Bones of Holly
by Carolyn Haines
Series: Sarah Booth Delaney #25
Series Rating:
Published by Minotaur Books on October 11, 2022
Genres: Private Investigator Paranormal Southern Holiday Mystery
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
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Also in this series: Sticks and Bones, Charmed Bones, Clacking Bones, A Gift of Bones , Game of Bones, The Devil's Bones, Enchanted Bones, A Garland of Bones, Independent Bones, Lady of Bones, Tell-Tale Bones
Bones of Holly is the next novel from Carolyn Haines in the series that Kirkus Reviews characterizes as “Stephanie Plum meets the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” featuring sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney.
Sarah Booth and Tinkie, along with baby Maylin, are in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, for Christmas this year as judges for the annual library tree decorating contest.
The other two judges are writers Sandra O’Day and Janet Malone. They’re bestselling Mississippi authors but bitter competitors. In fact, the feud between them is the stuff of legends. For years, they’ve brawled, their sales skyrocketing with each cat fight. Sandra’s most recent true crime book documents the 1920s rum-running era of Al Capone, who built a mansion in BSL and a distribution network for his liquor. Janet’s book, scheduled to be published in January, is a fictional account of the same material—which only heightens their bitter rivalry.Sarah Booth and Tinkie are shopping with little Maylin when they see Sandra and Janet outside a bookstore, fur flying, and when Sandra vanishes from her own gala later that night, suspicion turns to Janet. Janet accuses Sandra of attempting to manipulate the media by a fake disappearance, but is it a stunt, or is something more sinister at play?
Sarah Booth and Tinkie will have to dive deep into the history of Bay St. Louis, and even Al Capone himself, to get to the bottom of this case. But the trail, in fact, leads them back to several prominent families still residing in the area. Families who may not want their secrets known…
Bones of Holly by Carolyn Haines is a magnificent mystery with many moving parts and lessons to be learned.
Will Sarah Booth and Tinkie find Sandra and Daryl before it’s too late?
It’s Christmastime, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are judging a Christmas tree decorating contest in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi as a fundraiser for the library. Coleman, Oscar, and Maylin are also there for a few fun and relaxing days.
The other judges for the contest are two best-selling local authors, who seem to be frienemies. These ladies go out of their way to show the other up. They end up in a fight whenever they are together. Their behavior is atrocious. Yet, these public displays of animosity sell lots of books. Sandra and her assistant, Daryl, disappear from a party for the contest at Sandra’s mansion. No ransom note, nothing left but some blood in the mudroom. Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired by Janet, the other author, who is the prime suspect in the disappearances.
There are so many things going on in this small tourist town. Sarah Booth and Tinkie don’t have many clues, but they have a stalker, a peeping tom, and an animal hater, to name a few.
Maylin steals the show whenever she is around. But her nanny Pauline has a lot to learn about being part of the Richmond family. Like learning to keep a straight face when her boss is fibbing.
I love to see Sarah Booth and Coleman so happy. They are perfect for each other. It’s fun to see Sarah Booth blissfully happy. Like trying to take a selfie for next year’s Christmas card in the middle of the night. I would love to see that pic. Maybe Harold has found his partner. If so, that leaves Millie to find her person.
Jitty’s Clues to help/annoy Sarah Booth
Five Stars
This was the perfect Christmas mystery. No murder, just people getting caught doing bad things and paying for the consequences. My rating for Bones of Holly by Carolyn Haines is five stars. She always has me looking into history after reading one of her books. I think they perfectly blend history, paranormal, mystery, romance, friendship, family, and a fictional story.
I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series. I know there are a lot of them, but the books are so worth the time.
Other Books in the Series
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Bones of Holly by Carolyn Haines.
Until the next time,
About Carolyn Haines
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