This and That with Karen : Lady of Bones by Carolyn Haines

Jun 6, 2022

Lady of Bones by Carolyn Haines

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Lady of Bones" by Carolyn Haines the 24th instalment in the "A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery" series which releases on June 14th.

Carolyn Haines's Lady of Bones is the next novel in the series that Kirkus Reviews characterizes as “Stephanie Plum meets the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” featuring sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney.

It’s Halloween season in Mississippi as Sarah Booth and the gang gather to decorate and gush over Tinkie’s new baby, Maylin. Sarah Booth is just about to refresh the cocktails when she hears a knock on the door and opens it to find a woman named Frankie, distraught at the disappearance of her daughter Christa, a young journalist. Christa had been investigating the disappearance of young women in New Orleans over a five-year period—one every year around Halloween. Now Christa herself is missing, and Frankie fears it may be connected to a cult based in the Garden District, called People of Eternity.

People of Eternity are known to have far-reaching connections which Frankie worries may reach as high as law enforcement. Refusing to contact the authorities, she turns to Delaney Detective Agency as her only hope.

Despite initial reservations, Sarah Booth accepts the case, which takes her on a journey to a secret underworld of beguiling cult leaders, witchcraft, and potentially human sacrifice. She’ll have to keep her wits about her if she wants to crack this case…and make it home alive.

I always enjoy visiting with Sarah and Tinkie it’s like coming home to old friends. Sarah Booth is a strong and intelligent protagonist and all the characters are fully developed. I liked that it was a glimpse into human trafficking/abduction, and the overall occult feeling in NOLA especially during Halloween.

The inclusion of her haint (Dahlia House's ghost Jetty) always brings a chuckle as i can imagine what Sarah looks like talking to herself. Although Jetty seemed to be out to scare Sarah more than anything this time.

There were plenty of twists and turns and lots of suspects to choose from to keep you intrigued. I found this book to be a real page-turner, suspenseful, read that had me second guessing up till the end.

I’m looking forward to the next instalment Bones of Holly where Sarah Booth and Tinkie, along with baby Maylin, are in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi for Christmas this year, as judges for the annual library tree decorating contest. Releasing in October 2022.

I highly recommend this book and series to all my cozy mystery friends.