Nothing better than visiting Zinnia and catching up with Sarah Booth Delaney and Tinkie. I am enjoying seeing Tinkie prepare to become a mother and still trying to help solve the murder. I love this series and I can't recommend this book or series enough

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this book incredibly interesting the author really kept me hooked until the end. very well written I highly recommend.

I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading Independent Bones by Carolyn Haines.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

This is the first book I’ve read in the Sarah Booth Delany series. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first 22 books. But I doubt I will go back and read the earlier ones. The characters are well developed. And, even, though a darker story (domestic violence), the author still manages to sneak in some whimsical moments throughout the pages. A good book that deals with issues that are relevant today.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Independent Bones, the twenty-third book in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries series by Carolyn Haines, is as expected from this author another rapid page turner…even this far into the series, Ms Haines still delivers a fresh and riveting perspective to the mysteries that surround Sarah Booth, et al. Having followed the series from its inception, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the evaluation of all the characters. With a wickedly
smart dialog, hilarious, often wry humor, and endearing characters, including the four legged ones, I can only see this series bringing more ingenious mysteries for this ensemble of characters.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

This was a wonderful mystery tackling domestic abuse. I loved the characters and find the series to be very charming. I highly recommend.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Independent Bones by Carolyn Haines

This book is in the Sarah Booth Mystery Series.

I enjoyed this book. I like all the books Carolyn Haines writes. I enjoy her character, Jitty. I can’t wait tp read her next one. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

Independent Bones is the 23rd Sarah Booth Delaney cozy mystery by Carolyn Haines. Released 18th May 2021 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is an entertaining and engaging book in an engaging series by a competent writer. There's a strong paranormal element (the main character's sort of haunted by her great-great grandmother's nanny, a black woman named Jitty who has Opinions and lots of cryptic advice). MC Sarah Booth Delaney's also a PI and this installment sees her untangling a multiple-murder mystery involving misogynistic abusive men whilst trying to avoid having her very pregnant best friend go into labor in the middle of a stakeout.

Sarah Booth is still trying to define and stabilize boundaries with her handsome lawman, Coleman, and the counterpoint of their healthy and supportive relationship is even more poignant compared to the many unhealthy abusive relationships written into the book.

The plotting is often meandering (it's a cozy with almost 400 pages), and there's quite a lot of "fluff" to add humor. Ms. Haines is quite an adept author and I never found my interest waning, although there were a few eye-rollingly silly moments. The denouement and resolution weren't overly surprising, but they were satisfying. This series is dependably entertaining and fun, and this entry is worth a read. The ensemble cast and returning characters mean that readers who are new to the story might want to read a few in the series prior to this one first, although it's simple enough to probably work well enough as a standalone. There are dogs, some cats, positively portrayed LGBTQIA+ characters, the language is clean, and there's light (off page) sexual content, but nothing explicit. The book is full of southernisms like "bless your heart" and "y'all" and more sweet-tea than you can shake a stick at.

Four stars. Cozy mystery comfort food.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes. /09/independent-bones-sarah-booth-delaney-23.html

Princess Fuzzypants here: This is a highly entertaining story with a smart and sassy heroine, Sarah Booth, a partner who is more than ready to pop a child and a very serious underlying theme. It lacerated misogynistic men who abuse women and the women who enable it to happen. Sarah Booth, and a very pregnant Tinkie, are hired by a professor on sabbatical whose raison d’être is to arouse women to fight back against the abusers. When a brute is murdered shortly after inciting a riot when she is giving a speech, she is the prime suspect. The fact that there have been other similar murders in two other places where she has been does not help her case.

Sarah and Tinkie investigate while Coleman tries to solve the crimes. But it is difficult. Sorting truth from lies is almost impossible. And there is an organization that wants to turn back the progress women have made and return to “the good old days”. With women like Sarah Booth, you know this is not going to happen.

At the same time, she is trying to protect Tinkie as much as Tinkie will allow. She is counting down the days to the birth of her child and Sarah does not want it to happen while they are on the job. Babies do have a way of thwarting the best laid plans of mice and men. It is a good thing there are some animal assistants in the form of Sweetie Pie, Pluto and Roscoe. They get to the heart of the matter even when the humans are oblivious. Sarah Booth is smart enough to “listen” to them.

I always feel like I am in the midst of a small Delta town with real characters when I read this series. The book could be a standalone but why deny yourself. Go back and start at the beginning. You will not regret it. Five purrs and two paws up.

“Independent Bones” by Carolyn Haines

Carolyn Haines is back with the 23rd installment of her Sarah Booth Delany series, “IndependentBones,” bringing you the same charming and clever prose that you’ve come to love from thisiconic Southern investigator. Dr. Alala Daikos, a visiting professor at Ole Miss, is controversial to say the least. Sheembodies feminism to its core, and she makes it her life’s mission to share her ideals withwomen everywhere. In Sarah Booth’s small town of Zinnia, Mississippi, this ideology is metwith a mix of support and backlash, but Alala has no intention of backing down. When PI SarahBooth Delaney finds a sniper rifle in the bushes at a local park where Alala is giving a speech,she offers her support, as well as that of her boyfriend, Sheriff Coleman Peters. But Alala has nointention of accepting help from the police department, or from any man. She’s a strong womanand she can protect herself. Sarah Booth has a fondness for Alala and knows that she’d be willing to do anything tohelp a woman in need, not unlike Sarah herself. So, when they find the dead body of Curtis, aman notorious in town for repeated instances of abuse against his wife, Alala becomes suspectnumber one and Sarah and her longtime business partner, Tinkie, set out to help prove one wayor the other if Alala is as innocent as she claims. There is never a dull moment in Zinnia and we’re very lucky as readers that Sarah Boothis always there to bring us along for the adventures. This is another excellent addition to theseries and I, for one, can’t wait for more.

Reviewed by Abbey Peralta for Suspense Magazine

This is book 23 in the Sarah Booth Delaney and it's another great cozy. Sarah attends a speech by a visiting Greek Literature professor and a brawl breaks out. Dr. Deakos strongly believes in equal rights for women and the small town of Oxford, Mississippi has a few die hards. Sarah's boyfriend, Colman offers the Doctor police protection but she declines and becomes the prime suspect in a murder. The re-occurring characters are present and add lots of depth to the story. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Carolyn Haines immerses Sarah Booth Delaney in another dangerous Southern story in Independent Bones. Dr. Alaha Diakos, professor, speaks up against men who abuse women and Curtis, a local wife abuser, is found dead. She has been implicated but not charged in the deaths of two other male abusers. Meanwhile there is an organization of white male misogynists who want to suppress women's rights which is active in neighborhood. Family histories, college politics and misogyny all come together in a series of crimes. Sarah Booth is also helping her friend in her last days of pregnancy. Oh yes, also a supernatural element. Read and enjoy an excellent cosy.

The name of the game in this book is toxic masculinity, I love me some Jitty and Sarah Booth shenanigans, but I had to take this one slow. It stirred up all kinds of bile. And we all can relate, right?
You take one trailblazer; an aggressive upstart, sprinkle in a few professors/boyfriends murders, some innocent bystanders, Sarah Booth and her cast of characters and you have an enjoyable cozy.
Another fun read in the series.

In Independent Bones by Carolyn Haines, Sarah Booth and a very pregnant Tinkie are back it, trying to find out who is guilty of killing male professors who have a history of abusive behavior. Vising professor and feminist Dr. Diakos looks like a likely suspect. Sarah Booth agrees to investigate, though Dr. Diakos doesn't do much to shake Sarah Booth's concerns that she may really be the killer.

I always look forward to returning to Zinnia and catching up with Sarah Booth and the gang, especially Jitty. A trip to Zinnia is sure to include a murder mystery or 3.

Thank you to St. Martin's press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Sarah Booth Delaney and her business partner, Tinkie, are on the job despite Tinkie’s advanced pregnancy. Tinkie refuses to think there’s anything she can’t do but is forced to slow down more than she wants.

Alana is in town on a sabbatical while writing a book. That doesn’t mean she won’t have time to make a few speeches sure to enrage certain men who think they are the final word in the household, not partners with their wives. While Alana is giving a speech, Sarah Booth finds a sniper’s rifle aimed right at Alana. There are many suspects but a few stand out from the crowd. Too bad the most likely turns up dead.

Things aren’t looking good for Alana either who says women should defend themselves and no abusive man should be allowed to live. As the police look for the killer, they discover there’s a trail of dead bodies—one in every city where Alana worked, and they were all abusive to women.

This is book twenty-three in the popular series. Tinkie finally gets her wish to be a mother. Sarah Booth is having second thoughts after hearing Tinkie complain of fat feet and other baby woes. On the other hand, Coleman Peters is a mighty fine man and tempting as well. Expect more from their romance in the next book.

The mystery is a good one, keeping readers guessing until the end. As usual, the dogs and cat get in on the action and add to the chaos and humor—especially Roscoe who thrives on mischief. I hope to see a lot more of him in future books.

This is the 23rd book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series. Sarah Booth and Tinkie are still running their detective agency, even though Tinkie is 9 months pregnant and about to pop. Zinnia is hosting a visiting professor who lectures on women’s rights, and there’s a group of men who are vehemently opposed to that idea. The professor hires Sarah Booth to prove her innocence in a series of murders, and as always, things get interesting! I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read this series from the first book and this latest one did not disappoint. This mystery is well-written and kept me turning pages late into the night!

Ms. Haines understands the Mississippi Delta and the nuances that are part of it. The relationships are continuing to evolve and I feel like I'm just one of the crowd that meets at the diner for good food and coffee.

My only complaint is that there will be long wait until the next one!

Independent Bones by Carolyn Haines is book 23 in the A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery. It can be read as a stand alone. I started this series with number 19 and want to go back to the start.
Haines has another well written Cozy with plenty of plot twists and suspects. The main characters are relatable and likeable. There is romance, friendship, and humor. The pets also add to the story. I didn't want to put it down.
This time Sarah Booth is dealing with gender equality and a visiting female professor that isn't afraid to speak out. When an abusive Oxford resident is found murdered all fingers point to the professor. In investigating, a private men only c;lub comes to light in town. Sarah Booth has her fands full investigating and keeping Tinkie in her sights since she is going to give birtjh anytime.
I was given an ARC by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for an honest review.

Independent Bones, the 23rd in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery series, by Carolyn Haines. The underlying theme focuses on the issue of gender equity. As the story opens Dr. Alala Diakos, a university professor, has organized and is speaking at a rally for gender equality in Zinnia. During the rally, Sarah Booth finds a sniper rifle hidden in the shrubbery that is training on Alala. The next morning, a known abuser is found dead and the most likely suspect is Alala, who then hires Sarah Booth and Tinkie to find the real killer and prove her innocence.

Sarah Booth is her usual spunky, renegade self but must focus on keeping Tinkie safe - and close to a hospital - as her time to deliver is near. Coleman and their friend Harold feature more prominently in this mystery, as does Jitty who appears as quite a few historical figures. The animals are showcased as well.

The characters and plot are well-developed, and twists and turns abound. Yet underlying the fast paced mystery is the darker story of domestic abuse. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.). You really won’t want to miss this book.

Independent Bones by Carolyn Haines is the 23rd 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 Independent Bones does not disappoint. Sarah Booth and her private eye partner, Tinkie have been hired by a feminist Professor to find out who killed an abusive local man since she is the prime suspect. One problem is that Tinkie is ready to have her baby any time. 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 mysteries with a little bit of everything, I strongly recommend this book/series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.