Blue Christmas Bones

This book was such a fun holiday read. The Elvis-themed vibe added a unique and entertaining twist that kept me smiling throughout. It was also great catching up with Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and the gang—their antics and camaraderie always make for an enjoyable adventure. The story’s playful tone and offbeat charm made it a perfect holiday mystery. Fans of Elvis, humor, and lighthearted whodunits will find this a delightful treat!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC.

Blue Christmas Bones is book 28 in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series. I've read the last few books in this series so it isn't necessary to have read the previous books.

If you are an Elvis fan, then you will love this book. Sarah Booth and her friends are in Tupelo, Mississippi for an Elvis impersonation Christmas Festival. She and Tinkie, her partner in the private eye business, are supposed to be on vacation but when a $3 million jewel-encrusted Elvis belt goes missing they are on the case.

I think because of the emphasis on Elvis, the book doesn't feel as Christmasy. There are mentions of Christmas but it isn't the total focus.

I liked that there isn't a murder. I have long felt that cozy mysteries were a little pigeonholed as murder mysteries when there are plenty of other crimes they could feature. I've read a few other Christmasy cozy mysteries and they have also shied away from murder and did a different crime like a missing person. I liked that this book features a robbery and no dead bodies. It just changes things up a little.

The characters in this series are a little more quirky than I usually read in cozy mysteries. It's not that they aren't realistic it is just that they rely a little too heavily on stereotypes. But they are still fun to hang out with.

If you are looking for a fun read during the Christmas holidays, this is a great one to pick up.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Saturday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2024/12/blue-christmas-bones-by-carolyn-haines.html

A holiday "girls" trip to Tupelo, Mississippi, an Elvis Impersonator Contest, theft of a priceless jewel encrusted belt, Jitty everywhere, Maylin's first Christmas and murder makes for a holiday Sarah Booth and Tinkie won't soon forget!

I love this series! A "keep you guessing mystery, a setting that's pure Southern charm and characters that are strong, smart and kind make for a mystery you won't be able to put down!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington. The opinions in this review are my own.

This is the 28th book in the author's Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series but it's the first one I read. I especially enjoyed the goings-on at the Christmas time Elvis fest in Tupelo as well as Sarah Booth and her friends participating in the various events. That whole Elvis thing was a hoot.

Unfortunately, I had a hard time keeping the mystery plot and characters straight. I was confused and felt like there was a lot of repetition in the story. I think it's best for me to start at the beginning of the series and got more accustomed to the characters and such. I can certainly understand the attraction of this series and will certainly give it another chance.

I'd recommend this book to friends who love mysteries but would suggest starting at the beginning of the series.

Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends can’t help falling in love with Christmas this year, which they plan to spend celebrating the King of Rock n’ Roll at the annual Elvis Festival in Tupelo. The main attraction is an Elvis impersonator competition, drawing impersonators from all over the world to honor the king. But before the revelry can get underway, a priceless jewel-encrusted replica of a belt once worn by Elvis is stolen from its display case, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are roped into one of the biggest heists in the history of Mississippi. Soon suspicious minds are lurking around every corner, with one eyewitness even claiming to have seen Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s long deceased and highly questionable manager, prowling around the festivities. Sarah Booth will have to find the devil in disguise or she might just end up singing Jailhouse Rock herself.

I love, love, love this series! Sarah Booth and Tinkie along with their friends get roped into a case on Christmas AGAIN! This is the 28th in this series, yet the writing and stories continue to be fresh with each new installment. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this latest installment.

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and all the friends have headed to Tupelo for the first Christmas Elvis Presley festival to see the sights and experience the impersonators and events. When the replica of a jewel encrusted belt is stolen from the special display, Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to find the belt and culprit and there is no shortage of suspects. But the biggest suspect is turning out to be the owner of the belt!

What a cast of characters! I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters in the last book from Haines that I read and figured it might have been a one off, but I don't think it is! So many Elvis impersonators trying to get seen and the guy who has the TV show relating to Streisand in some way with his dogs that are menaces that he doesn't even leash. So much Elvis information included as well.

I quite enjoy this series and need to read from the first book! Some things can be a little convoluted, but in all honesty, what isn't convoluted in a book? The pacing is good and the characters are a hoot.

Another fun mystery with Sarah Booth and her friends! Sarah Booth and her friends are on vacation to celebrate Christmas at the annual Elvis festival in Mississippi! Instead, their vacation is cut short when a priceless item is stolen. Sarah Booth and Tinkie find themselves dealing with a difficult client, many suspects, and as usual, a haint who has followed Sarah Booth from back home.

Since they are in a new town, they have to deal with a different sheriff who seems to be running things differently than they are used to. The client is not the only person who makes it difficult to find out what really happened! The story moved at a good pace that allows the reader to follow along and feel as though they are really experiencing Christmas with Elvis!

The author blends Christmas along with Elvis history to make this a fun read for readers who enjoy those topics. It was nice to learn some new facts about Elvis as well!

I was invited to read this book by St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

There is nothing better than a cozy mystery and this one truly hit the spot. I absolutely loved it. It was fun and easy to read and I really enjoyed using this as a quick break from fantasy. Easy to follow and easy to get swept into, Haines makes this a book you will want to enjoy with an afternoon cuppa and a blanket. Definitely check this out!

Sarah Delaney is back. This is book 28 in her series and I've read most of them. Sarah is a sassy middle aged lady that isn't afraid to face life. this year's Christmas is almost derailed. Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends can’t help falling in love with Christmas this year, which they plan to spend celebrating the King of Rock n’ Roll at the annual Elvis Festival in Tupelo. The main attraction is an Elvis impersonator competition, drawing impersonators from all over the world to honor the king.
But before the revelry can get underway, a priceless jewel-encrusted replica of a belt once worn by Elvis is stolen from its display case, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are roped into one of the biggest heists in the history of Mississippi. Soon suspicious minds are lurking around every corner, with one eyewitness even claiming to have seen Colonel Tom Parker, Elvis’s long deceased and highly questionable manager, prowling around the festivities. Sarah Booth will have to find the devil in disguise or she might just end up singing Jailhouse Rock herself.

Yay! Another Sarah Booth Delaney Christmas book. I enjoy this series but the Christmas ones are some of my favorites. Once again Sarah and friends are headed for a Christmas getaway. This time they are headed to Tupelo for the Elvis Christmas celebration. Of course, they can't go anywhere without stumbling into a mystery that has to be solved. This was a fast read and it captured my attention from the first few pages. There were a few extra twists and turns but it kept me guessing. This is a great book to get you in the holiday season!

This is an enjoyable Christmas mystery with a lot of Elvis thrown in. Fans of the series will love it.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

It’s Christmas time and Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends are thrilled to be spending it in the city of Tupelo, just a few hours’ drive away from their own hometown of Zinnia, Mississippi. The birthplace of Elvis Presley has decided to add a slate of wintertime festivities to match its annual summer celebration of the cultural icon. Sarah Booth and co are all huge fans:

QUOTE
I love Elvis. I inherited my addiction to Tupelo’s native son from my mama, who basically had an altar to the Mississippi icon. One of my best memories is sitting on the blue velvet sofa in the music room watching my parents dance to Elvis classics. I’d never heard anything more romantic than his love ballads. His appearance on TV shows–my mother had purchased the entire collection–reeked of wholesome sexuality. He was a man ahead of his time and completely unprepared to deal with the fame that dropped on him like an anvil. Generous to a fault, he was easy pickings for some of the unethical people drawn to his life.
END QUOTE

It’s not just the proliferation of Elvis impersonators, exhibits and themed attractions that have drawn Sarah Booth there. Her friends have roped her into joining them in various competitions that involve either knowing tons of trivia about The King or performing to his music. It’s looking to be loads of fun… until a valuable replica belt gets stolen almost right out from under their noses. Adding insult to injury, the culprit is most likely the person who’d been seen wandering around the exhibit hall dressed as Colonel Tom Parker, the manager whom Sarah Booth firmly believes exploited her idol.

This would merely be an unfortunate event if the belt’s owner, the evocatively named Grace Land, hadn’t caught wind that Sarah Booth and her partner Tinkie Bellcase Richmond are some of the state’s foremost private investigators. Though they’re supposed to be on vacation, Sarah Booth and Tinkie agree that they can’t just let someone spoil the Elvis festivities in this way, so agree to take on the case.

They regret it almost instantly. Reality TV star Grace is a handful, and not opposed to lying to make herself look good. Worse, she has dozens of enemies, largely due to her high-handed nature around town and on her show. Anyone could have wanted to take her down a peg or two by stealing the belt. But when events take a deadly turn, Sarah Booth and Tinkie will have to start investigating who might hate Grace enough to kill:

QUOTE
While everyone else was busy, I ducked behind the thick curtains with Robbie and went to the back of the stage. There were ropes and levers and mechanical things used to set lights or bring the curtains up and down. There were moving dollies to change scenery. A longing for the stage hit me hard. I loved the trappings of the theater, but I was looking for something in particular. What I found was a pulley with a bit of severed rope still on it. I picked up the end of the rope. The rope was cleanly cut, except for one bit that was frayed.
END QUOTE

With foul play clearly afoot on what should be the most wonderful time of the year, will Sarah Booth be able to figure out whodunnit before someone gets hurt for real?

Series fans and Elvis fans will be rooting for Sarah Booth and co to get to the bottom of this mystery, and bring the thief and wannabe killer to justice. This was actually my first experience with the protagonist’s namesake series, and I was struck by how lovely and warm-hearted she and her friends are in defending and celebrating the differences of others. The twenty-eighth book of the series showcases its diverse main characters with both charm and aplomb. I was rooting for them all, but especially for theater-loving Sarah, whose complex background lends her a wonderfully relatable depth and humanity.

Try as they might, Sarah Booth and Tinkie cannot make it through one Christmas getaway without stumbling upon a case. They are in Tupelo for the Elvis impersonators Christmas event when an expensive replica of his famous belt is stolen from the arena where the events are being held. The owner is beside herself and even more so when she discovers the belt was not covered by insurance because her premium was not paid.

This is but the start of a complex series of relationships that swirl around the owner who hires them to find her belt. Rehearsing and performing in a couple of the contests proves less of a hindrance than the scarcity of truth in Tupelo. They are told assorted stories. Whom to believe when everyone lies, including their client. Luckily, they have their intrepid posse who help investigate. Her boyfriend Colman also needs to get involves because the local police do not seem to be doing anything to help solve the mystery.

I just love the Deep South feel of this series. The characters are interesting and the story is always entertaining. Five purrs and two paws up.

Blue Christmas Bones is a fun cozy mystery centering around an Elvis-themed Christmas festival in Tupelo. When an invaluable jewel-encrusted Elvis belt is stolen from a local socialite-become-Hollywood-reality star, Sarah Booth Delaney and her friends are determined to quickly solve the case before their much-earned Christmas vacation is ruined. With a snarky, uncooperative client, Sarah Booth faces not only a frustrating mystery but also a vacation filled with drama, angst, Elvis-music, and the threat of murder. Overall, Blue Christmas Bones was a nice, holiday cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Carolyn Haines for providing this advance reader copy (ARC) of the story. I'm providing my honest review below.

As this is book 28 in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series the author must have a devoted following. This is my first encounter with the writer and series and it's a shame that I don't feel the same way. I never clicked with the characters, found myself apathetic. I liked the book PR blurb about the Elvis Christmas festival in Tupelo, I'm from Memphis so Elvis is always fun. Even an abundance of Elvi couldn't keep me turning pages. I began to skip around to speed up the story. Going over and over the same information discovered with the same formula wasn't entertaining but convoluted which became tiresome; I skipped a few chapters and found I hadn't missed much action. I did appreciate the Elvis themed events and Sippi, what a lovely image I came up with in my mind.

#NetGalley #BlueChristmasBones #CarolynHaines #MinotaurBooks #SarahBoothDelaney #mysteryseries #Elvisfestivle #murdermystery

It is Elvis mania in Tupelo, Mississippi this Christmas in Blue Christmas Bones. And best friends Sarah Booth and Tinkie are here for all of it.

With Elvis impersonators everywhere, a replica of the belt from his famous white jumpsuit is on display. The belt was crafted with $3 million worth of jewels and gold so security cameras and armed guards are on hand to protect it. Alas, it is somehow stolen anyway.

As co-owners of the Delaney Detective Agency, Sarah Booth and Tinkie, who really just want a fun vacation, are roped into the investigation. With no help from the at best incompetent, and at worst crooked, local sheriff, they must hurry to find the belt before it is broken up and sold. Their only lead is a creepy Colonel Parker lookalike lurking around.

Put on a comfy Christmas sweater, Elvis pompadour is optional, and just roll with this improbable but humorous cozy mystery. Reading Blue Christmas Bones is a unique and enjoyable way to get in a holiday mood. 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.

Carolyn Haines’ Blue Christmas Bones delivers a delightful mix of Southern charm, holiday cheer, and a rock n’ roll mystery that’s perfect for fans of lighthearted whodunits. In this festive installment of the Sarah Booth Delaney series, our sassy Mississippi private investigator and her trusty partner, Tinkie, are swept into a high-stakes heist during the Elvis Festival in Tupelo. The theft of a priceless, jewel-encrusted Elvis belt sends them on a wild chase, and the setting, complete with Elvis impersonators and Southern hospitality, makes for a fun and quirky backdrop.

Sarah Booth is as witty and tenacious as ever, and the holiday spirit adds a festive twist to her sleuthing adventures. The colorful cast of characters, from die-hard Elvis fans to eccentric festival-goers, adds humor and intrigue to the story. The introduction of bizarre clues—including a supposed sighting of Elvis’s long-deceased manager, Colonel Tom Parker—keeps the plot lively and unpredictable. Haines' signature Southern wit and the close-knit friendships of the main characters add warmth to the mystery, making it more than just a straightforward crime-solving romp.

While Blue Christmas Bones is a thoroughly entertaining read, the mystery itself unfolds at a somewhat leisurely pace, and some of the side characters feel a bit underdeveloped. However, the lighthearted tone, holiday setting, and Elvis-themed fun more than make up for it, making this a perfect cozy mystery for fans of Southern sleuths and holiday hijinks. It's an enjoyable escape that’ll leave readers tapping their feet to the King’s tunes and eagerly anticipating Sarah Booth’s next adventure.

All your favorite characters. A twisty mystery. Holiday hijinks. Humor, love, and heart. What more can you ask for? A new book in this series is like a visit with old friends.

Blue Christmas Bones by Carolyn Haines is a Sarah Booth Delany book and as usual is quite good, but very convoluted. Lots going on. Sarah Booth, Tinkie, two friends are in Tupelo for the Christmas Elvis impersonators’ festival. There are Elvises everywhere and a few Pricillas and Colonel Tome Parkers as well. It was a heady time. The men and Tinkie’s baby were going to join them in a couple of days for an actual vacation. Also with them was Jitty, Sarah Booth’s ghost. Almost immediately there is a crime: a local woman named Grace Land (true) had a replica of Elvis’ jeweled belt made and it was on display. Then, it was gone. It was reputed to be worth three million dollars. And there was no shortage of suspects, including the owner, herself. It was several days of running around, not really knowing what to look for. It could not be sold as is: it was too well-known. It could be broken down and the gold melted and all resold.

Sarah Booth and Tinkie are an unstoppable pair who can weasel their way into any building, conversation, or situation. It is always amusing to follow them around. Tinkie having the baby hadn’t changed much as Oscar was a doting father who did his share, much to Sarah Booth’s amazement. It was an entertaining book, full of relationships and juxtapositions of relationships. These people seemed to have no sense, Sarah Booth thought. They did solve the crime and managed to enjoy moments of vacation before they all had to return home. It was a fun read, full of fun personalities and plenty of twists and turns. Good book. Aren’t they all?

I was invited to read Blue Christmas Bones by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #CarolynHaines #BlueChristmasBones

Sarah Booth and her friends are celebrating at the annual Elvis festival in Tupelo, MS. But before the revelry can get underway, a priceless jewel-encrusted belt once belonging to Elvis is stolen from its display case, and Sarah Booth and Tinkie are roped into one of the biggest heists in the history of Mississippi.

Being a Mississippi girl, I enjoyed so much about this tale. I loved the setting of Tupelo…I just live down the road. And of course, how could you not love Sarah Booth Delaney. She is one of my favorite characters.

Once again, Carolyn Haines has nailed it! This is adorable and entertaining. Add in the Elvis stuff…from impersonators to the music…and you have a charming holiday yarn!

Need a blue Christmas tale…this is it! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.