Customer Reviews

Hallowed Bones (Large Print)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Southern Belle and P.I. Sarah Booth Delaney along with her best friend, Tinkie Richamond, has finally opened her own detective agency. For her first case they are called upon by a nun looking to help healer, Doreen Mallory. Doreen has been arrested for killing her deformed infant daughter by giving sleeping pills. Doreen swears she did not do it and from all accounts loved her baby very much. Three other suspects are the men who might be the baby's father. Sarah Booth and Tinkie set out to prove Doreen's innocence, and unleash an avalanche of secrets in the process.

If you are looking for gritty realism, this will not be the book for you. It's a charming, atmospheric tale set in the south with a cast of likable and somewhat stereotypical characters. The plot was not overly complex, but it was a light and enjoyable read while it lasted.

Tough, modern Southern woman, Sarah Booth Delaney doesn't let her hearbreak over Sheriff Coleman Peters slow her down as she sets out to find the murderer of a faith healer's handicapped child. Setting aside her own problems, Sarah Booth and her assistant, Tinkie (and friends) travel to the Big Easy to unravel the murder mystery. Set in the cool autumn months of late October, its a refreshing, easy read for a hot summer day!

Carolyn Haines once again takes her readers on yet another ride through the wonderful Mississippi Delta and shows us there is more to being a dectective than solving a "who done it." Sarah Booth's colorful entourage of friends, CeCe and Tinkie assist Sarah as she searches the French Quarter of New Orleans for the murderer of a spiritual healer's handicapped child. In addition to solvng other people's problems Sarah has to deal with her own stress and desire in the form of Sheriff Coleman Peters (her unrequited love interest) and Hamilton Garrett (the man who just won't stay in Zinnia).

A great story with lots of twists and turns. I can't wait for the next mystery in Sarah Booth Delaney's life. Will she go with Hamilton Garrett or will she stay in Zinnia? Will Coleman finally come to his senses? Whatever the outcome, it's always a comfort to know that Sarah Booth will route out the badguy and save the day!

In the latest installment of this series, Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired by a nun to prove that a faith healer didn't murder her handicapped illegitimate daughter. Not as simple as it looks. The healer Doreen, is the daughter of a deceased religous fanatic, who lived in Zinnia until her death in a fire 12 years before. There are many intertwining plot lines, much like Sarah Booth's love life. Coleman is still sort of in the picture, with his manipulative wife pulling his strings and Hamilton returns with the intention of taking Sarah Booth back to Paris with him. Aunt Jitty doesn't play as big a part in this one as the others, but CeCe and Tinkie really make up the difference. I hope the next one comes out quickly.

I've been a huge fan of Carolyn Haines since the beginning of this delightful series, but I'm starting to lose patience with her main character. Part of it may be because I knew the "who-dun-it" and "why" fairly early on in this book, and therefore I needed the main characters to keep me interested. Also, the lack of the author's usual humor allowed me to see more of the main character's weaknesses, which may have tainted my opinion. Sarah Booth Delaney is a good friend and a good detective, but she also is a miserable woman wallowing in the past. She keeps her history wrapped around her like a cloak to avoid doing anything productive with her life. She might as well go lie down in the family plot and get it over with; the past is where she is most comfortable.

Still, one sour experience will not stop me from anticipating the next Mississippi Delta novel.

Carolyn Haines is a wonderful writer keeping true to the demographics of the south. She keeps you hooked through the whole book wondering who the killer is. I can't put her books down. I pass them on to my daughter and daughter-in-law who are avid readers and they both give her a thumbs up. Hope you decide to read just one of her books. You'll become an instant fan!

I love this book and the series and the main characters are quite unique to say the least. If you like a bit of the supernatural and ghost hauntings, this is one book (and the series) you should purchase.

My books were in perfect shape and came extremely fast I look forward to doing business with you again!!!!!!!!

Please, Carolyn, let us know what you think about religion. I didn't quite get it in this book. Also, please give us your take on morality. Having your main character hop from bed to bed while really lusting after a married man whose wife is supposedly pregnant (I don't believe it for a moment.) My guess is that will be revealed in some later book as a ploy to get the husband to stick with her instead of running off with Sarah Booth.

The ex-slave ghost is insulting and annoying. The incest in the book is beyond belief. The idea that a U.S. senator could be married to a transsexual and the public not know about it is ridiculous.

There is no mystery to this series. Worse yet, the main character falls into the answer and does very little to figure out the crime. Seems like the writer wants a vehicle to explore sexuality rather than to be a mystery writer.

Want to read some good mystery series with a strong female character? Try Erlene Fowler's Benni series. Want a funny mystery series with likeable and believable characters? Try Donna Andrews' Meg Langslow series.

I bought this series (through Bones to Pick) on the strength of the first two books - it has gone downhill. I will read the next book (as I already purchased it) but no more after. I just can't like the characters with the exception of Tinkie. I'll guess that the author will eventually destroy her character too. It certainly looks like her marriage will be gone - the author is painting her husband Oscar with a black brush starting in this book.

Great characters, a fantastic plot and a writer who knows how to draw both perfectly. Loved every minute of this book. Can't wait for the next Sarah Booth adventure.