Spunky southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney tackles a string of strange accidents while celebrating the holiday season in Carolyn Haines’s cozy A Garland of Bones Sarah Booth has traded in hosting this Christmas season for a road trip with her besties. Each little Delta town has a special Christmas activity, and Sarah Booth’s bff and detective partner, Tinkie, has arranged to rent a … Tinkie, has arranged to rent a limo for the gang and drive to Columbus, MS, to stay in a B&B. Visions of Christmas shopping, parade floats, and romantic rendezvous are already dancing in their heads.
But Christmas cheer soon turns to Christmas fear when, at one event after another, people keep getting hurt. Christmas karaoke gets ugly when one singer’s microphone gives her an electric shock. A party during a historic home tour ends with a fall down the stairs for one of Columbus’s most disreputable “players.” And when the woman who hires Sarah Booth to find the villain behind the so-called accidents is nearly killed with an arrow during a holiday mumming, Sarah Booth knows something more sinister is at work.
The Christmas bells are ringing hauntingly in Columbus this year, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie–with a little help from hunky Sheriff Coleman Peters, of course–are determined to catch the wrong-doers and ensure they receive nothing but coal in their stockings.
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Tinkie’s last Christmas before her baby is born is a gift of a week trip to Columbia across the Delta for her Zinnia friends. For a solid week the group will stay at a lovely B & B and participate in the many Christmas activities offered throughout the town. A perfect celebratory week is marred by horrible people and rude behavior. Tinkie and Sarah Booth unhappily take on a case that uses much time and energy on these unpleasant people.
With twists and turns that are hard to predict and nearly impossible to follow, wonderful characters and incredible traditions mix together, leading the reader on a breathless adventure! Impossible to stop reading, this book captured the spirit of the holiday, true friendship, love, and loyalty. Not to be missed, this was a different kind of entry into the series, and one of the author’s finest.
A Christmas trip with Sarah and friends can only be full of humor and mystery. This is the 22nd book in the series and it’s an entertaining read. Lighthearted with plenty of Southern wit, you can’t help but be entertained. This was just a fun cozy.
Miss Hanes continues to be creative and inventive with her plot and her characters. This new book in the series will not disappoint.
Sarah Booth is one of those unforgettable characters in a cozy series. As a PI, she has a way of stepping into trouble, even when she isn’t working a case. This Christmas, she is determined to just enough herself with no cases and time with her man. Of course, things don’t work out that way; they never do. A wonderful holiday trip with Tinkie and all of their friends turns into a who-done-it fit for the season.
The characters in this series, and in particular in A Garland of Bones, keep readers smiling and merry. There are some detailed descriptions of Columbus, MS, which is a lovely southern town and the home of Tennesse Williams. I love that this mystery is set in a location with so much history. Having a PI or two running around all over town during Christmas brings to mind happy holidays of the past, filled with sights, sounds, and inspiration for decorating or travel.
Throughout the book, there are plenty of secrets that aren’t so secret, suspects, and motives. Sarah and Tinkie may not be familiar with Columbus’ social circles, but they know how small towns work. Gossip filters through quickly, and everyone has a story to share. It doesn’t take long for the PI’s to find out the latest tidbits of who did what to whom or who is sleeping with whose spouse. Christmas doesn’t seem to stop the scuttlebutt regarding the victim(s) activities, real or imagined. It takes Sarah Booth and Tinkie several days, but they find the culprit, and justice is done, in more ways than one.
I am happy to recommend A Garland of Bones this Christmas holiday to readers who love southern colloquialisms; PI’s who may not be as professional as they think they are, are easy to love, laugh with, and always know how to solve a crime with fanfare.
Fun characters, enjoyable storyline, intriguing mystery, and some zaniness. Sara Both and Tinkie are ready and willing to do whatever necessary to solve a mystery.
Great book and series!
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor.
A Garland of Bones by Carolyn Haines is the twenty second in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series. This was the first one I have read but, it will not be the last.
Tinkie has arranged a vacation for Sarah Booth and their friends, from the limo, the B&B, and all the activities.at the Christmas celebration in Columbus, Mississippi. Sarah Booth is looking forward for some quiet time with her Sheriff boyfriend, Coleman.
They get settled in the B&B and hit the town. While at a bar for lunch and karaoke, one of the locals gets shocked on the mike and it didn’t appear to be an accident to Sarah Booth. When more locals start having “accidents” , Tinkie and Sarah Booth’s vacation comes to an end when they get hired to find out who is behind everything including a murder.
There are plenty of suspects that have you guessing to the end, There are plot twists galore. I love the setting with all the Christmas celebrations. Haines will have you wanting to go to Columbus! You even get romance and humor.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an honest review.
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“A Garland of Bones” by Carolyn Haines the 22nd instalment in the “A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery” series. I really enjoy this series.
I enjoyed taking a trip to Columbus, MS, to stay in a B&B with Sarah and the gang. Sarah Booth is a strong and intelligent protagonist and all the characters are fully developed. I loved that Sarah Booth and her friends took a trip away before the christmas holidays. We were able to get a better glimpse into the personal dynamics of each relationship. The inclusion of her haint (Dahlia House’s ghost Jetty) always brings a chuckle as i can imagine what Sarah looks like talking to herself.
There were plenty of twists and turns and lots of suspects to choose from to keep you intrigued. I found this book to be a real page-turner, suspenseful, read that had me second guessing up till the end.
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.
Sarah Booth can never seen to get away from a “who done it”, not even by traveling to Columbus, MS for a holiday weekend with the girls. Also don’t forget that she always gets “her man who done it”. Carolyn Haines could not write a bad book on her worst day. Her books are always entertaining and enjoyable to read and Sarah Booth, Tinkie, & Jitty make a great cast of characters (don’t forget the men folk!).
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Being a private eye Sarah Booth’s life is frequently filled with adventure but this week is going to be different. Sarah Booth and a group of friends take a holiday trip to enjoy all things Christmas and also on the agenda is some quality one-on-one time with her boyfriend Coleman. However, a rash of dirty tricks has Clarissa, a woman of questionable character, hiring Sarah Booth and her partner Tinkie to find out who is behind the pranks before someone gets killed.
This series is always entertaining with southern flair and a diverse cast of characters. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.
What a great book. I really enjoyed hanging with the good folks from Zinnia. They would be an awesome group to go on a fun vacation. They met some very interesting people in Columbus and of course they just made their stay more exiting. If Tinkie gets tired of being a PI, she could always be a vacation planner. Who wouldn’t love Jitty? She is a hoot! Have fun hanging with the guys with their mysterious missions and the girls while they do what they do best. I can’t wait to hang with them again. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.
Christmas is just around the corner and Sarah Booth Delaney is looking forward to pulling out the family decorations and decking the halls. Well, not so fast – her friend Tinkie has made plans for her friends to have a Christmas road trip to Columbus, MS and a stay at a. nice B&B. Shopping, good food and fun with friends, that’s the plan. Things don’t go as planned, however upon their arrival. Accidents start happening and soon enough the Delaney Detective Agency has a case. Sarah Booth should have listened to Jitty and stayed home.
There aren’t many series I say really should be read in order but this is one of them. Sarah Booth Delaney and Jitty have an interesting relationship. Add to that the rest of the friends – Tinkie, CeCe, Coleman, Jaytee, Oscar, Harold and Millie – and it takes awhile to get to know all of the connections between them. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy this series so much. It’s like catching up with friends. The mystery is always engaging and leaves me a happy reader.
My thanks to the publisher, Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
Sarah Booth and friends are off to a pre-Christmas week in Columbus, MS. As usual Tinkie has planned this excursion with detailed activities. This is, of course, her last Christmas before the baby. Somehow, amidst all the activities Sarah Booth and Tinkie end up with a job. The “in crowd” seems to be swing but someone is out to get them.
This is one of my favorite series and this book does not disappoint. A great Christmas addition to your reading.
A Garland of Bones is book 22 in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series by Carolyn Haines.
This is the first book I’ve read in this series and it was easy to read as a stand-alone book.
Tinkie plans pre-Christmas trip to Columbus, MIssissippi for Sarah Booth and their friends from Zinnia. While enjoying their holiday, Tinkie and Sarah Booth end up taking a complex case with a lot of distasteful suspects.
Jitty is something else. I definitely want to read the previous books to get more of that history.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another wonderful book in this series. A fun cozy thriller for Christmas. This time Sarah and her best buds decide to go on a road trip for Christmas instead of usual , and stop along the way to all the small towns to enjoy Christmas activities there but alas it was not to be a peaceful time had by all! when people keep getting hurt at each stop they must join together and discover what is happening and who is doing the mischief and put a stop to it. A fun fast read very enjoyable.
mississippi, romantic, friendship, malice, infidelity, investigation
A trip across the state with her fellow PI and their respective others and a couple of friends turns from a holiday fun into a working vacation when a series of potential mishaps prompts a haughty local snob to hire the pair to investigate. A very interesting Southern mystery.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.
by prolific author Carolyn Haines. Although this is a lengthy series, it is not necessary to have read the entire series as each story can stand alone, and does so, with brief mentions of characters or threads so the new reader feels right at home.
In this story, Tinkie Bellcase Richmond has planned a wonderful holiday getaway for her closest friend as they travel a few hours away from their homes in Zinnia, Mississippi, to Columbus, where they will partake in the local holiday celebrations. Tinkie has booked the whole Bisonnette House B & B for their group.
At one of the first outings the group attends a local lady has a close call with an errant microphone and suffers quite a shock. At another event soon after another local has her brand new Cadillac convertible destroyed. At the third event, a different local takes an unexplained tumble down a flight of stairs. It is at this point local socialite Clarissa Olson hires Sarah Booth and Tinkie to figure out who is committing these crimes. Even though none have been deadly, the injuries have been substantial and Clarissa wants to catch the culprit before one outward strike is deadly, especially if she is the ultimate target. As the self proclaimed queen of the loose swinger group, Clarissa has good reason to expect she will be.
This is another wonderfully woven mystery by seasoned mystery writer Carolyn Haines. Each mystery she writes has multiple twists and turns and this one is no different. Once again, Ms. Haines has penned a twisty-turny mystery that will keep the reader guessing until the very end and then leave her readers awaiting the next edition! I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!
A Garland of Bones by Carolyn Haines is a wonderful pre-Christmas get-away for Sarah Booth and the gang until cheating and revenge call The Delaney Detective Agency to work on vacation.
Will Sarah Booth and Tinkie figure out what is going on before someone gets really hurt?
Tinkie has planned a fun and relaxing trip for Sarah Booth and all of their friends to enjoy the season in Columbus, Mississippi. Although the Bed and Breakfast is lovely and the owner is a spectacular hostess, some of the townspeople aren’t as nice as the rest. Some mean tricks have been happening and along with some massive property damage. Then, when the meanest women in town hire Sarah Booth and Tinkie to figure out who is behind it, they are now involved in the weirdness.
Sarah Booth and Tinkie
Sarah Booth is happy, like really happy. She and Coleman are doing good. If Sarah Booth isn’t careful, people who see her talking to Jitty will think Sarah Booth is crazy. It may be Christmas time, but Jitty is enjoying scaring the bejesus out of Sarah Booth. However, she tries to warn and give Sarah Booth clues to solve the mystery, not scare her. That seems to be a perk. I so love the back and forth between Sarah Booth and Jitty. The two of them are hilarious.
Tinkie is still expecting her bundle of joy. Tinkie’s child will not want for anything, and with all of the people around, this child will have so much love. So, pregnancy has made Tinkie much more protective of everyone, especially her friends. Someone help the person that messes with one of them.
Tinkie and Sarah Booth’s relationship is fabulous, and they are such great friends; it’s as though they are sisters of the heart. I loved the way the whole gang was present in this installment.
Five Stars
This is my favorite series. I love joining Sarah Booth and her friends in their adventures; it’s like hanging out with my friends. My rating for A Garland of Bones is five stars. I highly recommend it. Ms. Haines mixes mystery, paranormal, comic situations, family, and friendship brilliantly. This is one of those must-read series.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of A Garland of Bones by Carolyn Haines.
Until the next time,
~Jen
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A Garland of Bones by Carolyn Haines is an entertaining light read about a group of friends, including private detectives, Sarah Booth and her friend, Tinkie, who were on a week’s vacation in a town near their home with their boyfriends and husbands. Sarah Booth was looking forward to this time away with Coleman, the love of her life. They were staying in a lovely B&B; in fact they had taken it over for the week. Tinkie had it planned down to the moment. This was to be her last childless vacation and she intended to make the most of it. This wonderful town had its own issues, of course, not the least of which appeared to be a group of cheating spouses. Of course, the detectives got involved to the tune of $15,000. Sarah Booth bought Coleman a saddle. She had to do this job now that the money was spent. The problem was past simple cheating and people were getting hurt. She would not give up her vacation. They would do both.
This is such a cute series. It is a cozy despite the fact that Sarah Booth and Twinkie are professionals. Murder is really not part of what they do on a daily basis. The clues are all there, but random. The author takes us on a merry journey, figuring this one out. It is well plotted and despite the number of characters, easy to follow. The vacation was fun as well. There is implied sex, but it is not overt so no worries, there. Clean as a whistle, except for murder. Sarah Booth, Twinkie, and Coleman are the only ones of the vacationers that get much page time. Oh, and a fun part of the story is Jitty, Sarah Booth’s resident ghost who gets great glee out of appearing from nowhere in the guise of a movie character. She gives clues, which is all she is able to do, but often they are so obscure as to be of no use at all. She is fun, though. Good book if you love cozies or other light reading. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of A Garland of Bones by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #agarlandofbones