Tell-Tale Bones

Sarah Booth Delaney #26

by Carolyn Haines, Kate Forbes (Narrator)

Unabridged, 1 audiobook file (10 parts), 10 hours 59 minutes 33 seconds
_______________
The latest novel in the series that Kirkus Reviews characterizes as “Stephanie Plum meets the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” featuring sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney.

Private Investigator Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie are in Sheriff Coleman Peters's office, asking Coleman about cold cases, when Elisa Redd storms in with a case her own. She wants Coleman to reopen the investigation of her missing daughter, Lydia Redd Maxell, the heiress to a large fortune who disappeared along with her friend Bethany 10 years ago, while the two of them were working as human rights organizers. Now Lydia’s husband, Tope, is set to inherit the fortune, and Elisa suspects he’s behind the disappearance.

Armed with a pile of mysterious notes mailed to Elisa over the years, Sarah Booth and Tinkie follow an increasingly twisty trail leading all over Sunflower County, leading them to a tree and an empty grave in the county cemetery. A grave that’s said to be haunted…

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

11 pages, Audiobook

First published May 16, 2023

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

[BonnieM☂️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tell-Tale Bones is an interesting story. I was not sure I would like it when I started reading it but as I got into the story I really enjoyed it. The story takes place in Zinnia, Mississippi. The main character is Sarah Booth Delaney who owns Delaney Detective Agency along with her partner, Tinkie Richmond. Dahlia House is her family house that she inherited and lives in along with a ghost named Jitty. Sheriff Coleman Peters is her boyfriend. There are other characters in the story that live in Zinnia.

The story opens when her high school friend Tammy Odom (Madame Tomeeka) who is a fortune teller comes to see Sarah and tells her that she had the strangest dream that scares her. She keeps hearing a thumping sound like a steady heartbeat in the floor. The dream relates to Edgar Alan Poe's short story.

Elisa Redd wants to hire Sarah and Tinkie to find her daughter Lydia who disappeared 6 years ago along with her best friend, Bethany Carter. Tote Maxwell has filed papers to declare his wife Lydia legally dead. Lydia was a very wealthy woman. They had been married about a year. There were signs that she was abused, Did he kill her? It is rumored that he is engaged to Vivian Dantzeler. Sarah and Tinkie decide to take the case to help Elisa find out the truth. They start asking questions, They go and speak to Vivian and see that she too has bruises, Later they find out that Vivian was dead from falling off the balcony of Tope's house. Did she fall or was she pushed by Tope?

This is where the story takes off and takes the reader on an adventure of finding the truth. Is Lydia and Bethany alive or dead. Did Tope push Vivian off the balcony, etc. There is so much going on in the story that I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the climax ending. The funniest part of the story is when Tammy does a séance at Tote's house as he wants to ask Lydia questions.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell-Tale Bones (Sarah Booth Delaney #26) by Carolyn Haines.

This author delivers! Just when you think an original S.B.D. book isn't possible...a brand new one pops up with all new ideas and situations. Love it!

Sarah Booth and Tinkie are gathered in Sheriff Coleman's office when Elise Redd marches in with a request. No, make that a demand! Her daughter Lydia Redd Maxwell has been missing for going on seven years. Now Elisa, Lydia's mother, wants that case reopened. All sorts of rumors have flown about regarding Lydia and her then closest friend Bethany, but neither have been heard from. The only fact known is that Lydia was in an abusive relationship with her husband Tope Maxwell.

Everyone is onboard for this latest fiasco including Tinkie's latest addition her baby Maylin. From the beginning to the climatic end the action never stopped. Everyone working together for the hopeful conclusion.
This was absolutely one of the best S.B.D. story's ever. Loved every page of it. Easily 5 Starts and then some.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Booth and Tinkie have a new case. Elisa's daughter Lydia has been missing for 7 years, and Lydia's abusive ex is trying to have her declared dead so he can inherit her money. Did he kill Lydia? Is she dead or alive-- could she and her friend Bethany have gone to another country? Madame Tomeeka has been having disturbing dreams, and she will hold a seance to help her friends find out the truth. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

[Eilonwy · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did I forget to review this?

This is such an entertaining series. I've read the first book and the latest two books now, and thoroughly enjoyed each of them. Sarah Booth has a great voice and a terrific outlook on the world. It occurred to me that Sarah Booth and Tinkie are in some ways modern, adult versions of Trixie Belden and her friend Honey, running that detective agency they always said they were going to open when they grew up. But they are also very much their own characters. I love the setting and sense of place in these books. And the mysteries have great twists.

I'm really looking forward to reading more of this series.

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

"They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. In their gray visions, they obtain glimpses of eternity, and thrill, in waking, to find that they have been upon the verge of the great secret." ~Edgar Allen Poe

I love this quote as it's absolutely perfect for acquainting me with the Sarah Booth Delaney Series. My gosh, this is book TWENTY-SIX! Have I been under a rock? The best thing is that I now have a beautiful catalog to gather and enjoy.

I was wildly entertained and wholeheartedly filled with joy getting to know Sarah and the cast of characters that surround her. This was so much fun. I loved it.
~Tanja

*ARC proved by the publisher via Netgalley

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[Beverly Neuner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confederate Heritage

I’m disappointed that the “Johnny Reb” statue is gone. I’m very proud of my southern heritage. I feel no shame about my color “white” or my ancestors. My great great great grandfather was a Confederate General. I take great pride in how he served his country; The Confederacy. I still have a confederate flag. I love Stone Mountain Georgia. I don’t have white colleges or white history month but I still have a RIGHT to my heritage

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tell-Tale Bones" by Carolyn Haines the 26th instalment in the "A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery" series which releases on May 16th. I absolutely love this series!

They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. In their gray visions, they obtain glimpses of eternity, and thrill, in waking, to find that they have been upon the verge of the great secret." ~Edgar Allen Poe

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 woman’s rights movement. Sarah Booth is a very independent woman and Tinkie is a “Daddy’s Girl” but also independent despite her upbringing this makes the perfect partners at Delaney Investigations.

I really felt for the missing woman as no one should have to tolerate abuse but as we learned there was a time sadly the privileged rich and powerful could.

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’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.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think Carolyin Haines can write a bad or boring book nor I think I will stop enjoying Sarah Booth mysteries.
They’re entertaining, well plotted and compelling but there’s also a more serious side and I learned a lot about historical fact or places.
This solid mystery is a bit darker than usual as it talks about missing persons and family violence.
Don’t expect a gritty story, Ms Haines delivers a very entertaining story with food for thought.
Sarah and her friends are as lovely as usual and it’s like meeting old friends and catching up.
Another winner I read in one sitting.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Minotaur Books for this arc, all opinions are mine

[kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book! I have been reading these books since the very beginning! It’s so fun that Tinkie now has a baby. It doesn’t stop her from detecting with Sarah Booth!

This is a cold case but I like how they went about solving it. Very fun at the ending. I also enjoyed Jitty’s antics along the way. The crow was very interesting and the role the crow played. A very satisfying mystery.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. I love Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and all the diverse characters. I really enjoyed that Tell-Tale Bones was a take on The Tell-Tale Heart!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I have to wait for the next book. Always the hardest part when you find a great series!

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I got the email to review this book, I was so excited. Normally even if I don’t have an ARC I read the next book in this series as soon as it’s released. Unfortunately, I was in the middle of trying to read as many new authors attending an upcoming signing event as possible and I didn’t get this read before the pub date. Once I started, I was reminded why I love the world of Sarah Booth Delaney and how quickly I can get lost in it.

There is so much I love about this world and how reality is mixed with clearly not real, and this book did not disappoint! It included all the characters I have come to love as well as minor characters taking a more front seat role. I did miss a couple of the gang that were missing completely or only had a minor part, but with such a big found family that has to happen. It also made me realize how old I am with the references to the early 2010/11 being “older” models, when did older models extend past the 90’s?

One of my favorite things about this series is how Haines blends real life issues into the case, as well as how she puts into words what I have never been able to about my love for my Southern history and all the complications that go along with it. I say it every review, but each book brings out a different aspect. I think my favorite quote in this book was “So many horrible things have been hidden from history books. When injustice is the basis for a society, it is doomed.” That is so true and needs to be acknowledged more than it is. The stigma around domestic abuse and the lack of access to abortion care in the rural South, especially after the overturn of Rowe v Wade hit home without being political at all. Without giving spoilers, there were so many aspects of this book that could happen in the real world even though they were told in a very fictional one.

I really loved how strong Coleman and Sarah Booth’s relationship was in this book, even more so than the previous books. The way it is always a foundation to the storyline is always a strong point, but in this book, it really made me love him more. Jitty let Sarah Booth get more involved in the case before “helping” than she has in previous books, but and I loved it, especially how receptive Sarah Booth was to her in the first chapter.

The plot kept me guessing the whole time. There were so many pieces that didn’t fit together no matter how hard I tried to make them fit. Even the characters I had figured out (and was supposed to), kept me on my toes. When it got to the climax, I was still questioning what the truth was. It wasn’t until the last chapter that I really believed what I was reading. I cannot wait to see what comes next for Sarah Booth and the gang!

This wasn’t my absolute favorite Sarah Booth book, but it was high up there and I loved it so much. Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s/Minotaur Books and Carolyn Haines for the electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kiraz ~ bookwithacherryontop · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cozy-ish mystery with a ghostly twist. This is book 26 in the series, but I didn’t realize that so it’s the first one I read. I didn’t feel like I missed out much by jumping in like this, though I’m sure I’d be more familiar with the characters if I had read the others.

Tell-Tale Bones is about a cold case of two missing women. The husband of one of the two wants her declared dead after 10 years which will also allow him to inherit her fortune. This causes the PI Sarah Booth to get pulled into the case. Sarah Booth and her partner Tinkie will try to figure out if these two are actually dead or alive, and if they are dead, who killed them?

What was cool about this mystery for me was all the literary references (especially The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe) and a ghost that helped the detective with cryptic clues. This is the first mystery I read that involved a sidekick ghost.

I found the characters charming, especially the main character. I also liked her boyfriend, the sheriff. I liked that he was supportive of her endeavors, and accepts her as she is, rather than fighting against her wish to jump into the middle of a mystery.

While this book has the shape of a cozy mystery, some of the themes are less cozy, such as domestic abuse and access to abortion. The book does a good job of highlighting the difficulty of getting out of abusive relationships and the difficulty of identifying when it’s happening from the outside.

Onto the mystery, I found it quite intriguing and interesting, it kept me turning the pages. I continuously flipped back and forth between they must still be alive, and they must have been killed, getting pulled in directions by the red herrings and clues alike. The story goes in many interesting directions I wasn’t expecting, I was kept on my toes throughout.

Rating: 3.6⭐

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book is about an abuser, personally for me this wasn’t a light hearted book.

[Linda Haas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tell-Tale Bones by Carolyn Haines is a cozy murder mystery about a couple of private detectives who are hired to find or confirm that a woman is alive or dead. This is a Sarah Booth Delaney mystery. This is the first book in this series that I read. I was disappointed because the plot didn’t make sense to me. This missing woman has been gone for 7 years. She had been abused by her husband but she kept refusing to press charges! I find it hard to feel sorry for women who refuse to press charges. She also has a mother in town who hasn’t seen or heard from her daughter for 7 years! The mother is the one who hired these private detectives. This husband/abuser commits a number of crimes including shooting a deputy but wasn’t arrested. Why? I found myself very frustrated reading this book because it seemed like the writer was trying to make the situation so much more complicated than it should have been.

[Jaimes_Mystical_Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great cozy mystery! Tell-Tale Bones is book 26 in the Sarah Booth Delaney series and since this was my first time reading a book in this series it took me a bit to learn all the different characters. Other than having to get to know a bunch of new characters that were already developed, I loved how quickly I could jump into this series. I enjoyed the mystery and the references to Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart, especially since I recently read it. I also really liked the paranormal aspects of this book. Overall this was an excellent cozy read and I can’t wait to read more of this series.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending me this copy.

[Daria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Booth and Tinkie look into the disappearance of a woman who was in an abusive marriage. Suspects abound, including the husband who seems ready to have his wife declared dead and move on. Good character development, especially for Tinkie who has come so far from any stereotype of a Sothern belle in this series. Your enjoyment of this series may depend on your interest in paranormal elements and tolerance for a regularly appearing ghost. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Susie James · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of these days, I'm going to be reading a tale of Dahlia and dalliance mixed with true love and find that Coleman Peters and our heroine are becoming parents, thrilling Jitty no end. "Tell-Tale Bones", Carolyn Haines's latest, however, isn't that tale. A good read though. Wasn't sure how successfully all those wild ends were going to be tied together to the pleasure of Haines's devoted readers.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I loved this new case that Sarah Booth and Tinkie solved!

[Joggingt · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite of this series. Sarah Booth Delaney has no brains in this one

[Clwseattle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two lucky stars for Tell-Tale Bones.

"This just seems more like drama and less like a solid plan."

~*~

"This whole case had gone in another wacko direction."

Yep, Carolyn Haines succeeded in summing up her latest, certainly not greatest, Sarah Booth Delaney book.

I found it hard to connect with the plot of Tell-Tale Bones, and beyond despising Tope, didn't care for any character, even those who once delighted me.

Tell-Tale Bones has what seems like unending characters from all over Mississippi working hard to obscure facts from Sarah and Tinky. I wished for a flow chart to keep track of them all.

The insistent reminders for Sarah to have a child has become a nag. Ms. Haines, decide for her already and move on from tormenting her and the readers.

"When this is all said and done, maybe we can just beat him half to death."
"Why only half", I asked.
"We can save half of him until Easter is over. I can give up wine for Lent if I think I'm going to have Tope to beat on."

Substitute the 'will she or won't she' commit with 'him' and 'Tope' and you will have nailed my feelings on the subject perfectly. This dithering for Sarah makes no sense when she constantly refers to the love from her parents, her beloved aunt and all her dear friends. Yes, she's afraid of losing someone she loves again but would she rather not have had that time and love with and from them? She's supposedly a character of courage. Let her say a resounding 'No, children are not for me' and be done with it already. Grow the heck up, Sarah.

The earlier Sarah Booth Delaney books in the series were warm hearted and such fun. Now they're tortured into a semblance of a story to accommodate particular points of view in the culture.

"Women’s rights are constantly under attack. Constantly. . . . There are forces who want to see women back in that place. Barefoot and pregnant."

Our country is divided enough by too many controversial issues. Don't these authors know they are only going accomplish irritating a segment of their readers? Don't their editors and publishers? I'm sick of being hounded about any point of view, agree, or disagree. I want to relax with a good story, not be thrown back into a 24/7 useless news and opinion loop.

"Privileged people often think it's their right to do whatever they want. They think they'll get away with it. They never expect to pay any consequences, . . . "

Pot: Kettle, Ms. Haines, Pot: Kettle.

2 Stars for Tell-Tale Bones. Sarah's love for the land of the Mississippi Delta and her stunning descriptions of them are not enough to save another story, particularly when she chides their history and reticence to adopt the ways of turbulent times.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell-Tale Bones by Carolyn Haines is a fabulously written mystery that kept me guessing.

Will Sarah Booth and Tinkie find Lydia before Trope?

This is one of my favorite series. I put them on pre-order when I hear about a new one. It makes for a beautiful day when the book arrives in the mail.

It's January in the Delta, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are looking for a new case. They have enjoyed some time off and are ready to move again. So, when they run into Elisa Redd at the sheriff's department, it seems their newest case has been found.

Elisa Redd is looking for her daughter, who ran away after being beaten by her husband six years ago. This is one of those old tales that seem to repeat themselves throughout history. I was immediately drawn into the story, trying to follow all of the clues, keeping up with Jitty and her spiritual clues for Sarah Booth. This case takes them all over Mississippi, through beautiful historical towns to the abandoned countryside, left to return to nature. So many deceptions are centered around a wealthy man of privilege and his actions. I'll say karma is going to wallop him.

Ms. Haines never fails to entertain, and she always has a lesson to be shared in her stories. Sometimes I can see how current events are affecting the story. This is one of those, and I agree with our author's perspective.

Sunflower County Update (Spoiler)

Sarah Booth and Tinkie's lives are happy. Maylin is healthy and thriving. Tinkie is nailing motherhood. Sarah Booth and Coleman are going strong. CeCe and Millie's joint column for the newspaper is a big hit. They are having a blast writing it. Tammy's family is doing well, and her daughter may be moving to town. The deputies are doing well, with one of them possibly in a relationship. Harold was even mentioned as being happy with his newest lady love.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Tell-Tale Bones by Carolyn Haines.

Until the next time,


This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

TELL-TALE BONES was a fascinating PI procedural, featuring a detective who sees ghosts (though often unhelpful) and a missing woman who disappeared six years ago. Sarah Booth and Tinkie are visiting the sheriff's office when they gain a client - a wealthy woman whose daughter disappeared. Her daughter's abusive husband is filing to have her declared dead, seemingly so that he can marry his current girlfriend. Sarah Booth and Tinkie take the case, even though it seems full of dead-ends and may be impossible to truly solve.

As they investigate and with the help of tips from the tipline the mother set up, they will find themselves digging into not only the daughter's past, but also her husband's - a prospect that is particularly dangerous. When another woman connected to the husband is found dead, additional questions abound regarding not only what happened to his wife six years ago, but also what happened to the other woman.

This was such an engaging read, and I was quickly invested in the case. The book keeps its focus on solving the crime with plenty of information gathering and interviews, as well as investigating (including digging up a grave). The action and clues are steadily paced. While it deals with a heavy topic of abuse, I found that having that character as the clear villain kept it from being too intense on that element - though it was still present and critical to understanding the history of the case. The ending was satisfying enough with resolution to the case they were working.

Sarah Booth was a really great character, as is Tinkie. It's clear why they are such a crime-solving duo, and it's hard to believe this is the 26th book! They still felt fresh and fun, with personal lives to round out their stories. The seeing ghosts element was a tidbit that added to the story without the solving relying on it, which was an interesting dynamic. The ghosts certainly had their own personalities.

Overall, TELL-TALE BONES is a fun and engaging PI procedural/mystery that I very much enjoyed! I will be keeping an eye out for future books in this series! Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Booth and Tinkie take on the cold case of the missing Lydia Redd Maxwell. Lydia and her best friend Bethany disappeared almost 7 years ago, and Lydia's abusive husband wants to have her declared legally dead so he can marry his new fiance and claim his dead wife's sizeable inheritance. Elisa Redd, Lydia's mother, hires the dynamic duo to see if they can either track down an alive Lydia, or find out if Lydia is dead. Sarah Booth and Tinkie are in for a wild ride as they chase leads from Elisa's tip line across Sunflower County and the Delta clear to Lousiana and beyond. DId Tope kill her? Did the two women flee to Afghanistan? Or something else?

This was...a weird one. Bouncing between abortion is bad and the patriarchy kills women (and also abortion is fine as long as it's by a conjure woman?), between drugs are bad and medical weed is good. There were a lot of conflicting opinions at war in this book. Also, these women seem to really love to put their pets in peril, carting around both dogs and a cat nearly everywhere with them. Sarah even considers bringing her dog on a stakeout (which she didn't, and I'm glad she didn't because you can't really stake anyone out when you have to constantly take a dog out to pee and poop, can you?). There were also some parts of the story where the author seems to forget that the characters were already doing something--like Tinkie and Sarah Booth decide to have Elisa publicly fire them...while she was definitely not in a position to do so. Also, everyone lies to everyone lol. Is no one in the Delta truthful about who they are? Things were a bit wobbly, story-wise, at times. But the rest of the story was well told, and I was really invested in Sarah and Tinkie finding not only Lydia, but several other missing characters in the story.

Anyway, if you've enjoyed this series, you will enjoy this installment. I generally love a good cozy mystery, and this is a definitely a solid series and I'm looking forward to Sarah Booth and Tinkie's next adventure.

[Elaine LaBonte · Rating 5 out of 5]

A private investigator, Sarah Booth, her partner, Tinkie, and their eccentric ghost friend, Jitty, seek help from Sarah's soulmate, hunky Sheriff Coleman, to find a wealthy heiress who disappeared almost seven years ago. They must face down Tope, Lydia's violent husband, who is the prime suspect in two previous murders as well as the disappearance of Lydia. Author Carolyn Haines is the USA Today, bestselling author of the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery Series and several other books in mystery and crime. She is the recipient of the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing. She is also a former journalist, bartender, photographer, farmhand, and college professor who lives on a farm.

I'm amazed at the many ways that Haines grabbed me initially and let me come up for air just long enough to breathe, then pulled me under again for another breathtaking twist. The title caught me before I realized it was Jitty teasing Edgar Allen Poe. The characters Jitty stirs up make me feel playful. I was taken aback when Edgar Allen Poe showed up in his period clothing. Jitty's apparitions amazed me. I just sat there and laughed and read. The way the author brought so many brief comments to flesh out the characters and settings is terrific.

The mystery was the focus all the way through. At the same time, there were occasional walk-ons from the dogs, romance, and mysteries other than the immediate attention to Lydia, who is missing but with no clues about whether she was off on a mission in Afghanistan or had been killed. There's just too much to tell you. It would be best if you read this yourself.Thanks to NetGalley and publisher Minotaur Books for offering me this ebook. This review is voluntary, and the opinions are my own.

I recommend this book to the many fans of Carolyn Haines. Readers of cozy Southern mysteries, southern United States fiction, and cozy ghost mysteries will also enjoy it.

[Amy Low · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an honest review of an ARC I received from St. Martins Press. I've read most of Carolyn Haines' books in this series. When I received this 26th book in the series, I was excited to delve back into the world of Sarah Booth Delaney and the small southern town of Zinnia. Haines has a way of telling cozy mysteries with Southern grace. Her stories are laced with "ghost" stories from the past in the South. What sets her stories apart is how she talks about societal issues intertwined with the past.

In this story, Sarah and her PI partner, Tinkie set out to solve a cold case brought before them by a desperate mother who wants to find her daughter and her friend. As they start digging, things start to get dangerous. The missing daughter's husband is a brute and Sarah suspects him of making the two girls disappear. When a body is found, things ramp up, but they run into rabbit holes as they follow leads. Sarah Booth and Tinkie find themselves trying to solve puzzles within puzzles. It will take Sarah's boyfriend, who is the sheriff, and all of her friends to solve this one.

The cast of characters is all part of this small town and wants to help Sarah. The characters in the book along with the main characters are all very lovable and make you want to root for them. This book is so far my favorite out of the ones I've read. Carolyn Haines has a way of bringing the stories to life. Even the "ghosts" are ones you've heard of but don't remember until she mentions them.
Thank you Carolyn Haines for gifting me this ARC and also St. Martin's Press/MacMillan.

[ReadThisAndSteep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tell-Tale Bones is the 26th installment in Carolyn Haines's popular and long-running Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries.

P.I. Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie take on a cold case at the behest of a woman whose daughter Lydia has been missing for almost seven years. Lydia was married to an abusive man who now wants her legally declared dead so he can inherit her fortune and remarry. In trying to discover what happened to Lydia, Sarah and Tinkie uncover a string of disappearances and an empty grave, said to be haunted.

Having skipped around in this series and being reminded how fun it is, I am determined to catch them all up after reading this one! It's a well-written paranormal cozy set in Mississippi. And it delivers with two smart and likable female investigators, a collection of larger-than-life characters, southern sass, an unpredictable ghost, a psychic friend who is having disturbing dreams, a twisty mystery, and literary references, including Edgar Allen Poe's Tell-Tale Heart. Throughout the book, the ghost appears in the image of famous authors who have passed on, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Even though this is a lighthearted read, the story is a bit grittier than a typical cozy and touches on some very serious topics, including domestic abuse and other women's issues, but all are handled respectfully. Well-paced and entertaining with a touch of Southern gothic fun! A great addition to the series!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this ARC and to Goodreads as I won a physical copy! So excited to have this on my shelf!

[Ashley Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tell-Tale Bones is the 26th installment of the quirky, mystery series of Sarah Booth Delaney. Sarah Booth and her detective partner Tinkie are on the case of Lydia, a woman who has been missing for over six years. Everyone suspects Lydia's husband Tope, but no proof is to be found. Tope is on a mission to finally have Lydia declared dead so he can collect the family fortune. Lydia's mother, in a desperate attempt to stop Tope, calls on Sarah Booth's detective agency to solve the mystery of what happened to her daughter. With a little help from the beyond, Sarah Booth and Tinkie set to work uncovering many mysteries of their small town.
First of all, I feel like you need to read the rest of the books in this series in order to fully enjoy this one. There are a LOT of characters in this story and sometimes they are hard to keep up with. If I had read the other books in the series, I think I would have been more familiar with all the characters and enjoyed it more. I really wasn't a fan of the ghostly element of the book either. The mystery itself was enough to keep a person intrigued without adding the cameos of Jitty, the "ghost" that haunts Sarah Booth. Again, this might be something I would be more interested in if I read the rest of the series but I'm not sure. Tell-Tale Bones is not a "bad" book it's just not "my kind" of book. If you like cozy mysteries with a little bit of quirky paranormal twists thrown in, then I think you will really enjoy this book. The small-town Southern vibes definitely cater to a certain niche of readers and I think if you are that kind of reader then you should definitely give it a read!
Thanks to Minotaur Books for the advance copy!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-six books in this series and I've been reading them since day one. Sarah Booth feels like family by now. She and Jitty, her mischievous ghost (with an attitude) never disappoint me. In Tell-Tale Bones she and her best friend Tinkie have a new case that is six years cold. Elisa is in quite a state and needs the help of a private investigator (or in this case two) to find the slightest bit of information about her missing daughter so the police can re-start their investigation. Time is of the essence. Elisa has always held out hope that her daughter, Lydia, had fled an abusive marriage with the help of her best friend. Both women supposedly went to Afghanistan but were never seen again. That was six years ago and now her husband has a new woman in his life and he wants Lydia declared dead. He's filled the paperwork. The catch? There was no prenup and he will get his hands on her very large estate if he succeeds. If Lydia and her friend, Bethany, didn't leave the country might this be a case of murder?
Reading this series is a wonderful escape full of people I would love to call friends. Sarah Booth is a caring, strong and clever woman with close ties to her roots and her community, Zinnia, Mississippi. The puzzle is always well constructed. I never try to figure out who done it, I just go with the flow.
My thanks to the publisher Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Diane Hernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Tell-Tale Bones, spousal abuse, disappearances, a psychic, a ghost, and Edgar Allen Poe combine to create an intriguing cozy mystery.

Sarah Booth and her best friend, Tinkie, are private detectives in small town Zinnia, Mississippi. Sarah Booth is frequently visited by her family’s ghost, Jitty, who tries to help solve their cases too.

The women have two cases in this book. A psychic has been having recurring dreams about a beating heart a la Edgar Allan Poe. A mother is concerned that her daughter’s abusive husband is trying to steal her estate. The daughter has been missing for almost seven years along with her best friend. Are they dead or just hiding? If the former, where are their bodies and were they killed by the husband?

This is the twenty-sixth book in this series, but the originality of the plot keeps the storyline fresh. The relationship between the two main characters is what keeps me coming back to this series again and again as their lives continue to grow from book to book. This series is definitely better when read in order.

The plot is a little darker than most cozies but not in a triggering way. The mystery is twisty and keeps the reader involved until the conclusion.

Overall, while the plot is rather sad, Tell-Tale Bones is an interesting read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

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