Joy to the Bones: A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery

Sarah Booth Delaney #31

by Carolyn Haines

In this final installment of the series, sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney is up against her biggest--and most personal--mystery yet.

Still reeling from the discovery that her parents' deaths, decades ago, might not have been an accident, Private Investigator Sarah Booth Delaney doesn't know who to believe anymore. Her best friend and business partner, Tinkie, purposefully kept her in the dark; her lover, Coleman, intentionally lied to her; and her meddlesome ghost-turned-spiritual-guide, Jitty, kept more secrets than she can count. Now, even the people Sarah Booth once trusted more than anything are suspect.

Armed with new knowledge about her parents' car crash, Sarah Booth sets out to solve her biggest case her parents' murder. And she's prepared to do it alone if she has to.

But the Mississippi Delta doesn't pause for anyone, not even Sarah Booth. While trying to untangle the truth about her parents' fate, Sarah Booth gets roped into investigating the DeLonge Mansion, a magnificent old house with seemingly no one left alive to claim it. With the return of her nemesis, Gertrude Stromm, looming over her head--and the pieces of her failed relationships still scattered around her--Sarah Booth has her work cut out for her this holiday season.

Genres: Mystery

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication October 27, 2026

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

[Sharon]

Joy to the Bones, the last book in Carolyn Haines's long-running series featuring P.I. Sarah Booth Delaney, feels like a continuation of its immediate predecessor, Ode to the Bones, which felt unfinished to me. At the end of Ode to the Bones, Sarah Booth breaks up with her fiancé, disowns her friends, and even banishes Jinty, the family ghost, because she believes everyone was keeping a secret from her. Apparently, the car accident that killed her parents when Sarah was twelve was actually murder—and everyone either knew or suspected.
Joy to the Bones begins just after she kicks everyone out of her life, and then stews in isolation for four months. After doing some soul-searching, she decides to investigate her parents' murder and bring the killer(s) to justice. And she needs the help of Coleman and her friends. Maybe she should also give them a chance to explain why they kept this information from her and find out exactly what they knew.
She also gets a new client, a man interested in buying the abandoned, possibly haunted DeLonge Mansion. Because the evil owners died in the last century, supposedly without heirs, it's quite a quest to learn who actually owns the property. Someone has been paying the taxes, but it turns out to be a shell corporation with fictitious directors. Sarah Booth reaches out to Tinkie, her old partner and best friend, to make amends and agree to work together on the new case. Tinkie vows to also help find out who killed Sarah Booth's parents.
Gertrude Stromm, a crazy woman who hated Sarah Booth's mother, and by extension, Sarah Booth, is back in the picture, and she's connected to both mysteries.
Sarah Booth gains a new appreciation for her friends as everyone works together, bringing this story and the entire series to a satisfying ending.

[Jeanie Jackson]

Joy to the Bones provides a fitting ending to Carolyn Haines long running A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series. The 40th book, representing 30 years of real-life storytelling is as engrossing as the other 39 although it does not have as much humor. The prologue is a distraction that does not befit this series, but once we get past the 4-month-meltdown the book brings the action and emotion that we have come to expect and love, providing us with the special people and strong plot that we expect from Ms. Haines. Learning that her parents' death was probably not an accident puts Sarah Booth into a tailspin that takes a bit to recover from, but once she gets her head clear, she is determined to find out what really happened. She has no doubt that their car wreck was engineered. With unwavering support from her friends, who greatly fear for her life from the evil but powerful people who killer her parents, she challenges the old order, many of whom are still around and are richer than ever.
As with the other Christmas titled books in this series, the holiday does not play a big part in the novel, but it sure does play an important part in Sarah Booth's life!
Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read and review a copy of this farewell novel. Sarah Booth has been a part of my must-read history for a long time and will remain with me forever.
#Netgalley #MinotaurBooks #CarolynHaines #ASarahBoothDelaneyMystery #JoytotheBones

[Susan Johnston]

When there is a series that you truly love, you never want it to end. But after 31 books, Carolyn Haines has decided to wrap up the story of Sarah Booth and all her human and animal friends. At the end of the previous book, she learned her parents had not died in a car accident. The accident was murder and that had been kept from her by those who cared the most. She went ballistic and severed ties with her loved ones including her fiancé Coleman and her best friend Tinkie. It has taken her four months to come to her senses.

After apologizing profusely to them all, she and Tinkie take on a client who wants to know who owns the land around a dilapidated mansion. The ownership is clouded by shell companies and subterfuge and it has put Sarah Booth in the cross-hairs, quite literally. She knows her nemesis Gertrude is in there somewhere and after repeated attempts to harm her, she is ready to put it all on the line to capture Gertrude and find out who was behind the murder and why. There are more than a few close calls that lead to some suspenseful moments. There are also some big surprises in store. But by the time, the final chapter is finished, the loyal reader will know that Sarah Booth will be ready to move forward into a happier future. What more could we ask.

Five purrs and two paws up.

[Vicky]

THOUGHTS: This is the last of a 31-Book series but you don’t *have* to have read all the others to come up to speed with the characters and the story arc. Sarah Booth Delaney lives on her Mississippi Delta family farm with dogs, horses, a black cat, a crow who spouts “Nevermore” on occasion, and a sassy ghost named Jitty. She’s a PI who is partnered with her best friend Tinkie and has a heart throb in the local sheriff, Coleman.

In this book, Sarah Booth (and yes, she goes by both names), is trying to find out who killed her parents 20+ years ago. Her search leads to crooked judges, drug runners, and an obsessed woman who wants her dead. It is an interesting story with a lot going on. What’s nice is that everything is tied up nicely by the end giving you not only a satisfying ending to the story, but to the entire series.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

[Mary]

Joy to the Bones is the last of the amazing Sarah Booth Delaney series. I was excited to read this book and also very sad. This was one of the first mystery series I ever read almost 20 years ago (although it started much earlier than that). I binged the first books of the series and was always anxious to read another one. It soon became a yearly or if we were lucky a twice yearly event to get to read a new book about Sarah Booth, Jitty, Tinkie and all their friends. I have grown so fond of these wonderful quirky characters and I am so glad Ms. Haines was able to end the series on her own terms. This last book wrapped up mysteries and events that have gone on throughout the books and it was a very satisfying conclusion. I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but there is a lot of justice in this book and by the end we get the happy ending that Sarah Booth and her friends and family deserve. A special thank you to Carolyn Haines - thank you for writing these wonderful books. It’s been a joy to read them all!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

[Karen Stallman]

"Joy to the Bones" by Carolyn Haines the 31st and last instalment in the "A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery" series which releases on October 27th. I absolutely love this series and am so sad it’s over! Sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney is up against her biggest—and most personal—mystery yet.

I always enjoy visiting with Sarah and Tinkie it’s like coming home to old friends. I always learn something, this time Sarah Booth and Tinkie are investigating the DeLonge Mansion, a magnificent old house with seemingly no one left alive to claim it. Along with investigating what happened to her parents and who exactly murdered them.

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. Carolyn did an amazing job of wrapping up the series.

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.

[Joyce]

After 30 books over 27 years, it truly is the end of an era with this final book in Haines' Sarah Booth Delaney series. Although I have not been here since the very beginning, joining more than halfway through the series, this will be a satisfactory buildup to the ending for those who have. I personally would however have liked to see a more detailed dramatic capture of the ones who is ultimately responsible for the murder of Sarah Booth's parents though. The reveal and the capture just seemed a bit abrupt to me.

For those who may not already be aware, even though the title sounds like a Christmas cozy, there is barely a mention of Christmas until the end and is set more in October than December. In addition, it is more serious and darker than a normal cozy so appeals more to Wendy Meadow fans.

Overall, still a great read that has you turning the page even knowing the end if near in more ways than one.

I received an ARC through Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Barbara Hackel]

After years of adventures, close calls, friends, falling in love, and sweet pets, Sarah Booth Delaney has solved her most important case of her life. A faithful reader knows how she was orphaned way too young when her parents died in a car accident. For most of the series that fact was mentioned, questioned then dropped. This final book of the series was rich in history and put the puzzle pieces together for us, the devoted readers.
Exciting doesn't begin to express the way I felt reading this. Overwhelmed? Yes. Frantic? Yes! Worried how Sarah Booth would handle the truth? Yes! Worried that I would be disappointed? Heck no!
Author Carolyn Haines has left a written legacy that will be enjoyed for many years. I hope this book inspires readers to reread the books and share them with others. It is a pocket of southern history and culture that although is fiction, it is laced with facts and reality, and should not be forgotten.

[Darla]

Joy to the Bones will be available for purchase October 2026. I want to thank Goodreads Giveaways, Minotaur Books and Carolyn Haines for the ARC.

I know you aren’t supposed to judge a book by its cover… I thought I had won a whimsical and fun Christmas themed mystery. Boy! Was I wrong!! Christmas was not any part of the theme, other than an afterthought. It was not a light, entertaining read that I hoped it to be. I had a hard time keeping the characters straight. I guess you needed to read the prior 31 books for that. I didn’t realize it was a series when I threw my name in the hat. This is the last book of the Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries. I am sure that those who have read previous Carolyn Haines’ books will have a much more positive experience. Unfortunately, it missed the mark for me.

[Linden]

Sarah Booth is angry. She's been told her whole life that her parents died in a car accident when she was a child, but now she learns that it was murder. She thought her friends all knew, but she realizes that they are eager to help her find closure. With the help of her great friends and all of her animals, she is determined to solve the mystery. This is the final book of a series which I have read from the beginning. I was torn, because it was a page turner which made me read faster, but then I needed to slow down because I didn't want it to end. I was glad to read such an enjoyable book after a few recent disappointing ones. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing me to review this advance copy.

[Amy]

“Don’t ever mess with a woman who has assistance from Black Cat.” “Or another special friend.”

Joy to the Bones is the last book in this entertaining, amazing, fun long running series by Carolyn Haines. I was looking forward to reading this book, but it is bittersweet.
Sarah Booth is determined to solve the most important case of her life. She needs closure to the car accident that killed her parents over 20 years ago.
Puzzle pieces to it together, so much back history, drug runners, crooked judge, and Gertrude is still lurking, characters that have become friends. I am going to miss these quirky friends that I have become fond of.
Thank you Carolyn Haines for writing a wonderful, enjoyable series.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book.

[Val]

We say goodbye to Sara Booth Delaney in this final book. Sara at the end of the last novel, had separated herself from her fiancé, friends and community. After this fourth month hiatus, she knows she must apologize to everyone and tackle the task of finding her parents' murderer. Her community and friends gladly welcome her back and help her in her quest. The author does an excellent job of winding down Sara's story. The ghost still appears, her fiance still loves her, and her friends never desert her. Sara finds confidence to move on with her life and perhaps start a family without fear. I found it a good read. Will miss Sara but wish her well. Thanks to Net Galley for the arc.

[Paula Ackley]

This was my first Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery and if the first 30 books in the series are anything like this last one I have missed reading a lot good stories. It was an easy read and easy to follow. Somehow Ms. Haines gave enough background so that I never felt lost or confused. It's a good story with plenty of character and characters, good guys and bad, animals and ghosts, friends and foe. Joy to the Bones closes with a satisfying ending and judging from other reviews it gives good closure to the whole series.

[Marissa]

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Sarah is dealing with the knowledge that her parents might not have died from a car accident as she had long thought. She will dive deeper into their deaths to learn the truth. She will finally get closure and be able to move forward. This is a fitting ending in the end of this series.

[Christine Lussier]

This can't be the end of the Sarah Booth series, yet it is.
Gertrude is back, causing her pain and suffering, and Sarah Booth is determined to put an end to it once and for all.
Fast paced, full of suspense, hope, love and all of the characters we have know to love--and hate!
The story comes full circle, who and why are learned, and life is moving on for Sarah Booth and Tinkie--Jinty too!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Carolyn Haines for a fun, enjoyable series.

[Becky Abbott]

Joy to the Bones by Carolyn Haines is the last of the books in this series. Sarah Booth Delany has to do some thinking after the last book, as she has alienated all the people around her and has to get them back in her good graces. After finding out how her parents died she now must find out what really happened to them while trying to keep Gertrude Stromm away and trying to get her friends back. This is a fitting end to the series if a bit sad to see it coming to an end.

[Sheila]

I received a free copy of, Joy to the Bones, by Carolyn Haines, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book thirty-one in the Sarah Booth Delaney series. Sarah Booth Delaney does not know who she can trust, it feels like everyone she loves in her inner circle has lied or kept information from her. This was a good, but sad read.

[Angela]

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Carolyn Haines bring the next installment of the Sarah Booth Delaney series to the reader with 'Joy to the Bones". While this novel is part of a series, it can be read as a stand alone. In this Christmas mystery, the reader is taken to the Mississippi Delta, where Sarah Booth is reeling from the discovery that her parents' death may have been a murder. She will have to forgive her business partner and best friend, Tinkie, Coleman, her fiance and her ghost, Jitty who have all kept this from her.

The case of her parents death will have Sarah Booth pulling out all the stops as she tries to solve her biggest case yet, with herself as the client. Realizing that she can't do it by herself, she will have to forgive those closest to her if she has any hope of solving this case as well as the ownership of the DeLonge Mansion. She will also have to deal with her nemesis, Gertrude Stromm, who has come to hate her.

I am sad to say this is the final book in this long-running series as I have enjoyed getting to know this characters from the Mississippi Delta. This novel picks up four months after the previous book ended and I could see the personal growth that Sarah Booth has went through. After realizing she can't do it alone, everything seems to be back on track for all the characters. As they work together, it is evident to me that the friendship and family they have created will stand the test of time.

[Sarah Jackson]

This is an ARC won from a Goodreads Giveaway. This is the first book I've read in this series, and it is a fantastic read. Ghosts, multiple animal companions, intrigue and a 20+ year cold case. I flew through this book, and I intend to read more.

[Susan Willis]

Sarah Boothe is trying to move forward with her life but insecurities, the news that her parents were murdered and the fear of Gertrude returning has her feeling overwhelmed. Luckily she gets a new case. A wonderful conclusion to a wonderful series

[Alicia Kelley]

Thank you to NetGalley & Minotaur Books for the ARC of this book. It was a good story. Nice story with good characters. Some ghosts, bad guys, & a hint of romance, along with the mystery of the story. It was a pretty quick read & enjoyable.

[Shari]

Delightful! Loved the characters, the Southern charm and the sweet ending.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Goodreads. I was thrilled to win this book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Nat]

While I’m sad the series is ending, this is a good wrap up of Sarah Booth and company. I will miss them!

[Shari]

This book is the last in the Sarah Booth Delany mystery series and I thoroughly loved it! A lot of long-time storylines come to a very satisfying conclusion. This series has always been a favorite and I love the humor throughout the series. Well done!

Thanks to Edelwiess for an arc of this book.

[Sarah Woodhouse]

I love these books, but I hate that they are often filled with politics and other things that I don't necessarily agree with. Hence the four stars. When I read books, I want to be taken out of my daily life and all of the other issues we have to contend with and have my heart lifted and my stress taken away. Why do I continue to read this book series then? Because if you ignore all that other stuff the story and the mysteries are always good. And I love the mix of the paranormal. Plus, I love the family that Sarah Booth has amassed around herself. THAT PART makes my heart feel lighter. That is why I continue to read these books.

That being said, I am sorry to see that this is the last book in the series. However, I get it. No series can last forever. But man, I really wanted to see Sarah Booth get married and have babies lol. I also love the community. Those places in the books seem like such nice places to maybe go and visit. The people themselves also seem delightful.

All in all, I have loved the critters and the cobbled together family and I will truly miss that. Because of that, I do recommend these books.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Carolyn Haines for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are mine and are completely honest.