While I love Sarah Booth, and enjoy her four-footed companions, this was not my favorite in the series. The topic was naturally depressing, as it was hammered over and over that there is a faction of men who believe women are their property and deserve the beatings they often give "their" women. Although the author did a great job of presenting this important topic, it sucked the enjoyment out of the book considerably. Humor was visibly at an all time low. Jitty's historical characterizations and lectures were too frequent, and did more to interrupt the story than enhance it. Even the love of the Delta and the pleasure of the land was barely mentioned. Despite this, the murders and final reveal were very well crafted and certainly full of surprises.

I appreciate St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review this book, it is not one that I would highly recommend.

Another great trip through the south with great characters you feel are friends. A great escape and binge worthy read.

When Dr. Alala Diakos, a visiting professor of Greek literature, comes to teach at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi, it doesn't take long for controversy to follow. quickly earns the admiration of many—and the ire of others. During a speech in the park, in which Alala tries to organize the women of Zinnia to demand equal pay, the crowd gets unruly, with men heckling the professor. And when PI Sarah Booth Delaney finds a sniper rifle and scope in the bushes, she begins to worry that there are more than fighting words at stake. Sarah Booth calls her boyfriend, Sheriff Coleman Peters, who offers the protection of the Zinnia police department, but Alala rejects him, saying she has no use for the law or men. Then a notorious domestic abuser is found dead the next day, and suspicions turn to Alala herself, who was overheard bragging that she would take him down. Tensions deepen when connections are drawn between Alala and two similar, previous deaths. Sarah Booth doesn't want to believe Alala is a murderer, and the professor asks her to find the real criminal, Sarah Booth embarks on a case stretching across the Delta. There is another complication also, but I don't want to give any spoilers!

This is #23 in this series, and I have read and loved them all! You want to keep reading just to find out what Sarah Booth is going to do next. She, Tinkie, and Coleman along with Cece, Millie, Oscar and Harold are wonderful characters created by this author. Add to that Sweetie Pie, Chablis and Pluto and you have go the ingredients for a romping good time. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have the opportunity to read this latest installment. (Now, I need to go and read the novellas in the series!)

I have never read any of this author's books before, but that is definitely going to change. I love the writing in Independent Bones and the characters, whether human, ghost, or critters. The mystery kept me guessing and the subject matter very timely. I was completely drawn in from page 1! I love the southern setting in a small-town Mississippi. I knew that Independent Bones was part of a series because I was missing some pieces in the characters' backgrounds, but it was easy enough to follow what was going on. I highly recommend this easy-to-read, compelling mystery.
Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

I have been provided with a review copy of Independent Bones from NetGalley for an impartial review. This is the twenty third book in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series and I just loved getting to reenter this world. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

This is the second Sarah Booth mystery that I have read and had really looked forward to.

The writing itself is always good and I love that it's set in Mississippi. A place I have heard so much about and always curious enough to want to go there.

I love the idea of Sarah Booth, Tinkie and the Delaney Private Investigators firm. I think they're both very good at what they do and they help a lot of people. I wish Coleman the sheriff had more deputies to help but having a P.I. to help gets the job done. I also love how the animals are included in the hijinks and each have their own personalities.

That being said, I did not care at all for the mystery in this book. After the last book, I was so excited for this one and in all honesty, I had to force my way through it. However, that's my personal opinion and even though I did not care for the mystery, it did not at all take away from the wonderful writing of the book itself.

Jitty and all the critters are most definitely my favorite characters in this book.

I really do like Sarah Booth, Tinkie, Coleman, and a lot of the other characters. I like the sense of community and the small town atmosphere.

I am very much interested to see where the next book goes.

I received this ARC from Netgalley to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

So I haven’t read any of the previous Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries but this was really good and light mystery. I was a little lost just with who everybody was since this was 23rd in the series that was a given but it didn’t take me very long to get in the swing of the book and learn who everybody was and it was a really fun southern mystery with a little paranormal twist and very helpful with the investigation pets. Sarah Booth Delaney is a PI with her partner Tinkey who is about to pop pregnant are in the park for its rededication when Dr. Alala Diakos makes a speech rousing the crowd with her fervent feminist ideals and radical leaning when as the crowd gets unruly and starting accosting the heckling men that Sarah finds a sniper rifle with scope in the bushes. Sarah calls her boyfriend, Sheriff Coleman Peters, who offers Alala the protection of the Zinnia police which she declines but when a notorious abuser is found murdered the next day after an altercation with Alala where she is heard bragging about taking him down. She hires Sarah booth after her connection to 2 other similar murder is unearthed by the police and she was the prime suspect but never charged for both of those. This was a really good mystery it kept you guessing until the end and it was interesting having a ghost keep turning up playing the parts of wanted women to make a point to Sarah Booth. It took some getting used to but I figured out that apparently there is a ghost in this series as well. Everything gets resolved in the end and the pets help enormously and Tinkey has her baby. Really great and fast read and even without reading any other in the series it still made sense and stood alone so that was great.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

I wanted to enjoy the book, i really did but the politics! I understand why it was there as a plot device. But honestly, I almost stopped reading in the first chapter based off the political preaching alone. I read to escape the politics not to have it shoved down my throat in a cozy. If I had paid for this novel, it would have been the last purchase from this author.

Another great cozy mystery of Sarah and her partner Tinkie. Her hunky cop Coleman and her many pets all work together to expose a group of fanatics and several murders. Must admit I skimmed the parts with the ghost, as I didn’t see the point, but otherwise enjoyed this one. Highly recommend this book and author.

Another great installment of this amazing series.
Love the characters and the interactions with the dogs, cat and the haint that advices Sarah Booth.
The plot is focused on the role of women in society and the inequalities they have suffered throughout history.

Sarah and Tinkie do it again. This series is always entertaining and enjoyable. Sarah and Tinkie keep us laughing and on our toes as we follow their adventures.

So this has been one of my favorite series of all time and this book was no different! As always a great story that is so well written. It makes you want to read all day so you can find out what happens!

What a great read!

Independent Bones had all of the ingredients for a great whodunit.

Some characters you will dislike which to me is good writing. The storyline was easy to follow and left me wanting more at the end. Can't wait to read more books by this author.

I would say this is a must read!! Job well done.

Another great book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series. Sarah is a strong, well written character who doesn't fade with time. It's been fun reading this series and watching her grow along with all the other colorful characters who populate Zinnia. And the this mystery will keep you guessing until the end! Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

The town is finally celebrating the launch of the new playground and everyone has turned out. It seems a professor staying in town also takes the opportunity to address her favorite topic, men who abuse women. It seems someone is aware of her surprise speech and has targeted. Though aside from arresting one of the men who fits her target being arrested, no harm no foul. Until the man is found dead later that night.

The professor soon becomes the prime suspect and hires Sarah Booth and Tinkie to prove her innocence. Did the ladies get in over their heads by trying to prove a guilty woman’s innocence, or will they find the proof they need before they become targets themselves?

I love strong women protagonists and this series has it in spades! Taking on the topic of trying to hold women back and domestic abuse is as relevant today as it was ten, even 100 years ago. A great entry in this long running series that will leave you with plenty of books in the series to bing on if you only found it in the last few releases, like I did!

Another great addition to the Sarah Booth Delaney series. If you've been with Sarah from the beginning or just discovering her series, then you are in for a ride! Thankful to NetGalley for providing me a copy to read.

Sarah Booth and her partner in crime Tinkie once again are on the trail of a murderer. Three murders and the likely suspect is a loud mouth feminist who hated all three men. Tinkie is just about to have her baby and Sarah Booth tries to keep her calm and out of the situation.. With the added twist of a ghost by the name of Jitty adds a fun aspect to this story.

The best entry, by far, in this series. Timely issues star in this novel that sees Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends dragged in to a case that centers on a visiting scholar with strong feminist views. Spousal abuse, a militia that wants to keep woman in “their place” and the deaths of three men, all of whom have abused woman are all woven together to create a fantastic novel!