Game of Bones by Carolyn Haines is the 20th book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series, and I loved it!! I love the whole series, please keep them coming. Not only is this book really funny at times, it can also be emotional. As always Game of Bones is a great mystery with romance thrown in, Sarah Booth has she finally made her choice, Yay! There are twists and turns around every corner. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries with a little bit of everything, I strongly recommend this book/series.

I reviewed an arc from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press. Thank you.

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.

Two and half stars
This book came out May 14th
ARC kindly provided by Minotaur Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

E-book/ARC/Mystery: If you're looking for dragons, it doesn't happen. This is book 20 in the Sarah Booth mystery series and I want to thank NetGalley for letting me have an advanced copy. I really enjoy these books (I live in the south) and the small town setting. I really relate to Sarah Booth, even though she doesn't leash her dog. This books hasn't come out yet, so no spoilers; just how I felt about the book.
This book, to me, had a darker tone to it with the first victim getting murdered pretty gruesomely. I like that Sarah Booth gets to work quickly with her sidekick, Tinky. As usual, the case goes in several directions with a lot of red herrings to keep me glued to the book. I like the hint of supernatural in the story and the history the ghosts tell and I like that Sarah Booth keeps that part of her life a secret to everyone but her dog and cat. The writing is in first person, my favorite, and I read this in one day.
I haven't read all the Sarah Booth books and the ones I have have not been in order. I do like that these books are like the Kellerman's Alex Delaware series and they can be read as a standalone. Haines gives the reader enough information without plot overload from other books.

I have shared many book adventures with Sarah Booth and Tinkie, however the Game of Bones may just be the best one yet! The book is filled with mystery, friendship, betrayal, history and the best of all - hope & miracles.

Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to prove a professor at a Native American burial site, located outside of Zinnia, did not murder a competing professor in order to take credit for a historically & academically relevant discovery. While their client is not the most charming person, Sarah Booth and Tinkie believe him to be innocent. This puts Sarah Booth at odds with Coleman, her long-time love and county sheriff. Strange happenings begin to occur at the burial site and after a dire warning about the coming "Crow Moon" and the tragedy it may bring, Sarah Booth and Tinkie are determined not to lose those who are dear to them.

No Sarah Booth book would be complete without the smart, brave and annoying at times, Jitty. To make her points, Jitty transforms into some of the most famous and strong female Native Americans. The characters enhance the story and I loved having these women included in the book.

Sarah Booth was brave, smart, kind, smart-alecky, determined and stubborn in Games of Bones. All of the qualities readers love in her! She was a force to be reckoned with and her inner strength shined through in several dangerous and emotional scenes in the book. Her love of Coleman, Tinkie , Cece & all her friends and of course the marvelous trio of animals - Sweetie Pie, Pluto, & Chablis- made for a loving and humorous read. The characters of Tinkie (who has her own secrets), Millie, Harold, Oscar, Dewayne & Budgie and the lovable Doc add a sense of family and continuity to the books.

It's always a great to come home to Zinnia and visit and I can't wait for the next case!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for a fair and honest review of this book.

Sarah Booth Delaney and Tinkie Bellcase Richmond are hot on the trail of a murderer when a body is found at Mound Salla in Sunflower County, Mississippi. In Game of Bones by Carolyn Haines in what appears to be a ritualistic killing, archaeologist Dr. Sandy Wells is found with her throat slit hanging above an intrusive burial grave. When another death takes place, the rush is on to find more clues. A heart-pounding adventure for the detectives of Zinnia, Mississippi.

A review will be posted on www.MapYourMystery.com on Monday, May 13

I really like these characters. This is the first book by this author that I have read and I intend to read others in this series. Sarah Booth and her crew are trying to figure out who murdered an archeologist. As they get into the murder, things get more complicated and another body shows up. When Coleman is shot, Sarah Booth knows she has to stop this person immediately, but it also puts her and her partner in danger. It was a good mystery and I didn't guess it until the end.

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.

4.5 Stars

In Game of Bones, an archaeological dig at a Native American site is also the site of a ritualistic style murder! Is one of the professors guilty or is something more sinister afoot? No worries, because Sarah Booth and Tinkie are on the case although this time it's almost hard to tell what is going on with suspects appearing at almost every turn and creepy sightings at the burial site that makes even the most down to earth person wonder about curses, ghosts, and things that go bump in the night.

As always, I loved my time spent with Sarah Booth, Tinkie, Ceecee, Coleman, Jitty, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie's assorted animal cohorts as they solve yet another mystery in Zinnia, MS! While Game of Bones might be Haines 20th book in the series, the story still feels fresh, creative, and intriguing, which isn't something that I encounter with every series that I read. The characters are strong and vibrant and Haine's plot is expertly executed. If you haven't read any books in this series before, then there would be no problem reading this book as a standalone as Haines masterfully weaves the story in such a way that you're not left feeling lost in the dark. 

Whenever I pick up one of these books, I know that I'm not going to be able to put them down, and that was exactly the case with Game of Bones! It was a page-turning, intriguing, suspenseful, cozy mystery that had me guessing up till the end. It also pulled at my heartstrings and left me so happy that Haines left the door wide open for book 21-this is one series I hope never ends! Of course, I recommend this one!

**Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC to read in exchange for my fair and honest review.**

Sarah Booth is a detective. When a murder is found on an archeological site, Sarah is hired by Dr. Hafner to find the murdered and clear his name. It seems the deeper Sarah digs into her investigation the more the violence escalates on the sight.

Is the sight cursed? With the suspects count escalating and zombie like figures stalking, Sarah is hard pressed to find the killer before its too late.

This was my first read in the Sarah Booth Delaney series, I know I was pretty ambitious jumping in at book 20, and here comes the but… But Haines writes strong characters, and a plot that stood on its own. At no time did I feel lost or had that playing catch up feeling.

Game of Bones was a highly enjoyable book-cation. Haines delightfully pulled me into the Sarah and Tinkie’s world with a masterfully executed mystery that had me guessing till the end.

I received this ARC copy of Game of Bones from St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books. This is my honest and voluntary review. Game of Bones is set for publication May 14, 2019.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Carolyn Haines
Series: A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery
Sequence in Series: Book 20
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: May 14, 2019
ISBN-10: 1250154154
ISBN-13: 978-1250154156
Genre: Sleuth | Mystery

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bones-Sarah-Bo...
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/game...
Itunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/game...
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I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. As always, Carolyn Haines bring Sarah Booth and Tinkie to life in another great story. You will not want to put this book down, so be prepared for a reading marathon. Enjoy!

Well, somehow I missed the other 19 books in this series, but that didn't make this book any less enjoyable. It's a quick, light read that I completely recommend, and you might just find a new series, like me!

Don't worry if you haven't read all or even any of the books in this long running series- you might need to be a bit patient at the start but ultimately you'll find yourself immersed in the world of Sarah Booth and Tinkie. They've been hired by Dr. Frank Hafner, an archeologist who is a suspect in the murder of his sort of rival. Investigating is second nature to these two, even though it doesn't help Sarah Booth's relationship with her honey Coleman, the sheriff. This is light cozy reading with some twists and you might guess what's going on before the end but really, that's ok. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Game of Bones is the twentieth installment in Carolyn Haines Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series. In this novel, local toy developing millionaire Elton Cade has funded the archeological dig of Mound Salla, an ancient Tunica burial mound. Dr. Frank Hafner is in charge of the dig but Dr. Sandra Wells has received separate funding that has brought in the latest in excavating equipment. With rumors of ghostly activity at the dig, the student workforce becomes less enthused about their opportunity to improve their grades and more interested in preserving themselves.

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?

In a well spun mystery, Ms. Haines has woven in community and family drama in most unexpected ways. She has also highlighted Native American women’s historical accomplishments while also giving a fresh perspective on the historical digs such as those depicted in this book. Although this was the first I have read of this series, I found this book to stand on its own with enough ties to the evolution of the characters to stay in the loop for those new to the series but not so much that it would be boring to the longtime reader.

I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

So apparently I have missed this series completely til now! This is the 20th book in the series, and I will be tracking down the other 19 to read! Sarah is another female lead who 'sees dead people', but in her case, it's the 'house ghost' who likes to present herself as other ghosts, to make points/share info with Sarah Booth. Sarah Booth, like other Southern female leads, knows it's not always a bad thing to see ghosts, and since she has a hunky Sheriff boyfriend, she tends to find bodies. A lot.

This time though, Sarah Booth wants to clear her client's name, but ends up in a twisty case that leads the reader around some gothic Deep South themes.It's a quick page turner that I read in 2 sittings, and one that may just get you hooked on this series, like me!

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's/Minotaur Books & Carolyn Haines for the electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Yet another excellent 4 star Sarah Booth Delaney mystery! Even though this is the 20th installment in the series, it still doesn't feel stale. This book follows Sarah Booth & her best friend & partner, Tinkie Bellcase Richmond, on a case at an archaeological dig after they are hired by lead archaeologist Frank Hafner. They along with Sarah Booth's love, Sheriff Coleman Peters, look to find out who killed the other lead archaeologist, Sandra Wells. The case takes twists & turns as another woman is found murdered at the dig site. The "critters" Sweetie Pie, Pluto & Chablis continue to be the extra help the detective team needs. While investigating, their friend Cece Dee Falcon lends the extra help she is known for.

I love that Haines keeps Sarah Booth's deep ties & love for her family's past in the front of all her novels. It makes the character very relatable. Jitty's antics left me laughing out loud & I learned about historical women I otherwise knew nothing about through her, another regular feature of the books I love. My only flaw with this book was that I felt like we were missing some much loved characters. Madame Tomeeka only had a few very brief mentions which was surprising considering the occult/supernatural themes throughout the book. Harold also doesn't feature as much as in the previous books. We do see more of Millie, but I missed the dialogue with her I've grown accustomed to. Overall, Haines keeps the series going strong with this book & I look forward to see what Sarah Booth, Tinkie & the gang get into next!

I enjoy this series. This is book 20 in the Sarah Booth Delaney and Sarah is hired by an archeologist whose dig is being used as a murder site. Dr. Hafner is the prime suspect in the murder of his dig partner. The ancient Indian mound is being explored and no one is happy about it, especially Tunica tribe. Sarah and the Sheriff team up to find out what is "haunting" the site and who is willing to commit multiple murders to scare everyone away. Things are heating up on the Mississippi delta in more ways than one. This book can be read as a stand alone and will draw you into the series. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Another classic Sarah Booth Delaney book. This one is the 20th entry in the series, and I really liked it. Sarah, Tinkie and Sheriff Coleman are all back and better then ever. The plot is tight and interesting, and kept my attention until the very end. Some of these long-running series can't keep the characters fresh, but in this case every book gets better and better. I highly recommend reading this book.

Thanks to St. Martin's/Minotaur and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Game of Bones was my first book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series. While there was a murder that needed to be solved, I thought that the setting of the Tunica burial mound was very unique. It added a different dimension to the book, and the author's description was excellent. The Sarah Booth and Tinkie team was fun, I just loved the interactions between the two. Also interesting were the thoughts Sarah Booth had when reminiscing about the past, she was an in-depth character. Another high point was that I didn't either love or hate the various characters. It was nice to have some ambiguity, as one would have in real life. One of my favorite parts had to be the sung telegram. It was a wonderful touch of humor in the book, I laughed so much I had to stop reading. I will go back to the beginning of the series, Game of Bones has me hooked! I am very grateful for having been able to read this book before its publication date, I will recommend it to all my friends who enjoy mystery books.

Sarah Booth Delaney is back for more sleuthing! An archeological dig is having problems ( Murder, a possible curse...) Can Sarah and Twinkie dig to the bottom of things and clear the archeologist?
I love this series! The characters are so enjoyable and it is a fun read. Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Series: A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery - Book 20
Author: Carolyn Haines
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ PI
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Page Count: 384

From Minotaur Books comes the latest cozy mystery book by Carolyn Haines’s “A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery” series, Game of Bones. This is a long-running series, with the latest addition being the 20th book in the series.

The characters in this book are a little hard to keep track of, and if the reader has not read the series, or at least a few of the books in the series they will have no clue who the characters are. Unfortunately, I was one of those people who hadn’t read any of the other books, so it took me a while to figure out who was a reoccurring character and what their personality is like.

Sarah Booth is a warm friendly person with a curiosity that seems never-ending. She gets into all sort of trouble with everyone, except her best friend Tinkie, who on her own is a fun and interesting character. Sarah’s love interest, Coleman is a wonderful character who has the patience of a saint.

The location of an architectural dig reminds readers of a long-ago book by Agatha Christie. It is rarely used in cozies and a welcome change. I felt that the “Mounds” could have been described better as it was difficult to envision them but overall the reader should get a general idea of what they are and what they were used for in understanding the plot better.

The writing is very good, and the author knows her characters. The murderer did not come as a surprise to me but might present a challenge to others. I would like to have seen the motive for the killing made clearer a bit sooner as it comes out of the blue. The way in which the victim(s) is killed is a bit more violent than most cozies and slightly odd as well.

In general, Game of Bones is a good story that most readers will enjoy. It is typical of many cozy mystery books in that it can be read quickly, has memorable characters and enough twists and turns to keep readers happy. In my copy, there were some continuity issues which hopefully have since been fixed in the final edit.

ARC Provided by NetGalley