We love a cozy mystery! This was my first Sarah and Twinkie story and I cannot wait to read more! Super cute; felt like I was reading a hallmark movie script! I can’t wait to pick up more to try!

What a fun cozy mystery! Sarah and Tinkie are on the hunt to find the missing daughter and heiress to the Redd family fortune. As private investigators, they have access to the cold case files, but as they uncover more evidence, they don't realize the danger they could be in!

Love this whole series and this book was no different. I loved the whole story and book. The characters were wonderful as always.

The Sarah Booth Delaney series isn't completely new to me as I reviewed book 16 in the series, Rock-a-Bye Bones, back in 2020. I wondered why I hadn't tried to pick up other books in the series like I have done with MC Beaton's series (I also discovered her series when there were a whole lot of books already published). I wasn't too far into Tell-Tale Bones, which is book 26, when I remembered why I might not have sought out the other books in the series.

While it is definitely a cozy mystery, there are also many Southern fiction aspects in the novel and I'm not a big Southern fiction fan.

Yet, I really like the characters. I read my review of Rock-a-Bye Bones and saw that I had trouble connecting with the characters, but I didn't feel that with this book. I don't really remember much about the previous book I read, but I didn't have any trouble figuring out the characters and their relationships. The only character problem I had was that two female characters had T names and I would sometimes briefly confuse them. Sarah Booth kind of reminded me of Meg from Donna Andrews's Meg Langslow series.

I enjoyed the mystery. It is nice to read a cozy mystery that isn't necessarily a murder mystery. The case Sarah Booth is investigating is for a missing person - a woman who has been missing for nearly 7 years.

I loved all the literary references. I don't remember Rock-a-Bye Bones having so many references. So I'm not sure if this is typical of the series or not, but it was fun how various classics served as clues.

I enjoyed Tell-Tale Bones more than I did the previous book so if you have tried this series but didn't keep up with it then you might want to give it another go.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/02/2-mysteries-to-cozy-up-with.html

Reading a Carolyn Haines novel is like coming home and staying warm and cozy for a weekend. If you are looking for a cozy mystery that is just a little bit scary and also quite funny with great descriptions of loveable characters, Carolyn Haines is for you! This is yet another wonderful book in the series. Can’t recommend it enough.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This was just a wonderful book to read and it was just easy to lose yourself in the story. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

I loved this book, it gave me everything I wanted as a reader and more. I am a sucker for a cover and fell in love with the storyline and characters. Well written and kept me engaged :)

I have been provided with a review copy of Tell-Tale Bones from NetGalley for an impartial review. This book was just so easy to get lost in. I completely got lost in the story and I just loved getting to see these new characters come together. I just absolutely love this story and I just didn’t want to put it down. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

Private Investigator Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie are in Sheriff Coleman Peters's office, consulting Coleman about cold cases, when Elisa Redd storms in with a case of her own. She wants Coleman to reopen the investigation of her missing daughter, Lydia Redd Maxell, the heiress to a large fortune who disappeared along with her friend Bethany nearly seven years ago. Lydia and Bethany were rumored to be working as human rights organizers abroad, but Elisa suspects Lydia’s problems might have stemmed closer to home. Now Lydia’s husband, Tope, is set to inherit the fortune, and Elisa believes he’s behind the disappearance. Such a great series that just continues to get better with every new story! Highly recommend the entire series!

This is the 26th book in the Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries, set in MS.
Sarah Booth is a private detective and owns a detective agency with her best friend Tinkie. In this book they’re searching for a friend’s missing daughter, whose husband wants her declared dead so he can control her extensive fortune.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Such a wonderful addition to the Sarah Booth Delaney series. I can't get enough of Jinny and her antics and the mystery was so amazingly woven into the story. I highly recommend this book and series

I absolutely love the Sarah Boothe Delaney series! It is my favorite cozy mystery series! I adore all the cast of characters that appear in each story, and I also love the fact that the characters are so diverse and progressive. This was such a good story, based on The Tell-Tale Heart, but with all the fun of Sarah Booth's adventures. I cannot get enough of this series and I'm so excited for the next installment!

Another fantastic book in the series! I loved how this worked out. While the villain was known up front, the conclusion kept me guessing. I loved the writing and the plot. The characters feel family and I was so excited to dive into this story. I cannot stress enough how imaginative the storyline was. I highly recommend this book!

Sarah Booth Delaney has a support system that any of us would envy. She has a gorgeous old historic house, a slew of friends, cuddly pets, a hot sheriff boyfriend and her own supernatural haint Jitty. She had her own detective business with her bestie Tinkie to keep things interesting when things are quiet.
This latest is a take on the Tell Tale Heart tale by Poe. What I like about the suthors cozies is that she always has a social commentary about a current women's social issue that she brings awareness to. I also love learning about the details and trivia about the Deep South.
A Must read!

Tell-Tale Bones is #26 of the Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries
Another fantastic and fun read! I love these mysteries and this one did not disappoint! Recommend giving this book a try.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Elisa Redd has been waiting almost seven years for her daughter, Lydia, to come home. Lydia and her friend, Bethany, disappeared and haven’t been seen or heard from since. Elisa thinks it had to do with Lydia’s marriage. She’d been happy to get married but came home from the honeymoon emotionally broken—and soon after has “accidents because she’s clumsy.”

Sarah Booth and Tinkie are private investigators. It helps that Sarah Booth’s significant other is the Sheriff so they can coordinate on cases.

This case is more difficult than usual due to the time that’s elapsed. Time is of the essence though since, Tope, Lydia’s husband has a new girlfriend he wants to marry so he’s going to declare Lydia dead as soon as the seven-year waiting period is up.

Amid rumors of moonshine stills, herbal remedies for girls “in trouble”, several more missing girls, a tale of a hanging, a grave, and almost everyone lying to Sarah Booth and Tinkie, they begin to wonder if they’ll ever solve the case.

Add in the fact their friend, Tammy, who is a medium and is having dreams that could relate to the disappearances and there’s a talking raven, a ghost, and a thunderstorm to beat all, and it’s understandable that even Sarah Booth and Tinkie worry this might be the case they can’t solve.

This is book twenty-six in the series. Tinkie is a mother now and baby Maylin is getting the princess treatment. Coleman still has his own place but is staying with Sarah Booth more often than not. They make a good pair and are respectful of each other’s work.

There are twists and turns, false clues, lies, plots and subplots, that blend together to make one great mystery. I’m looking forward to what comes next.

Ebook/Cozy Mystery: I want to thank Netgalley for a copy of the book. IAs nuch as I love Sara Booth and her antics, this book was just okay for me. The plot and explanation of the missing/murdered women was way out there, especially in this day and age of computers, no privacy, and forensics. The villain came out of left field as the reader has not met him in previous books.
I do love the first person narrative and the character building of characters by the author.

If you are a fan of cozy mystery books, you will enjoy the plot and characters in this book! If you are also a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, you will enjoy the allusions to his works throughout the book as well. This book is part of a series, but you do not need to read the previous books in order to enjoy this cute mystery!

Thanks so much to Net Galley and St Martins Press for a gifted copy of this book!

When I got the email to review this book, I was so excited. Normally even if I don’t have an ARC I read the next book in this series as soon as it’s released. Unfortunately, I was in the middle of trying to read as many new authors attending an upcoming signing event as possible and I didn’t get this read before the pub date. Once I started, I was reminded why I love the world of Sarah Booth Delaney and how quickly I can get lost in it.

There is so much I love about this world and how reality is mixed with clearly not real, and this book did not disappoint! It included all the characters I have come to love as well as minor characters taking a more front seat role. I did miss a couple of the gang that were missing completely or only had a minor part, but with such a big found family that has to happen. It also made me realize how old I am with the references to the early 2010/11 being “older” models, when did older models extend past the 90’s?

One of my favorite things about this series is how Haines blends real life issues into the case, as well as how she puts into words what I have never been able to about my love for my Southern history and all the complications that go along with it. I say it every review, but each book brings out a different aspect. I think my favorite quote in this book was “So many horrible things have been hidden from history books. When injustice is the basis for a society, it is doomed.” That is so true and needs to be acknowledged more than it is. The stigma around domestic abuse and the lack of access to abortion care in the rural South, especially after the overturn of Rowe v Wade hit home without being political at all. Without giving spoilers, there were so many aspects of this book that could happen in the real world even though they were told in a very fictional one.

I really loved how strong Coleman and Sarah Booth’s relationship was in this book, even more so than the previous books. The way it is always a foundation to the storyline is always a strong point, but in this book, it really made me love him more. Jitty let Sarah Booth get more involved in the case before “helping” than she has in previous books, but and I loved it, especially how receptive Sarah Booth was to her in the first chapter.

The plot kept me guessing the whole time. There were so many pieces that didn’t fit together no matter how hard I tried to make them fit. Even the characters I had figured out (and was supposed to), kept me on my toes. When it got to the climax, I was still questioning what the truth was. It wasn’t until the last chapter that I really believed what I was reading. I cannot wait to see what comes next for Sarah Booth and the gang!

This wasn’t my absolute favorite Sarah Booth book, but it was high up there and I loved it so much. Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s/Minotaur Books and Carolyn Haines for the electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was a fun story. Finished it in a few days while on vacation. It had very interesting characters w a well described background and interaction among people in it. Story line was great and it keep me wanting more. Looking forward to what’s next in this series