Bones of Holly

Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries, Book 25

By: Carolyn Haines

Narrated by: Kate Forbes

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…

©2022 Carolyn Haines (P)2022 Recorded Books

When is the next Sarah Booth book?

Loved the book. Kept me from doing house work but that’s ok. Ready for Sarah Booth and Coleman to marry and have a child.

Carolyn Haines does it again!

I adore Sarah Booth and her friends and pets. Carolyn Haines never disappoints in yet another mystery for Sarah and Tinkie to solve.

Bones of Holly

Kate Forbes is an excellent narrator. The story is well written and the Sarah Booth Delaney series is one of my favorites.

Interesting story

A little convoluted but interesting story nevertheless. I really enjoy this series. I hope it continues.

Good story line

Love catching up with the characters from Zinnia, MS. The story was very good as well as the action. And the writing is so good, I can picture mayling.

so-so

I usually like these books, but this one was a bit flat. and the ending was pretty lame. Wish the narrator would learn genuine local pronunciations (e.g., Biloxi, Pass Christian, Thibodaux). Or just pick one and stick with it.

too long

No real motive. No real crime,but it took forever exploring too many obvious dead ends.

Not as good

Disappointed in the story and plot line. Very weak. The end was anti climactic and boring.