Southern set cozy with humor, romance and a bit of paranormal
Sarah Booth and her partner Tillie pick up a case while judging a Christmas Tree contest. It's a confounding mess. Ms. Haines weaves a suspenseful tale with twists and turns. Plenty of people have motive. While Sarah , Tillie, their husbands and friends PLUS local law enforcement dig determinedly for answer, they're very concerned about the missing people. Everyone seems to have something to hide, but WHO is responsible.
I requested and received a Net Galley ARC gratis and found the tale even better than I expected. I highly recommend and expect to be a best seller

So, I had a hard time getting going on this book. How many times can you introduce a person? Especially in a well established series. Maybe if you're a fan of this series it flows more smoothly for you but for me it was just too disjointed to enjoy.

No matter how much time goes by, Sarah Booth Delaney can still solve a mystery!! Wonderful addition to the series.

What makes a Christmas mystery more fun? Add in a ghost haunting showgirl and a little bit of Al Capone! Sarah Beth and Tinkie are trying to solve the mystery of the disappearance of a famous author and her assistance. In the midst of an annual Christmas tree decorating contest our mystery begins. Follow the wonderful twist and turns that Carolyn Haines always throws in her books with some fun historical facts. I promise you’ll be intrigued and never guess the ending.

Bones of Holly by Carolyn Haines was a fun mystery. What a cute, enjoyable read that I didn't want to end. Five stars!

Sarah and Tinkie are on another adventure when they head out to small town Mississippi to be judges for a Christmas Tree competition. Paired up with two constantly fighting female writers was hard, but when one disappears it becomes complicated. Hired to find the missing one sets things in motion. Good story overall, but at times felt a bit disjointed. Might just be me Overall I liked it and would recommend.

Bones of Holly by Caroline Haines combines old fashion detective work with southern traditions and modern dilemmas. Family discord, growing up not fitting in and rifts in the past that impact the present and future all lead to a mysterious disappearance and resulting missing persons case for Sarah Booth and Tinkie. The author once again introduces historical figures and Sarah Booth’s past into the present and possibly her future with throw backs to past family and friend Christmas traditions.

What a wonderful book! I really think this one is most definitely the best of the series thus far. I absolutely love the era that the mystery was about in this book, and I simply love studying about the gangsters of the 1920's and 30's. Such an interesting period in history! And who hasn't wondered exactly where Al Capone's treasure is? It's nice to daydream about what it would be like if it was actually found.

This book really put me in the Christmas spirit, which is exactly what I need right now as it's as hot as a furnace outside. It has made me want to go and start Christmas shopping, playing Christmas tunes, and seeing all of those brightly wrapped presents under the tree. The more I read this series, the more I fall in love with Mississippi and its people. Such a wealth of history and culture.

Sarah Booth and Tinkie are a dynamite team together. You then mix in CeeCee and Millie, Coleman, Oscar, and now Maylinn, well the fun just keeps going. I love Sarah Booth's temper. It reminds me so much of my own. I am perfectly capable of letting go a slight to me, until it's a slight towards someone I care about and then I am not going to stop. I will go at you just like a bulldog with a pork chop.

And then comes Coleman. What a man! I can completely see how he and Sarah Booth are together. They are a lot alike. I cannot wait to see these two get married and maybe have little detecting babies of their own.

I really enjoyed this book. The setting was fabulous, the mystery was fabulous. Just a wonderful book. I absolutely recommend it.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers, and to the author for the ability to read and review this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and completely honest.

I received an ARC via NetGalley. Sarah Booth and friends have traveled to Bay St. Louis so Sarah Booth and Tinkie can help judge a Christmas tree-decorating contest. Dueling authors, the ghost of Al Capone, and a treasure hunt ensue. Fun read, not too serious, some illogical plot points, nicely develops some of the relationships of the main repeating characters. Four out of five, and recommended as a nice addition to the series (which is best read in order or close to it).

The Bones of Holly is set in the Christmas season -- which is always fun.

This time Sarah, her partner Tinkie and baby Maylin are called on to be judges in a Christmas tree decoration contest. The other judges are two well-known and long competitive authors, Sandra and Janet. They have long been rivals and currently they have both written books about the same stories. One is fiction and one is non-fiction. Their legendary conflicts work to sell their books with the media attention that they get.

At a party for book signing Sandra disappears. The obvious answer is that Janet did something. Janet thinks Sandra is pulling a publicity stunt.

Sarah and her partner delve into the mystery. Both authors had included a legend of treasure from Al Capone. So that factors into the present day mystery.

A fine cast of characters with an intriguing mystery set in a holiday atmosphere makes for a good read indeed.

Thanks to St. Martin Press and Netgalley for the arc.

This book was gift to me to read from the publisher and netgalley. I enjoyed the book. It was a mixture of Christmas and books. It had a little mystery in it too.
It's about first a Christmas tree voting for like the perfect Christmas tree that was decorated to be displayed even at the library.
The mystery was there was two authors trying to write a good book to on like AL Calpone. One of the authors was trying to steal information from the other author to see if they can come up with the best story.

A holiday treat for anytime! This 25th book in the series is an excellent addition. Fresh solid cozy mystery with excellent well developed characters. A real treat! Thanks #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.

Families and friendship…disappearance…murder and intrigue…guessing…holiday time…love…this book was sent to me by Netgalley for review…thanks to the publisher for an electronic copy. The author is talented at a weaving an intriguing story that is a fun read with quirky characters.

I received an ARC of, Bones of Holly, by Carolyn Haines. I enjoyed the series of these book. Sarah Booth is a really good detective, and a cool character. Its Christmas time, can Sarah solve the mystery?

Sarah and Tinkie are celebrating Christmas in Bay St Louis Mississippi as they judge a tree decorating contest along with two rival authors from the state. When one author goes missing, the other calls it a marketing ploy. With Sarah and Tinkie in town, they’ll get to the bottom of it…even if it kills them.

I adore this series! I love Sarah and Tinkie and am so glad that Tinkie is still in the mix after becoming a mother. After all, women have been balancing careers and family for ages. These two always a riot, but getting out of town for this one was even more fun. Can’t wait for the next one…because these two have so much more fun to have and many more mysteries to solve.

A great holiday adventure with Sarah and her friends! The 25th in the series, it feels as fresh as the first. This one even involves Al Capone. This one is a real holiday mystery treat. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Bones of Holly by Carolyn Haines (Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery #25) 5 stars

Sarah and her partner, Tinkie with baby Maylin are in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to judge the annual Christmas tree decorating contest - a fundraiser for the local library. The other two judges (Sandra O’Day and Janet Malone) are bestselling local writers and bitter competitors. These two women cause scene after scene, but their sales go up with every catfight. When Sandra disappears at a signing party, Janet becomes suspect #1. She hires Sarah and Tinkie to find Sandra before it is too late. In the process of solving the disappearance, the dynamic duo will run into the mystique of Al Capone and his hidden treasure. Will mysteries present and past be solved by Sarah and company before Christmas?

This book was a present for me and a joy to read. I also recently won the ARC for Lady of Bones on Goodreads and this book was a continuation of a quality reading experience. The mystery was engaging and a fast read. As always the interaction between all the supporting characters was wonderful. I’ve only read several of the most recent Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries; but Ms. Haines makes it easy to pick up on the background of the characters without reading the entire series. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for this ARC.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, St. Martin’s Press and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A cozy mystery series with delightful characters. A series worth investigating your time.

It’s Christmas time again, and Sarah Booth is in Bay St. Louis as a Christmas Tree judge. When Sarah Booth meets her co judges Sandra And Janet both famous writers, it quickly becomes clear they are rivals. But when Sandra and her assistant Daryl disappear from a party, Janet hires Sarah Booth to find them.. this book has it all, a rumored treasure of Al Capone, A trip into a Mausoleum, and some great laugh out loud moments. This is another great adventure of sleuthing for Sarah Booth and her friends! I can’t wait to see what’s next for Sarah Booth!!
I received an ARC from NetGallery in exchange for an honest review.

Love reading this book and series. I couldn't put this book down. If you read this series yet I highly recommend her and her books. Happy reading.