Customer Reviews

Bones To Pick (Southern Belle Mysteries)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After her failure to attain her dream of becoming an actress, Sarah Booth Delaney returned to her hometown of Zinnia, Mississippi to try and save her childhood home Dahlia House. She succeeds after stealing her future partner's dog and collecting the fee. Now the business is doing will and the business is gaining recognition and rich clients. Except for her love life, Sara Booth's life is perfect even if the household haunt Jitty, a servant of a former Delaney occupant, nags her to get married and have children.

Her latest case is to find out who killed Quentin McGee, a writer who dished out the dirt on the rich and powerful in her tell-all book. The police have arrested Allison Tatum whose shoeprint were found at the murder scene and witnesses reported a lover's quarrel believe the victim and the suspect shortly before she died. The problem in this case is that there are so many other people who wanted Quentin dead because she laid bare their secrets for the whole world to know. As with every case involving Sarah Booth, she winds up in danger but this time her partner is also in the hands of a dangerous serial killer.

Carolyn Haines is a writer that always delivers a charming crime caper that is a combination delightful and humorous regional mystery inside a foreboding southern gothic. Readers will enjoy this terrific tale whether they solve the case or not because BONES TO PICK is a beguiling tale. A fast paced plot, a creative storyline and excellent drawn characters make this cozy something out of the ordinary.

Harriet Klausner

When I started "Them Bones", I had to run out and purchase the rest of Ms. Haines series. I absolutely love her style of writing and her ability to keep the reader glued to the storyline is without question. She is on a par with no other. I'm eagerly anticipating "Wishbones". The only flaw -and one I've noticed with the last three authors I've read - is that the previous book's "killer" in a succession of books that carry over the storyline into the next book is given away or told in the book you're currently reading. If you've read the books in order, there's no problem. If you're new to an author and you pick up a book out of sequence, you're going to find out who did what to whom in the last story and have no reason to read it! That was my only disappointment in this author as well as as a few others I've recently read. Mentioning a prior book is fine but why blow the chance for a sale of a book or ruin the read for a possible new fan of the author by giving too much away in a current book from the one before it?! Is this the new trend of authors? I really enjoy Ms. Haines and that I'm reading her books in order. I hope these authors read some of these reviews so they'll know what NOT to divulge. It will ensure keeping loyal readers and it won't turn away new ones who don't have to read the author's other books because they'll already know the outcome of a previous book because the author gave away who dunnit! As already stated, not everyone can always read a series in chronological order. Other than that one negative observation, this reader is looking forward to and anticipating any and all new books by Ms. Haines. I love the personal storyline of Sarah Booth Delaney and I can always count on the author to keep me guessing to the very end of the book as to who the culprit is. Keep those "twists" and "turns" in the narrative coming!!

Sarah Booth Delaney's mama "raised her right," but she also taught her to think for herself. It's hard for Sarah Booth to conform to Southern Belle standards, but when a finishing school graduate is horribly murdered (Quentin McGee had just launched a scandalous tell-all book before her death), Sarah Booth has to resort to conservative clothing and panty hose. Sunflower County (Mississippi) Sheriff Coleman Peters is on leave, the acting sheriff arrests Quentin's lesbian lover for murder, and the suspect's brother hires Sarah Booth to prove her innocence. This is one of the Delta Darling's most dangerous cases, but, in my humble opinion, one of her most rewarding. Sarah Booth is my kind of gal!

I LOVE TO READ CAROLYN HAINES BOOKS.....I JUST HAPPENED UP ON ONE BY ACCIDENT, SINCE I AM FROM MISSISSIPPI, I LOVE TO READ BOOKS BY MISSISSIPPI AUTHORS.....LOVED THIS BOOK, MY DAUGHTER LOVES THEM TOO

#6 of the Sarah Booth series- This was an interesting mystery. This is the first book of this series I have read. It wasn't bad. The main characters are Tinkie and Sarah Booth. They are PI's and in this book they are trying to prove innocence. Allison has been accused of murdering her lesbian lover, Quinten. Tinkie and Sarah are trying to find the real killer. The mystery is unraveled along with the personal lives of Tinkie and Sarah. The writing style is witty and fun with southern flair. I enjoyed it and I have already ordered the 1st in the series.

Bones to Pick is indeed a charming and fun mystery. It's not literary, it's not heavy. In fact, the end is slightly dragged down by all the thematic messages the characters start spouting.

Still...this Haines mystery does not disappoint in providing a madcap investigation by two unlikely partners (and their hounds) with a bit of complicated love interest and an opinionated ghost thrown in.

Any reader would be wise, however, to start at the beginning of the series, and not to take details too seriously (such as a patient having just had major thoracic surgery getting up from his bed to break up a fight.) Quick fun read with characters I've come to enjoy.

Haines did not fail in her continuing series of the southern belle detectives. I can't wait till the next one.

I love all the bones books. The characters are great and I've only guessed who done it before the ending from one book. The others kept me guessing to the end. I just wish she would make up her mind and hook up with someone before she turns into an old maid!

I absolutely love these Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries. I'm reading the last one released right now. Sarah Booth is a Mississippi gal complete with an old plantation home, a ghost she converses with regularly, a detective business with her best friend, who's married, rich and spoiled, a married sheriff that she loves, but won't touch, and mysteries galore to solve. I love the humor thrown in here and there. I will definitely reread every one again and again.

Some people compare her to Janet Evanovich but these are much funnier and much more imaginative the supernatural part of these books are funny and insightful.