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Sarah Booth Delaney #30
Ode to the Bones
The next 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 returns to her Mississippi Delta roots, hoping that long drives through cotton fields and the companionship of her dogs will ease her restless spirit. Instead, she’s confronted by a ghostly vision of a woman in white on the Tallahatchie Bridge, who disappears before Sarah Booth can investigate further.
When the local bank president hires her to find a missing farmer, Danny Anderson, Sarah Booth is forced to shift her focus back to the land of the—hopefully—still living. Danny is about to lose his family’s generational farm to foreclosure and is rumored to be entangled in a secret affair with a preacher’s wife. As Sarah Booth and her feisty partner Tinkie dig deeper, they uncover a web of gossip, ghost sightings, and a shadowy land buyer snapping up vulnerable farms.
With the help of her resident ghost-turned-spiritual-guide, Jitty, and her own unrelenting instincts, Sarah Booth must unravel the mystery of Danny’s disappearance, confront a town full of half-truths, and decipher the cryptic clues left behind—including those wrapped in lyrics and riverwater. But someone is watching her every move, and if she isn’t careful, she may be the next body swept away by the Tallahatchie’s current.
Private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney returns to her Mississippi Delta roots, hoping that long drives through cotton fields and the companionship of her dogs will ease her restless spirit. Instead, she’s confronted by a ghostly vision of a woman in white on the Tallahatchie Bridge, who disappears before Sarah Booth can investigate further.
When the local bank president hires her to find a missing farmer, Danny Anderson, Sarah Booth is forced to shift her focus back to the land of the—hopefully—still living. Danny is about to lose his family’s generational farm to foreclosure and is rumored to be entangled in a secret affair with a preacher’s wife. As Sarah Booth and her feisty partner Tinkie dig deeper, they uncover a web of gossip, ghost sightings, and a shadowy land buyer snapping up vulnerable farms.
With the help of her resident ghost-turned-spiritual-guide, Jitty, and her own unrelenting instincts, Sarah Booth must unravel the mystery of Danny’s disappearance, confront a town full of half-truths, and decipher the cryptic clues left behind—including those wrapped in lyrics and riverwater. But someone is watching her every move, and if she isn’t careful, she may be the next body swept away by the Tallahatchie’s current.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 26, 2026
About the author
Carolyn Haines
112 books1,607 followersCarolyn 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
June 5, 2026
Let me begin by saying I am really mad to Carolyn Haines. I hate cliffhangers and she has served up on dilly of a cliffhanger. I cannot wait until the next book to see how things resolve. The groans of agony that you hear is coming from me. But I have to hand it to her. Like all of the previous books, I want more. But this time I am desperate.
In my frustration I am also congratulating her for writing such a compelling story that brings a lot of background and historical details full circle that I am not sure where Sarah Booth is going to go. She and Tinkie have been hired to find a missing man. The simple search for him gets convoluted by farm debt then murder and hints from old songs from the 1960s, starting with the Ode to Billie Joe. Is Danny alive? Is he the villain or the chump? And what secrets do the other characters and the Tallahatchie River keep from Sarah Booth. Even when Danny is found and the story comes out about why he was hiding, there are going to be some gut wrenching discoveries that will shake our heroine to her very roots. And that is where we are left. Brilliant but wicked. Put me out of my misery soon. Please. Five purrs and two paws up.
In my frustration I am also congratulating her for writing such a compelling story that brings a lot of background and historical details full circle that I am not sure where Sarah Booth is going to go. She and Tinkie have been hired to find a missing man. The simple search for him gets convoluted by farm debt then murder and hints from old songs from the 1960s, starting with the Ode to Billie Joe. Is Danny alive? Is he the villain or the chump? And what secrets do the other characters and the Tallahatchie River keep from Sarah Booth. Even when Danny is found and the story comes out about why he was hiding, there are going to be some gut wrenching discoveries that will shake our heroine to her very roots. And that is where we are left. Brilliant but wicked. Put me out of my misery soon. Please. Five purrs and two paws up.
May 26, 2026
Thank you to Minotaur Books for sending me a copy of Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines. This book is a fantastic new installment to the fabulous Sarah Booth Delaney series. In this installment a hardworking farmer who was in debt goes missing and Sarah Booth must help find him. Her adventure takes her to the body of someone who had been helping the farmer disappear. Now she must help clear the farmer’s name and find the killer!
I want to do a little disclaimer that I haven’t read the whole series yet but the books I have read (the latest ones) I’ve absolutely adored. Carolyn Haines is such a dynamic writer and she writes characters that pop off the page. I also love that she inserts a little bit of paranormal into her novels too!
This book I read so fast even if I was attempting to savor it because it kept me entertained the whole time. If you like cozy mysteries give this series a try! And you don’t even have to read the entire series to enjoy it!
Thank you to Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Carolyn Haines for giving me the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
I want to do a little disclaimer that I haven’t read the whole series yet but the books I have read (the latest ones) I’ve absolutely adored. Carolyn Haines is such a dynamic writer and she writes characters that pop off the page. I also love that she inserts a little bit of paranormal into her novels too!
This book I read so fast even if I was attempting to savor it because it kept me entertained the whole time. If you like cozy mysteries give this series a try! And you don’t even have to read the entire series to enjoy it!
Thank you to Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Carolyn Haines for giving me the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
June 1, 2026
Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines is a Sarah Booth Delaney mystery. Sarah Booth and her friend, Tinkie, ran a detective agency and have been hired to find a local man named Danny Anderson. Sarah Booth, sometimes, had a head up because she had her own ghost, Jitty. Jitty couldn’t tell her anything flat out, but gave obtuse hints that Sarah Booth had to interpret. An entertaining relationship. Danny was one of many farmers in the area who were on the brink of bankruptcy because of the weather. Farming is a precarious way to earn a living at best. Lots going on, lots of subplots. Sarah Booth lived near the Tallahatchie River, of Bobbie Gentry fame. and both the river and the song played a big part in this story. Sarah Booth is a terrific character as is her boyfriend, Coleman, who is the sheriff so their interests often melded. Coleman knew better than to try to stop Sarah Booth or even bother worrying. She was going to do what she was going to do.
This was a good mystery with a positive ending. There were entertaining episodes along the way including Sarah Booth kick to the private parts of an obnoxious man who was swindling desperate farmers. He avoided her from then on. Turns out Danny’s high school girlfriend was a famous model and she turned up to help in the search. Sarah Booth wondered whether she was searching for Danny or helping him. Lots of entertaining moments in this book full of people who behave as their emotions dictate without worry about what others thought as they did the same thing.
I was invited to read Ode to the Bones by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #CarolynHaines #OdeToTheBones
This was a good mystery with a positive ending. There were entertaining episodes along the way including Sarah Booth kick to the private parts of an obnoxious man who was swindling desperate farmers. He avoided her from then on. Turns out Danny’s high school girlfriend was a famous model and she turned up to help in the search. Sarah Booth wondered whether she was searching for Danny or helping him. Lots of entertaining moments in this book full of people who behave as their emotions dictate without worry about what others thought as they did the same thing.
I was invited to read Ode to the Bones by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #CarolynHaines #OdeToTheBones
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jumping into a long running mystery series can sometimes feel like showing up late to a family reunion where everyone already has inside jokes, complicated history, and at least one feud that started in 1997 and no one remembers why. Luckily, Ode to the Bones is the kind of book that scoots over, pours you a drink, and immediately starts spilling the town gossip.
Even having only read a few of the Sarah Booth Delaney books, it took about three pages before I felt fully settled into Zinnia, Mississippi, like I had lived there my whole life and absolutely had opinions about everyone’s business.
This story opens with private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney doing what any exhausted human does when life gets overwhelming. She goes driving through the Delta with her dogs, hoping the cotton fields and a little quiet will calm her restless brain. The Mississippi Delta, however, clearly did not receive the memo about peace and quiet, because Sarah Booth soon spots a ghostly woman in white standing on the Tallahatchie Bridge like she just wandered straight out of the most haunted verse of Ode to Billie Joe.
And before Sarah Booth can even process what she’s seeing, the woman disappears.
Which is the kind of unsettling moment that would make most people go home, lock the doors, and pretend they didn’t see anything. Unfortunately Sarah Booth’s personality is basically “that was weird, I must investigate immediately,” so the atmosphere gets deliciously eerie right from the start.
Then the real case lands in her lap. A local farmer named Danny Anderson has gone missing just as his family’s generational farm is about to be swallowed by foreclosure. Crops have been struggling, the weather has not been cooperative, and farmers across the Delta are feeling the squeeze. Add in some spicy rumors about Danny possibly having an affair with a preacher’s wife and suddenly the town gossip machine is working overtime.
Enter Tinkie. Tinkie is Sarah Booth’s investigative partner and best friend, and the two of them together operate like a detective agency powered entirely by stubbornness, loyalty, and the occasional questionable decision. Their friendship is easily one of the best parts of the story. They argue, they scheme, they chase leads, and at no point do they consider minding their own business.
Also the animals in this book deserve their own fan club. Dogs, cats, the whole furry ensemble. At this point they feel like the only emotionally stable members of the town, which honestly feels correct.
And then there’s Jitty. Jitty is Sarah Booth’s resident ghost who pops in and out offering commentary, guidance, and the occasional cryptic observation that sounds suspiciously like life advice from the spirit world. She adds that perfect Southern Gothic sparkle to the story. Not overwhelming, not spooky in a horror sense, just enough otherworldly presence to remind you that the Delta holds onto its past in ways that are a little mysterious.
The deeper Sarah Booth and Tinkie dig into Danny’s disappearance, the messier things get. Struggling farms. A shady land buyer circling vulnerable properties. Old rumors tied to the river. A town full of people who definitely know more than they’re saying. The investigation starts to feel like pulling on one loose thread and accidentally unraveling half the town.
What really stood out to me is how the book blends the cozy mystery elements with some very real issues. The pressure facing farmers, the loss of generational land, the economic strain in rural communities. It gives the mystery some emotional weight underneath all the sleuthing, gossip, and ghost sightings.
And the tension slowly creeps up. You can feel something bigger building as Sarah Booth gets closer to the truth. People get nervous. Secrets start slipping out sideways. The kind of atmosphere where you just know someone is about to make a very bad decision.
Then the ending shows up and chooses chaos. Without spoiling anything, the final stretch drops several emotional bombs that left me staring at the last page like, “Well that escalated quickly.” Even coming into the series a few books deep, the impact lands. Relationships shift, truths hit hard, and it feels very much like the story is setting the stage for something big in the next installment.
Which means I will absolutely be waiting to see what happens next. Four stars, it’s a cozy mystery with a Southern Gothic soul, packed with small town secrets, loyal friendships, ghostly mischief, and enough twists to keep the gossip mill spinning. Also, I will now be suspicious of every bridge in Mississippi.
Whodunity Award: For Making the Tallahatchie Bridge the Most Suspicious Landmark Since the Motel in Psycho
And a big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC, which basically allowed me to show up early to the Zinnia, Mississippi drama and start eavesdropping before everyone else. Always appreciated.
Even having only read a few of the Sarah Booth Delaney books, it took about three pages before I felt fully settled into Zinnia, Mississippi, like I had lived there my whole life and absolutely had opinions about everyone’s business.
This story opens with private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney doing what any exhausted human does when life gets overwhelming. She goes driving through the Delta with her dogs, hoping the cotton fields and a little quiet will calm her restless brain. The Mississippi Delta, however, clearly did not receive the memo about peace and quiet, because Sarah Booth soon spots a ghostly woman in white standing on the Tallahatchie Bridge like she just wandered straight out of the most haunted verse of Ode to Billie Joe.
And before Sarah Booth can even process what she’s seeing, the woman disappears.
Which is the kind of unsettling moment that would make most people go home, lock the doors, and pretend they didn’t see anything. Unfortunately Sarah Booth’s personality is basically “that was weird, I must investigate immediately,” so the atmosphere gets deliciously eerie right from the start.
Then the real case lands in her lap. A local farmer named Danny Anderson has gone missing just as his family’s generational farm is about to be swallowed by foreclosure. Crops have been struggling, the weather has not been cooperative, and farmers across the Delta are feeling the squeeze. Add in some spicy rumors about Danny possibly having an affair with a preacher’s wife and suddenly the town gossip machine is working overtime.
Enter Tinkie. Tinkie is Sarah Booth’s investigative partner and best friend, and the two of them together operate like a detective agency powered entirely by stubbornness, loyalty, and the occasional questionable decision. Their friendship is easily one of the best parts of the story. They argue, they scheme, they chase leads, and at no point do they consider minding their own business.
Also the animals in this book deserve their own fan club. Dogs, cats, the whole furry ensemble. At this point they feel like the only emotionally stable members of the town, which honestly feels correct.
And then there’s Jitty. Jitty is Sarah Booth’s resident ghost who pops in and out offering commentary, guidance, and the occasional cryptic observation that sounds suspiciously like life advice from the spirit world. She adds that perfect Southern Gothic sparkle to the story. Not overwhelming, not spooky in a horror sense, just enough otherworldly presence to remind you that the Delta holds onto its past in ways that are a little mysterious.
The deeper Sarah Booth and Tinkie dig into Danny’s disappearance, the messier things get. Struggling farms. A shady land buyer circling vulnerable properties. Old rumors tied to the river. A town full of people who definitely know more than they’re saying. The investigation starts to feel like pulling on one loose thread and accidentally unraveling half the town.
What really stood out to me is how the book blends the cozy mystery elements with some very real issues. The pressure facing farmers, the loss of generational land, the economic strain in rural communities. It gives the mystery some emotional weight underneath all the sleuthing, gossip, and ghost sightings.
And the tension slowly creeps up. You can feel something bigger building as Sarah Booth gets closer to the truth. People get nervous. Secrets start slipping out sideways. The kind of atmosphere where you just know someone is about to make a very bad decision.
Then the ending shows up and chooses chaos. Without spoiling anything, the final stretch drops several emotional bombs that left me staring at the last page like, “Well that escalated quickly.” Even coming into the series a few books deep, the impact lands. Relationships shift, truths hit hard, and it feels very much like the story is setting the stage for something big in the next installment.
Which means I will absolutely be waiting to see what happens next. Four stars, it’s a cozy mystery with a Southern Gothic soul, packed with small town secrets, loyal friendships, ghostly mischief, and enough twists to keep the gossip mill spinning. Also, I will now be suspicious of every bridge in Mississippi.
Whodunity Award: For Making the Tallahatchie Bridge the Most Suspicious Landmark Since the Motel in Psycho
And a big thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC, which basically allowed me to show up early to the Zinnia, Mississippi drama and start eavesdropping before everyone else. Always appreciated.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you're not familiar with Bobbie Gentry's song "Ode to Billy Joe", it might be a good idea to give it listen or two before you begin reading. Or, maybe three. It is relevant and sets the rather chilling mood. While the Tallahatchie Bridge of the song burned in 1972, it's story lingers and, who knows, you might just spy a wispy ghost as you pass by even the current bridge. The mystery of what really inspired the song lingers on. As for our main character, Sarah Booth Delaney, the past is definitely eroding into her present in more ways than one.
There is so much going on here. I felt sadness reading of the farmer's plight here as it's reality, not just in the book. Climate change is having an impact on largely agricultural Zinna, Missouri, and the impact is widespread. In some ways, I felt like I could just as easily have read stories of current hardships farmers are facing in the newspaper as within this book. Author Haines has done her homework, that's for sure. She presents the human side of it, too, and not just from the farmers' angle. Sarah's partner Tinkie's husband Oscar is president of the local bank and his natural caring, wanting to help heart is caught between bureaucracy and going the extra step to help his friends and neighbors. Then, an respected young farmer goes missing after Oscar is forced to tell him foreclosure is near. That's when things really take off. And, that's only scratching the surface.
I came to this series late, bad me, but have come to expect and even thoroughly enjoy Sarah's contact with quirky ghost Jitty. Jitty is here in the guise of several 60's folk protest type singers, among them Dylan and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Well, Mary. Sarah doesn't quite understand the "rules" of befriending a ghost and, well, neither do I, but it works for me. This time, however, it's a spooky new ghost that Sarah is seeing. Was that really a wispy ghost in that equally wispy white gown flowing in the wind she saw on the bridge? She's never even shared her secret of Jitty with best friend Tinkie, so she's fearful that saying anything about it will create problems. Oh, but, poor Sarah. Ghostly bridge jumpers are the least of her troubles.
To be honest, as tempting as it is to rattle on endlessly about the goings on here, I don't want to ruin any reader's own experience. I'll simply say, let's see, it involves social and national commentary, secret affairs, buried treasure, drones, robbery, generations of families supporting themselves and neighbors, and there's even a famous model involved. Oh, and I cannot make myself not mention the nasty piece of homewrecker gossip that sticks her nose in everywhere, much to Sarah's dismay. Sarah comes face to face with her own demons and past. Why does she feel like she's always being watched?
Bottom line, even to this series late comer, maybe not quite knowing all the past details of every book helps put me more into Sarah's sense of unknowing as the story goes along. It's definitely a wow of an ending, that's for sure. I am so looking forward to the next book. Thanks you #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for introducing me to Sarah Booth Delaney and her world and allowing me this early peek. I've grown to feel like I know and care about these people and even find myself smiling when Tinkie has a moment with her daughter and shares it with Sarah. Thank you. #Carolyn Haines for creating such a place and people.
There is so much going on here. I felt sadness reading of the farmer's plight here as it's reality, not just in the book. Climate change is having an impact on largely agricultural Zinna, Missouri, and the impact is widespread. In some ways, I felt like I could just as easily have read stories of current hardships farmers are facing in the newspaper as within this book. Author Haines has done her homework, that's for sure. She presents the human side of it, too, and not just from the farmers' angle. Sarah's partner Tinkie's husband Oscar is president of the local bank and his natural caring, wanting to help heart is caught between bureaucracy and going the extra step to help his friends and neighbors. Then, an respected young farmer goes missing after Oscar is forced to tell him foreclosure is near. That's when things really take off. And, that's only scratching the surface.
I came to this series late, bad me, but have come to expect and even thoroughly enjoy Sarah's contact with quirky ghost Jitty. Jitty is here in the guise of several 60's folk protest type singers, among them Dylan and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Well, Mary. Sarah doesn't quite understand the "rules" of befriending a ghost and, well, neither do I, but it works for me. This time, however, it's a spooky new ghost that Sarah is seeing. Was that really a wispy ghost in that equally wispy white gown flowing in the wind she saw on the bridge? She's never even shared her secret of Jitty with best friend Tinkie, so she's fearful that saying anything about it will create problems. Oh, but, poor Sarah. Ghostly bridge jumpers are the least of her troubles.
To be honest, as tempting as it is to rattle on endlessly about the goings on here, I don't want to ruin any reader's own experience. I'll simply say, let's see, it involves social and national commentary, secret affairs, buried treasure, drones, robbery, generations of families supporting themselves and neighbors, and there's even a famous model involved. Oh, and I cannot make myself not mention the nasty piece of homewrecker gossip that sticks her nose in everywhere, much to Sarah's dismay. Sarah comes face to face with her own demons and past. Why does she feel like she's always being watched?
Bottom line, even to this series late comer, maybe not quite knowing all the past details of every book helps put me more into Sarah's sense of unknowing as the story goes along. It's definitely a wow of an ending, that's for sure. I am so looking forward to the next book. Thanks you #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for introducing me to Sarah Booth Delaney and her world and allowing me this early peek. I've grown to feel like I know and care about these people and even find myself smiling when Tinkie has a moment with her daughter and shares it with Sarah. Thank you. #Carolyn Haines for creating such a place and people.
May 26, 2026
Ode to the Bones is book #30 in the long-running series by Carolyn Haines that features private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney. Told in first person from Sarah Booth’s perspective, the story is set in Zinnia, a small town on the Tallahatchie River in the Mississippi Delta. Sarah Booth lives in Dahlia House, the farmhouse where she grew up, with a menagerie of animals and her boyfriend, Coleman Peters, Sunflower County Sheriff. The author does a great job of describing the rural Southern landscape and the very real plight of independent farmers as they struggle to stay in business.
There is a supernatural element to the series, with Jitty, a resident haint who appears from time to time, often masquerading as various musicians or singers, with cryptic advice for Sarah Booth. In this book, the author also evokes the 1967 Bobbie Gentry song, “Ode to Billie Joe.” Zinnia has its own legend about a woman who jumped (or fell, or was pushed) from the Tallahatchie Bridge, and many residents (including Sarah Booth) catch glimpses of her.
The story opens when Sarah Booth and her best friend/investigative partner, Tinkie, are tasked with finding Danny Anderson, a local farmer who has gone missing. Tinkie’s husband, Harold, president of the town’s bank, is worried that Danny may have taken his own life now that he risks foreclosure on the family farm due to unpaid debts. There’s also an unscrupulous land buyer swooping in, offering desperate farmers pennies on the dollar for their land so they can pay off their loans.
As Sarah Booth and Tinkie begin investigating, the rumor mill suggests Danny may have run off with the preacher’s wife, a woman he dated in high school. The case grows more complicated as Danny might be implicated in a string of robberies, and then, a murder. Buried treasure is also involved. Sarah Booth knows she’s close to the truth when someone starts shooting at her.
This was the first book I’ve read in the series. I was able to follow the main mystery (the search for Danny), which was resolved satisfactorily. But by starting here, I missed a lot of backstory, character relationships, and history that might have enhanced my enjoyment of the book—particularly the ending, which seemed abrupt and a bit shocking. The author has definitely set the stage for the sequel, which, I understand, will be the series finale.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for giving me an advance copy.
There is a supernatural element to the series, with Jitty, a resident haint who appears from time to time, often masquerading as various musicians or singers, with cryptic advice for Sarah Booth. In this book, the author also evokes the 1967 Bobbie Gentry song, “Ode to Billie Joe.” Zinnia has its own legend about a woman who jumped (or fell, or was pushed) from the Tallahatchie Bridge, and many residents (including Sarah Booth) catch glimpses of her.
The story opens when Sarah Booth and her best friend/investigative partner, Tinkie, are tasked with finding Danny Anderson, a local farmer who has gone missing. Tinkie’s husband, Harold, president of the town’s bank, is worried that Danny may have taken his own life now that he risks foreclosure on the family farm due to unpaid debts. There’s also an unscrupulous land buyer swooping in, offering desperate farmers pennies on the dollar for their land so they can pay off their loans.
As Sarah Booth and Tinkie begin investigating, the rumor mill suggests Danny may have run off with the preacher’s wife, a woman he dated in high school. The case grows more complicated as Danny might be implicated in a string of robberies, and then, a murder. Buried treasure is also involved. Sarah Booth knows she’s close to the truth when someone starts shooting at her.
This was the first book I’ve read in the series. I was able to follow the main mystery (the search for Danny), which was resolved satisfactorily. But by starting here, I missed a lot of backstory, character relationships, and history that might have enhanced my enjoyment of the book—particularly the ending, which seemed abrupt and a bit shocking. The author has definitely set the stage for the sequel, which, I understand, will be the series finale.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for giving me an advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
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.
Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines is melancholy and brings Sarah Booth close to her breaking point.
Will Sarah Booth and Tinkie find Danny before it is too late?
Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to find a missing local farmer. This one is a bit different because Oscar is the one hiring the detective agency. It seems that the man's family farm is going to be foreclosed by Oscar's bank, and he feels responsible for the man's absence. There are so many rumors around this young man and his choices in life.
We have a lot of folklore in this installment. And we have some new people in the area, along with the return of some bad pennies. Sarah Booth starts out as her normal self; however, by the end, she has figured some things out and isn't acting like herself.
I love that the whole gang is here for this one, including CeCe, Millie, Harold, and Oscar. Even our favorite little terror, Roscoe, makes an appearance.
Five Stars
My rating for Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines is five stars. I absolutely love this series. The next installment is the finale. I know now that I am going to miss Sunflower County and the Mississippi Delta stories. I do highly recommend this book and series. If you haven't started it yet, Zinnia is a wonderful place; you won't want to miss it.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines is melancholy and brings Sarah Booth close to her breaking point.
Will Sarah Booth and Tinkie find Danny before it is too late?
Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to find a missing local farmer. This one is a bit different because Oscar is the one hiring the detective agency. It seems that the man's family farm is going to be foreclosed by Oscar's bank, and he feels responsible for the man's absence. There are so many rumors around this young man and his choices in life.
We have a lot of folklore in this installment. And we have some new people in the area, along with the return of some bad pennies. Sarah Booth starts out as her normal self; however, by the end, she has figured some things out and isn't acting like herself.
I love that the whole gang is here for this one, including CeCe, Millie, Harold, and Oscar. Even our favorite little terror, Roscoe, makes an appearance.
Five Stars
My rating for Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines is five stars. I absolutely love this series. The next installment is the finale. I know now that I am going to miss Sunflower County and the Mississippi Delta stories. I do highly recommend this book and series. If you haven't started it yet, Zinnia is a wonderful place; you won't want to miss it.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Ode to the Bones by Carolyn Haines.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This thirtieth installment of the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series by Carolyn Haines beautifully blends Southern gothic atmosphere, small-town secrets, and the series’ signature wit.
The opening image of a woman in white on the Tallahatchie Bridge immediately sets a chilling tone…the ghostly elements threaded through the very real problems facing the town. The mystery involving beloved farmer Danny Anderson’s disappearance is layered with social commentary on generational land loss, predatory buyers, and the quiet desperation of rural communities, giving the story emotional weight beyond the whodunit. The theme of global warming plays a central role in the plight of farmers throughout the Delta, with the fallout leading to Danny's disappearance.
Sarah Booth remains as sassy and stubborn as ever, while Tinkie provides both heart and backbone. Their partnership is a joy to read…smart, funny, and grounded in genuine loyalty. Jitty’s presence adds that familiar blend of humor and spiritual insight, offering just enough otherworldly guidance without overshadowing the investigation.
The plot unfolds at a steady pace, fueled by gossip, half-truths, and the sense that someone is always watching. I especially enjoyed the lyrical clues tied to music and river imagery, which added a poetic layer to the danger closing in around Sarah Booth.
For new readers to the world of Sarah Booth Delaney, I would recommend starting with the first book in the series…each story builds upon the previous one in the complexities of Sarah Booth’s relationship with her rural community, her home, the friends who surround her, and the life she has built since returning to the Delta.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
The opening image of a woman in white on the Tallahatchie Bridge immediately sets a chilling tone…the ghostly elements threaded through the very real problems facing the town. The mystery involving beloved farmer Danny Anderson’s disappearance is layered with social commentary on generational land loss, predatory buyers, and the quiet desperation of rural communities, giving the story emotional weight beyond the whodunit. The theme of global warming plays a central role in the plight of farmers throughout the Delta, with the fallout leading to Danny's disappearance.
Sarah Booth remains as sassy and stubborn as ever, while Tinkie provides both heart and backbone. Their partnership is a joy to read…smart, funny, and grounded in genuine loyalty. Jitty’s presence adds that familiar blend of humor and spiritual insight, offering just enough otherworldly guidance without overshadowing the investigation.
The plot unfolds at a steady pace, fueled by gossip, half-truths, and the sense that someone is always watching. I especially enjoyed the lyrical clues tied to music and river imagery, which added a poetic layer to the danger closing in around Sarah Booth.
For new readers to the world of Sarah Booth Delaney, I would recommend starting with the first book in the series…each story builds upon the previous one in the complexities of Sarah Booth’s relationship with her rural community, her home, the friends who surround her, and the life she has built since returning to the Delta.
This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.
June 30, 2026
Rating: 4/5
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
Ode to the Bones is the kind of mystery that slowly draws you in, weaving together family secrets, Southern atmosphere, and just enough suspense to keep you guessing until the very end.
What I enjoyed most was how character-driven the story is. Rather than relying solely on the mystery to keep the pages turning, the novel takes time to develop people who feel authentic, flawed, and shaped by their pasts. Everyone seems to be carrying something they haven't said out loud, and uncovering those hidden pieces becomes just as compelling as solving the central mystery.
The protagonist is someone I found easy to invest in. She approaches each new discovery with determination, but she also carries moments of doubt and vulnerability that make her feel genuine. I appreciated that she wasn't portrayed as someone who always had the right answers. Instead, she follows her instincts, learns from her mistakes, and refuses to walk away when the truth becomes difficult to face.
The supporting cast adds another layer to the story. Relationships are rarely straightforward, and the history between the characters creates emotional tension that extends beyond the investigation itself. Long-held resentments, loyalty, grief, and love all influence the choices people make, reminding us that the hardest mysteries are often rooted in human emotion rather than simple facts.
The atmosphere is one of the book's greatest strengths. The Southern setting is rich with history and tradition, creating a quiet sense of unease that lingers throughout the story. The slower pace allows readers to absorb the environment, notice subtle clues, and become immersed in a place where every conversation and every memory seems to matter.
What ultimately made this book memorable for me was the way it balanced suspense with heart. The mystery kept me engaged, but it was the emotional journeys of the characters that stayed with me after I finished. Watching them confront painful truths and find the courage to move forward gave the story a satisfying depth.
I would like to thank Minotaur/Macmillan books for the opportunity to review this book.
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
Ode to the Bones is the kind of mystery that slowly draws you in, weaving together family secrets, Southern atmosphere, and just enough suspense to keep you guessing until the very end.
What I enjoyed most was how character-driven the story is. Rather than relying solely on the mystery to keep the pages turning, the novel takes time to develop people who feel authentic, flawed, and shaped by their pasts. Everyone seems to be carrying something they haven't said out loud, and uncovering those hidden pieces becomes just as compelling as solving the central mystery.
The protagonist is someone I found easy to invest in. She approaches each new discovery with determination, but she also carries moments of doubt and vulnerability that make her feel genuine. I appreciated that she wasn't portrayed as someone who always had the right answers. Instead, she follows her instincts, learns from her mistakes, and refuses to walk away when the truth becomes difficult to face.
The supporting cast adds another layer to the story. Relationships are rarely straightforward, and the history between the characters creates emotional tension that extends beyond the investigation itself. Long-held resentments, loyalty, grief, and love all influence the choices people make, reminding us that the hardest mysteries are often rooted in human emotion rather than simple facts.
The atmosphere is one of the book's greatest strengths. The Southern setting is rich with history and tradition, creating a quiet sense of unease that lingers throughout the story. The slower pace allows readers to absorb the environment, notice subtle clues, and become immersed in a place where every conversation and every memory seems to matter.
What ultimately made this book memorable for me was the way it balanced suspense with heart. The mystery kept me engaged, but it was the emotional journeys of the characters that stayed with me after I finished. Watching them confront painful truths and find the courage to move forward gave the story a satisfying depth.
I would like to thank Minotaur/Macmillan books for the opportunity to review this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Carolyn Haines returns to the Mississippi Delta and the Sarah Booth Delaney series with 'Ode to the Bones'. Private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney is a drive through the countryside when she is confronted by a woman on the Tallahatchie Bridge. When she gets out to investigate this ghostly vision, she seems to have disappeared.
As she wonders about this, Tinkie's husband, Oscar want to hire them to investigate the disappearance of Danny Anderson. Danny is a local farmer, who is about to lose the family farm to foreclosure. As they dig into his disappearance, they unearth a web of gossip, ghost sightings and a shadowy land buyer trying to force farmers into selling.
Enter Jitty, her resident ghost with her cryptic clues and messages. With someone watching her every move, she may be next victim. While she unravels this mystery, clues come to light that could impact everything she thought she knew.
I love going back to the Mississippi Delta and the Sarah Booth Delaney series. This cozy mystery has relatable characters who are well written and likeable. It has focused on the plight of small farmer's who are dealing with climate change and the impact of larger farm conglomerates who are trying to buy them out. Thank you for bringing their plight to the reader. I appreciated the way the community of Zinnia and small town America come together to support each other. With the wow factor at the end, I will be waiting anxiously to see where the series goes next.
Carolyn Haines returns to the Mississippi Delta and the Sarah Booth Delaney series with 'Ode to the Bones'. Private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney is a drive through the countryside when she is confronted by a woman on the Tallahatchie Bridge. When she gets out to investigate this ghostly vision, she seems to have disappeared.
As she wonders about this, Tinkie's husband, Oscar want to hire them to investigate the disappearance of Danny Anderson. Danny is a local farmer, who is about to lose the family farm to foreclosure. As they dig into his disappearance, they unearth a web of gossip, ghost sightings and a shadowy land buyer trying to force farmers into selling.
Enter Jitty, her resident ghost with her cryptic clues and messages. With someone watching her every move, she may be next victim. While she unravels this mystery, clues come to light that could impact everything she thought she knew.
I love going back to the Mississippi Delta and the Sarah Booth Delaney series. This cozy mystery has relatable characters who are well written and likeable. It has focused on the plight of small farmer's who are dealing with climate change and the impact of larger farm conglomerates who are trying to buy them out. Thank you for bringing their plight to the reader. I appreciated the way the community of Zinnia and small town America come together to support each other. With the wow factor at the end, I will be waiting anxiously to see where the series goes next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
WOW! What an introduction to a character and series friends have been after me about for years. I just never got around to it. Now I have to go find the first 29 books to get all of Sarah Booth's back story and learn more about the inhabitants of Zinnia, Mississippi!
Sarah Booth and best friend Tinkie Richmond own a private investigation business. Tinkie's husband, Oscar is the manager of the local bank. When Oscar finds it necessary to foreclose on a local farmer, he suddenly goes missing. Oscar is certain something has happened and blames himself. He has Sarah Booth and Tinkie start searching for him. Each question takes them down a different path until it seems like half the area is either ready to go bankrupt or is somehow sheltering Danny, the young farmer. Along the way, we encounter ghosts, treasure hunters, a minister and his wife, the local homewrecker, a robber and law enforcement. Since Zinnia is a small community on the Tallahatchie River (think Bobbie Gentry's song about the Tallahatchie Bridge) everyone knows or thinks they know what's going on and who is involved with whom! And of course they have an opinion about it!
This is a plot that just keeps moving without pause and takes the reader along for a wild ride. Enjoy the ride, I certainly did!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for finally getting me to read a Sarah Booth Delaney book, a early copy and these thoughts are my honest opinion.
Sarah Booth and best friend Tinkie Richmond own a private investigation business. Tinkie's husband, Oscar is the manager of the local bank. When Oscar finds it necessary to foreclose on a local farmer, he suddenly goes missing. Oscar is certain something has happened and blames himself. He has Sarah Booth and Tinkie start searching for him. Each question takes them down a different path until it seems like half the area is either ready to go bankrupt or is somehow sheltering Danny, the young farmer. Along the way, we encounter ghosts, treasure hunters, a minister and his wife, the local homewrecker, a robber and law enforcement. Since Zinnia is a small community on the Tallahatchie River (think Bobbie Gentry's song about the Tallahatchie Bridge) everyone knows or thinks they know what's going on and who is involved with whom! And of course they have an opinion about it!
This is a plot that just keeps moving without pause and takes the reader along for a wild ride. Enjoy the ride, I certainly did!
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for finally getting me to read a Sarah Booth Delaney book, a early copy and these thoughts are my honest opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
WOW! I have loved A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series since the very beginning. It has been so much fun watching the characters development and growth in each book. This book blends small town secrets, plots, greed, friendships and Southern gothic, eerie feels. Carolyn Haines is the master of creepy, eerie feels.
This story will definitely keep you engaged and turning the pages.
Tinkie’s husband Oscar is the manager of the local bank. Oscar feels bad when he has to foreclose on Danny Anderson a local farmer. Then suddenly the farmer goes missing. The Delaney Detective Agency is hired to find Danny Anderson. When they start searching each question asked takes them a different direction.
A local gossip is spreading rumors that Danny the farmer is having an affair. Of all people the gossip is claiming that the affair is with the local pastor’s wife. There have also been whisperings of ghosts around the Tallahatchie Bridge, made famous in Bobbie Gentry’s song “Ode to Billy Joe.”
I had to go back and listen to the song after reading this book.
Ghosts, murder, treasure, danger, paranormal and the past creeping up into the present.
I have always loved the interaction between Sarah Booth and Jitty the ghost.
Thank you a NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book.
This story will definitely keep you engaged and turning the pages.
Tinkie’s husband Oscar is the manager of the local bank. Oscar feels bad when he has to foreclose on Danny Anderson a local farmer. Then suddenly the farmer goes missing. The Delaney Detective Agency is hired to find Danny Anderson. When they start searching each question asked takes them a different direction.
A local gossip is spreading rumors that Danny the farmer is having an affair. Of all people the gossip is claiming that the affair is with the local pastor’s wife. There have also been whisperings of ghosts around the Tallahatchie Bridge, made famous in Bobbie Gentry’s song “Ode to Billy Joe.”
I had to go back and listen to the song after reading this book.
Ghosts, murder, treasure, danger, paranormal and the past creeping up into the present.
I have always loved the interaction between Sarah Booth and Jitty the ghost.
Thank you a NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book.
May 22, 2026
As a devoted fan of Carolyn Haines’ long-running cozy mystery series, I can confidently say that Ode To The Bones is another absolute hit! This installment delivers everything I love about the series and then some, keeping me hooked from start to finish.
The characters are as dynamic and engaging as ever. Each personality feels fully realized, and their interactions bring heart, humor, and just the right touch of drama to the story. The animal characters continue to be a delightful addition, adding both charm and extra layers of tension to the unfolding mystery.
The plot is well-crafted and immersive, carefully building suspense in a way that made it impossible to put the book down. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, desperate to see what would happen next. The story culminates in a dramatic cliffhanger that left me both shocked and excited for the next installment.
The setting perfectly complements the tone of the mystery. It feels vivid and alive, creating an ideal backdrop that enhances the twists and turns of the plot. The world Carolyn Haines has built is one that I love returning to over and over again.
Fans of cozy mysteries—and especially those who enjoy a series with depth, charm, and a compelling storyline—will find Ode To The Bones a five-star read. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
The characters are as dynamic and engaging as ever. Each personality feels fully realized, and their interactions bring heart, humor, and just the right touch of drama to the story. The animal characters continue to be a delightful addition, adding both charm and extra layers of tension to the unfolding mystery.
The plot is well-crafted and immersive, carefully building suspense in a way that made it impossible to put the book down. I found myself eagerly turning the pages, desperate to see what would happen next. The story culminates in a dramatic cliffhanger that left me both shocked and excited for the next installment.
The setting perfectly complements the tone of the mystery. It feels vivid and alive, creating an ideal backdrop that enhances the twists and turns of the plot. The world Carolyn Haines has built is one that I love returning to over and over again.
Fans of cozy mysteries—and especially those who enjoy a series with depth, charm, and a compelling storyline—will find Ode To The Bones a five-star read. I can’t wait to see what comes next!
May 26, 2026
Author Carolyn Haines pays ode to the haunting song about the Tallahatchie Bridge in this latest book in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery Series who has returned to the Mississippi Delta area. Warning: if you like creepy happenings, run to your nearest bookstore and grab this book for a delightful can’t stop reading until I finish it read. Sarah has her own sightings at the bridge and welcomes her own ghost, Jiitty. It’s a hard time for farmers what with climate change and the need to make agricultural changes as many are close to foreclosure. One such person is Danny who is highly regarded in the agricultural community has disappeared and is rumored to having an affair with a preacher’s wife. Sarah agrees to search for Danny engaging the help of her friend, Tinkie, her animals, and her favorite deputy. Sarah loves to interview persons at local cafes and who can blame her with descriptions of the yummy southern dishes: she might get further with her questioning if she wasn’t so quick to answer (retort) to their answers. Swelter down the river as Sarah follows up a clue as to the whereabouts of Danny: don’t forget your bug spray and sunscreen and dodge the bullets in this thriller. Thanks to #CarolynHaines,
#NetGalley, and #StMartinsPress for a digital ARC of this book: opinions stated are strictly my own.
#NetGalley, and #StMartinsPress for a digital ARC of this book: opinions stated are strictly my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Ode to the Bones is the latest book in the long running Sarah Booth Delaney by Carolyn Haines. This is one of my favorite series and this book is easily one of the best in the series! There is so much going on in this book that I won’t even begin to try to describe what happens. I will just say if you are a long time reader of the series that this book really brings everything crashing together and will leave you begging for the next book just to find out what happens. The end of the book was wonderful and crushing. It feels like so many things are going to be dealt with in the next book and I can’t wait to read it. The mystery in this book is very interesting, but it is the ending of the book that is just wow! So much happens in the last few chapters that I never thought would happen and I just hope Sarah Booth survives it all. I understand that the next book will be the last in the series and I can’t wait to read it, but I also will be so sad. This series has never disappointed me and I highly recommend it to mystery fans everywhere.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.
May 26, 2026
It all started with Oscar hiring Tinkie and Sarah Booth to find a bank loan customer of his that he’d foreclosed on. The guy just disappeared and the whole town thought he was either dead or just laying low for some reason.
What followed was the wild adventure we’ve come to know and love about Sarah Booth and Tinkie’s PI business. Sarah Booth was shot at and nearly eaten alive by river bugs, not to mention sunburned to a crisp after spending a day looking for the missing man. There were a couple funny scenes too one which involved a sketchy land buyer and another with a really annoying woman Sarah Booth wanted info from.
The ending was pretty disturbing in a psychological kinda way and I’m more eager than ever to see what’s going on in Sarah Booth’s head and what really happened as far as that mysterious note she got. I believe I read this was the second last book in this very long-running series and all would be explained in the final book. Yikes, we have to wait until October for the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Paperbacks/ Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
What followed was the wild adventure we’ve come to know and love about Sarah Booth and Tinkie’s PI business. Sarah Booth was shot at and nearly eaten alive by river bugs, not to mention sunburned to a crisp after spending a day looking for the missing man. There were a couple funny scenes too one which involved a sketchy land buyer and another with a really annoying woman Sarah Booth wanted info from.
The ending was pretty disturbing in a psychological kinda way and I’m more eager than ever to see what’s going on in Sarah Booth’s head and what really happened as far as that mysterious note she got. I believe I read this was the second last book in this very long-running series and all would be explained in the final book. Yikes, we have to wait until October for the next book!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Paperbacks/ Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.
May 28, 2026
Sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney and her best friend Tinkie are back detecting in Ode to the Bones.
A farmer is missing. Could Tinkie’s husband initiating foreclosure proceedings on his family farm be the reason? Could his rumored affair with a local preacher’s wife be behind his disappearance? Or did he discover something incriminating about the companies trying to push toxic chemicals on local farmers to boost their productivity? Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and Sarah Booth’s house ghost are all searching for answers in the new “paranormal is normal” cozy mystery in this long running series.
It is always a joy to visit with the girls in the humid Mississippi heat. Ode to the Bones has a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end with plenty of red herrings and blind alleys. This is also an ode to the real life plight of American farmers fighting climate change and corporate farming interests.
Overall, Ode to the Bones is an entertaining and informative cozy mystery not to be missed. 5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.
A farmer is missing. Could Tinkie’s husband initiating foreclosure proceedings on his family farm be the reason? Could his rumored affair with a local preacher’s wife be behind his disappearance? Or did he discover something incriminating about the companies trying to push toxic chemicals on local farmers to boost their productivity? Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and Sarah Booth’s house ghost are all searching for answers in the new “paranormal is normal” cozy mystery in this long running series.
It is always a joy to visit with the girls in the humid Mississippi heat. Ode to the Bones has a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end with plenty of red herrings and blind alleys. This is also an ode to the real life plight of American farmers fighting climate change and corporate farming interests.
Overall, Ode to the Bones is an entertaining and informative cozy mystery not to be missed. 5 stars!
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Tinkie's husband Oscar feels terrible that his bank has to foreclose on a local farm. Now the farmer has disappeared, and the Delaney Detective Agency has been hired to find Dan. A local gossip has been spreading rumors that Dan is having an affair with a local pastor's wife, and there are whisperings of ghosts around the Tallahatchie Bridge, just like in the old song Ode to Billie Jo. There's a creepy guy trying to buy up farmland for pennies on the dollar, and there's a funny scene where Sarah Booth and Tinkie play a trick on him involving the farm animals. I really liked all of the animals in the book and the pivotal role they play. Since I frequently complain about cliffhangers, I was surprised that this one just made me more eager to read the next book. I've read all of the books in the series, and Ode to the Bones was definitely one of the best. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie are hired by Tinkie's bank president husband to find Danny Anderson. He's a farmer who is about to lose his farm to foreclosure.
As they search the Mississippi Delta for him, they uncover secrets and plots. There's a rumored affair between Danny and a local preacher's wife. There's a jealous woman fanning the rumor mill. There's a beautiful model home from New York also searching for Danny. There're buried gold coins from the Civil War era that could save a number of the local farmers farms from foreclosure.
Sarah Booth is aided by Jitty, a ghost turned spirit guide, who appears to her in the guise of a number of singers from the past including Bobbie Gentry and Bob Dylan who provide musical clues. Sarah Booth also sees a woman in white on the haunted Tallahatchie Bridge made famous in Gentry's Ode to Billy Jo.
This was another engaging episode in this long-running series.
As they search the Mississippi Delta for him, they uncover secrets and plots. There's a rumored affair between Danny and a local preacher's wife. There's a jealous woman fanning the rumor mill. There's a beautiful model home from New York also searching for Danny. There're buried gold coins from the Civil War era that could save a number of the local farmers farms from foreclosure.
Sarah Booth is aided by Jitty, a ghost turned spirit guide, who appears to her in the guise of a number of singers from the past including Bobbie Gentry and Bob Dylan who provide musical clues. Sarah Booth also sees a woman in white on the haunted Tallahatchie Bridge made famous in Gentry's Ode to Billy Jo.
This was another engaging episode in this long-running series.
May 26, 2026
The latest in her series involves the main character, Sarah Delaney, and her investigating partner, Tinkie, who are hired to find a missing farmer when his family farm is in financial trouble, which leads to several layered stories in the book, like an urban legend from years past involving a bridge suicide and treasures.
The author's followers will enjoy the continuation of the characters and the style of the genre. They know what they are getting and will like it. There is some adult content in the speech of Sarah, her friends, and boyfriend, which comes off out of place just like the politics that may make some uncomfortable. Also, (NO SPOILERS) the sudden ending was a throwback to the old TV serials, wondering what is next.
For an in depth review, visit my page (follow and subscribe) https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/wp-...
The author's followers will enjoy the continuation of the characters and the style of the genre. They know what they are getting and will like it. There is some adult content in the speech of Sarah, her friends, and boyfriend, which comes off out of place just like the politics that may make some uncomfortable. Also, (NO SPOILERS) the sudden ending was a throwback to the old TV serials, wondering what is next.
For an in depth review, visit my page (follow and subscribe) https://lancewrites.wordpress.com/wp-...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
30 books into the series and this book has the most intense ending ever! Every loose thread from the series is out in the open, just waiting...
Ghosts (more than Jitty), treasure, murder, the past creeping in to upset the present, greed, and possibly worse are woven together into a mystery that will keep you reading far longer than planned. And the final pages will leave you frustrated with having to wait for the next book. One can only hope the author has already begun to write that book!
This series embodies a place and people who live an idyllic life in spite of the dangers and evil around them. The place is home, the friendships are permanent, and trust is unparalleled. If only it were real! Amazing series and a spectacular volume that leaves the reader desperate for the next book!
Ghosts (more than Jitty), treasure, murder, the past creeping in to upset the present, greed, and possibly worse are woven together into a mystery that will keep you reading far longer than planned. And the final pages will leave you frustrated with having to wait for the next book. One can only hope the author has already begun to write that book!
This series embodies a place and people who live an idyllic life in spite of the dangers and evil around them. The place is home, the friendships are permanent, and trust is unparalleled. If only it were real! Amazing series and a spectacular volume that leaves the reader desperate for the next book!
May 27, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars
Ode to the Bones was a fun, fast-moving mystery with plenty of twists to keep me guessing. Carolyn Haines does a wonderful job balancing suspense with Southern charm, and the investigation kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Sarah Booth Delaney is such a great lead—smart, determined, and always entertaining—and the mystery unfolded at just the right pace. Full of secrets, surprises, and atmosphere, this was another satisfying entry in the series. I couldn’t put it down.
Highly recommended!!!
Many thanks to the publisher, Ms. Haines, and Netgalley for a digital copy to read for review. I am already looking forward to the next one. I already have the widget thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.
Ode to the Bones was a fun, fast-moving mystery with plenty of twists to keep me guessing. Carolyn Haines does a wonderful job balancing suspense with Southern charm, and the investigation kept me hooked from beginning to end.
Sarah Booth Delaney is such a great lead—smart, determined, and always entertaining—and the mystery unfolded at just the right pace. Full of secrets, surprises, and atmosphere, this was another satisfying entry in the series. I couldn’t put it down.
Highly recommended!!!
Many thanks to the publisher, Ms. Haines, and Netgalley for a digital copy to read for review. I am already looking forward to the next one. I already have the widget thanks to the publisher and NetGalley.
February 23, 2026
I gave this book 4.75 stars! I love this series. This is a long standing series and the author writes this series beautifully for a cozy mystery.
This book follows Sarah Booth in looking for a missing farmer who has a bank problems and going to lose his land. He disappears and Sarah’s partner in the PI business help solve the mystery. The characters are all lovable, hearts of gold and very much animal lovers. This book is filled with southern secrets, ghosts and dogs and a cat!
There is a cliff hanger at the end that surprised me! The author I believe is ramping up to the final book in series. Which I will be sad to see it end! Hope the author will write more!
This book follows Sarah Booth in looking for a missing farmer who has a bank problems and going to lose his land. He disappears and Sarah’s partner in the PI business help solve the mystery. The characters are all lovable, hearts of gold and very much animal lovers. This book is filled with southern secrets, ghosts and dogs and a cat!
There is a cliff hanger at the end that surprised me! The author I believe is ramping up to the final book in series. Which I will be sad to see it end! Hope the author will write more!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
From the start of this book it gives you kind of Erie vibes and you immediately know you're not going to be able to put it down. It is at its core a cozy mystery with a whodunit at the center but there was so much more in this book! There was mystery and intrigue but there was also so much heart and small town charm.
The mystery at the center of the spoke was also really good I genuinely didn't see some of these things coming which is absolutely amazing and a mystery I would say if you have not read a book in this series pick this one up because you won't be confused and it is a great introduction to these characters.
The mystery at the center of the spoke was also really good I genuinely didn't see some of these things coming which is absolutely amazing and a mystery I would say if you have not read a book in this series pick this one up because you won't be confused and it is a great introduction to these characters.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ode to the Bones is the latest Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery. Light-hearted and full of the paranormal, Sarah is trying to find a missing farmer while seeing a woman in white on the local bridge. Legends of buried treasure and some ghostly advice liven up this story that keeps Sarah on her toes. Secrets come to light in the overall story arc that leave a little bit of a cliff hanger at the end so this book would probably be best read as part of the series. As always the interplay between Sarah, Twinkie, and the ghostly Jitty is entertaining and the story keeps you engaged for another great read in the series.
June 10, 2026
Sarah Booth Delaney and Tinkie are on the hunt for a missing farmer. Oscar had to foreclose on his family's farm and is now concerned that the young man, Danny, is missing. But is he missing just because he is ashamed to have lost the farm? Or is there something more sinister at work?
The actual mystery didn't take center stage as much as the plight of today's farmers. There are so many factors working against the people who love the land of the south and for more than just development. Yes, there is a developer who is not set up as the Big Bad as much as a general nuisance.
The ending was a bit dramatic but does set us up for the series to continue.
The actual mystery didn't take center stage as much as the plight of today's farmers. There are so many factors working against the people who love the land of the south and for more than just development. Yes, there is a developer who is not set up as the Big Bad as much as a general nuisance.
The ending was a bit dramatic but does set us up for the series to continue.
July 9, 2026
Congrats to Carolyn Haines for 30 years of writing great books. It's been an annual long tradition of catching up on the latest adventures of Sarah Booth, Tinky and all the critters. And Coleman...always included but always a one-note song, traditional police procedure - meh. Doesn't add to the story and is assumed, so the harping gets tiresome.
Author's note indicates only one more book in this series, and series is being retired.
Sorry, not sorry to see them go. It's time to leave the stage. Always another story line waiting to be told.
Love the environmental crisis in her writing, climate change leading to bank loans for farmers going into foreclosures. All become plot points integral to the story showing the human impact of world crisis.
Good job Carolyn, thanks for all the stories.
Author's note indicates only one more book in this series, and series is being retired.
Sorry, not sorry to see them go. It's time to leave the stage. Always another story line waiting to be told.
Love the environmental crisis in her writing, climate change leading to bank loans for farmers going into foreclosures. All become plot points integral to the story showing the human impact of world crisis.
Good job Carolyn, thanks for all the stories.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a great entry in this series. Sarah Booth is on the trail of a missing farmer whose land is going to be in foreclosure. As the story progresses, shots are fired, a body is found, a famous person returns to town, and Sarah questions everything she has thought true. Who is deceiving her? The ending leaves this reader eagerly waiting the next in series as Sarah's life either unravels or is knit together
Thanks to NetGalley for the read. Story has great characters and great smalltown feel.
Thanks to NetGalley for the read. Story has great characters and great smalltown feel.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this ARC from a GoodReads giveaway.
I forgot how much I enjoyed this series. I read the first few books of the series years ago. I will definitely be going back and reading the ones that I missed. My family is from Mississippi so I really enjoyed reading about it. I also grew up on the song Ode to Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry which plays an integral part of the story. I love the characters and Carolyn Haines really draws you into her stories. Now if only I could have a crow and dogs that pee on the shoes of people that I don't like. Not to mention a ghost friend. 😉
I forgot how much I enjoyed this series. I read the first few books of the series years ago. I will definitely be going back and reading the ones that I missed. My family is from Mississippi so I really enjoyed reading about it. I also grew up on the song Ode to Billie Joe by Bobbie Gentry which plays an integral part of the story. I love the characters and Carolyn Haines really draws you into her stories. Now if only I could have a crow and dogs that pee on the shoes of people that I don't like. Not to mention a ghost friend. 😉
March 29, 2026
This one pulled me in so easily. I just wanted to keep reading to see how everything would unfold. There are still some unanswered questions, but in a way that feels intentional and makes me excited for the next book rather than frustrated.
This was filled with lots of small town drama, secrets, and messy dynamics (which I always love). I will say there was a little too much politics woven in for my taste. It didn’t totally ruin it, but I did find myself kind of wanting to get back to the actual story.
Also this is the 30th book in the series, so there were definitely moments where I could tell I was missing some backstory. I wasn’t always sure what was being referenced, but honestly it still worked as a standalone and I was able to follow along pretty easily. It kind of gave me nostalgic vibes of the cozy mysteries my grandma used to read (Joanna Fluke) mixed with a little Stephanie Plum energy.
This was filled with lots of small town drama, secrets, and messy dynamics (which I always love). I will say there was a little too much politics woven in for my taste. It didn’t totally ruin it, but I did find myself kind of wanting to get back to the actual story.
Also this is the 30th book in the series, so there were definitely moments where I could tell I was missing some backstory. I wasn’t always sure what was being referenced, but honestly it still worked as a standalone and I was able to follow along pretty easily. It kind of gave me nostalgic vibes of the cozy mysteries my grandma used to read (Joanna Fluke) mixed with a little Stephanie Plum energy.
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