitted she secretly listened to it because my grandpa wasn't a fan. I was lucky enough while in high school to take a tour of the real Graceland while traveling through Tennessee, and whoever Elvis really was you could definitely see his personality and larger than life persona at Graceland. In this book, the city of Tupelo is cashing in on the Elvis nostalgia with their annual Elvis Festival. While attempting to enjoy a vacation, Sarah Booth and crew are hired to solve a mystery of a missing belt made of gold and jewels.

The book is fun and quirky, and the characters full of life and personality. There were also some interesting themes of motherhood that popped up, and it seems like this cozy mystery could also have some rather deep discussions, with the discussion of Tinkie and her past and current self, and Brandi in her past and current self. This grabbed my attention throughout the book. The book has some twists and turns and very interesting characters throughout. I think this is a great cozy mystery if as a reader you're looking for something that you can read deeply into or do a surface level fun read. It has elements of both and would appeal to a broad audience. After some of my current books, if I need a break from heavy and slow reads, I'm probably going to return to this series and start from the beginning to get the rest of the context of the book. I do recommend it, and look forward to reading the rest of the series.

Please be advised I received an Advance Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Sue F · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read, especially if you’re an Elvis fan…

I had read and really enjoyed a lot of the early Sarah Booth Delaney books, especially since my mother was from the South. But I lost track of the series in recent years. So I was happy to have a chance to read a review copy of Blue Christmas Bones, by Carolyn Haines, which is the latest Sarah Booth book, coming out in a couple of days. And, although IMO mid-October is still a bit early for curling up with cozy holiday mysteries, I enjoyed this one.

Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and a couple of girlfriends – and Jitty - have decamped from Zinnia to a winter Elvis festival in the King’s hometown of Tupelo, Mississippi. They’re planning to watch, and even enter, some Elvis contests, and also do some holiday shopping. But this is a mystery series. So, sure enough, shortly after they arrive, a one-of-a-kind replica of one of Elvis’ jeweled belts is stolen, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are asked to find it before it disappears for good. Of course they take the job, and after a lot of leg work and investigation, and working their way through a lot of emotional outbursts and entanglements between the many suspects, they figure out what happened.

But the real fun in Blue Christmas Bones is everything Elvis – bazillions of Elvis impersonators running around (including the eight-year-old Elvis Tots), the Elvis trivia contest, the Elvis dance contest, and even an impersonator (or another ghost?) of Elvis’ nasty manager, Colonel Tom Parker. Personally, I’m not a huge Elvis fan, but even I was able to get into the mood. And if you already ARE a big Elvis fan, I suspect you’ll be even happier. (So - four stars if you like Elvis, and three-and-a-half if you’re more like me.) And finally, a big thank you to St Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the review copy!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Christmas Bones by Carolyn Haines is a Sarah Booth Delany book and as usual is quite good, but very convoluted. Lots going on. Sarah Booth, Tinkie, two friends are in Tupelo for the Christmas Elvis impersonators’ festival. There are Elvises everywhere and a few Pricillas and Colonel Tome Parkers as well. It was a heady time. The men and Tinkie’s baby were going to join them in a couple of days for an actual vacation. Also with them was Jitty, Sarah Booth’s ghost. Almost immediately there is a crime: a local woman named Grace Land (true) had a replica of Elvis’ jeweled belt made and it was on display. Then, it was gone. It was reputed to be worth three million dollars. And there was no shortage of suspects, including the owner, herself. It was several days of running around, not really knowing what to look for. It could not be sold as is: it was too well-known. It could be broken down and the gold melted and all resold.

Sarah Booth and Tinkie are an unstoppable pair who can weasel their way into any building, conversation, or situation. It is always amusing to follow them around. Tinkie having the baby hadn’t changed much as Oscar was a doting father who did his share, much to Sarah Booth’s amazement. It was an entertaining book, full of relationships and juxtapositions of relationships. These people seemed to have no sense, Sarah Booth thought. They did solve the crime and managed to enjoy moments of vacation before they all had to return home. It was a fun read, full of fun personalities and plenty of twists and turns. Good book. Aren’t they all?

I was invited to read Blue Christmas Bones by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #CarolynHaines #BlueChristmasBones

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends operate a private investigation agency. And the friends plan to take time off and live it up in Tupelo during an Elvis impersonation weekend before Christmas. The only problem is the theft of an expensive Elvis belt. Owner Grace Land hires the agency to find her missing belt. In the process, the women encounter an untruthful client, secretive insurance agent, devious detective, popular TV host, sexy designer, and several other shady characters. The women follow all the leads in a circle until their loved ones join them. Together, the friends may solve the crime.
I like the Elvis angle of this story. I would attend this event in my mom's honor!
Perhaps because this is #28 in the series (and the first book I've read), I didn't connect to any of the characters. But the author includes pelnty of backstory that kept me up to speed with all the relationships.
And the mystery wasn't engaging. The author tells rather than shows the action, and I felt like I was looking in from outside rather than being part of the mystery.
I also didn't like the violence. For example, Sarah Booth wants to carry a gun and at one point says, "He was too tall and strong for me to kill him, but I could probably break a few fingers."
The book contains plenty of sexual innuendo, too, including a character who likes prancing around naked.
Although the premise of the book is interesting, I didn't really care for the story and wouldn't read more books in this series.

[Daria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Booth, her PI business partner Tinkie, and assorted friends and family are ready to enjoy a Christmastime celebration of Elvis Presley in Tupelo, Mississippi. When a local celebrity, Grace Land, discovers her replica belt worth $3 million dollars has been stolen from a display, she hires Sarah Booth and Tinkie to find out who stole it.

This is a light mystery probably mostly enjoyed by longtime fans of the series. The book can be read and understood as a standalone since the action takes place away from Sarah Booth's hometown, and all of the suspects are new characters for the purpose of this book. The pacing was a bit slow: the two detectives questioned all of the suspects, then found a new clue, then questioned all of the suspects again, then learned a bit of new information, then questioned the suspects again, all interspersed with the numerous illegal activities they carried out to try to solve the crime. The suspects (and even the victim, Grace Land), were uniformly unlikeable, so there are plenty of potential criminals around. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The girls take a trip to Tupelo for a Elvis look-alike festival. Well, they’re also participating in the festivities, they weren’t counting on finding yet another case right before Christmas. But such as life with Sarah Booth and Tinkie.

When a three million dollar gemstone stud belt is stolen from the convention center , the owner hires, the PI to find out who took her work of art. But with a lying client, plenty of suspects and Christmas looming, it’s going to be Christmas miracle this sol before they need to leave town. Can they solve it, or does someone plan on ensuring the ladies leave the building with Elvis once and for all?

I love, LOVE, ❤️ this series! I cannot get enough of Sarah, Booth, Tinkie, Jitty I’m a gang. Christmas on the South has never been as devious as it has this year in Tupelo. If you have not read a book in this series yet, no worries, each book reads fine as a standalone. the best part of all? you’ve got so many books to binge on before the next entry is published. Enjoy an we will both be back for more!

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is Elvis mania in Tupelo, Mississippi this Christmas in Blue Christmas Bones. And best friends Sarah Booth and Tinkie are here for all of it.

With Elvis impersonators everywhere, a replica of the belt from his famous white jumpsuit is on display. The belt was crafted with $3 million worth of jewels and gold so security cameras and armed guards are on hand to protect it. Alas, it is somehow stolen anyway.

As co-owners of the Delaney Detective Agency, Sarah Booth and Tinkie, who really just want a fun vacation, are roped into the investigation. With no help from the at best incompetent, and at worst crooked, local sheriff, they must hurry to find the belt before it is broken up and sold. Their only lead is a creepy Colonel Parker lookalike lurking around.

Put on a comfy Christmas sweater, Elvis pompadour is optional, and just roll with this improbable but humorous cozy mystery. Reading Blue Christmas Bones is a unique and enjoyable way to get in a holiday mood. 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.

[Darlene Foster · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Carolyn Haines for providing this advance reader copy (ARC) of the story. I'm providing my honest review below.

As this is book 28 in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series the author must have a devoted following. This is my first encounter with the writer and series and it's a shame that I don't feel the same way. I never clicked with the characters, found myself apathetic. I liked the book PR blurb about the Elvis Christmas festival in Tupelo, I'm from Memphis so Elvis is always fun. Even an abundance of Elvi couldn't keep me turning pages. I began to skip around to speed up the story. Going over and over the same information discovered with the same formula wasn't entertaining but convoluted which became tiresome; I skipped a few chapters and found I hadn't missed much action. I did appreciate the Elvis themed events and Sippi, what a lovely image I came up with in my mind.

#NetGalley #BlueChristmasBones #CarolynHaines #MinotaurBooks #SarahBoothDelaney #mysteryseries #Elvisfestivle #murdermystery

[Lance Lumley · Rating 3 out of 5]

As one may expect from the title of the book, the character Sarah and her friends are embracing the Christmas season in Tupelo to celebrate an Elvis Presley festival, which fills the town with impersonators of Elvis, Priscilla, Tom Parker, and many fans of The King of Rock And Roll. The celebrations including singing contests and his music being played throughout the streets. A replica belt worn by Elvis is on display gets stolen, and instead of vacation time, Sarah and her pals are hired to find out who took the valuable belt worth millions, but determine why someone took it. Her employer is full of mystery, lies, and has many people wanting revenge on her with a motive.
Elvis fans will enjoy the references to his life thrown into the story and plot, and the characters stay true to how they were in the past series of books. The humor, mystery, and musical references are all here.

For an in -depth review, visit my page at: https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/202...

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Delaney is back. This is book 28 in her series and I've read most of them. Sarah is a sassy middle aged lady that isn't afraid to face life. this year's Christmas is almost derailed. Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends can’t help falling in love with Christmas this year, which they plan to spend celebrating the King of Rock n’ Roll at the annual Elvis Festival in Tupelo. The main attraction is an Elvis impersonator competition, drawing impersonators from all over the world to honor the king.
But before the revelry can get underway, a priceless jewel-encrusted replica of a belt once worn by Elvis is stolen from its display case, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are roped into one of the biggest heists in the history of Mississippi. Soon suspicious minds are lurking around every corner, with one eyewitness even claiming to have seen Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s long deceased and highly questionable manager, prowling around the festivities. Sarah Booth will have to find the devil in disguise or she might just end up singing Jailhouse Rock herself.

[Sarah]

Another fun mystery with Sarah Booth and her friends! Sarah Booth and her friends are on vacation to celebrate Christmas at the annual Elvis festival in Mississippi! Instead, their vacation is cut short when a priceless item is stolen. Sarah Booth and Tinkie find themselves dealing with a difficult client, many suspects, and as usual, a haint who has followed Sarah Booth from back home.

Since they are in a new town, they have to deal with a different sheriff who seems to be running things differently than they are used to. The client is not the only person who makes it difficult to find out what really happened! The story moved at a good pace that allows the reader to follow along and feel as though they are really experiencing Christmas with Elvis!

The author blends Christmas along with Elvis history to make this a fun read for readers who enjoy those topics. It was nice to learn some new facts about Elvis as well!

I was invited to read this book by St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen Voitik · Rating 4 out of 5]

>Book Review – Blue Christmas Bones

>I am an independent reviewer. This book is the 28th in the Sarah Booth Delaney series and ends with the mystery solved. I love the location and premise of this story. The gang goes to Tupelo, Mississippi for an Elvis fest near Christmas. How cool is that? Of course, there is a mystery to solve, so Sarah Booth and Tinkie investigate while they are there. The characters are not trustworthy in this book, which adds some more unknown to the whole mystery.

>I wanted more one-on-one conversations between Coleman and Sarah Booth. They seem to ‘fade to black’, which is nice, but never have any deep conversations. Having Coleman and Sarah Booth babysit would be fun to see. I also would like Jitty to reveal herself to Coleman. His reaction and disbelief would cause quite a wrinkle in his actions.

>This book is appropriate for an adult audience. I am giving this book 4 stars. This book is another hit in the series and very enjoyable to read.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a pleasure to see what Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and of course, Jitty, are up to now.
It’s Christmas in Tupelo, Mississippi and the theme is ELVIS! And boy, do they turn up for that. There are Elvis impersonators everywhere and some are pretty authentic.


The girls have come for a weekend vacay and to enter some dance and song contests. To have some downtime with no murders.


But they are soon on the job again, as the infamous Elvis belt complete with authentic jewels, has been stolen. The owner begs the ladies to investigate and they agree.


There are characters around every corner and they are all hilarious! And so naughty!


What a tangled web of suspects this was! I was sure each of them had something to hide. Most of them did!


Excellent Read!


NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press October 15, 2024

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s been quite a while since I’ve been in Sarah Booth’s world, and I just had to step back in this delightful world. I quite missed Sarah Booth, Cece, Millie, Tinkie, Jitty, and of course Coleman. In this latest, we see the friends in Tupelo, Mississippi for a Christmas Elvis event, or really, events, and the nostalgia to me was immense as my mother was a huge fan, and I know way too much about the hunk of burning love. LOL! Add in an interesting mystery that has the sleuths all over the place, I was entertained from the beginning. Admittedly, I was a little confused with all the suspects, but since I read fast, sometimes that’s a bit of a bother to me. No matter, this is a fun, well-written, lively, entertaining read, and I am so glad to be back in this universe. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 upped to 5
I love Sarah Booth mysteries as they're always entertaining and a good way to learn something new about history or places that are off the beaten track and I usually add to my list of places to visit.
This a holiday mystery, a very entertaining mystery but also it pays homage to Elvis as there's plenty of impersonators, trivia, and bejewelled belt that could have used by The King
I'm not a huge Elvis fun but I thoroughly the mix of history and Elvis trivia.
I was glad to catch up with Sarah Booth and her gang of friends and had a lot of fun as there's a lot of humour.
The mystery is solid but it was quite easy to guess culprit but, as this is a Elvis cozy, i enjoyed it nonetheless
Even it it's the twenty-seventh installment it can be read as a stand alone
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Tari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, Sarah Booth and Tinkie were at it again on a girls’ trip with their other pals Millie and Cece. Toss in a bunch of Elvis impersonators at a Christmas festival along with a paid case for Delaney Detective Agency and you've got hilarity, suspense and just a very fun Christmas read.

Tinkie absolutely cracks me up when she interrogates someone. There's the best scene later in the book. When she and Sarah Booth both get the questions flying, I pity the perp lol. It was awesome how all their loved ones were able to join them in Tupelo, then of course everyone from Zinnia ended up at Harold's for his annual Christmas party which had some interesting entertainment this year.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.