Lights, Camera, Bones: A Sarah Booth Delany Mystery

Sarah Booth Delaney #27

by Carolyn Haines

Delaney Detective Agency gets a taste of the spotlight when they are called to a case on a movie set in Greenville, MS, right on the Mississippi River. Marlon Brandon, heir to a wealthy and influential political family, has brought a film crew to town to film a drama about the 1927 flood that submerged a great deal of Greenville. Marlon wants the world to know the story of the flood―and the heroic role the Brandon ancestors played in rescuing dozens of local residents from drowning.

Or at least that was the plan until he disappeared. If that weren't concerning enough, the situation appears even more dire when a severed foot is discovered in the Mississippi River, and clues indicate that Marlon may have fallen victim to a freak bull shark attack.

But as rumors swirl around the Delta, about Marlon's motives for making the film, Sarah Booth and Tinkie have to wonder whether a shark is to blame, or an equally ferocious human offender. The show must go on, and Sarah Booth and her crew will have to investigate all manner of creatures, over land and sea, in order to solve the mystery and save the day.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Paranormal, Contemporary, Humor, Audiobook

500 pages, Library Binding

First published May 21, 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

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hollywood has come to the Mississippi delta--a movie crew is shooting their new film locally. When two people disappear and some of the local residents protest the film, things get complicated, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to find the missing men, one of whom has ties to the area. Could this old family history be scandalous enough to be related to the disappearances? It's fun to read about these likable characters again, though I'm getting a bit weary of Jitty. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Sarah Booth Delaney novel but it won't be my last. In this book there is a film crew that has come to Greenville and when not one but two members of the film crew disappear Sarah Booth has to intervene and try to find them. The novel was charming but sometimes I did not understand some components like the supernatural aspect, I didn't quite get, maybe there is context that I'm missing from the other novels. It did not diminish my absolute delight with all the characters and plot though. I had a really fun time reading this book and finished it in two days so that should tell you just how entertained I was. The book was fun and I definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Carolyn Haines for giving me the opportunity to review this book. All opinions are my own.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Lights, Camera, Bones" by Carolyn Haines the 27th instalment in the "A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery" series which releases on May 21st. I absolutely love this series!

I always enjoy visiting with Sarah and Tinkie it’s like coming home to old friends. I always learn something about the history of the Deep South and this time the flood of 1927 in Greenville. Sarah Booth and Tinkie investigate the disappearance of Marlon Brandon the writer and star of the movie.

As rumors swirl around the Delta about Marlon's motives for making the film, Sarah Booth and Tinkie have to wonder whether a shark is to blame, or an equally ferocious human offender. The show must go on, and Sarah Booth and her crew will have to investigate all manner of creatures, over land and sea, in order to solve the mystery and save the day.

There were plenty of twists and turns and lots to keep you intrigued. I found this book to be a real page-turner, and reading in one day. I love Jitty Sarah’s “Haint” she played a few tricks on Sarah that were mean but funny at the same time …. Did I mention there was also a Bull Shark loose in the Mississippi River.

I’m looking forward to the next instalment

I highly recommend this book and series to all my cozy mystery friends.


I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martins Press and NetGalley . All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

[Liz Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always been entertaining to read what Sarah Booth Delaney is up to. This time it’s a movie production in a town not far from Zinnia, Mississippi, with a local man as star and screenwriter. But weird things are happening on the set and people start vanishing. And just when you think things can’t get much weirder, a shark shows up in the lake.
It’s hard to tell who is telling the truth and who is trying to rewrite Delta history. There are plenty of candidates for nastiest villain, but Sarah Booth and Tinkie (and a few of their friends) always come through! Though they do spend a fair amount of time trying to get out of the rabbit holes they’ve gone down.
I can’t judge whether this could be read as a stand-alone - I’ve read every book in this series and enjoyed them all, even the serious history that gets thrown in as a bonus! I strongly suggest that you read it all. You’ll laugh and cry and learn stuff!
The Mississippi Delta setting is lovely, it is another character in the book. And the human characters are believably flawed and occasionally over the top, just like real people. .
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.
I will be very happy when my hardcover copy arrives on release day!

[Melanie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first foray into the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series. I am a big fan of her Familiar series and while I always manage to grab those updates, I completely missed this series. I expected pets and I expected supernatural, and I expected to enjoy this book. All my expectation were meant and then some.
This book was fun. Yes, it dealt with a series subject of murder and missing person and hearkened back to a difficult time in their history. Let’s start with the characters. Sarah was very no nonsense, and it is clear she was very adept at solving mysteries. Her partner, Tinkie, was a Southern Belle with a strong spine and her share of sass. Neither of the two women were intimidated about running into the fray when the uppity people in town protested the movie. I couldn’t understand the motivations of Lamar and Mary. There were bullies and seemed to be the type of people to stir the pot. I did like how the author tied Mary’s past job to what was happening with the missing movie people.
I mentioned the motivations of Mary and Lamar above. Their protest was allegedly tied to people be stranded intentionally to keep workers from leaving during the flood. I think of a very popular movie with a similar scene and realize from that movie we can’t whitewash history. With that said, I liked how the author did not shy away from subjects that were a little tougher.
She did provide some levity. One of the big ones was the names of the males in the Brandon family. There were just nonsensical enough to add that touch of levity. The book is a touch too long, so a little humor helped. The mystery was good, and it truly jumped the shark giving us an unexpected story with at least a partially happy ending. This story is not the familiar series, but it is strong enough to stand on its own and set itself apart in the world of cozies. I personally have a lot of reading to do. While I was able to jump into and enjoy book 27 in this series, I want to learn about the characters and watch them develop. I would recommend this series and if you have read them all then I recommend the author’s cat detective series as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Kathy Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

LIGHTS, CAMERA, BONES is my introduction to the Sarah Booth Delany Mystery series. It is book 27. The main character is Sarah Booth. She is ably assisted in her investigations by her partner Tinkie, Coleman Peters who is her love interest and the sheriff of Sunflower County, a ghost named Jitty, and her animal companions.

This case has Sarah Booth and her partner Tinkie hired by a movie company when one of the gaffers goes missing. They learn that the movie is to tell the story of the 1927 flood and is being produced, directed and starred in by local boy Marlon Brandon.

There has been trouble on the set. A vocal minority wants to shut down production. Marlon's grandfather who is a local big deal isn't too happy about the movie either. Sarah Booth and Tinkie begin looking into things and aren't having much success. Things get even more baffling when a foot from the missing gaffer is found. It was apparently bitten off by a shark.

Apparently, someone has imported a shark to add more disruption to the movie making. Coleman is a diver and is part of the crew trying to find the shark and move it back to salt water. Local Mary Dayle who is part of the opposition to the movie, but she still wants to protect the shark. She's a bookstore owner now but was previously a marine biologist.

Then Marlon goes missing. If Sarah Booth and Tinkie can't find him, the movie is doomed.

This was an engaging, light mystery. Prepare to suspend belief because quite a few of the characters have "too stupid to live" moments including the detectives.

[Jessica Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I usually love the books in this series, this one “jumped the shark.” Far too many conveniences to tie loose ends together. I’m hoping that the next one gets better.

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooray, another Sarah Booth novel! This was fun. Murder and mystery on a movie set! All her friends are around or make a brief appearance. I love how the author really loves animals. There’s a shark featured, and of course Sarah Booth’s Pluto, the cat and Sweetie Pie her dog.

I follow the author on Facebook and Instagram. She’s very approachable and likes interacting with her fans. I have been reading this series since the very beginning! It will be a sad day when she quits writing.

[Nancy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent Sarah Booth Delaney mystery, this book will have the reader turning pages to find out what happened when a movie company in a nearby town is plagued with mysterious disappearances, kidnappings, dangerous threats, murder, and a supposed shark attack in a fresh-water lake. Once again Sarah Booth and Tinkie put their heads together to solve the crimes.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to investigate a missing person on a movie set. Typical ghosts, animals and characters.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur for my honest review.*

This was a totally new series to me - 27th?!? I was able to follow along even though there was much history behind the characters from the prior books.

Sarah Booth (I do kind of want to know why the 2 names and are they both used all the time?) and Tinkie are hired to investigate a missing person from the Movie crew that is filming about the 1927 flood in Greenville, Mississippi. There are tales of a shark in the river and speculation about how the shark got all that way upriver. And when a second person goes missing, it is even more important to get to the bottom of things.

A great little cozy and a chance to learn about the flood in Greenville. Sarah has a ghost that helps - something learned about in previous books in the series? All else seemed normal in the book except for the ghost. Quite a cast of quirky characters and I am ready to go back and read from the beginning!

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much to my surprise, I have somehow managed to miss this long running series of 27 books until now. As such, I can confidently vouch that it works well as a standalone. Although I'm sure coming into the series this late means I've missed lots of character nuances and relationships, they were easily sorted out and made sense. Set in Greenville, MS, it has a distinctly Southern tone at times, including many of the names.

You're going to like Sarah Booth Delaney and the easy relationship she has with investigative partner Tinkle Bellcase Richmond. Sarah calls Tinkle the brains of the outfit, especially when it comes to sorting out financial info, though that doesn't stop her from being able to pick a lock in under three minutes or navigate some less than stellar back roads at speed. Not exactly skills many society types have. Add in Sarah's super scent dog and a rather ninja cat, not to forget Poe, the raven, and it's an interesting mix and I haven't even mentioned her mutual trust with romantic partner, Coleman, or the great relationship she seems to have with the local police. My verdict on Jitty, who seems to be a ghost, is still out as, unless I totally missed it, her presence wasn't explained nor her affinity for adopting different guises, not all of them human. Yep, I really need to sort out the "who, what, why" of Jitty.

As for the mystery, it centers around the disappearance of two members of the film crew that go missing, one of them the writer, producer, and star. Jules, the gaffer, mysteriously goes missing first. Then, gulp, a severed foot is discovered in the river. Oh, did I forget to mention a shark is involved? A pregnant bull shark nicknamed Betty, at that. That whole scenario is a big part of the action, so I'll simply leave it at that. The disappearance of Marlon, the force behind the film, however, leads us to several other angles of the plot. Again, don't want to give away too much, but ol' money and the power that goes with it, murky family histories, and issues of racism all play a role. Whoever has control of a family history has the power to mold it, let's just say. As the plot progresses, we learn bits of history, bad and good, how one's relationship with family impacts one's current life, and quite a bit about sharks. I mean, who knew sharks might be an issue in the Mississippi River?

Bottom line, Carolyn Haines does an excellent job of melding together a quirky but likable cast of characters and portraying them as multi-dimensional people we might know. I liked Sarah and Tinkle a great deal and found Tinkle's Southern charm and backbone (and love for her daughter) made for a good partnership. Sarah does seem to have a knack of being around when bullets fly but, hey, she doesn't back down, either. Let's just say, she wasn't fond of almost meeting Betty the shark too up-close-and-personal, though. Can't say that I blame her. Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartin'sPress - #Minotaur for introducing me to this fun series, slow as I was to jump aboard. I'll be catching up on it while eagerly awaiting the next adventure. Nice nod to Miranda James, too. Grin.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lights, Camera, Bones by Carolyn Haines is fantastic. I loved everything.

Will Sarah Booth and Tinkie find Marlon dead or alive?

We join Sarah Booth and Tinkie in Greenville, Mississippi, on a movie set. They are there to see the production of a movie about the 1927 flood. Shortly after meeting the actor/writer/director Marlon Brandon on the set, they are hired to find one of the crew members who has gone missing. Mr. Brandon's family has strong ties to the community, and they prospered immensely after the flood.

If Sarah Booth could give Tinkie a bit more of an opportunity to be part of the investigation, perhaps they wouldn't have these little spats. Not that it lasts long, but Sarah Booth is definitely the do-it-and-apologize-later type.

Tinkie and Sarah Booth must figure out why the film and its crew are being targeted. There are so many suspects but no leads. Will our detectives figure out what happened to Marlon?

Sarah Booth and Tinkie
Colman and Sarah Booth are both doing well. I love that they have this tremendous respect for each other. However, that doesn't stop the worrying; it helps them keep their honesty and love alive.

Tinkie, Oscar, and Maylin are a happy family. Tinkie is a marvelous mom, and Maylin is the apple of everyone's eye.

We don't see as many of the pets in this installment, but it makes sense since they aren't in Zinnia. You wouldn't want them to have to leave them in the car all the time.

There are some changes to vehicles. The whole gang makes an appearance at one point or another except Millie. She is mentioned and, of course, caters a party that Tinkie throws, but there are no actual scenes with her.

Jitty's Clues
Jitty wasn't as involved in this case as she was in others, although Sarah Booth is getting better at staying out of harm's way.

Five Stars for Lights, Camera, Bones
My rating for Lights, Camera, Bones by Carolyn Haines is five stars. Ms. Haines continues to amaze me with the mysteries that she puts together. I always look forward to when one is being released. Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and the gang are some of my favorite characters. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Lights, Camera, Bones by Carolyn Haines.

Until the next time,



This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Tracy Condie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Booth Delaney has gone Hollywood. Well not really, but it looks like Sara Booth and her BFF Tinkie are going to be going back to work without so much as a long weekend off after two straight years of work. If you are not familiar with the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series, you will need to channel your inner Steel Magnolia because Sarah Booth is not your typical Southern belle. Just a heads up that this is not a fluffy cozy, there is Southern sass and a little language now and again, these ladies mean business after all. This is book 27 of 28 (yes the next one is already in the works) and I have enjoyed every one that I have read over the last decade. I still need to start at the beginning but it doesn’t hinder my enjoyment for the story or its characters of which there are some definite “characters,” including a ghost/haint of nannies past named Jitty who is forever antagonizing Sarah Booth to have babies and also driving Sarah Booth crazy by making enigmatic statements that are meant to aid in investigations and then disappearing. Jitty says there are rules about being straightforward.

Jitty isn’t the only one disappearing, a gaffer named Jules is missing, then Marlon Brandon the big star/screen writer, and grandson of former Senator Brandon Brandon (yes that is his name) goes missing. Local loudmouth Lamar Bilbo and bookstore owner Mary Dayle McCormick have been showing up on set and doing their best to shut down the production. Lamar and Mary Dayle claim that the movie is going to show unpleasantness and blatant racism instead of the heroic rescue of stranded folks by a Brandon ancestor and his boat. Tensions are high and they get even higher when a severed foot is fished out of the water. Now it is really getting interesting isn’t it?

This plot had me hooked with all of the inter-linking clues such as family history that some felt should remain in the past. There were well placed red herrings, and the tips and hints from the many personas of Jitty who seems to be exceedingly vexing to Sarah Booth, even more so than usual. It is very easy to be caught up in the story as if you were there with Sarah Booth and her friends since emotions are running high. I was turning page after page eager to learn the truth but unable to figure out the puzzle, which is just how I like my mysteries. I also like it when I learn something new such as the fact that the background of this story is based on actual history; there was a horrific flood in 1927 that devastated Greenville, Mississippi due to the loss of property, livestock, and lives. This is an excellent read and I am looking forward to seeing what Ms. Haines has in store for us in book 28.

[Cornerofmadness · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to netgalley for this arc (which in no way influenced my review) It was a straight up 3.5 star review but I rounded up due to some of my issues potentially coming from the fact I'm coming into this series with book 27 (I mostly said yes because of the setting, it's one I struggle to find for a reading challenge I do)

Sarah Booth and Tinkie are quickly swept up in a movie that's about to be made about a flooding of the delta nearly a century before and the lead actor Marlon Brandon is from the town, his family were heroes helping people in the floods and he also wrote the script. His granddad is a senator and well liked. We also have Lamar, whose family was also in politics and is a known racist, wants to shut the movie down on the basis he believes that it's going to paint all southeners as racist fools.

So as his faction and the movie people battle it out, one of the movie crewmen disappears, a shark appears in the river in question and Marlon goes from leading man and the person hiring Sarah to find the crew man to the next person to disappear. Sarah and Tinkie not only want to find him but also save the movie (which is pumping money into the town).

That part of the story was enjoyable up until the end where I ran into some problems (for me) So we have Jitty who confused and kind of annoyed me but that's why I rounded up. I'm sure it would have worked if I had read the first two dozen books. Is she a ghost? A nature spirit? What? (I believe the first option) but she spends a little too much time taking on various shapes and tricking Sarah for my tastes.

Without spoilers, I did have a bit of a problem with the end. We get one hint in the final third of the book as they dig up the history surrounding the flood and all of what happened and yet no one puts it together until slapped upside the head with it at the very end. I figured it out right then and there and it seemed such an obvious avenue of investigation that no one paid any mind to leading the protagonist to seem well a bit bad at her job.

That said I'd like to go back and read more of the series as Sarah, her friends and her pets are fun.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll start by saying this is the first book I’ve read of this very well established series. I received the widget in my inbox and after reading the description decided to try it out. I liked that the location of the series is in a southern state and the characters came across genuine and interesting. A film crew comes to this community to make a movie about the great flood of 1927, which was written, directed, and starring the grandson of a very well connected family. Filming has barely begun when one of the crew comes up missing. There’s a lot of speculation from other community members about what the film is really about. Then, there’s another disappearance along with a lot of other things happening that I won’t get into because I don’t want to give anything away. Let’s just say there’s a lot going on, but it did not detract my attention from the story. I really liked the characters of Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner and all of their sidekicks. Even though this is the 27th book. It worked well for me as a standalone. That said, I am sure I’ve missed out on a lot of character development and relationships between them, but it didn’t leave any holes in the story in my opinion. it was very entertaining and a quick read with a satisfying ending. i’d like to thank. St. Martin’s Press./Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my advance reader copy. Publication date May 21, 2024.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: I confess I have a real soft spot for Sarah Booth and her family and friends. I always feel like I am on a trip to the Delta when I read her. I also love how Delta authors often cross promote each other like the author does with Miranda James in this book.. Sarah and Tinkie are two very capable investigators and appear on the set of a movie just when one of the crew has gone missing. When a foot that has been severed pops up, disappearance has turned to murder although the cause of the dismemberment is rather odd for fresh water. The foot has been bitten off by a shark.

This is but the beginning of a very complicated and complex tale where Sarah Booth has trouble figuring out the good guys from the bad. Even the shark is an innocent victim. Then the star, writer and director of the film, Marlon, goes missing too. He has some deep roots to the area. The big questions are why was he taken and who took him. History, family and corruption- three very important things in this part of the world- are at the heart of it. But sorting fact from fiction is going to tax her to the limit. Meanwhile, there is also a race to see if the shark can be found and moved to safety or whether it too will become a victim of greed.

It had some very unexpected turns and kept me entertained throughout. Five purrs and two paws up.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lights, Camera, Bones is another great cozy mystery starring the Delaney Detective Agency.

The Agency consists of organic farmer Sarah Booth Delaney and her best friend Southern belle Tinkie. They are asked to investigate some disappearances from a nearby movie set. The movie is about local Mississippi history. However, some of the area’s residents are not happy about seeing their family skeletons on the big screen. There is also a shark loose in the river where the filming is taking place. With dangerous predators on both land and sea, Sarah Booth and Tinkie will have their hands full trying to solve this mystery!

I have read almost all of the books in this series as they are published. My favorite parts are usually the interactions between Sarah Booth and her family’s “haint”, Jitty. Unfortunately, Jitty just does short irrelevant “comic” interludes in this book. They don’t add anything at all to the story. If she is a sea goddess, why can’t she help Sarah Booth find the shark? Seriously, every time she appeared, I just cringed.

If you look past the Jitty scenes, Lights, Camera, Bones is a good entry to the series. 4 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

[Patricia Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s always a good day when Sarah Delaney Booth shows up in your inbox!
I think maybe because my Momma lives in the area this is set in.
This is the 27th installment and it is just as funny, and cozy as the first one.


Greenville, Mississippi is getting a lot of new people in the form of a movie crew! Supposedly about the 1927 flood that left a town underwater, a lot of people dead, and some very unscrupulous behavior!


Marlon Brandon is the grandson and heir to the Brandon family fortune and he is in charge of the movie, as well as acting in it. But from the start there are a lot of people who don’t want this story told. And his own grandfather seems to be on the fence about it.


When one of the cast ends up dead in the river, they also find a shark swimming around in there. And when Marlon goes missing as well, Sarah and Tink are going to go all in to find him. Unfortunately, this could get them in a lot of trouble and could get them dead!


Always a pleasure to hang out with Sarah and her ghost friend.


NetGalley/ St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur May 21, 2024

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah, Boot and Tinkie have a little downtime and decide to check out the filming site, featuring a locally raised celebrity telling the history of his family and his hometown. It’s an enjoyable way to spend some downtime for the ladies, until a part of the film crew goes missing.

Just like that, the Delaney Detective Agency is back to work! Can the ladies find out what happened to the missing member of the crew? As they try to figure out if the missing man was eaten by a shark, Marlon Brandon himself goes missing. Who is trying to stop the story of Greenville and the Brandon family from being told?

I absolutely adore this series. Sarah, Booth and Tinkie are my kind of gals! I love how Tinky is so steep in the southern hospitality and mannerisms, but yet just as aggressive as Sarah Booth when it comes to getting the job done! These two don’t shy away from anything, and I love every single second that I spend with them while reading a book. If you haven’t read this series yet, get the first book and plan to binge! You’ll thank me later!

[Lance Lumley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series takes the main character to a movie set near the Mississippi Delta where a film is being made about the history of the Brandon family, who was a part of the famous 1927 flood in the area. Marlon Brandon is behind the project, whose family is very influential politically. Several people are trying to stop the film from being made, due to wondering if the "truth" would be told, along with people who don't want the truth exposed, thinking it would bring shame to the area. Brandon disappears after a crew member is found dead in what appears to be a shark attack. How did the shark get there, who brought it, and who is responsible for the disappearance of the main person in the film?
This is a read that at parts educates as well as entertains, and gets the characters and plot on a better track than the last installment.

For an in-depth review, visit my page at:
www.lancewrites.wordpress.com/2024/05...

[Daria]

After a crewmember and an actor go missing from a film set in Greenville, MS, Sarah Booth and her partner Tinkie are hired to find them and help keep the filming on track. Sarah Booth and Tinkie are aided by the usual recurring characters, foremost among them Sarah Booth's boyfriend and sheriff Coleman Peters, and their journalist buddy CeCe.

The novel does a good job highlighting what happens when secrets are hidden and then brought into the open, and it touches on the lingering effects of slavery and Jim Crow. Sarah Booth doesn't solve the mystery as much as she bumbles into the solution when it is handed to her, but the various threads are tied up neatly at the end. The development of the recurring characters and their relationships is one of the high points of this long-running series, and Lights, Camera, Bones doesn't disappoint in that regard. Thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Terhi Tatjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A reconning with troublesome history is the central theme of this installment of Delaney Detective Agency. I love how Haines brings in current events and cultural shifts in her stories. Here, the complicated history of the South and the founding of the US comes into play as a filmmaker works to out his negative personal family history, and his grandfather, the senator, is partly to blame for keeping things swept under the rug. Also, love the addition of Poe to the menagerie of Sarah Booth's pets. Could he perhaps have some paranormal talents? We're not sure, but there's plenty of foreshadowing for future tales. As usual, Jitty makes fun appearances throughout the story and perhaps Tinkie will learn about her one day...

Favorite Line ~ "Generalizations were always untrue but the burden of history couldn't be ignored either. The truth is the only answer to what happened in the past. Eventually there needs to be an accounting. Building a life or country on lies is just wrong."

[Libby Mckinmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

The latest in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series finds the Delaney Detective Agency on the set of a movie drama about the 1927 flood that affected the town in Greenville, MS. The movie’s director, Marlon Brandon is the heir to a powerful and wealthy political family and he wants the world to know the story of the flood and the heroic role his ancestors played in rescuing locals.

Then Marlon disappears, but he’s just the first. Then a severed foot is found in the Mississippi River where a rogue bull shark has suddenly appeared. Was Marlon the victim of a shark attack? Or a human predator?

Sarah Booth and associates investigate both the human and fish predator aspects as they search for Marlon, hoping to find him alive.

The author has created a solid cozy mystery with a cast of characters with enough quirks to make them interesting. While it’s part of a series, Light, Camera, Bones is easily read as a standalone novel.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is so upset about what happened in Greenvilles in 1933 that they're willing to kill? That's the question Sarah Booth and Tinkie are going to answer in this latest in the long running series that also features a - wait for it- bull shark in the Mississippi River. Marlon Brandon (could have done without the name) has written and is producing a movie about the flood but people in town don't want it. So when a gaffer goes missing and a foot is found, well that sets off even more uproar. And then there's another murder! As always, Sarah Booth and Tinkie are a hoot. This is classic cozy territory in many ways with great atmospherics and a sprightly approach to, well, murder. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read for fans of the series and newcomers who will find it just as fun as a standalone.

[Jessi · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's a movie production in town and everyone is atwitter. Famous actor Marlon Brandon is doing a film about his family who have been movers and shakers in Greenville for a very long time but this film focuses on the flood of 1927. But, this being Greenville, there's something going on. A gaffer, Jules is missing. And there are people in town who aren't happy that this movie is being made.
When Marlon goes missing, there are any number motives that come out of the woodwork though most seem to center around the past. So who is behind the murder and the disappearance?
The Sarah Both Delaney stories are often a little out there (I mean, there's a ghost in every story) but this story includes a shark. Yes, in freshwater. I get that this is a thing that can happen but... it was set up as a major part of the story.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Booth and her friend Tinkie are private investigators in a small Southern town and the big excitement is a movie company is filming an adventure film in town based on a historic flood. Some people are excited about the boon to the economy, but there are some who are afraid the town will be poorly portrayed. The director is the grandson of a prominent family, but the family has skeletons in the closet.
When a crew member goes missing, Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to investigate. Add in more disappearances, a shark in the river, and everyone’s lies, and this is mystery is full of red herrings. The close ties of the friends are heart-warming and the southern humor makes an enjoyable cozy read.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

[Gwen Lightfoot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I’m a total fan of Carolyn Haines. I’ve read and own all the Sarah Booth Delaney books. This latest in the series is another hit. I was lucky enough to win an ARC copy of this book , hence the prepublication review. I love the characters, I love the back stories, and I love the history that is woven into each book. Ms. Haines is a world-class researcher. In Lights, Camera, Bones we are treated to evil doings and skulduggery on a movie set. Murder, kidnappings, a shark (!), and downright rotten people keep this book moving along at a good clip. If you haven’t met Sarah Booth, Tinkie, Coleman and Jitty, you are in for a treat. Since this is the latest in a series, you’ll enjoy it more if you start at the beginning with Them Bones. Enjoy!

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lights, Camera, Bones is book #27 in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series by Carolyn Haines.

I really enjoy escaping for a few hours with Sarah Booth and Twinkie. They are so different but work so well together. The mysteries are entertaining but the characters are what keep me excited for the new books. There’s a movie filming in Greenville and not everyone agrees with the historical facts and want the movie stopped. Sarah Booth and Twinkie are on a break, but can’t help but get pulled in to investigate a missing crew member. I enjoyed the twists that kept me guessing. I recommend this book and series.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have followed this series, enjoying the ensemble cast, the friendships and evolving relationships, and the layered plots that generally take Sarah Booth and Tinkie Richmond all over the Delta to solve. What I have appreciated even more, though, is acknowledging my prejudices about the south and its history. This novel, which focuses on film-making based on the destructive flood of 1927 in Greenville, Mississippi, includes elements of racism, women’s roles, class systems, shifting power structures, and dominant political families, quietly challenging my thinking again. At the same time, newfound love and comfort food, loyal friends and southern hospitality, made this an enjoyable read again.