A review by siobhanward
A Gift of Bones by Carolyn Haines

mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

 I think one of the problems with this book for me is that I don't normally love this kind of book. I'm not sure how to describe them other than as long, somewhat fluffy mystery series aimed mostly at women. There are a lot of them and I tend not to read them, but made an exception for this Christmas one. However, this was definitely not the book to change my mind on the genre. While there were great parts of the book, so much of it felt weirdly forced, almost like someone purposely trying to write a "modern" book that hit all the right notes, like including a transgender character and repeatedly talking about her "struggle" to become a woman, etc. It just seemed like the author was trying to make sure her book was modern and "current," but missed the mark.

I also don't think I've ever read a "magic Black character" trope where the character was actually magic... Usually it's a metaphor for a Black character who swoops in and solves all the main (white) character's problems, but nope, in this case it's the ghost of an enslaved person who was the nanny of one of Sarah Booth's ancestors who then stayed around to help the family forever?? It was just so weird and out of place and uncomfortable.. It added nothing to the book other than really starting it off on the wrong foot for me.

Anyway, I don't think I'll be reading more of Sarah Booth Delaney. I wish all the best to her and all of her very random friends, but this was not the series for me. 
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