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Sarah Booth Delaney #17
Sticks and Bones
Private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends are celebrating New Year's Eve at the party of the year, a smashing Winter Garden party at the Prince Albert Hotel. It's a dazzling success...until Frangelica "Sister" McFee walks through the door. Sarah Booth knew Sister in college, before Sister became a bestselling author and moved to New York, and fame and fortune don't seem to have tempered her arrogance and cruelty.
Sister's latest book is a memoir about the death of her mother and brother many years ago. Now, a film about the book is in the works, and a film crew has descended upon Zinnia, Mississippi, to tell the complete tale. The film crew soon realizes there may be more to the story than meets the eye--or is told in Sister's memoir--and they hire Sarah Booth to discover the absolute truth about those deaths so many years ago. But Sarah Booth quickly realizes that someone is desperate to keep the truth hidden and will go to any lengths necessary to protect a long-held secret.
Carolyn Haines's next Sarah Booth Delaney novel, Sticks and Bones, is sure to delight series fans and newcomers alike.
Sister's latest book is a memoir about the death of her mother and brother many years ago. Now, a film about the book is in the works, and a film crew has descended upon Zinnia, Mississippi, to tell the complete tale. The film crew soon realizes there may be more to the story than meets the eye--or is told in Sister's memoir--and they hire Sarah Booth to discover the absolute truth about those deaths so many years ago. But Sarah Booth quickly realizes that someone is desperate to keep the truth hidden and will go to any lengths necessary to protect a long-held secret.
Carolyn Haines's next Sarah Booth Delaney novel, Sticks and Bones, is sure to delight series fans and newcomers alike.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 16, 2017
179 people are currently reading
661 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Haines
115 books1,576 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 132 reviews
May 22, 2017
I have read the entire 17 book series of Sarah Booth Delaney and I do so for the setting in Sunflower County Mississippi, for the fact that Sarah owns an ancestral home which I relate to, and lol I adore Sheriff Coleman Peters. These facts being said I am about to criticize big time.
ONE STAR for including the theme of a wealthy Mississippi gentleman running for the U S Senate. This by itself would have been fine, however, including his supposed problem with Putin was to far over the top and way to similar the current political climate and debate in our current politics. Please I don't care what your or your publishers' politics are, but this storyline was annoying. I read your series to step away from the real.
Now, the actual mystery of the story and the fact I didn't think the killer was who it turned out to be was great. There were several very positive threads in the story. The fact that one of the victims, Cleo, a wealthy Mississippi Delta woman, was interested in literacy and educational improvement in the Delta is spot on as a number of Delta residents are very supportive of educational improvements for all races in the Delta.
And Jitty, the recurring haint to Sarah appears near the end of the book as Harriet, a spy with a magnifying glass. WOW what a wonderful reference to children's literature!
And, finally, the relationship between Sarah Booth and Sheriff Coleman Peters is about to take off, but the details to that will obviously be in some forthcoming titles in this series. I can't wait for number 18 in this series, but DO LEAVE OUT references to whatever political theme is happening in the US at the time.
ONE STAR for including the theme of a wealthy Mississippi gentleman running for the U S Senate. This by itself would have been fine, however, including his supposed problem with Putin was to far over the top and way to similar the current political climate and debate in our current politics. Please I don't care what your or your publishers' politics are, but this storyline was annoying. I read your series to step away from the real.
Now, the actual mystery of the story and the fact I didn't think the killer was who it turned out to be was great. There were several very positive threads in the story. The fact that one of the victims, Cleo, a wealthy Mississippi Delta woman, was interested in literacy and educational improvement in the Delta is spot on as a number of Delta residents are very supportive of educational improvements for all races in the Delta.
And Jitty, the recurring haint to Sarah appears near the end of the book as Harriet, a spy with a magnifying glass. WOW what a wonderful reference to children's literature!
And, finally, the relationship between Sarah Booth and Sheriff Coleman Peters is about to take off, but the details to that will obviously be in some forthcoming titles in this series. I can't wait for number 18 in this series, but DO LEAVE OUT references to whatever political theme is happening in the US at the time.
June 11, 2017
Sticks and Bones by Carolyn Haines.
This is the 17th Sarah Boothe Delaney book and my 17th. Happily this story takes place in the Mississippi delta with Sarah Boothe living at Dahlia House. The best adventures take place when S.B. D. is at Dahlia House with Jitty near at hand ready to appear in all her glory. I was glad to read that S.B.D. is finally ready to put her feet on the ground and get real with Sheriff Coleman. It appears (hopefully) the childish romps with men has seen its day and now a sincere relationship has dawned for both of them to build a future together.
S.B.D. and Tinkie are attending a lavish party at the Prince Albert Hotel when a cold wind sweeps in to disrupt the festive activities. That cold wind is none other than Frangelica "Sista" McFee. Her immediate tirade against Tinkie has S.B.D. floored and Tinkie embarrassed. The reason behind Sister's arrival is her best selling book about the "accidental" death of her brother, Son, and mother, Cleo, is being made into a movie.
Marco, movie director, and Lorraine, cinematographer, St. John hire Tinkie and S.B.D. to investigate the truth behind that "accident".
I loved this book because I love the characters...reality hits when we enter Dahlia House. The investigation entails so many factors that mesh towards the end but it's quite a ride getting there.
This is the 17th Sarah Boothe Delaney book and my 17th. Happily this story takes place in the Mississippi delta with Sarah Boothe living at Dahlia House. The best adventures take place when S.B. D. is at Dahlia House with Jitty near at hand ready to appear in all her glory. I was glad to read that S.B.D. is finally ready to put her feet on the ground and get real with Sheriff Coleman. It appears (hopefully) the childish romps with men has seen its day and now a sincere relationship has dawned for both of them to build a future together.
S.B.D. and Tinkie are attending a lavish party at the Prince Albert Hotel when a cold wind sweeps in to disrupt the festive activities. That cold wind is none other than Frangelica "Sista" McFee. Her immediate tirade against Tinkie has S.B.D. floored and Tinkie embarrassed. The reason behind Sister's arrival is her best selling book about the "accidental" death of her brother, Son, and mother, Cleo, is being made into a movie.
Marco, movie director, and Lorraine, cinematographer, St. John hire Tinkie and S.B.D. to investigate the truth behind that "accident".
I loved this book because I love the characters...reality hits when we enter Dahlia House. The investigation entails so many factors that mesh towards the end but it's quite a ride getting there.
April 14, 2017
Sticks and Bones was by far the best in this series so far.
Sarah Booth and her best pal Tinkie are amazing in this book and I could not put it down.
There was so much drama, lies, secrets and family deception going on that I found myself transported into the book.
When the Delaney Detective Agency is hired by a movie producer to track down the truth about an accident that happened 5 years earlier, Sarah becomes involved in an investigation that could be her last one.
Frangelica “Sister” McFee is the author of the book that tells the story of the downfall of her brother, who was allegedly an addict who caused his mother's death and quite possibly his own.
Although his body was never discovered, the movie producers want to get the truth before making the movie.
Sister is a mean, self-centered character who has nothing nice to say about anyone, especially Tinkie. For that alone Sarah Booth is on edge with this dysfunctional family, but when she begins to unravel the threads of the tightly woven tapestry of family secrets, someone is determined to silence the detectives for good.
This book will appeal to all cozy mystery readers. Jitty plays such a comical role in this book that I couldn't help but chuckle every time she made an appearance.
Released on Date 16 May 2017 by Minotaur Books Sticks and Bones is the 17th book in the series written by Carolyn Haines
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley
Sarah Booth and her best pal Tinkie are amazing in this book and I could not put it down.
There was so much drama, lies, secrets and family deception going on that I found myself transported into the book.
When the Delaney Detective Agency is hired by a movie producer to track down the truth about an accident that happened 5 years earlier, Sarah becomes involved in an investigation that could be her last one.
Frangelica “Sister” McFee is the author of the book that tells the story of the downfall of her brother, who was allegedly an addict who caused his mother's death and quite possibly his own.
Although his body was never discovered, the movie producers want to get the truth before making the movie.
Sister is a mean, self-centered character who has nothing nice to say about anyone, especially Tinkie. For that alone Sarah Booth is on edge with this dysfunctional family, but when she begins to unravel the threads of the tightly woven tapestry of family secrets, someone is determined to silence the detectives for good.
This book will appeal to all cozy mystery readers. Jitty plays such a comical role in this book that I couldn't help but chuckle every time she made an appearance.
Released on Date 16 May 2017 by Minotaur Books Sticks and Bones is the 17th book in the series written by Carolyn Haines
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley
June 2, 2017
Private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie are hired by a film crew to investigate a car crash that happened five years ago where Cleo and her son, known as "Son", died.
Son's sister, known as "Sister", has written a book concerning this crash and alleges that Son deliberately killed their mother Cleo. Since Sister is the meanest woman ever born, Sarah Booth hopes to dispel this version of the story. After being shot at, Sarah Booth discovers someone doesn't want the truth to come out but there may be someone else involved other than her prime suspect.
In my opinion, this cozy mystery has a lot more substance than some of the cozies I read. The visions that come to mind while reading the scenes are hilarious. Several of the characters are eccentric but lovable. As with most series, the author leaves us with some unanswered questions to make us anxious to read the next book.
Son's sister, known as "Sister", has written a book concerning this crash and alleges that Son deliberately killed their mother Cleo. Since Sister is the meanest woman ever born, Sarah Booth hopes to dispel this version of the story. After being shot at, Sarah Booth discovers someone doesn't want the truth to come out but there may be someone else involved other than her prime suspect.
In my opinion, this cozy mystery has a lot more substance than some of the cozies I read. The visions that come to mind while reading the scenes are hilarious. Several of the characters are eccentric but lovable. As with most series, the author leaves us with some unanswered questions to make us anxious to read the next book.
June 4, 2017
I have read this series from the very beginning and I'm sorry to say that I have had to fight to keep reading the last couple of books until I finished. Early in this story Sarah Booth mentions that it has been almost 2 years since she returned home. What? Many readers (including me) are willing to suspend time so characters do not age Too fast. But don't push my nose in it. Two years, please! Too much has happened for only 2 years to have passed from the first book. That's ignoring all of the things that have happened in the stories. Just don't mention time. And perhaps my interest in the series has been affected by the fact that I don't care for Coleman as a love interest for Sarah Booth.
With respect to this story, the mystery had promise but it's hard to care when one doesn't like any of the people involved. And the main twist at the end wasn't too difficult to guess.
With respect to this story, the mystery had promise but it's hard to care when one doesn't like any of the people involved. And the main twist at the end wasn't too difficult to guess.
June 18, 2017
One of my favorite series. It's always a pleasure to visit Sarah Booth and the gang. Looking forward to the next book, and ending who Sarah Booth is finally going to give her heart to.
March 11, 2018
Another fun book in this series.
January 16, 2019
Took some time off from this series since I read the previous 16 one after another. It was a easy read that a enjoyed. The ending was a hoot.
November 13, 2017
This was my first read in this detective series. I didn’t like protagonist Sarah Booth Delaney. (Everyone calls her Sarah Booth all the time, never Sarah. Maybe this was discussed in one of the previous books.) I learned that in an earlier book, she kidnapped a friend’s dog and held it for ransom because she needed money! That person happens to be her partner in their detective agency. She has never told her partner, whose name is Tinkie, that she was the kidnapper. Me, I would go the direct route and just ask to borrow money, but hey, everybody’s different. In another book, which I also have not read, she accidentally hits a woman with her car. The woman/body disappears, so she doesn’t know how badly she was hurt. The woman had been harassing her, possibly threatening her life. Again, I’m not sure of exact details, since I didn’t read it. In this book, she says she hopes she killed her. Wow. For me, not so likable.
She has three men in love with her, but she was hurt in the past, so she can’t commit to any one of them. Not really clear why they love her so much.
Then, a cute little add on. She lives in an old house and there’s a ghost, a woman named Jitty who was a nanny in Sarah Booth’s house during the Civil War, who shows up randomly to remind her she needs to have sex. This “haint” can appear as different people to give Sarah Booth cryptic messages. Here, she appeared as various spies, both real and fictional. Sarah Booth oftens shares things Jitty has said to her, but she has never told anyone that Jitty is her haint.
One of the characters in this story was a man running for senator, part of his platform was that Vladimir Putin wouldn’t mess with him. He’s so much manlier than Putin. This plotline was just annoying. I guess it was supposed to be funny.
This is #17 in the series. The word bones is in every title. There was no significance to the title in this book. She does take her cat and dog, Pluto and Sweetie-Pie, with her almost everywhere. They do have bones, and probably like to eat bones, so maybe that’s the tie-in.
Also, there was a mystery for Sarah Booth and Tinkie to solve. Remember, they are detectives. Convoluted story, which I didn’t care about. She doesn’t really solve the mystery, but all gets revealed at the end when a minor character shows up to explain everything to her (and us).
Good bye Sarah Booth.
She has three men in love with her, but she was hurt in the past, so she can’t commit to any one of them. Not really clear why they love her so much.
Then, a cute little add on. She lives in an old house and there’s a ghost, a woman named Jitty who was a nanny in Sarah Booth’s house during the Civil War, who shows up randomly to remind her she needs to have sex. This “haint” can appear as different people to give Sarah Booth cryptic messages. Here, she appeared as various spies, both real and fictional. Sarah Booth oftens shares things Jitty has said to her, but she has never told anyone that Jitty is her haint.
One of the characters in this story was a man running for senator, part of his platform was that Vladimir Putin wouldn’t mess with him. He’s so much manlier than Putin. This plotline was just annoying. I guess it was supposed to be funny.
This is #17 in the series. The word bones is in every title. There was no significance to the title in this book. She does take her cat and dog, Pluto and Sweetie-Pie, with her almost everywhere. They do have bones, and probably like to eat bones, so maybe that’s the tie-in.
Also, there was a mystery for Sarah Booth and Tinkie to solve. Remember, they are detectives. Convoluted story, which I didn’t care about. She doesn’t really solve the mystery, but all gets revealed at the end when a minor character shows up to explain everything to her (and us).
Good bye Sarah Booth.
April 26, 2017
Sarah Booth Delaney is back and I like it!!!! I absolutely love this series. And, if you have never tried it, Carolyn makes it easy for you to pick up the series at any point.
In this book, there's a new character, Frangelica "Sister" McFee. She is the MOST obnoxious person I think that I have read that has come to Sunflower County. She has just written a book about the mysterious death of her mother, Cleo, and her brother, Son. She's back in town to brag, brag, and brag. And, she's brought a movie crew with her that's going to film her book. This woman is mean to everyone, but mostly Tilley. She goes out of her way to be mean to her.
I have to add this note: who calls their children Sister and Son? A strange family, that's who and that is exactly what Sister and her dad are.
Sarah Booth and Tilley are hired to find out "if" Sister's brother really killed himself and his mother that fateful night as written in Sister's book. This puts them on another course for danger and this one sometimes gets a little hard to see who's on who's side until all of the pieces of jigsaw are out of the box and put together.
Another great Sarah Booth Delaney read that was very humorous, entertaining, full of suspects, danger, and truly enjoyable. Oh, and then there's Jitty, she's upping the number of appearances. She NEEDS an heir! Ha!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for approving me and allowing me to read and review yet another great read in the Sarah Booth Delaney series.
In this book, there's a new character, Frangelica "Sister" McFee. She is the MOST obnoxious person I think that I have read that has come to Sunflower County. She has just written a book about the mysterious death of her mother, Cleo, and her brother, Son. She's back in town to brag, brag, and brag. And, she's brought a movie crew with her that's going to film her book. This woman is mean to everyone, but mostly Tilley. She goes out of her way to be mean to her.
I have to add this note: who calls their children Sister and Son? A strange family, that's who and that is exactly what Sister and her dad are.
Sarah Booth and Tilley are hired to find out "if" Sister's brother really killed himself and his mother that fateful night as written in Sister's book. This puts them on another course for danger and this one sometimes gets a little hard to see who's on who's side until all of the pieces of jigsaw are out of the box and put together.
Another great Sarah Booth Delaney read that was very humorous, entertaining, full of suspects, danger, and truly enjoyable. Oh, and then there's Jitty, she's upping the number of appearances. She NEEDS an heir! Ha!
Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Net Galley for approving me and allowing me to read and review yet another great read in the Sarah Booth Delaney series.
April 27, 2018
2.5 stars
Perhaps I simply wasn’t in the mood for this. Some of the characters were so over-the-top as to be caricatures, to the point I found them annoying rather than entertaining. Sarah Booth and Tinkie bumbled about and managed to attract a lot of danger without actually making much headway in their case. Jitty harangued Sarah Booth constantly about making an heir, in spy guises that still made little sense at the end of the book.
Sarah Booth’s love life has been a roller coaster over the course of the series. In this book, it looked like she might be ready to move on after her breakup with Graf.
All in all, not a strong entry in the series but a needed one for the continuity of the overall storyline. I’ll hope for better in the next one.
Perhaps I simply wasn’t in the mood for this. Some of the characters were so over-the-top as to be caricatures, to the point I found them annoying rather than entertaining. Sarah Booth and Tinkie bumbled about and managed to attract a lot of danger without actually making much headway in their case. Jitty harangued Sarah Booth constantly about making an heir, in spy guises that still made little sense at the end of the book.
Sarah Booth’s love life has been a roller coaster over the course of the series. In this book, it looked like she might be ready to move on after her breakup with Graf.
All in all, not a strong entry in the series but a needed one for the continuity of the overall storyline. I’ll hope for better in the next one.
January 2, 2018
Meet Sarah Booth Delaney and Tinkie Bellcase Richmond, Private Investigators and Southern Belles in Zinnia, Mississippi. Frangelica "Sister" McFee , a best selling novelist has returned to her hometown to see her latest book filmed. The book is about the death of her mother and the disappearance of her brother a few years ago. Hired by the film producers to find out what really happened, plunges Sarah Booth and Tinkie into a twisted web of lies, half-truths and someone who really doesn't want the truth to be known. This is the 17th book in the series and they only get better. The characters are engaging and realistic, the background is accurate and interesting and the murder plots a tangled weave that will keep you reading to the last page and impatient for the next book. A MUST READ for any serious Mystery or Cozy Fan who loves twisted plots and characters that you love.
July 18, 2017
Sarah Booth Delaney and Tinkie Bellcase Richmond of the Delaney Detective Agency are hired to investigate the deaths of Cleo and Daryl (Son) McFee by the producers of an upcoming movie of the event. When investigation of this incident points away for the accidental verdict, murder becomes a strong possibility. With the quaintness of Zinnia, Mississippi’s southern roots and the great characters providing background, the story unfolds to its exciting conclusion.
Find Sticks & Bones at the Westminster Public Library.
Find Sticks & Bones at the Westminster Public Library.
June 9, 2019
3.5 star. This book is not as good as any of the others in the series. I hope that the latest books will be back to the previous standard.
Five years ago, Cleo McFee and her son, imaginatively called Son, went off the flooded road and into the swollen Sunflower River. Cleo's body was found, but Son's was not and Sarah D and Tinkie were hired to find out what really happened. Impeding their search is the wealthy Colin McFee and Son's sister, Sister (nope, not a typo) , who is Tinkie's archenemy from their sorority days.
Sarah D and Coleman finally decide to do the dirty when Tinkie walks in on them.
Five years ago, Cleo McFee and her son, imaginatively called Son, went off the flooded road and into the swollen Sunflower River. Cleo's body was found, but Son's was not and Sarah D and Tinkie were hired to find out what really happened. Impeding their search is the wealthy Colin McFee and Son's sister, Sister (nope, not a typo) , who is Tinkie's archenemy from their sorority days.
Sarah D and Coleman finally decide to do the dirty when Tinkie walks in on them.
June 6, 2017
These books are just such a comfort read to me. In this one, Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to investigate the death of a young man several years in the past. A hollywood movie crew is in town to film a "true story" but they have questions about the truth and what is written in a non-fiction book.
We have all of our usual characters in this one, as well as the author of the book, the author's politician father, a couple of movie producers and some bonus bodyguards. Definitely a fun, light read.
We have all of our usual characters in this one, as well as the author of the book, the author's politician father, a couple of movie producers and some bonus bodyguards. Definitely a fun, light read.
June 9, 2018
In this book, Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired by a movie company to find out the truth about an event that happened five years earlier. Sister McFee has written a best seller about her mother's death which blames her brother, Son, for killing his mother because he wan an addict. The story is full of characters who can't seem to tell the truth about anything. Sarah Booth an Tinkie are hitting lots of dead ends but someone seems to feel they are finding out things as they are being targeted. The book was a quick easy read.
June 1, 2017
Wow, the family in this one is horrible. I can see why certain choices were mad and don't blame those that made them. The madness at the end when things started to come out was a train wreck!
Sarah Booth and Tinkie did a great job at getting to the bottom of things, even as things really heated up for them.
Sarah Booth and Tinkie did a great job at getting to the bottom of things, even as things really heated up for them.
May 31, 2017
Always great to read about Sarah Booth, Tinkie, Millie and the other characters in this series! This one was very hard to put down and deal with parental responsibilities! Suspenseful and full of twists and turns!
April 8, 2023
These books always have a crazy ending and I never know what’s gonna happen. This story was really funny, roasting other characters is one of my favorite things about the main character and her bestie. They are so real.
February 7, 2018
Different.
December 31, 2019
Another great read from this author!
October 22, 2021
The 200 of my yearly read challenge
April 10, 2017
#17 in the series and just as fresh as ever. Haines has used actors and film productions in her books before, but it's more of an excuse to have a bunch of new characters around for this story which focuses on a dysfunctional family.
The last couple of books have dealt some hard blows to Tinkie and Sarah Booth which they are starting to recover from. So, despite some murder and mayhem things are looking up which is nice.
There are several twists and turns in the story. I saw one coming but didn't quite figure who/how we would find out.
Jitty has been a pain to both Sarah Booth and me since early on. I don't see what the character has added to the story lines since the first book or two. I guess we're stuck with her, but I can only hope her appearances dwindle. That aside, I can't think of any series that has remained as interesting and non-repetitive as this one and I'm looking forward to #18.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The last couple of books have dealt some hard blows to Tinkie and Sarah Booth which they are starting to recover from. So, despite some murder and mayhem things are looking up which is nice.
There are several twists and turns in the story. I saw one coming but didn't quite figure who/how we would find out.
Jitty has been a pain to both Sarah Booth and me since early on. I don't see what the character has added to the story lines since the first book or two. I guess we're stuck with her, but I can only hope her appearances dwindle. That aside, I can't think of any series that has remained as interesting and non-repetitive as this one and I'm looking forward to #18.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
May 9, 2017
Carolyn Haines does it again! Sarah Booth, Tinkie and all the gang are back to solve another mystery in the Mississippi Delta. "Sticks and Bones", the seventeenth novel in this series, doesn't disappoint.
Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired by a Hollywood production company to determine what really caused the deaths of Son and Cleo McFee. Was it accidental? Murder? What happened to Son's body? These and other questions are answered as The Delaney Detective Agency deals with quirky characters, an ancestral spirit, Hollywood types, and a would be politico with a Putin obsession. A setting rich in beauty and history, an eccentric and wacky family, and humorous moments, not to mention a little romance, all add up to the perfect cozy mystery.
Each time I pick up the latest Sarah Booth novel, I become immersed in Sarah Booth's world and can't put it down. The ending will leave you wanting more. I can't wait for the next book.
If you love good cozy mysteries "Sticks and Bones" is for you! I highly recommend the entire series.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!! The only problem I had was knowing that the author cannot write her great books as quickly as I can read them.
Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired by a Hollywood production company to determine what really caused the deaths of Son and Cleo McFee. Was it accidental? Murder? What happened to Son's body? These and other questions are answered as The Delaney Detective Agency deals with quirky characters, an ancestral spirit, Hollywood types, and a would be politico with a Putin obsession. A setting rich in beauty and history, an eccentric and wacky family, and humorous moments, not to mention a little romance, all add up to the perfect cozy mystery.
Each time I pick up the latest Sarah Booth novel, I become immersed in Sarah Booth's world and can't put it down. The ending will leave you wanting more. I can't wait for the next book.
If you love good cozy mysteries "Sticks and Bones" is for you! I highly recommend the entire series.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you!! The only problem I had was knowing that the author cannot write her great books as quickly as I can read them.
January 14, 2018
I’m a long time reader of the Sarah Booth mysteries. 17 books later and things feel fresh and fun while I still experience the comfy coziness that is this series. I love Sarah Booth and all of the secondary characters, including Zinnia. I love that Sarah Booth is flawed and broody and stubborn. I love that she’s not the common clueless mystery book heroine. This series really holds a special place in my heart. Each time a new mystery comes out I can look forward to being completely engulfed by the setting and characters that have grown so familiar to me.
Sticks and Bones delivered but it also left me feeling a bit frustrated. The McFee family and the climax was a bit too outlandish for me. It didn’t hold enough action and I just couldn’t believe that the characters would act that way.
Haines also mentioned that nearly two years had passed since the beginning of the series... it’s been 17 books. That’s too far-stretched. I’ve always just read it as if each book was the next season and that’s still being generous in my opinion. Two years/17 books... that just doesn’t work.
The dialogue didn’t flow as nicely as it has in the past and there was just so much drama that wasn’t related to the mystery. I found myself constantly asking “are these grown up women really acting like that?” It’s starting to feel petty and trashy. On top of that, the Putin jokes/subplot is just stupid. I wish she would have left it out.
The book still worked for me but the mystery and plot isn’t what kept me turning the pages this time. It was my love of Sarah Booth and her friends and my familiarity with them.
Will I read the next one? Definitely. But I’ll be getting it at the library.
Would I still recommend this series? Absolutely. Sarah Booth is a wonderful, endearing, well-developed character, as is the town and her friends. These mysteries are so cozy, light and fun.
Sticks and Bones delivered but it also left me feeling a bit frustrated. The McFee family and the climax was a bit too outlandish for me. It didn’t hold enough action and I just couldn’t believe that the characters would act that way.
Haines also mentioned that nearly two years had passed since the beginning of the series... it’s been 17 books. That’s too far-stretched. I’ve always just read it as if each book was the next season and that’s still being generous in my opinion. Two years/17 books... that just doesn’t work.
The dialogue didn’t flow as nicely as it has in the past and there was just so much drama that wasn’t related to the mystery. I found myself constantly asking “are these grown up women really acting like that?” It’s starting to feel petty and trashy. On top of that, the Putin jokes/subplot is just stupid. I wish she would have left it out.
The book still worked for me but the mystery and plot isn’t what kept me turning the pages this time. It was my love of Sarah Booth and her friends and my familiarity with them.
Will I read the next one? Definitely. But I’ll be getting it at the library.
Would I still recommend this series? Absolutely. Sarah Booth is a wonderful, endearing, well-developed character, as is the town and her friends. These mysteries are so cozy, light and fun.
May 20, 2018
...and now I remember why I had stopped reading this series
Sarah Booth Delaney & her friend Tinky Belcourt are hired by a movie company to investigate the disappearance of Son & the death of his mother Cleo in a car accident that sent their vehicle into a flooded fast-moving river. The movie to be based on the biased book written by Son's sister, Sister McFee.
Neither Sister, her father Colin (who is running for senate on an anti-Putin platform), or Colin's new wife Susan have anything good to say about Son or Cleo. All three claim Son was drugged up when the car went over the embankment, but Son had been in rehab & sober for quite some time.
During all the commotion of filming, the author who had been helping Sister write all of her Bestselling books is murdered & Sister is allegedly kidnapped
Sister McFee is nasty to everyone, especially Tinky, whom Sister calls Stinky, the reason is something that is left unresolved and I found annoying.
Not only did I not like most of the characters, Son's bodily absence from the scene of the accident was harped on over & over & over, so that became annoying as well.
What I found to be most annoying of all is Sarah's "Haint" (spook), Jitty... Haines has Jitty constantly dressed in costumes, taking on the personalities of long dead people, and haranguing Sarah about her lack of sex-life, lack of husband/boy-friend, & lack of children. The Haint does nothing constructive, shows no caring, and talks in riddles. Seriously Jitty needs to be banished.
I didn't think the book was well written (I just wanted it over); there were too many side stories, loose ends, with a very pat & convenient ending and I was able to figure out who one of the murderers was.
Sarah Booth Delaney & her friend Tinky Belcourt are hired by a movie company to investigate the disappearance of Son & the death of his mother Cleo in a car accident that sent their vehicle into a flooded fast-moving river. The movie to be based on the biased book written by Son's sister, Sister McFee.
Neither Sister, her father Colin (who is running for senate on an anti-Putin platform), or Colin's new wife Susan have anything good to say about Son or Cleo. All three claim Son was drugged up when the car went over the embankment, but Son had been in rehab & sober for quite some time.
During all the commotion of filming, the author who had been helping Sister write all of her Bestselling books is murdered & Sister is allegedly kidnapped
Sister McFee is nasty to everyone, especially Tinky, whom Sister calls Stinky, the reason is something that is left unresolved and I found annoying.
Not only did I not like most of the characters, Son's bodily absence from the scene of the accident was harped on over & over & over, so that became annoying as well.
What I found to be most annoying of all is Sarah's "Haint" (spook), Jitty... Haines has Jitty constantly dressed in costumes, taking on the personalities of long dead people, and haranguing Sarah about her lack of sex-life, lack of husband/boy-friend, & lack of children. The Haint does nothing constructive, shows no caring, and talks in riddles. Seriously Jitty needs to be banished.
I didn't think the book was well written (I just wanted it over); there were too many side stories, loose ends, with a very pat & convenient ending and I was able to figure out who one of the murderers was.
June 11, 2017
I am a Sarah Booth Delaney fan and I have read all of the previous 16 books in this series. If you like a cozy whodunit, then this series by Haines is for you.
A one time resident has returned to Zinnia, MS and she is not a friend of Sarah Booth's partner Tinkie. Tinkie won't reveal what the issues are though and it is a fun subtext to this overall story, that is, for our two intrepid PIs to research the very person Tinkie dislikes so much! And then it happens, as it always does, there is murder and finger pointing and danger for our gals.
There is just enough new stuff in this book to make Zinnia alive again. Somehow, Haines keeps her stories from becoming stale or old hat and I love them for this reason.
We have the same cast of characters (which makes them feel like family members), Sarah Booth, her dog and cat; Tinkie, her best friend and partner along with her dog; Coleman, the Sheriff; Harold, the financier; Scott, the blues club owner; CeCe the transgender newspaper society writer and of course, Jitty, the haint of Delaney House. Ensemble casts are hard to write but wow, Haines has managed it with a deft hand.
If you like a fun read, then I recommend this to someone who wants to be taken away without much of any paranormal renderings (the only bit of paranormal in these is Jitty, the ghost who used to be a nanny a loooooog time ago and is there to harass and look out for Sarah Booth). The rest of the story is very modern day and fun. The adventures are fast and always unpredictable.
I hope this series goes on for FOREVER. Patiently waiting, Ms. Haines.
A one time resident has returned to Zinnia, MS and she is not a friend of Sarah Booth's partner Tinkie. Tinkie won't reveal what the issues are though and it is a fun subtext to this overall story, that is, for our two intrepid PIs to research the very person Tinkie dislikes so much! And then it happens, as it always does, there is murder and finger pointing and danger for our gals.
There is just enough new stuff in this book to make Zinnia alive again. Somehow, Haines keeps her stories from becoming stale or old hat and I love them for this reason.
We have the same cast of characters (which makes them feel like family members), Sarah Booth, her dog and cat; Tinkie, her best friend and partner along with her dog; Coleman, the Sheriff; Harold, the financier; Scott, the blues club owner; CeCe the transgender newspaper society writer and of course, Jitty, the haint of Delaney House. Ensemble casts are hard to write but wow, Haines has managed it with a deft hand.
If you like a fun read, then I recommend this to someone who wants to be taken away without much of any paranormal renderings (the only bit of paranormal in these is Jitty, the ghost who used to be a nanny a loooooog time ago and is there to harass and look out for Sarah Booth). The rest of the story is very modern day and fun. The adventures are fast and always unpredictable.
I hope this series goes on for FOREVER. Patiently waiting, Ms. Haines.
July 2, 2017
I have read a number of these mysteries set deep in the Mississippi Delta with a protagonist who might remind you of Reese Witherspoon in "Legally Blond," including a menagerie of pets, living in Dahlia House, her ancestral home, surrounded by wonderful and intriguing friends, and pursued by several eligible men. Also living in Dahlia House is Jitty, a 'haint who nannied one of Sarah's relatives during the Civil War and appears to Sarah in disguises throughout the novel to drop clues to the mystery or just urge her to get on with her love life.
Sarah Booth Delaney runs a private detective agency partnering with a dear friend, Tinkie Bellcase Richmond, with whom she has shared close calls in previous novels. Hired by a movie director and producer to solve the mystery surrounding an accident five years before that killed a mother and son puts them in harm's way again as they travel all over the Delta investigating, inciting the antagonists who do not want the truth to emerge. One of the antagonists might remind you of Donald J. Trump and the other, the meanest girl you ever knew in the seventh grade. Both are such caricatures it was hard to engage with them, but then again, this is a breezy read, a bit of an interlude for me.
Sarah Booth Delaney runs a private detective agency partnering with a dear friend, Tinkie Bellcase Richmond, with whom she has shared close calls in previous novels. Hired by a movie director and producer to solve the mystery surrounding an accident five years before that killed a mother and son puts them in harm's way again as they travel all over the Delta investigating, inciting the antagonists who do not want the truth to emerge. One of the antagonists might remind you of Donald J. Trump and the other, the meanest girl you ever knew in the seventh grade. Both are such caricatures it was hard to engage with them, but then again, this is a breezy read, a bit of an interlude for me.
June 16, 2017
Carolyn Haines has yet another hit in this fantastic series! In this 17th book of the series, I experienced every emotion possible. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat! By the time I finished the book, I hated for it to end. This was true for this book. In Sticks and Bones, a Hollywood producer and his wife hire the Delaney Detective Agency to find the truth in a mysterious death featuring a politician's wife and son. Sarah and Tinkie are forced into some dangerous situations while looking for clues all while Sarah takes a hard look at her romantic interests and tries to mend her broken heart.
When I finish a book featuring Sarah Booth, I'm excited to see how it ends, but depressed for it to be over. Some other authors you may read who feature a reoccurring character sometimes become too predictable, but not Carolyn Haines. Each book in this series is new and fresh. Also, if you've not read some of the other books in this series she will give you enough information to keep up with the characters and their back stories without giving too much away. If you want to go back and read one of her books out of order, you may.
When I finish a book featuring Sarah Booth, I'm excited to see how it ends, but depressed for it to be over. Some other authors you may read who feature a reoccurring character sometimes become too predictable, but not Carolyn Haines. Each book in this series is new and fresh. Also, if you've not read some of the other books in this series she will give you enough information to keep up with the characters and their back stories without giving too much away. If you want to go back and read one of her books out of order, you may.
May 22, 2017
This is a great book; this is the seventeenth book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series written by Carolyn Haines. Private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends are celebrating New Year's Eve at the party of the year, a smashing Winter Garden party at the Prince Albert Hotel. It's a dazzling success...until Frangelica "Sister" McFee walks through the door. Sarah Booth knew Sister in college, before Sister became a bestselling author and moved to New York, and fame and fortune don't seem to have tempered her arrogance and cruelty. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.
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