Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Devil's Bones
By:Carolyn Haines


REVIEW ☆☆☆
The Devil's Bones is a murder mystery of the humorous charming variety. I know a certain suspension of disbelief is necessary, but I just couldn't fall in line with this story. A girl's weekend gone bad is the basic idea. Throw in dead bodies, bad guys, etc., and there you have it. Too many coincidences and a bit over the top antics made this an average read. It's too similar to other stories I've read, and I would love variety. It is witty, entertaining and intriguing, and in the hands of the right reader, will be very much enjoyed. I'm wrong for this book.

Carolyn Haines does it again! Love this series so so much, I love the character of sarah! I can’t wait for the next one!

This is the 21st Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery, and I've read them all. I didn't realize how many books there were in the series! After all that time you might think the characters have become flat, but that's not the case. Over time they have become more interesting, so every time a new book comes out it's like catching up with old friends.

Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and Cici have gone away for a girl's weekend but of course, they are asked to take on a case. This one gets them into lots of trouble and is made more dangerous by Tinkie's condition. It's a fun read that kept me turning the pages and smiling. I recommend this book, 4 stars.

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

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Devil's Bones was an excellent addition to this series. The storyline was interesting, and the characters were entertaining, as usual. While there are some light moments with Tinkie, who consumes enough food for an army, there were also very serious parts in this book, which added to the tension. The Lucedale residents mostly hated each other with passion and didn't even bother to hide it. There are so many suspects to choose from, and I love when that happens in book. Carolyn Haines makes has her readers' brains work hard trying to figure things out, which is exactly what reading a mystery should be like. Also, Sarah Booth, Cece and Tinkie are strong female characters, which is a very high point while reading this book. I can't wait for the next book since there was some unfinished business in this one (far from a negative aspect).

Ya'll know I LOVE Carolyn Haines! She writes the funniest mysteries, that are quick reads and quite enjoyable. This series is no different! Taking place in our neck of the woods even makes it a more fun read! Sarah and Tinkie are a fun duo, whose girls trip gone awry is not only believable, but sets the scene for some great Southern insights along the way. Being based on a REAL location makes the reader want to finish the story and go off and do some research, and maybe their own road trip! You'll find yourself changing your thinking more than once among all the read herrings in this mystery! Carolyn does a good job in catching you up on the other books in the series, without giving much away about them (so you can go back and read them!), but it is needed, as events come to pass with haunts from the previous books. If you need a series to while away the weekend, this is it n(though you'll be busy, as this is the 21st book in the series!)! And this latest book will have you laughing and cheering for the dynamic duo!

Sarah Booth and CeCe are invited by Tinkie who is pregnant on a girls weekend to a posh B&B in Lucedale, Mississippi. There they can have spa treatments and massages and relax.
On Easter morning they go to the Palestinian Gardens, a miniature Holy Land.
Unfortunately while touring the Gardens they stumble across Canada dead body.
So begins their help to investigate, hoping to find the killer before anyone else ends up dead.
Twists and turns and parts that had me laughing.
I loved this book and I love this series.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a well-written and fast-paced drama that oozes southern charm even when murder intervenes. The author did a great job in presenting this tale with a solid mystery that included a slew of suspects and a few red herrings to keep me immersed in all aspects. The staging of a girl’s weekend at a B&B and a miniature holy land added to the allure in this brilliantly engaging tale with its comfortable tone. I thought I had a handle on the person responsible, but the other author changed directions which enhanced how well this story was being told. This was a fun read and I applaud Ms. Haines as she continues to bring a wonderful and quirky cast of characters to life with her stories set to keep me entertained with murder, mayhem and whimsy.

Once again Ms. Haines has written a book that I couldn't put down as I traveled with Sarah Booth, Tinkie and Cece to Lucedale for a girls weekend,

It seems that trouble just seems to find Sarah Booth as she finds the body and then she's ready to find the murderer. The sheriff is glad to have the PIs help her on the case. These characters almost seem like family and I'm ready to read what Sarah Booth is doing. It had plenty of twists and turns and kept me reading very late into the night.

I wonder how long we'll have to wait to read the next one in the series.

As Easter approaches, Tinkie plans a trip to Lucedale, Mississippi, the site of the magnificent Garden of Bones and invites Sarah Booth and Cee Cee along for the ride. Tinkie plans plenty of fun in the form or facials, food, and relaxation however the real draw is the Sunrise Easter Service held by biblical scholar and the creator of the gardens himself, Daniel Reynolds. As the girls explore the gardens which are actually a miniature holy land with recreations of the middle east, they discover a body in the Mount of Olives. The body belongs to a local lawyer with a history of shady dealings. As the trio begin to investigate, they being amassing a lengthy suspect list, as there are plenty of people with a grudge against the victim. As the investigation heats up, and the bodies pile up, the girls find themselves the target of a gunman not once, but twice. Can they solve the mystery and return home before they become another victim to a disgruntled killer?
As a fan from the start, I was excited for another adventure featuring my favorite trio of sassy southern lady detectives. The Devil's Bones is another full bodied, down home southern mystery, this time with a refreshing change of locale. The miniature holy land gardens were intriguing and made for a perfect Easter Weekend murder backdrop. The author created the perfect juxtaposition in having a murder occur at a time typically reserved for celebrating life. As always there was a delicate balance between the darker elements of death and danger, and the lighter side of southern sass and charm. The main characters are smart, fierce and loyal to a fault, with plenty of growth happening over the course of the series. The mystery itself was smartly paced, with plenty of side adventures to keep the pace rolling. I highly recommend the newest adventure in the Sarah Booth series for those looking for a fun, highly satisfying cozy mystery read. Although it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone, I suggest reading the series from the beginning to get the most enjoyment out of the characters and plot development.

I found the biblical miniature interesting but the characters just moved along slowly. Always love Tinkie but everyone seemed naive in this one.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this arc

Holy smokes, what else can go wrong for these three ladies? They run a PI business, go on a girls retreat and find dead bodies, poisoned people, get shot at, and are hired by a man with so many secrets that you can’t keep them all straight.

The Devil’s Bones was fun to read. The story had me smiling and laughing all while trying to figure out exactly who the bad guy was. I had to change my guess a couple times, but the story did not require me to think hard. It was easy to figure out who was who, and who was not what they seemed. I liked that the characters had fun, enjoyed life, and were true to their friendships.

This is the first book I have read in the series, although it is #21, and it was easy to know what was happening. I feel like there may have been a couple back stories that would have helped me catch on a little quicker, but I still liked what I was reading. I may go back and read some of the first books, but I know that I will be looking for book #22 and on so that I can keep on these crazy fun ladies.

Another entertaining mystery in the Sarah Booth Delaney series. Set at an upscale spa with Sarah’s two best friends in two and the occasional appearance of Jitty “the haint”, this is definitely one for Carolyn Haines’fans.

It's Easter time and book #21 takes Sarah Booth, Cece and Tinkie on a trip to Lucedale, Mississippi for a girls weekend of fun and pampering at the Bexly B%B. The weekend also includes a miniature Holy Land - the Palestinian Gardens. What they didn't plan for their Easter morning was stumbling over a dead body. Turns out shady lawyer, Perry Slay had made one enemy too many and he's done in and laid to rest at The Mount of Olives. As Sarah is a PI and they did find the dead guy....off they go to track down a killer. I won't say any more for fear of spoiling your reading pleasure with a possible spoiler.
I have enjoyed this series from the beginning and it was never disappointed me. Put a Sarah Booth mystery in my hands and I am one very happy reader. The characters are so well developed and the puzzles so satisfying, I know that I will sit down to read and not come up for breaks until I've turned the last page. Yes, this series is that good.
My thanks to the publisher, Minotaur and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

What begins as a girls weekend at a fabulous spa turns deadly when Sarah Booth, TInkie and Cece discover a body in the beautiful Palestinian Gardens, a miniature Holy Land. The victim was a disreputable ambulance chasing attorney who preyed on his clients, so not too many people mourn his loss. But as another person is poisoned, Sarah Booth worries someone is trying to destroy the Gardens It's a race against time to protect the Garden and find the murderer.

This is the quintessential cozy mystery!. It was a fun and enjoyable read.

What I liked
--Takes place in an honest to goodness location that I knew nothing about until I read this book
-- funny/clever dialogue
--The true story of the author’s description of her visits to Palestine Gardens at the end of the book
--The interesting and funny cast of characters.

What could have been better
--I figured out the murderer right off
--I have not read this entire series so it was difficult to get a full feel for the characters since most readers have followed them across the 21 books in the series.

This is a fun and welcome cozy escape from the crazy world we live in right now. 3.5/5

Sarah Boothe, Tinkie and Cece are having a girls retreat at a nice bed and breakfast for some much needed rest and relaxation. While there, they attend the Easter service at The Garden of Bones, a miniature Holy Land nearby.
While the children are finding Easter eggs and treats, the ladies find a body! This fast moving, well written book takes off and doesn't let up until the ending. I thought I had figured out who the killer was but, got it wrong when I missed a big hint. Fun characters and our old friends kept me reading until late at night because I just didn't want to put it down! Go visit Sarah Boothe and friends and relax and enjoy the visit!

Thanks NetGalley for and advanced cop in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I found this story and mystery to be interesting. There are a lot of little stories in this book and it keeps it moving fast. I suspected Hans was the killer early in the book but didn't know why he was setting up Erik. The reveal was interesting and I'm glad that Cece is ok in the end. #TheDevilsBones #NetGalley

I loved this book! This is a great series and this book truly lives up to how good the series is. The book had both intense and light-hearted moments. I loved the interactions between the characters as well as the drama. I truly did not see the ending coming and enjoyed every moment of it. This book lived up to every hope I had for it. I cannot wait to see what comes in the next one!

Ebook/ARC/Mystery: I would like to thank NetGalley for this advanced copy in lieu of an honest review. This book has not come out yet, so no spoilers here. It is book 21 of the series.

This book starts with Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and Cece going to a B&B/spa over Easter with only serenity on their minds. It doesn’t take long for a body #1 to hit the floor. I started this book right before Easter so it was very timely for me. As much as I hate that Sarah Booth doesn’t leash Pluto, I missed him.

I did notice that the characters around Sarah Booth are evolving while she has become pretty static in the past few books. I do love that Haines’ books are socially aware and show that not everyone is narrow-minded. This book is a little long, but very enjoyable.

I don't give many books 5 stars, but this series always rates it. I have been a fan of this series since the beginning and was happy to receive an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. 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, but 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 the 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 land the suspect list grows long, Sarah Booth, Cece, and Tinkie must find out the truth before their own lives—and that of Tinkie's unborn child—are endangered.

I have enjoyed seeing the author develop the characters over the course of 21 books and look forward to the next one.