Bonefire of the Vanities

Sarah Booth Delaney #12

by Carolyn Haines

Despite the wishes of her overprotective fiancé, Sarah Booth Delaney can't give up her detective work, no matter how dangerous it becomes. It's too much a part of her. On this case, avoiding danger might be impossible—she's on the trail of a porn-star-turned-psychic operating from a haunted estate on the edge of town. Medium Sherry Cameron promises to reunite grieving family members with their dearly departed, but it seems vaguely suspicious that Sherry will only accept emotionally vulnerable and tremendously wealthy clients. Aging billionaire Marjorie Littlefield fits the profile perfectly—her daughter died in a tragic accident as a young girl, she's been estranged from her son for decades, and she's planning to leave her considerable inheritance to her cat.

Convinced she's uncovered a scheme to separate a lonely woman from her fortune, Sarah Booth talks her way onto the estate as a maid, where she finds Marjorie and several other wealthy eccentrics ready to commune with the dead. Between chores, Sarah Booth explores the estate, mingles with the other staff…and finds a few dead bodies. But which guest or staff member might be the killer? Even Jitty, Sarah Booth's personal haint, won't tell until Sarah Booth has uncovered all of Sherry's well-kept secrets.

With spooks and charlatans around every corner, Sarah Booth is the only PI in the southlands who can put an end to this elaborate scam in Bonefire of the Vanities, the charming twelfth entry in Carolyn Haines's sparkling series.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Paranormal, Cozy, Humor, Southern

339 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Carolyn Haines is the USA Today bestselling author of over 70 books. In 2020, she was inducted into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame. She was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Alabama Library Association, the Harper Lee Award for Distinguished Writing, the Richard Wright Award for Literary Excellence, as well as the "Best Amateur Sleuth" award by Romantic Times. Born and raised in Mississippi, she now lives in Alabama on a farm with more dogs, cats, and horses than she can possibly keep track of.

Reviews

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

In this 12th book in the 'Sarah Booth Delaney' series, private detectives Sarah Booth Delaney and Tinkie Richmond try to protect a rich elderly woman from being fleeced by fake psychics. The book can be read as a standalone, but familiarity with the characters is a plus.

*****

Marjorie Littlefield - an immensely wealthy, older woman - is haunted by the death of her daughter Mariam many years ago. Marjorie is especially troubled because she suspects her son Chasley may have drowned his sister. Thus, Marjorie plans to leave her fortune to her cat Pluto.



Desperate to ask Mariam what really happened on the day she died Marjorie has fallen under the influence of Brandy and Sherry Westin, a mother-daughter duo who hold seances. During these sessions Sherry supposedly contacts spirits of the dead.



To hold these spiritual encounters the Westins run a kind of spa/psychic retreat/business conference where their rich clients are held almost incommunicado with the outside world.



Enter Sarah Booth and Tinkie, private detectives who are hired to check out the Westins and protect Marjorie from being fleeced. They pose as Marjorie's maids to get into the retreat, and big trouble ensues.



People at the retreat die and disappear under suspicious circumstances, and almost everyone there behaves oddly. Plenty for the gals to investigate. Meanwhile, Sarah Booth and Tinkie are under pressure in their private lives because Sarah's fiancé (Graf) and Tinkie's husband (Oscar) object to their dangerous line of work.

It's an interesting premise but the book is disappointing. The characters are not well-rounded and not believable, and some of the regulars in the series are hardly present at all. In addition, the story is filled with unlikely plot contrivances: wealthy guests remain at a retreat where people are being murdered left and right; a stiff elderly butler and an obnoxious young cook engage in sado-masochistic sex; Marjorie allows Chasley - who she dislikes and distrusts - to stay in her suite; Graf and Oscar disguise themselves to lend a hand in the investigation, and so on.



One big problem with the story is that the Westins are a shrewd team. They could - in two seconds - google Sarah Booth, Tinkie, Graf, and Oscar to discover they're all imposters. Also the motives for the crimes are murky and the solution is unlikely. Finally, the end of the book strains credulity to breaking point.

One mildly amusing touch is Sarah Booth's personal 'haint'(ghost) Jitty - who shows up periodically impersonating a variety of private detectives from books and movies.



I've read several books in this series that were pretty good, but this isn't one of them.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

For several months, this series has been a reliable source of what I call “insomniac” books. Insomniac books are a unique breed. The plot and characters must be interesting enough to entertain me during some long nights when sleep evades me completely but simple enough that, if I do fall asleep while listening, it is easy to backtrack later and and recognize the spot where I dozed off.

Cozy mystery series usually fit the bill perfectly. This series has begun to veer away from the ideal formula. The sinister and paranormal mood of books #11 and #12 was definitely not conducive to sleep — quite the opposite, in fact. Psychopaths and séances don’t really relax me. I found myself lying in bed, wide awake and “stiff as a board” as the saying goes and, when sleep did come, awaking from weird dreams with my heart pounding.

I have decided not to take a chance on “lucky (book) 13” and to bid farewell to PI Extraordinaire Sarah Booth Delaney and her sidekick (and BFF) Tinkie Richmond. It’s been fun, ladies. Thanks for the good times!

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun read. Sarah Booth and her partner, Tinkie, pretend to be maids to help their newest client. The client, Marjorie Littlefield, wants to talk to her dead daughter and has gone to a place that is run by a woman who claims she connect with the dead. Everyone gets involved in this case including Graf and Oscar. They are assisted by a cat, Pluto who protects certain people by attacking people. The book was a quick easy read.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast and fun read with Carolyn Haines' Sarah Booth Delaney. I really enjoy this series.

[Jessica Sinn (Books and Trouble) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I liked most: The creepy atmosphere. Confession – there are some parts in this book that really raised the little hairs on the back of my neck. I didn’t expect Carolyn Haines to creep me out with one of her cozy little Bones mysteries, but she never ceases to surprise me! Some of the happenings in the psychic reading room, located in the bellows of the resort, were really spooky. This particular scene gave me some serious goosebumps:

A soft moaning emanated from the end of the hallway. My mind leaped instantly to the classics of horror written by Edgar Allan Poe. This was a moment the melancholy master would employ to great effect. Corpse in the wall, living person in a coffin, pendulum. Black cat!

Favorite secondary character: This mystery series is packed with a slew of colorful characters – from a sassy transgender reporter to a local resident psychic to a Southern belle best friend. But of all the eclectic characters, Jitty is my fave. The resident ghost of Sarah Booth’s beloved Dahlia house, Jitty has a way of making surprise appearances in unexpected places. Half the fun of the mystery is trying to make sense out of her cryptic riddles.

The romance: Yes, the romantic tension between Sarah Booth and her actor fiancé Graf Milieu, is pretty hot, but I still hope in my heart of hearts that she gets back together with Cole. They’re destined to be together, but whenever they find a happy place a stupid wrench gets thrown in the works. In Cole’s case, the wrench is his psychotic, control freak ex-wife. But being the Southern gentleman that he is, Cole must always save the perpetual damsel in distress whenever she has a meltdown. Ugh! That kind of thing can really wear on a girl, so I don’t blame Sarah Booth for calling it quits. But hopefully someday, they’ll find their way back into each other’s arms!

This book is best paired with: A super-sweet glass of iced tea and a Rosanne Cash playlist.

Overall: As I expected, Carolyn Haines delivers a tightly-plotted mystery filled with rollicking adventures, loveable characters, four-legged sidekicks and surprise twists! I’m really good at pinpointing the killer, but this author always gets me at the end! Of all the cozy mystery series out there, this is my absolute favorite. That says a lot because I read a TON of mysteries! The author’s love of the Mississippi Delta clearly comes through in her writing. I can smell the earthy scent of red dirt roads, see the sun sparkling through the moss-covered trees, and hear the humming of cicadas on a hot summer’s day. Oh how I love Southern fiction!

Hop on over to my blog, Chick Lit Cafe for the full review!http://loonachicklit.wordpress.com/

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seances, murders and a cat. Oh my!, July 26, 2012
By Ellen Rappaport (Florida)
This review is from: Bonefire of the Vanities (Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries) (Hardcover)
This is my 12th book in the Carolyn Haines Bones series. Why do I continue reading every one of these books? Well...when they are so well written and more than interesting ...how could I not continue reading them. This latest in the Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries was no exception.

Sarah Booth Delaney and her bff Tinkey (and partner P.I) have been requested by Madam Tomeeka aka Tammy to guard Marjorie Littlefield from harm. It appears Marjorie is staying with the Westins, Brandy & Sherry, at an eerie estate, Heart's Desire. Heart's Desire has a long history and most of it is quite dark and only getting darker. Sarah Booth and Tinkie set out under the guise of being maids for Marjorie. How long being a maid will last with Tinkie....your guess is as good as mine!

Strange happenings start to occur as soon as they enter the gloomy estate. Sarah Booth is going to investigate every last inch of this isolated dwelling and that's when things get rough. Well-"Lazarus on a trapeze" that shouldn't stop our girl sarah Booth.

I just had to laugh when jitty would show up as Nancy drew, Agatha Christie and so many other sleuths. What a fun haint. I also appreciate the way C.H. has worked out the comradery between Coleman, Graf and Sarah Booth.

I loved going back to Dahlia house and going on another journey with Sarah Booth and Tinkie. Love this series and appreciate the author taking the time to write such an interesting story with substance rather than churning out one shallow book after another in short order. Well worth the wait.
Thank you Carolyn.

My final note of thanks to the author for her love of animals and making them part of the story.

I highly recommend this book and this series to all lovers of good mysteries.
Ellen

[Mb Gokee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each year, I anxiously await Carolyn Haines' next Bones book. This 12th book in her series certainly didn't disappoint me! I wait for the book launches like I await a dear friend whom I only get to visit with once a year. I sit down with, sorry Sarah Booth, a cup of hot tea, devour the book, and then am saddened that I won't visit Zinnia for another year! I really liked that Jitty, Sarah Booth's haint, encouraged her to be a bit more independent this time around. It blended wonderfully with the compromising that Tinkie's AND Sarah Booth's men did...great growth on the character's part, this time around. The setting, borrowing eccentric con artists from the Big Easy, was masterful, since everyone in Mississippi knows, we all loved to be around New Orleans folks for inspiration! There was redemption amidst all the conning and chaos, leaving me with the feeling I'd like to see some of these minor characters again. And I can't wait for the B & O ball!!!

Carolyn always does such a fun job of making us all want to have a drink and set out on the veranda watching her animals. But Pluto was a welcome addition to her four-legged crew. Having become a cat person because my dog chose one, I totally felt that Carolyn pegged the brilliant cat. I believe she may have had Jitty come spy on mine!!!

This book, by far, made me like Sarah Booth's fiance, Graf, more than ever. So far, I've been rooting for her to end up with Sheriff Coleman, or even perhaps her buddy at the bank. But this story gave Graf a deeper place, a more human, man who may actually treat SB like she deserves to be treated, even if she's not a traditional DG. I enjoyed that.

As always, Carolyn left me wanting more, sad to leave my Bones friends, and wishing I was back in MS hanging out, riding horses and getting into mischief.
Mbg

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Booth Delaney never plans to put herself or those she loves in harms way. It just sort of happens. She has the best of intentions each time she takes on a case. If only her fiance Graf could understand that...or at least let her try to explain. Still, she can't wait around forever for Graf to come to his senses. She has bills to pay, a family home to care for, as well as a slough of animals that depend on her. So, when her friend Tammy Odom (aka Madame Tomeeka) comes tearing into Dahlia House begging Sarah Booth to take on the case of her friend and client, Marjorie Littlefield, Sarah Booth agrees. After all, it should be a simple process. All Sarah Booth and her partner, Tinkie, have to do is pretend to be Marjorie's personal maids, infiltrate a cult pretending to commune with the dead and purporting to plan to use the power and wealth of it's members to take over the world and change it for the better, and convince Marjorie that the entire thing is just a scam to get her money. The problem, Marjorie truly believes she will be able to speak with her long departed daughter and find out once and for all weather Marjorie's son, Chasley, was actually responsible for his little sister's death, well, that and a couple of murders that occur while Sarah Booth and Tinkie are on the job. Throw in a cast of cookie characters including a cleaver happy chef, a butler with a fetish for S&M, and a twenty pound fearless feline, and classic Sarah Booth Delaney hilarity ensues. Possibly one of the funniest books of the series so far, "Bonefire of the Vanities" does not disappoint. Great writing, an interesting plot, well developed characters, and plenty of humor mixed with heartfelt emotion. A stellar book in a stellar series.

[Bonnie McHenry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carolyn Haines never let's me down with her Sarah Booth Delaney series! A great mixture of a loving friendship/co-workers relationship, a love for animals, a loyalty to family history, a great supporting cast of characters and a spooky plot grab me every time. Plus, a love story that, yes, has its ups and downs, but always finds a way through in the end. A few surprises centering around the solving of the mystery was a wonderful twist! More of Aunt Loulane's " one liner" words to live by just seemed to touch more on the fact of how family is so important to Sarah Booth. I also loved how Jitty the Daliha House ghost, appeared as several different sleuths. Lastly, I am finally happy with the turn Coleman and Sarah Booth relationship has taken. Mutual respect, having each others back and genuine "friendship" love! A must read.

[Darcy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure if it is me or if it is the book, but I am getting a little tired of the antics in these books. It seems to be the same with all the books. Sarah Booth and Tinkie end up in some kind of mystery where they get hurt, their men get all up in arms and mad at them, but they just keep going on.

That is pretty much what happens in this one, only Graf and Oscar got tired of complaining on the sidelines and they take an active role. This just lead to more crazy antics. I liked that they got into the action rather than complain, but it did make things seem off.

It seemed like all the side characters made an appearance too, all of them jumping in to help Sarah Booth and Tinkie.

As to the mystery, it was easy to figure out, but I didn't really expect the twist at the end.

[Deborah Whipp · Rating 1 out of 5]

CNF. This was so bad and so irritating, it made me stop reading the series. One of the main premises is that a wealthy woman staying at a posh estate where she could consult with psychics, would need TWO maids to assist her. She likes her cat better than her son and appears bipolar when dealing with the hired detectives - grateful one second then bitchy the next. The plot was ridiculous and the book seemed tediously long before I quit reading. I have read all the others in this series and mostly enjoyed them, but it was as if this was written by a different author - very disappointing.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite of the series so far, mostly because the humor was in full force, a little more than normal it seemed & there were ghosts too. I especially cracked up at the expressions Sarah Booth said, as in "St. Paul in a nun's habit!" Totally ridiculous, but so funny. Loved it when Jitty, the family ghost(always a favorite part of the books)showed up as women investigators a la Nancy Drew and Jessica Fletcher among others.

[Amanda Holiday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like a rollercoaster, the start is a long, slow climb up the first hill, but once over it and on the down hill side, holy cow, it moves fast. It's a mix of short up hills and long, fast, sometimes curved turns to test your ability to hold down lunch.

Sarah and Tinkie sign on to defang a con job meant to take a widows money and possessions, and prevent the widows suicide. They succeed at that job, and uncover a crooked politician, a hired assassin, and a son who murdered his sister as well as the con artist on the trail to the end while fighting from their disguise as maids held in contempt by the butler and the chef as nearly non-humans. They also save the daughter of the place's owner and the target for the contract killer.

Yowzer! Yowser! Get your tickets now to take this ride.

[Mahala Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haines is on her game in this tantalizing book about life in the Delta of Mississippi. It seems like Sarah Booth and Tinkie cannot stay out of trouble. Graf isn't speaking to Sarah Booth. Oscar is fuming at Tinkie, but they are on job. Their shenanigans left me laughing aloud at times and tense with fear in scene after scene. Once again, they find themselves in deep poo after a trip to New Orleans to gather information on a new client. Madam Tomeeka, CeCe, and Between seances, murders, drugs, a perfectly proper butler in a house of horrors, a trance or three, a "spectacular" rescue by surprise visitors to the hidden spa, the two are in fine form. Never a dull moment.

[Paula · Rating 1 out of 5]

I realize these books are written to be fun, but this goes so far out of the bounds of reality that I came away outraged more than amused. The characters were unbelievable. The plot was utterly ridiculous, and there are so many times I said . . . well, never mind what I said! Not for polite company.

SB taking the keys out of the butler's pocket while other staff is in the room?
Bouncing back from injuries as if she's a rubber-suited super hero?
The cat's repeated heroic actions?
Tinkie's variable skills on stiletto heels?
A policeman letting SB access a computer in a room he's searching for clues?

Bah!

[Taylor Williams]

I am working my way through the Sarah Booth Delaney series by Carolyn Haines and recently finished Greedy Bones, Bone Appetit, Bones of a Feather, Bonefire of the Vanities and Smarty Bones. I am really enjoying this series. The characters are fun with a few surprises, the plot keeps you guessing, and as you finish one book, you will want to pick up the next and start right in. I rarely read paranormal stories, but this one is so much fun. My library doesn’t have any of the novellas, so I have requested they get them, as I am sure they are as good as what I’ve read so far.

[Becki Basley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bonefire of the vanities by Carolyn Haines (A Sara Booth Delaney mystery) (RB Digital audiobook loan) Sara and Tinkie go undercover in this mystery book at the request one of their friends in order to prove to one of her friends clients , that this Organization called the Hearts Desire is a fraud. Undercover as personal maids to their friends client, Tinkie and Sara are off on another adventure. I honestly didn’t like this one as well as the rest of them but It was still a decent read and I’m off to the next one

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 12th book in the series and things keep rolling along. Sarah Booth and Tinkie have healed from their last brush at death and find themselves undercover at Heart’s Desire, a dubious place where seances and foul deeds occur. Although all the pieces of the puzzle were ther it took quite a while to put them together. All the main and secondary characters make an appearance including Graf and Oscar who seem to want to help rather than hinder. I enjoy this series of light reading, southern charm and sometimes implausible happenings. Fun summer reads. On to #13.

[Linda B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Southern actress turns PI. Always a fun time with her personal "ghost" showing up as literary detectives to give her advice or admonish her. This story was interesting as a former brothel owner turned exclusive, expensive spa owner tries to coax out ghosts to answer clients questions. Did I mention bondage among the servants? Conclusion of the story was different and apropos. I will probably read more in this series if I come across them.

[Whi · Rating 3 out of 5]

it's the son in cahots with the psyhics mom - perhaps sometimes moms do know sons are killers.

While the context for everyone being there, and the number of people let in, is a bit unrealistic, the setting (other than a basement in the lowcountry) is good and it is so delightful that the two men, Gaff & Tinkie's husband join in the fray.

Some hilarious scenes and dialog in this book. Enjoyable.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of my favorites in the series. The twists had me actually gasping and berating characters' stupidity in turn, and I have never been so creeped out by what I would consider to be a cozy mystery. More than made up for #10 in the series, which had me ready to give up on it. SO glad I stuck with it!

[Mary Corso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Role play and investigations

Sarah Booth and Tinkie go undercover to help a vulnerable woman who is in danger of being fleeced. A psychic, a cat, and a ghost or two round out the cast in this story. Although they do investigate, they seem more likely to Tumble onto the truth than to logic it out from clues.

[Chris Levine · Rating 1 out of 5]

What I think is that I am tired of this series, maybe it has just run it's course. As I said about the last book, these ladies are not investigators. They wouldn't solve anything if it wasn't for their friends doing all the leg work for them. And the story line always goes the same, a mystery of sorts, a murder, they get hurt or in dangerous situation, they are rescued. Yes, I'm done.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie go undercover as maids to an eccentric billionaire. They are in a haunted estate with the owners who are a former madam and her daughter. Of course, there are corpses and "ghosts", who is the murderer and are the ghosts real. Fun reading!

[Cindy Kirkland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this book for something light after the Ash Garden. It was a quick easy read. Fun and entertaining. I do have one complaint, I guess it is not a complaint but I got tired of everyone saying SARAH BOOTH. I guess its a southern thing???

[Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book! The main characters were fun, very believable, and endearing. The plot was easily followed despite all the twists and switchbacks happening, and the ending was quite satisfactory. I highly recommend this book and all the others of this series I have read.

[Tomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Too much going on, too many overlapping mysteries. And the ending really came out of nowhere, with absolutely any hint. It was almost like the author couldn't decide on a logical ending, so she threw something together.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

The occult is a part of this book but Jitty (the resident haunt of Dahlia House) is not much help to Sarah Booth or Tinkie deciding if Medium Sherry Cameron can truly connect with departed loved ones or is a fake.

[Darlene Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Great book in a great series! Funny and engaging. Keeps you guessing. Highly recommend the entire series. CNt wait for more

[D. Wickles · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first Sarah Booth Delaney mystery I tried but believe me, it won't be my last. I'm going back to start at the beginning. Great characters, love the Southern local and quirky pets.