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karen62's review
5.0
This series is still as fresh as when it started 20(!!) books ago. It just keeps getting better, this was my favorite book so far. I thought it was more suspenseful with a touch of the supernatural. Can't wait for the next one!
thisandthatwithkaren's review against another edition
5.0
Game of Bones is the 20th installment in the “A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery” series. I really enjoyed this book and learning about the Native Americans (Tunica tribe) from that region of the Mississippi Delta as well as Native American women’s historical accomplishments .
When Dr. Wells is found ritualistically murdered at the dig site the mystery begins. Private detectives Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie Bellcase Richmond are called in to work on behalf of Dr. Hafner, as he is the prime suspect in the death. Will Sarah Booth be working with or against her boyfriend Sheriff Coleman Peters?
Sarah Booth is a strong and intelligent protagonist and all the characters are fully developed with some quirky attributes. I loved how important Sarah Booth's friends are to her Tinkie, CeCe, Doc and Coleman. The inclusion of her haint (Dahlia House's ghost) and the fur-babies who help solve the mystery.
There were plenty of twists and turns and lots of suspects to choose from. I found this book to be a real page-turner, suspenseful, read that had me guessing up till the end. I'll be reading more of this author, I highly recommend this book and series.
I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy from Minotaur Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
When Dr. Wells is found ritualistically murdered at the dig site the mystery begins. Private detectives Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie Bellcase Richmond are called in to work on behalf of Dr. Hafner, as he is the prime suspect in the death. Will Sarah Booth be working with or against her boyfriend Sheriff Coleman Peters?
Sarah Booth is a strong and intelligent protagonist and all the characters are fully developed with some quirky attributes. I loved how important Sarah Booth's friends are to her Tinkie, CeCe, Doc and Coleman. The inclusion of her haint (Dahlia House's ghost) and the fur-babies who help solve the mystery.
There were plenty of twists and turns and lots of suspects to choose from. I found this book to be a real page-turner, suspenseful, read that had me guessing up till the end. I'll be reading more of this author, I highly recommend this book and series.
I requested and received an Advanced Reader Copy from Minotaur Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
classic's review
*****Please visit my blog for the full review of this book*****
This book exceeded my expectations in many ways. Sarah Booth has grown up and is able to show a sensitivity which I did not anticipate seeing. I loved revisiting the effervescent Jitty, the ghost, and could have used a lot more of her quips and barbs. This time she presented herself in many invocations of Native American women which offered food for thought along with a dose of history.
There were some supernatural elements and rumors throughout this book. But I suppose that is to be expected when we are dealing with Sarah Booth who has her own personal ghost. Whether some of the supernatural elements were based on superstition or stereotyping is a question I will turn over in my brain in time to come.
I liked the college students being introduced and seeing them run around Zinnia. It was nice to see them as focal points within the story. They really made for good characters and I was constantly wondering how much they were involved with the murder. The topic itself, of excavation of Native American burial places and areas of importance, was an excellent choice for a cozy mystery.
The author did a good job of presenting the big business behind digging up bones. As well as what it means to the disenfranchised people who are helpless in watching their ancestors and their way of life be examined without their permission. Reality TV being incorporated was very cool and I could imagine the characters and persons of interest playing up for the cameras.
There weren’t many things endearing about the murder victim and I enjoyed the candor the suspects used in talking about her deep flaws and true intentions. It was fun to discover all of the various secret motivations behind those who worked on the excavation site. A couple of the surprises made my jaw drop; I simply did not see them coming.
The mystery itself was one that kept me guessing. I had no idea that things would unfold the way they did and basically any theory I would have been able to develop would have not have even come close to the truth. I call that impressive. There were not a ton of subplots in this book- it was pretty straight forward and things were wrapped up nicely in the end. The action scenes were good and the multiple discoveries that mattered the most occurred in the final pages.
Thank you to Net Galley and to the publishers of this book for providing with an Advanced Reader Copy of Game of Bones in exchange for my honest review.
This book exceeded my expectations in many ways. Sarah Booth has grown up and is able to show a sensitivity which I did not anticipate seeing. I loved revisiting the effervescent Jitty, the ghost, and could have used a lot more of her quips and barbs. This time she presented herself in many invocations of Native American women which offered food for thought along with a dose of history.
There were some supernatural elements and rumors throughout this book. But I suppose that is to be expected when we are dealing with Sarah Booth who has her own personal ghost. Whether some of the supernatural elements were based on superstition or stereotyping is a question I will turn over in my brain in time to come.
I liked the college students being introduced and seeing them run around Zinnia. It was nice to see them as focal points within the story. They really made for good characters and I was constantly wondering how much they were involved with the murder. The topic itself, of excavation of Native American burial places and areas of importance, was an excellent choice for a cozy mystery.
The author did a good job of presenting the big business behind digging up bones. As well as what it means to the disenfranchised people who are helpless in watching their ancestors and their way of life be examined without their permission. Reality TV being incorporated was very cool and I could imagine the characters and persons of interest playing up for the cameras.
There weren’t many things endearing about the murder victim and I enjoyed the candor the suspects used in talking about her deep flaws and true intentions. It was fun to discover all of the various secret motivations behind those who worked on the excavation site. A couple of the surprises made my jaw drop; I simply did not see them coming.
The mystery itself was one that kept me guessing. I had no idea that things would unfold the way they did and basically any theory I would have been able to develop would have not have even come close to the truth. I call that impressive. There were not a ton of subplots in this book- it was pretty straight forward and things were wrapped up nicely in the end. The action scenes were good and the multiple discoveries that mattered the most occurred in the final pages.
Thank you to Net Galley and to the publishers of this book for providing with an Advanced Reader Copy of Game of Bones in exchange for my honest review.
jen_baroness_mom's review
5.0
Game of Bones by Carolyn Haines is impressive. Ms. Haines never seizes to surprise me, and she always has my full attention.
Three individuals have warned Sarah Booth that on the night of the Crow Moon, she and her loved ones will be in danger. She tries to keep everyone safe, but her friends just aren't cooperating with the objective. Coleman is the worst. He and Sarah Booth are so much alike.
We have the murders of a college professor and a private investigator as a local archeology dig in an untouched Native American Mound Burial ground. The excavation is funded by multiple investors, with a professor, Dr. Frank Hafner, and his student from Michigan. They are going about their business when a second professor, Dr. Sandra Wells, and students from the same Michigan college show up. I found this similar to the old claim jumpers back in the day. Dr. Wells isn't very professional, and everyone knows that she wants to get a television show from this dig.
Since no one like Dr. Wells, you could see why someone would want her dead. There are quite a few people on the list. The problem is what happened to the private investigator, and how are the women connected? This question is where Tinkie and Sarah Booth come in as Dr. Hafner hired them to clear his name. Our sleuths start work right away, but nothing seems right.
So, this one caught me off guard. I fell for all of the same lines that Sarah Booth and Tinkie did. This mystery is perfect; there are so many things moving around. My favorite part is, of course, Jitty and the personas of outstanding Native American women that she brings to help Sarah Booth solve the problems plaguing the dig. There is also the one spirit that finds Sarah Booth on her own to share another valuable message about the troubles that Sarah Booth is trying to figure out.
Coleman gets shot, and Sarah Booth is supposed to be keeping an eye on him. However, Coleman is just like Sarah Booth and won't let his deputies down. So, he keeps showing up when Sarah Booth wants him to stay away. Sound familiar? It is nice to see them happy together. Now if they could just quit ending up in the hospital. They need to make that heir for Jitty.
I love this series, and I found this twentieth installment as meaningful and entertaining as the others. Spending time in Zinnia, Mississippi, is always fantastic. It's like going home to see family and friends. Therefore, my rating for Game of Bones by Carolyn Haines is five stars.
I highly recommend this book and the rest of the Sarah Booth Delaney series. It has everything, mystery, romance, a touch of paranormal, horses, dogs, a cat, friendship, with a few current events, historical images, and that southern Carolyn Haines flare that you can only get from her books.
Sarah Booth and Cece are in Lucedale, Mississippi, where the newly-pregnant Tinkie is treating her friends to a girls' weekend at the fabulous new Bexley B&B. The facials, organics, food, and fitness coaches are supposed to be phenomenal. Still, Tinkie's primary aim is to attend the Sunrise Easter Services at the incredible Palestinian Gardens, a miniature Holy Land that spreads over 20 acres and has recreations of all parts of Jerusalem—and to speak with the Biblical scholar, gardener, and creator of the Palestinian Garden Daniel Reynolds.
After waking up at the crack of dawn for the service, the three friends wander around the gardens, taking in the wonder of entire cities in miniature and the acres of the Holy Land, with the River Jordan winding through it all. The day is brightening when they find themselves at the Mount of Olives—with a dead body.
Daniel identifies the dead man as local lawyer Perry Slay, who was well known for his sly and underhanded dealings and had plenty of people out for his blood. When Erick Ward, a local pharmacist, is arrested, Sarah Booth takes the case.
As the bodies pile up like a pillar of salt and the suspect list grows as long as the River Jordan, Sarah Booth, Cece, and Tinkie must resurrect the truth before their own lives—and that of Tinkie's unborn child—are endangered.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Game of Bones by Carolyn Haines. If you are looking for reviews for this series, there are links at the top of the page.
Until the next time,
This Guest Review is for Baroness' Book Trove.
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will Sarah Booth and Tinkie figure out who killed the two women before their loved ones are hurt?
Three individuals have warned Sarah Booth that on the night of the Crow Moon, she and her loved ones will be in danger. She tries to keep everyone safe, but her friends just aren't cooperating with the objective. Coleman is the worst. He and Sarah Booth are so much alike.
The Mystery
We have the murders of a college professor and a private investigator as a local archeology dig in an untouched Native American Mound Burial ground. The excavation is funded by multiple investors, with a professor, Dr. Frank Hafner, and his student from Michigan. They are going about their business when a second professor, Dr. Sandra Wells, and students from the same Michigan college show up. I found this similar to the old claim jumpers back in the day. Dr. Wells isn't very professional, and everyone knows that she wants to get a television show from this dig.
Since no one like Dr. Wells, you could see why someone would want her dead. There are quite a few people on the list. The problem is what happened to the private investigator, and how are the women connected? This question is where Tinkie and Sarah Booth come in as Dr. Hafner hired them to clear his name. Our sleuths start work right away, but nothing seems right.
So, this one caught me off guard. I fell for all of the same lines that Sarah Booth and Tinkie did. This mystery is perfect; there are so many things moving around. My favorite part is, of course, Jitty and the personas of outstanding Native American women that she brings to help Sarah Booth solve the problems plaguing the dig. There is also the one spirit that finds Sarah Booth on her own to share another valuable message about the troubles that Sarah Booth is trying to figure out.
Coleman and Sarah Booth
Coleman gets shot, and Sarah Booth is supposed to be keeping an eye on him. However, Coleman is just like Sarah Booth and won't let his deputies down. So, he keeps showing up when Sarah Booth wants him to stay away. Sound familiar? It is nice to see them happy together. Now if they could just quit ending up in the hospital. They need to make that heir for Jitty.
Five Stars
I love this series, and I found this twentieth installment as meaningful and entertaining as the others. Spending time in Zinnia, Mississippi, is always fantastic. It's like going home to see family and friends. Therefore, my rating for Game of Bones by Carolyn Haines is five stars.
I highly recommend this book and the rest of the Sarah Booth Delaney series. It has everything, mystery, romance, a touch of paranormal, horses, dogs, a cat, friendship, with a few current events, historical images, and that southern Carolyn Haines flare that you can only get from her books.
Other Books in the Series
Coming in May!
Sarah Booth and Cece are in Lucedale, Mississippi, where the newly-pregnant Tinkie is treating her friends to a girls' weekend at the fabulous new Bexley B&B. The facials, organics, food, and fitness coaches are supposed to be phenomenal. Still, Tinkie's primary aim is to attend the Sunrise Easter Services at the incredible Palestinian Gardens, a miniature Holy Land that spreads over 20 acres and has recreations of all parts of Jerusalem—and to speak with the Biblical scholar, gardener, and creator of the Palestinian Garden Daniel Reynolds.After waking up at the crack of dawn for the service, the three friends wander around the gardens, taking in the wonder of entire cities in miniature and the acres of the Holy Land, with the River Jordan winding through it all. The day is brightening when they find themselves at the Mount of Olives—with a dead body.
Daniel identifies the dead man as local lawyer Perry Slay, who was well known for his sly and underhanded dealings and had plenty of people out for his blood. When Erick Ward, a local pharmacist, is arrested, Sarah Booth takes the case.
As the bodies pile up like a pillar of salt and the suspect list grows as long as the River Jordan, Sarah Booth, Cece, and Tinkie must resurrect the truth before their own lives—and that of Tinkie's unborn child—are endangered.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Game of Bones by Carolyn Haines. If you are looking for reviews for this series, there are links at the top of the page.
Until the next time,
This Guest Review is for Baroness' Book Trove.
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
ssejig's review
2.0
Near Sarah Booth's home, they've started an archaeological dig on a burial mound but something has gone wrong. One of the main archaeologists has been murdered in a very brutal fashion. The other archaeologist, Frank Hafner, hires Sarah Booth and Tinkie to clear his name. There are a lot of suspects since the murdered woman was a maneater and endeared herself to no one. Peter Deerstalker, the member of a local tribe is also hellbent on making sure that the dig stops so that his ancestors can rest in peace. And there was something odd about the family who most recently owned the property. Could they be coming back to cause trouble?
There was so much crammed into this book that it was hard to follow who was doing what and why we needed to care about anyone other than our main character. The first historical elements introduced (at least in the ARC) seemed a little off but then we got to the bit about Custer and that was SO wrong that it took me out of the story. I get that this is a fiction book and should get some leeway but whoo-ee, this was bad in that it pulled me out of the story every time after that Haines introduced some "history" of the area. I was already wavering in between two and three stars and the ending took it down for me. There have always been supernatural elements in this series but to add in magic was just too far for me. It made sense in order to tie up the story but the ending came out of left field.
There was so much crammed into this book that it was hard to follow who was doing what and why we needed to care about anyone other than our main character. The first historical elements introduced (at least in the ARC) seemed a little off but then we got to the bit about Custer and that was SO wrong that it took me out of the story. I get that this is a fiction book and should get some leeway but whoo-ee, this was bad in that it pulled me out of the story every time after that Haines introduced some "history" of the area. I was already wavering in between two and three stars and the ending took it down for me. There have always been supernatural elements in this series but to add in magic was just too far for me. It made sense in order to tie up the story but the ending came out of left field.
rlbasley's review
5.0
Game of Bones by Carolyn Haines
(A Sara Booth Delaney series) ( Library loan) This is the last book in this series until the new ones come out. I got to say it’s been the most interesting to me.
A group of archaeologists and college students come to Zinnia to begin work uncovering an ancient Native American mound. When the body of one of the head researchers is discovered, Sara and Tinkie are called to the case. Complete with apparent mystical occurrences and disappearances, with an interesting end it’s definitely worth the read
(A Sara Booth Delaney series) ( Library loan) This is the last book in this series until the new ones come out. I got to say it’s been the most interesting to me.
A group of archaeologists and college students come to Zinnia to begin work uncovering an ancient Native American mound. When the body of one of the head researchers is discovered, Sara and Tinkie are called to the case. Complete with apparent mystical occurrences and disappearances, with an interesting end it’s definitely worth the read
annarella's review
5.0
I read other book in this series but I think this is the best one so far.
It's a fast paced, complex, entertaining and engaging book, a page turner you won't be able to put down.
I was happy to meet again the great cast of characters and to read about their life and changes.
The plot was complex, full of unexpected twist and turn and red herring. It kept me guessing till the end and the solution came as a surprise.
I really appreciated how Ms Haines manage to keep the horror/paranormal elements, some description could be perfect for a horror book, and the tension under control. This book kept me on the edge till the last page but the cozy elements made it relaxing and enjoyable. I loved the mix and I think Ms Haines was very good at making it work.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's a fast paced, complex, entertaining and engaging book, a page turner you won't be able to put down.
I was happy to meet again the great cast of characters and to read about their life and changes.
The plot was complex, full of unexpected twist and turn and red herring. It kept me guessing till the end and the solution came as a surprise.
I really appreciated how Ms Haines manage to keep the horror/paranormal elements, some description could be perfect for a horror book, and the tension under control. This book kept me on the edge till the last page but the cozy elements made it relaxing and enjoyable. I loved the mix and I think Ms Haines was very good at making it work.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
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