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Sarah Booth Delaney #18
Charmed Bones
The next charming mystery from Carolyn Haines featuring spunky southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney.
Private detective Sarah Booth Delaney doesn't quite know what to expect when she's urgently called to a school board meeting for Sunflower County, Mississippi. But she certainly wasn't expecting this: three Wiccan sisters are in the midst of a showdown with the Board of Education. They want to open a Wiccan school in Zinnia, Mississippi, and the conservative town vows to do anything necessary to stop them from opening their school. Sarah Booth and her partner in the detective agency, Tinkie Bellcase, are quickly enlisted to investigate the Wiccan sisters' real reasons for coming to town. Sarah Booth learns the sisters have rented a manor house and land from a reclusive local artist, Trevor Musgrove. But the case takes on a far more serious tone when Trevor Musgrove is found dead, and all evidence seems to point directly at the witch sisters.
Private detective Sarah Booth Delaney doesn't quite know what to expect when she's urgently called to a school board meeting for Sunflower County, Mississippi. But she certainly wasn't expecting this: three Wiccan sisters are in the midst of a showdown with the Board of Education. They want to open a Wiccan school in Zinnia, Mississippi, and the conservative town vows to do anything necessary to stop them from opening their school. Sarah Booth and her partner in the detective agency, Tinkie Bellcase, are quickly enlisted to investigate the Wiccan sisters' real reasons for coming to town. Sarah Booth learns the sisters have rented a manor house and land from a reclusive local artist, Trevor Musgrove. But the case takes on a far more serious tone when Trevor Musgrove is found dead, and all evidence seems to point directly at the witch sisters.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published May 15, 2018
About the author
Carolyn Haines
117 books1,619 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 189 reviews
May 2, 2018
Charmed Bones by Carolyn Haines is the first Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery I have ever read, and first I have read from this author. I was drawn to it for the cover and I could not resist the plot. I am a fan of paranormal cozies and love ones with witches in them, this mystery was different than the cozies I normally read. While this was a very good read it had more sexual tension than I normally see in cozies, just letting you know if you are someone who prefers more of a tame cozy. I very much enjoyed the idea of a Wiccan Boarding School, and the fact that main characters Sarah and her partner Tinkie are PI's with no nonsense attitudes and who feel the fear and do things anyway. They have a complex relationship and a strong friendship. But they also have strong and stubborn ways about them that make them quite likeable. This book had lots of elements I enjoyed, especially a live in ghost who manifests as movie characters throughout the book providing a bit of comic relief. This book may not be for everyone but I could not put it down. This one is May 15th and is published by Minotaur Books.
May 4, 2018
Charmed Bones by Carolyn Haines is a stellar addition to the series.
Sarah Booth of the Delaney Detective Agency, along with her partner Tinkie, are hired to locate a missing hooligan.
No one is to upset when Corey Fontana goes missing except for his mother.
The investigation leads the detectives to an old dairy farm, which is soon becoming a Wiccan Boarding School, owned and operated by 3 sisters, with strong abilities.
The small town is against this type of school and soon enough, Sarah Booth and Tinkie find themselves caught up in a rather odd mystery.
I was hooked on the book from the beginning and was kept guessing until the end. The story was well written and I enjoyed the plot and the mystery. I am looking forward to what will happen next to the cast of colorful characters in this fun series.
I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
Sarah Booth of the Delaney Detective Agency, along with her partner Tinkie, are hired to locate a missing hooligan.
No one is to upset when Corey Fontana goes missing except for his mother.
The investigation leads the detectives to an old dairy farm, which is soon becoming a Wiccan Boarding School, owned and operated by 3 sisters, with strong abilities.
The small town is against this type of school and soon enough, Sarah Booth and Tinkie find themselves caught up in a rather odd mystery.
I was hooked on the book from the beginning and was kept guessing until the end. The story was well written and I enjoyed the plot and the mystery. I am looking forward to what will happen next to the cast of colorful characters in this fun series.
I volunteered to read and review a copy of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
June 3, 2018
Charmed Bones (Sarah Booth Delaney #18) by Carolyn Haines.
Sarah Booth is at home in Dahlia House at Zinnia, Mississippi. She's been requested to find Corey Fontana by his mother Kitten. Although Corey has the reputation of a spoiled rotten juvenile delinquent who seems to get away with any & all his more than mischievous deeds...he is still considered a minor. So S.B.D. decides to take the case along with the $10,000 retainer which she needs to make necessary repairs to Dahlia House.
Sarah Boothe no sooner informs her partner Tinkie(in their Delaney Detective Agancy) of this case then a larger dilemma erupts in Zinnia County. It seems that Faith, Hope and Charity Harrington are are witches that are planning on opening a Wiccan School. The Fontana's are working the towns folks into an uproar over this situation. Their motives seem clear enough. Bob Fontana was planning on building a resort complete with a gold course on that same property the witches are now living at. Soon Sarah booth finds herself and Tinkie burning their detective candle at both ends. How much longer can they hold on before it burns them?
Sheriff Coleman and Sarah Booth are the item they were meant to be. They finally have a plan that's working for their lives together(so far). They also find themselves working together to get to the bottom of the diabolical schemes going on. Schemes that have gone way to far and need to be stopped while there's still time.
This is my 18th book in this series and for good reason. Sarah Booth Delaney is #1. Her relationship with Tinkie as her bff and partner. Both are believable characters that I like. Jitty her resident ghost who cares for Sarah Booth's future and shows up in the most hilarious garb. Love it.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Dahlia House. Dahlia House is as important as any other character in this series. The generations of Sarah Booth's family that lived there and the memories experienced in that home are as much a part of her life now as they were in the past. That house and all the Delaney's that past before have molded S.B.D. into the woman she's become.
Excellent book, excellent series, craftily written by a gifted author. highly recommended.
Sarah Booth is at home in Dahlia House at Zinnia, Mississippi. She's been requested to find Corey Fontana by his mother Kitten. Although Corey has the reputation of a spoiled rotten juvenile delinquent who seems to get away with any & all his more than mischievous deeds...he is still considered a minor. So S.B.D. decides to take the case along with the $10,000 retainer which she needs to make necessary repairs to Dahlia House.
Sarah Boothe no sooner informs her partner Tinkie(in their Delaney Detective Agancy) of this case then a larger dilemma erupts in Zinnia County. It seems that Faith, Hope and Charity Harrington are are witches that are planning on opening a Wiccan School. The Fontana's are working the towns folks into an uproar over this situation. Their motives seem clear enough. Bob Fontana was planning on building a resort complete with a gold course on that same property the witches are now living at. Soon Sarah booth finds herself and Tinkie burning their detective candle at both ends. How much longer can they hold on before it burns them?
Sheriff Coleman and Sarah Booth are the item they were meant to be. They finally have a plan that's working for their lives together(so far). They also find themselves working together to get to the bottom of the diabolical schemes going on. Schemes that have gone way to far and need to be stopped while there's still time.
This is my 18th book in this series and for good reason. Sarah Booth Delaney is #1. Her relationship with Tinkie as her bff and partner. Both are believable characters that I like. Jitty her resident ghost who cares for Sarah Booth's future and shows up in the most hilarious garb. Love it.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention Dahlia House. Dahlia House is as important as any other character in this series. The generations of Sarah Booth's family that lived there and the memories experienced in that home are as much a part of her life now as they were in the past. That house and all the Delaney's that past before have molded S.B.D. into the woman she's become.
Excellent book, excellent series, craftily written by a gifted author. highly recommended.
October 11, 2020
I was looking for Halloween themed audiobooks and thought this would be a good one based on the witchy cover. I don’t think I’ve ever read this series before, but it wasn’t hard starting at book 18. I was a bit disappointed to realize the book takes place in January and is about witches building a school. Interesting mystery but I don’t love the romanticizing of the town where it’s set in Mississippi.
February 11, 2019
Charmed Bones
Ramblings:
This novel is an absolute must for Sarah Booth Delaney fans! Sarah’s relationship with the Sheriff takes a turn, Tinkie’ll make an important life decision, and new characters are introduced. Note: These characters are staying.
Summary:
Sunflower County is in an uproar! Its new residents are self-professed Wiccans whose arrival has ruffled more than a few feathers. Their plan to open a Wiccan boarding school has all 👀 turning. So it’s no surprise the Harrington sisters are implicated when a local teen goes missing.
Sarah Booth Delaney will need to keep her wits about her in this new missing persons case. Residents are disappearing, locals are protesting, and Pluto, Sarah’s cat, is acting creepy. With the odds stacked against her, this’ll be one of Delaney’s toughest cases yet!
Review:
Charmed Bones is the 18th installment in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series, written by author Carolyn Haines. It’s a supernatural whodunit with plenty of twists and turns, multiple suspects, and a whole lotta fun.
The author has me awaiting installments like a viewer fixated on soap operas. Despite being rather new to the series- I want to read/own all the novels. Did I mention we’re now at 20 (and counting)?!
Favorite scene: Hope Harrington in a trance had me spellbound.
I want more: Cece Dee Falcon.
You’ll like this novel if you:
#1 Enjoy mysteries with supernatural twists
#2 Are fond of spooky mansions with secret passageways
#3 Love stories about witches, warlocks, and/or ghosts
#4 Read detective stories with women as leads
#5 Watched the movie Practical Magic (the movie has two 🧙🏻♀️🧙🏻♀️ this novel has three 🧙🏻♀️🧙🏻♀️🧙🏻♀️)
Previous: Sticks and Bones (Book #17)
Next: A Gift of Bones (Book #19)
Upcoming: Game of Bones (Book #20)
Disclosure:
I purchased the hardcover edition via Amazon. The author did not request a review. Included are my honest reflections, thoughts, and ramblings.
Did Not Finish
May 15, 2018I gave up at 49%. The story can't decide if it's a gothic mystery, a cozy mystery, women's fiction or a romance. I also remembered why I stopped reading this series - Jitty the ghost is annoying and the extreme emphasis on Sarah Booth getting married and pregnant. The latter was highly obnoxious earlier in the series and hasn't eased up 18 books into the series. There's also been darn little forward motion in her love life.
The mystery had potential and was the reason I read as far as I did. If only Haines could have figured out whether she was writing a cozy or gothic mystery.
The mystery had potential and was the reason I read as far as I did. If only Haines could have figured out whether she was writing a cozy or gothic mystery.
June 22, 2018
Three witches move into town to open a Wiccan school, the same property has other people wanting it for development. A young man goes missing and Delaney detective agency is hired to find him. His mother is sure the witches are to blame. The young man is found but the witches dancing under the moon, love spells and murder has the town in an uproar.
June 1, 2018
Zinnia, Mississippi has three Wiccan sisters wanting to open a school at a hotly desired property. While our favorite characters are dealing with this change and the problems it is causing, a silent plot slowly unfurls. It is hard to keep track of the villains and the victims involved in this befuddling tale.
Quotes I liked from this book: Coleman pushed my hair back from my [Sarah Booth Delaney’s] face. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for such a long time. And it was well worth the wait.”…
“I can’t imagine living in Sunflower County without your friendship, Coleman. Whatever else happens, we can never become enemies.” says Sarah Booth Delaney.
Find Charmed Bones at the Westminster Public Library.
Quotes I liked from this book: Coleman pushed my hair back from my [Sarah Booth Delaney’s] face. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for such a long time. And it was well worth the wait.”…
“I can’t imagine living in Sunflower County without your friendship, Coleman. Whatever else happens, we can never become enemies.” says Sarah Booth Delaney.
Find Charmed Bones at the Westminster Public Library.
May 6, 2018
3.5 stars
Things never are dull in the small town of Zinnia, Mississippi, especially when PIs Sarah Booth and Tinkie have a case to solve. This time, the conservative town is aflutter when a trio of witch sisters wants to open a Wiccan school for children, and various parties want to hire the Delaney Detective Agency either to shut down the effort or dig up dirt on the major players. When the owner of the property on which the school is to be established mysteriously dies, Sarah Booth and Tinkie’s case becomes more dangerous and puzzling.
The usual cast of characters, from Sarah Booth and Tinkie to journalist friend Cici to pet “investigators” Sweetie Pie and Pluto, all contribute to the action. Personal stories, like Tinkie wanting a baby and Sarah Booth’s love life, complicate the investigation. It seems a bit odd that Sarah Booth, who communicates regularly with a ghost and who believes in her friend Madame Tomeeka’s gift of prophecy, has a hard time accepting even the possibility of witch magic being real when the witch sisters promise to help Tinkie with her infertility. But she is determined that her friend should not again be hurt. After some frustration, there is a bit of progress in Sarah Booth’s relationship with Coleman.
All in all, a fun and satisfying addition to the series. The story also introduces some intriguing new characters to Zinnia from whom I hope to see more appearances. So is the witch magic real or not...
Things never are dull in the small town of Zinnia, Mississippi, especially when PIs Sarah Booth and Tinkie have a case to solve. This time, the conservative town is aflutter when a trio of witch sisters wants to open a Wiccan school for children, and various parties want to hire the Delaney Detective Agency either to shut down the effort or dig up dirt on the major players. When the owner of the property on which the school is to be established mysteriously dies, Sarah Booth and Tinkie’s case becomes more dangerous and puzzling.
The usual cast of characters, from Sarah Booth and Tinkie to journalist friend Cici to pet “investigators” Sweetie Pie and Pluto, all contribute to the action. Personal stories, like Tinkie wanting a baby and Sarah Booth’s love life, complicate the investigation. It seems a bit odd that Sarah Booth, who communicates regularly with a ghost and who believes in her friend Madame Tomeeka’s gift of prophecy, has a hard time accepting even the possibility of witch magic being real when the witch sisters promise to help Tinkie with her infertility. But she is determined that her friend should not again be hurt. After some frustration, there is a bit of progress in Sarah Booth’s relationship with Coleman.
All in all, a fun and satisfying addition to the series. The story also introduces some intriguing new characters to Zinnia from whom I hope to see more appearances. So is the witch magic real or not...
July 27, 2018
This one fell flat for me. To me it felt like Sarah Booth was a different personality. The way she talked to Jitty and Tinky was so out of character. At times she was flat out mean to each of them and neither was doing anything different.
The action at the potential school was interesting. I liked that the sisters just wanted to have a place for kids to learn, but people wouldn't let them. Of course things weren't quite as it seemed. I loved the trick that was pulled off at the end.
The action at the potential school was interesting. I liked that the sisters just wanted to have a place for kids to learn, but people wouldn't let them. Of course things weren't quite as it seemed. I loved the trick that was pulled off at the end.
January 10, 2021
The 18th series is about 3witches. Sarah Booth and her partner Tinkie are given money to find out about them. The witches are making Tinkie believe she can get pregnant. But Sarah Booth does not believe it. And does not want Tinkie to get deeply hurt by what the witches feed her. The truth is are the 3 witches really witches and if so are they good or evil
July 1, 2018
Charmed Bones is simply not Carolyn Haines best work. The first three quarters of the book is tedious and confusing, leaving me not caring if Sarah Booth solved the case or not. What's funny is I think Sara Booth feels the same way! One moment she's a skeptic, the next she's on board then she's back to skepticism. Not one familiar character behaved the way we've come to love them. Not one. It must have been witchcraft (she says with an eye roll) and even the characters particular to the story line were all over the place - literally and figuratively.
I'm beginning to think there is a dearth of proof-readers in the big publishing houses and all their editors have gone on strike: again, there are stupid and glaring errors in Charmed Bones, not easily missed spelling errors but the names of major characters mixed up and who end being in the wrong place and worse, two places at the same time... on the same page. These people are not serving their authors well. While a lesser known author might have a less experienced editor or proofreader, it is inexcusable for well known, popular authors like Carolyn Haines and Nancy Thayer. Get your act together, publishers.
3 stars C+
I'm beginning to think there is a dearth of proof-readers in the big publishing houses and all their editors have gone on strike: again, there are stupid and glaring errors in Charmed Bones, not easily missed spelling errors but the names of major characters mixed up and who end being in the wrong place and worse, two places at the same time... on the same page. These people are not serving their authors well. While a lesser known author might have a less experienced editor or proofreader, it is inexcusable for well known, popular authors like Carolyn Haines and Nancy Thayer. Get your act together, publishers.
3 stars C+
May 14, 2018
Charmed Bones by Carolyn Haines is the 18th book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series, and I loved it!! I love the whole series, please keep them coming. Not only is this book really funny at times, it can also be emotional because I feel like I know Sarah Booth and the other main characters in the book. As always Charmed Bones is a great mystery with romance thrown in, 3 men want Sarah Booth, has she finally made her choice? There are twists and turns around every corner. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries with a little bit of everything, I strongly recommend this book/series.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
April 29, 2018
This is the latest edition in the Sarah Booth Delaney series. A group of wic can sisters have come to Zinnia and are planning to start a Wiccan school. Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to investigate why the sisters are really in town. The sisters are using an old dairy for their school with a recluse artist living on the third floor. The artist ends up dead from an unknown cause. This book had everything. The mystery was well done. I was kept guessing until the end and was a little creeped out towards the end of the book. I love Sarah Booth and Coleman's relationship. I think they are a good match for each other. I hope to see some of the characters that were introduced in this book come back in future books. Can't wait for the next book.
May 15, 2018
Southern paranormal cozy mystery with ghosts, witches and a murder or two.
Hope, Faith and Charity plan to open a Wiccan school and white witches’ potion shop in rural Sunflower County Mississippi. Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner in the Delaney Detective Agency, Tinkie Richmond, are paid to dig up some dirt on the three newcomers. The witches cast a spell to make Tinkie pregnant and Sarah Booth hook up with the hunky Sheriff Coleman. Someone is killed. Was the victim scared to death by the mysterious force in the apple orchard?
Charmed Bones is #18 in the series but it reads fine as a standalone. Reading the synopsis above, the plot sounds overblown but it is totally believable while immersed in the book. I found the quirky Southern characters were the best part of Charmed Bones. By the end of the book, all seemed like genuine friends that I wanted to spend more time with. Now I just have to decide to continue the series from here or start at #1. This entry deserves 4 stars!
Thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Hope, Faith and Charity plan to open a Wiccan school and white witches’ potion shop in rural Sunflower County Mississippi. Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner in the Delaney Detective Agency, Tinkie Richmond, are paid to dig up some dirt on the three newcomers. The witches cast a spell to make Tinkie pregnant and Sarah Booth hook up with the hunky Sheriff Coleman. Someone is killed. Was the victim scared to death by the mysterious force in the apple orchard?
Charmed Bones is #18 in the series but it reads fine as a standalone. Reading the synopsis above, the plot sounds overblown but it is totally believable while immersed in the book. I found the quirky Southern characters were the best part of Charmed Bones. By the end of the book, all seemed like genuine friends that I wanted to spend more time with. Now I just have to decide to continue the series from here or start at #1. This entry deserves 4 stars!
Thanks to Minotaur and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
March 25, 2020
Not a fan of the repetitive plot points. After 18 books, I really don't care to keep rereading the same side drama. They either need to have babies or accept that they won't. Also, I can't deal with the romantic ploys. Sarah and Coleman tell each other they love each other... and 1 chapter later Sarah is second guessing whether sleeping with Coleman was meaningful to him or just a fun romp in the hay. Ugh.
March 11, 2019
Witches have arrived in Sunflower County to open a Wiccan School. Soon Sarah Booth and Tinkie are involved when two murders happen on the school property and they are paid to investigate by people who want the witches gone. Another rousing and delightful read with fantastic characters and twisted murder plots. This is a book and series that delivers on all counts!
October 7, 2021
This was a great book. I love a light detective novel, and thats exactly what I found. It made me laugh, and kept me guessing right until the end. I also love the way it showed how people feel about paeganism, and how not everything unknown is bad.
April 3, 2018
Carolyn Haines never disappoints with her Sarah Booth Delaney series, and I have to admit that I anxiously await every summer for her newest book in the series to be released and then do a little dance for joy! I've read every book in the series (this is book 18), and I think Charmed Bones is my favorite one yet!
I was immediately drawn into the plot about three sexy, sister witches, Faith, Hope, and Charity (you have to love their names), who arrives in Sunflower County to set up a Wiccan boarding school, but I also happen to love stories that have a supernatural element to them! Also, I've always been fascinated by Wiccanism even though I was brought up Baptist, so I found the sisters entirely fascinating, which just made the story that much more of a compelling read!
Growing up in a small southern town, one that is pretty similar to Zinnia, I can recall from childhood being told that anyone who was a witch or practiced "witchcraft" was in league with the devil and practicing satan worship, and Haines cleverly intersperses this same type of closed-minded mentality regarding witches and witchcraft in her newest book since Zinnia is a conservative, small southern town that has a hard time accepting anything that isn't the "norm' (their idea of it, anyway)!
Certainly, witches in any small southern town are bound to set tongues wagging and lead to all kind of mayhem, which is exactly what happens in Charmed Bones! But not to worry because Sarah Booth and Tinky are quickly on the case to see if the sisters are good witches or bad witches...I just had to say that since I immediately thought of the Wizard of Oz, which Sarah Booth just happens to be watching in the book!! :)
Sarah Booth and Tinkie have their hands full this time around since not only do the townspeople protest Faith, Hope, and Charity's plans to open a Wiccan boarding school and live in their town, but the Anti-Satan League gets involved as well by demonstrating outside the sister's manor home...where they get an eyeful of the witches dancing seemingly naked under the moonlight! Talk about more drama and talk, and that only gives a nosy tabloid reporter from out town more gossip and lies to spread about the sisters!
If dealing with the protesters and witch haters weren't enough, the detective duo has to track down a missing teenage boy that everyone thinks the sisters have kidnapped and investigate some very suspicious murders that seem to point back to the sisters! At the same time, Tinkie and Sarah Booth are dealing with their own personal issues, and the witches may (or may not) be giving them a hand achieving their heart's desires. I, for one, cannot wait to see what happens with these two!
In Charmed Bones, Sarah Booth and Tinkie (and the rest of regular cast of characters including men, hounds, cats, horses, and Jitty, Sarah Booth's personal haint who plays dress-up this time around as famous tv show and movie witches) are at the top of their game! Although this is 18th in the series, and I highly recommend reading every book in the series, this book can definitely be read as a standalone since Haines has written it in such a way that it easily connects for anyone who hasn't read the series.
Charmed Bones was absolutely excellent with its suspense-filled story of murder, romance, spells, love potions, poisons, charms galore, and it had thrilling twists at the end that cannot be missed! I truly love Haines writing style and this cast of characters; I feel like after 18 books that I know each one personally. And Haines' writing style is witty, smart, and full of southern charm...just like her characters! Now I'm sitting here wondering how I can possibly wait until book 19 is published...4.5 Stars!
**Thank you, NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Carolyn Haines for an ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.**
I was immediately drawn into the plot about three sexy, sister witches, Faith, Hope, and Charity (you have to love their names), who arrives in Sunflower County to set up a Wiccan boarding school, but I also happen to love stories that have a supernatural element to them! Also, I've always been fascinated by Wiccanism even though I was brought up Baptist, so I found the sisters entirely fascinating, which just made the story that much more of a compelling read!
Growing up in a small southern town, one that is pretty similar to Zinnia, I can recall from childhood being told that anyone who was a witch or practiced "witchcraft" was in league with the devil and practicing satan worship, and Haines cleverly intersperses this same type of closed-minded mentality regarding witches and witchcraft in her newest book since Zinnia is a conservative, small southern town that has a hard time accepting anything that isn't the "norm' (their idea of it, anyway)!
Certainly, witches in any small southern town are bound to set tongues wagging and lead to all kind of mayhem, which is exactly what happens in Charmed Bones! But not to worry because Sarah Booth and Tinky are quickly on the case to see if the sisters are good witches or bad witches...I just had to say that since I immediately thought of the Wizard of Oz, which Sarah Booth just happens to be watching in the book!! :)
Sarah Booth and Tinkie have their hands full this time around since not only do the townspeople protest Faith, Hope, and Charity's plans to open a Wiccan boarding school and live in their town, but the Anti-Satan League gets involved as well by demonstrating outside the sister's manor home...where they get an eyeful of the witches dancing seemingly naked under the moonlight! Talk about more drama and talk, and that only gives a nosy tabloid reporter from out town more gossip and lies to spread about the sisters!
If dealing with the protesters and witch haters weren't enough, the detective duo has to track down a missing teenage boy that everyone thinks the sisters have kidnapped and investigate some very suspicious murders that seem to point back to the sisters! At the same time, Tinkie and Sarah Booth are dealing with their own personal issues, and the witches may (or may not) be giving them a hand achieving their heart's desires. I, for one, cannot wait to see what happens with these two!
In Charmed Bones, Sarah Booth and Tinkie (and the rest of regular cast of characters including men, hounds, cats, horses, and Jitty, Sarah Booth's personal haint who plays dress-up this time around as famous tv show and movie witches) are at the top of their game! Although this is 18th in the series, and I highly recommend reading every book in the series, this book can definitely be read as a standalone since Haines has written it in such a way that it easily connects for anyone who hasn't read the series.
Charmed Bones was absolutely excellent with its suspense-filled story of murder, romance, spells, love potions, poisons, charms galore, and it had thrilling twists at the end that cannot be missed! I truly love Haines writing style and this cast of characters; I feel like after 18 books that I know each one personally. And Haines' writing style is witty, smart, and full of southern charm...just like her characters! Now I'm sitting here wondering how I can possibly wait until book 19 is published...4.5 Stars!
**Thank you, NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Carolyn Haines for an ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.**
May 21, 2018
Some light, fun reading to offset the not-so-light nonfiction that I am currently reading.
April 26, 2022
This series is so much fun!
August 25, 2022
This was a hard one.
May 23, 2018
Twists and turns made this installment interesting. There were plenty of “convenient” circumstances to move the plot along. But they were easily overlooked because I enjoy the characters so much.
May 17, 2018
Charmed Bones may be 18th in this series, but it's as fresh and charming as the first. In fact, this latest adventure of Sarah Booth Delaney and her personal haint, Jitty, is one of my favorites. A trio of Wiccan practitioners, otherwise known as witches, have come to the Mississippi and Delta to open a school and capitalize on using school vouchers. As you might imagine, the small town of Zinnia does not welcome the newcomers with the proverbial Southern hospitality. Add in a dead body or two, and you've got cauldron full of suspects and eccentric characters ready for your reading pleasure.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2018
Overall, I enjoyed this 18th installment of the Sarah Booth Delaney series, but I did find it much more macabre than the others. I know that Carolyn Haines writes other, creepier stories than the Sarah Booth series and this tendency toward the "dark side" percolated through much of "Charmed Bones": as another reviewer noted, it seems as though Haines couldn't decide whether this was to be a cozy, a Gothic novel, or a horror story. Also, like others, I'm finding that the whole "Delaney womb" fixation of Jitty's is becoming rather tiresome. I hope the next book in this series is a return to the earlier, "cozier" mysteries of the series. I really enjoy the lyricism and dream-like quality of Haines' writing and look forward to the next adventures of Sarah Booth Delaney.
April 26, 2018
Not sure why the publisher is choosing a May release date. With the extra supernatural elements to this story, a Sept. or October release seems more appropriate. Besides the usual ghost, Jitty, we have witches and magic in this one.
The mystery aspect of Charmed was good and unexpectedly complicated, however, it didn't really get going until about 65%. I'm also really tired of Jitty and her role. In this story, Sarah Boothe seemed a little mentally challenged. For some reason she starts confusing Jitty scenes with reality which made no sense, since she'd never had a problem before.
The pregnancy obsession has just gotten out of hand in this series. For 17 books, we've heard Jitty obsess about Sarah Boothe's womb. Sarah Boothe is now talking about it a lot, Tinkie has her own issues with pregnancy that is a big part of this story. It was just too much and distracted from the mystery for me.
Strong mystery which starts late, but too much pregnancy/relationship crap for me.
I got my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
The mystery aspect of Charmed was good and unexpectedly complicated, however, it didn't really get going until about 65%. I'm also really tired of Jitty and her role. In this story, Sarah Boothe seemed a little mentally challenged. For some reason she starts confusing Jitty scenes with reality which made no sense, since she'd never had a problem before.
The pregnancy obsession has just gotten out of hand in this series. For 17 books, we've heard Jitty obsess about Sarah Boothe's womb. Sarah Boothe is now talking about it a lot, Tinkie has her own issues with pregnancy that is a big part of this story. It was just too much and distracted from the mystery for me.
Strong mystery which starts late, but too much pregnancy/relationship crap for me.
I got my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 8, 2018
This is such a great series. I love the settings and the cast of characters. Many of the regulars are in this installment. The book was it's usual enjoyable read but I did have a few issues with the story. First, I had a hard time with Sarah Booth's reluctance to believe in witches. This is a woman who lives with a ghost...really witchcraft is less believable? Second, the baby storyline with Tinkie is getting a bit tired. And for the mystery plotline, there was a lot of stuff going on and even now after finishing I'm not sure I totally get who did what and why. There were way too many players and different things going on leading into the current murders, it just felt all jumbled up. I was glad to see some progress with Sarah Booth and Coleman and I love the writing style of Ms. Haines. I enjoy this series and don't see myself quitting it anytime soon.
June 22, 2019
Some really strange twists in this one and Sarah acts like she doesn't know her house ghost when she transforms. What's with that?
Like some other reviewers, I'm way past tired of Jitty and her pregnancy/sex obsession. And in this installment, Tinkies pregnancy obsession takes the whole subject overboard. The subjects of sex, romance and relationships have almost taken over and left the mystery and strong women as minor plots.
I really hope this series can get back to where it was without the romance plots taking over. I was sick of Graf and his silly name. I don't want to get tired of Coleman as well.
Like some other reviewers, I'm way past tired of Jitty and her pregnancy/sex obsession. And in this installment, Tinkies pregnancy obsession takes the whole subject overboard. The subjects of sex, romance and relationships have almost taken over and left the mystery and strong women as minor plots.
I really hope this series can get back to where it was without the romance plots taking over. I was sick of Graf and his silly name. I don't want to get tired of Coleman as well.
June 10, 2019
Sarah Booth and Tinkie get involved with witches and wicked land developers.
June 10, 2018
All Sarah Booth Delaney wanted to do was sit at home and watch her favorite movie for the upteenth time, “The Wizard of Oz.” We can all dream but dreams rarely come true so when her good friend and partner in the Delaney Detective Agency, Tinkie Richmond, called and told Sarah Booth to meet her at the Sunflower County Board of Education meeting Sarah Booth hightailed it out of the house and left her movie for later.
The Board of Education meeting was in high gear. Three sisters, Faith, Hope, and Charity Harrington, were going to open a new boarding school in Sunflower County, Mississippi. Not a problem really except that the sisters were witches and they and their school were not welcomed in the community. But the school was already approved and no one was going to stop the sisters from opening their new educational institute. Oh, but people were going to try.
Kitten Fontana hired Sarah Booth and Tinkie to investigate the witches. The woman believed that the sisters kidnapped her son, Corey, and she needed Sarah Booth to look into that. But Sarah Booth and Tinkie didn’t put it past Kitten to lie about her son’s abduction just to cause more problems. Kitten and her husband, Bob, also wanted the land where the school was going to be so they could open their own lucrative business. But did they want the land so much that they’d kill for it because suddenly people were being murdered right and left.
The thought of a wiccan school brought in lots of outsiders to Sunflower County including a gossip journalist who also happens to be friends with Kitten. And others from wiccan community were visiting too and both sides are at odds with each other.
And what is happening to Sarah Booth’s cat, Pluto? Is he suddenly King of the Cats with powers of his own? Some strange things are going on in Sunflower County. Even Tinkie and Sarah Booth have hopes that some good magic will help them in their personal lives.
Lots of magic, both good and bad, are at play here and all Sarah Booth and Tinkie can do is to hope that, with their help, good overcomes evil.
“Charmed Bones” is author Carolyn Haines’ 18th installment of her fabulous Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery Series. I’ve read every book and this one is the best in the series. I think I might have thought that book 17 was the best in the series too but that only proves that each book gets better and better.
There’s lots of magical things going on here: witches, ghosts, murder, lots of seemingly magical cats, incantations, spells, hidden tunnels, history, books, love, babies, movies, friendship - you name it it’s here.
Nothing so scary that will keep you up at night unless you have to keep reading to finish a chapter during the early morning hours.
What I like best about author Carolyn Haines is not just all her terrific series but Ms. Haines is very knowledgeable. She knows history, books, music, movies and includes all of these in every novel she writes. You always learn something new when you read something she’s written.
The Sarah Booth Delaney books are on the top of my favorite series. I cannot urge you enough to read them. Even though the 18 novels are considered standalones it would be best to start with the first book and read them in order.
The Board of Education meeting was in high gear. Three sisters, Faith, Hope, and Charity Harrington, were going to open a new boarding school in Sunflower County, Mississippi. Not a problem really except that the sisters were witches and they and their school were not welcomed in the community. But the school was already approved and no one was going to stop the sisters from opening their new educational institute. Oh, but people were going to try.
Kitten Fontana hired Sarah Booth and Tinkie to investigate the witches. The woman believed that the sisters kidnapped her son, Corey, and she needed Sarah Booth to look into that. But Sarah Booth and Tinkie didn’t put it past Kitten to lie about her son’s abduction just to cause more problems. Kitten and her husband, Bob, also wanted the land where the school was going to be so they could open their own lucrative business. But did they want the land so much that they’d kill for it because suddenly people were being murdered right and left.
The thought of a wiccan school brought in lots of outsiders to Sunflower County including a gossip journalist who also happens to be friends with Kitten. And others from wiccan community were visiting too and both sides are at odds with each other.
And what is happening to Sarah Booth’s cat, Pluto? Is he suddenly King of the Cats with powers of his own? Some strange things are going on in Sunflower County. Even Tinkie and Sarah Booth have hopes that some good magic will help them in their personal lives.
Lots of magic, both good and bad, are at play here and all Sarah Booth and Tinkie can do is to hope that, with their help, good overcomes evil.
“Charmed Bones” is author Carolyn Haines’ 18th installment of her fabulous Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery Series. I’ve read every book and this one is the best in the series. I think I might have thought that book 17 was the best in the series too but that only proves that each book gets better and better.
There’s lots of magical things going on here: witches, ghosts, murder, lots of seemingly magical cats, incantations, spells, hidden tunnels, history, books, love, babies, movies, friendship - you name it it’s here.
Nothing so scary that will keep you up at night unless you have to keep reading to finish a chapter during the early morning hours.
What I like best about author Carolyn Haines is not just all her terrific series but Ms. Haines is very knowledgeable. She knows history, books, music, movies and includes all of these in every novel she writes. You always learn something new when you read something she’s written.
The Sarah Booth Delaney books are on the top of my favorite series. I cannot urge you enough to read them. Even though the 18 novels are considered standalones it would be best to start with the first book and read them in order.
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