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Sarah Booth Delaney #15.5
Jingle Bones
Jingle Bones, an e-original Christmas story featuring Mississippi PI Sarah Booth Delaney, offers all the Southern charm and zany adventure Carolyn Haines's fans have come to expect--and more.
Sarah Booth just wants the perfect Christmas holiday. Even with the dissolution of her engagement, she refuses to lose her Christmas spirit. But when Theodora Prince--an ex classmate and current Pastor's wife--comes calling with a year-old case and cash upfront, Sarah Booth must find the truth about the boys who ruined last year's Christmas pageant in time to stop them from doing it again.
Sarah Booth just wants the perfect Christmas holiday. Even with the dissolution of her engagement, she refuses to lose her Christmas spirit. But when Theodora Prince--an ex classmate and current Pastor's wife--comes calling with a year-old case and cash upfront, Sarah Booth must find the truth about the boys who ruined last year's Christmas pageant in time to stop them from doing it again.
53 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 13, 2015
183 people are currently reading
628 people want to read
About the author
Carolyn Haines
111 books1,566 followersCarolyn 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
September 2, 2021
Sarah Booth a PI for the Delaney Detection wants nothing more than to celebrate Christmas eve with her many friends, potential love interest, and ghosts that haunt her mansion. But a few days before the event an old classmate, Theodora Prince, currently the pastor's wife comes to her desperate for help. She wants Sarah to find out who stole the baby Jesus doll from the Christmas display a year before and save this year's Christmas pageant by kicking them out of the event. Everyone knows who did it, the con artist/serial killers in the making, the twins Heathcliff and Lord-Darcy Rush, who are constantly pulling damaging and dangerous "pranks" on everyone in town, but they can't prove it. Sarah and her partner Tinkie set out to get a confession and the doll back. But soon after their success Theodora goes missing and everyone suspects the Rush boys and the pastor isn't too keen on getting her back.
Short, simple, and to the point with zany characters and humor this was a nice slice of life read.
The only drawback I have is that even if this is a short cozy mystery the clearly deadly twins face no consequences for their actions. is not something I enjoy.
Short, simple, and to the point with zany characters and humor this was a nice slice of life read.
The only drawback I have is that even if this is a short cozy mystery the clearly deadly twins face no consequences for their actions. is not something I enjoy.
April 15, 2022
Cracked me up!
December 27, 2021
https://openbooksociety.com/article/j...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
To start off the holiday season I picked up Jingle Bones by Carolyn Haines in order to satisfy my passion for Christmas mixed with my enjoyment of cozy mysteries. Jingle Bones is the 15.5 book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series and the first book by this author that I have read.
The book begins with Sarah gathering cedar for homemade garlands. A definite holiday vibe! I could just visualize Sarah on her horse, Reveler, gathering the cedar… As Sarah approached Dahlia House (the family home), she noticed that a black sedan was approaching the home. The driver was Theodora Prince, wife of the minister of the Final Harvest Church. She came to see if Sarah (a PI) could track down enough evidence to name one of the Rush children as the hellion who stole the baby Jesus from the crèche at the prior years’ Christmas pageant. Theodora was hoping to ban the Rush children from the pageant this year but without proof from the prior year’s mishap – nothing could be done.
To begin with, the premise had me chuckling to no end. Trying to get enough evidence on a couple of young “hoodlums” from their shenanigans the prior year was just too funny. Surprisingly, Sarah takes on the case and her reward is a wad of cash big enough to fund her very own Christmas gala! There is also the local resident ‘haint’ (a type of ghost or evil spirit from the Carolina coast), Jitty, who is on hand to watch over (and boss) Sarah.
One item that has me pausing on this story…the twins’ behaviour and the lack of repercussions for their really bad actions – SPOILERS – the boys managed to injure (or kill or kidnap) a person or two, use of explosives which caused a car to crash, abusive to animals (boo!!!), etc. Where were the parents are why were there no consequences for what these two boys did? Money and youth should not excuse such horrific behaviour, at least in my mind.
Case or cases were solved, a bit of romance and a number of chuckles. Basically (except for my tirade above) – an enjoyable novella with a holiday theme to get the reader in the mood for the holiday season.
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
To start off the holiday season I picked up Jingle Bones by Carolyn Haines in order to satisfy my passion for Christmas mixed with my enjoyment of cozy mysteries. Jingle Bones is the 15.5 book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series and the first book by this author that I have read.
The book begins with Sarah gathering cedar for homemade garlands. A definite holiday vibe! I could just visualize Sarah on her horse, Reveler, gathering the cedar… As Sarah approached Dahlia House (the family home), she noticed that a black sedan was approaching the home. The driver was Theodora Prince, wife of the minister of the Final Harvest Church. She came to see if Sarah (a PI) could track down enough evidence to name one of the Rush children as the hellion who stole the baby Jesus from the crèche at the prior years’ Christmas pageant. Theodora was hoping to ban the Rush children from the pageant this year but without proof from the prior year’s mishap – nothing could be done.
To begin with, the premise had me chuckling to no end. Trying to get enough evidence on a couple of young “hoodlums” from their shenanigans the prior year was just too funny. Surprisingly, Sarah takes on the case and her reward is a wad of cash big enough to fund her very own Christmas gala! There is also the local resident ‘haint’ (a type of ghost or evil spirit from the Carolina coast), Jitty, who is on hand to watch over (and boss) Sarah.
One item that has me pausing on this story…the twins’ behaviour and the lack of repercussions for their really bad actions – SPOILERS – the boys managed to injure (or kill or kidnap) a person or two, use of explosives which caused a car to crash, abusive to animals (boo!!!), etc. Where were the parents are why were there no consequences for what these two boys did? Money and youth should not excuse such horrific behaviour, at least in my mind.
Case or cases were solved, a bit of romance and a number of chuckles. Basically (except for my tirade above) – an enjoyable novella with a holiday theme to get the reader in the mood for the holiday season.
November 18, 2022
I am a big fan of this series and am trying to catch up on the novellas. I'm not a big fan of them in general because they're very short and just as you feel like the story is hitting its stride, it's over. Still, I do enjoy visiting with Sarah Booth, Tinkie, and the others (I'm a little sick of Jitty) and this story got me in the Christmas spirit.
February 24, 2024
This was a short, funny read that had me cracking up. The chaos in this story was hilarious and you could feel the hectic scene like you were watching it really unfold. I listed to the audio version and the narrator helped seal the deal with her performance. She conveyed the chaos, attitudes, and setting very well. This was my first Sarah Booth read and I’ve already picked up the Valentine’s one to read for a Feb holiday read.
The one liners and quirky characters were enjoyable and it’s more of a fun read than a mystery.
Small spoiler below:
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
I get some reviewers points about the horrible delinquent brats and their wealthy mother buying their way out of trouble, but I didn’t get that impression. I got the impression these were the town delinquents with a bratty mother who thought they were untouchable and that the southern women in this story would’ve given these boys some justice if it was just simple pranks. In the end though, given the severity of their crimes, they were headed to some harsher justice finally as the town had proof of their crimes and their delinquent reign of terror was over. I also don’t take some aspects of their crimes lightly, like the car crash, the kidnap, ruining the pageant, but I don’t think the story was meant to really convey anyone in horrible danger, animal abuse, attempted murder, etc. It was more to showcase the comical chaos these heathens caused, targeting the town church bully with a happy ending of the bad guys got caught and handled. The ending left me with complete confidence these two monsters were going to jail for a while for their actions and no one was seriously hurt other than the crabby judgy Janet pageant directors tongue and pride.
Overall worth the listen or read for a short, fun, holiday chaos read.
The one liners and quirky characters were enjoyable and it’s more of a fun read than a mystery.
Small spoiler below:
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
I get some reviewers points about the horrible delinquent brats and their wealthy mother buying their way out of trouble, but I didn’t get that impression. I got the impression these were the town delinquents with a bratty mother who thought they were untouchable and that the southern women in this story would’ve given these boys some justice if it was just simple pranks. In the end though, given the severity of their crimes, they were headed to some harsher justice finally as the town had proof of their crimes and their delinquent reign of terror was over. I also don’t take some aspects of their crimes lightly, like the car crash, the kidnap, ruining the pageant, but I don’t think the story was meant to really convey anyone in horrible danger, animal abuse, attempted murder, etc. It was more to showcase the comical chaos these heathens caused, targeting the town church bully with a happy ending of the bad guys got caught and handled. The ending left me with complete confidence these two monsters were going to jail for a while for their actions and no one was seriously hurt other than the crabby judgy Janet pageant directors tongue and pride.
Overall worth the listen or read for a short, fun, holiday chaos read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2020
Private investigator Sara Booth Delaney is looking forward to a perfect Christmas. But when a former classmate who just happens to be the pastor's wife asks her to investigate the boys who ruined last year's Christmas pageant so that they won't have the chance to do it again, she can't say no.
This is a madcap mystery filled with southern charm that only took me a half hour or so to read. kate Forbes is the perfect narrator! What a delightful way to spend part of an afternoon.
This is a madcap mystery filled with southern charm that only took me a half hour or so to read. kate Forbes is the perfect narrator! What a delightful way to spend part of an afternoon.
May 9, 2023
a short story (53 pages) this is the beginning of Sarah Booth and Coleman's romance and set at Christmas with the hi jinx of a chaotic Christmas Pageant at Church and a kidnapping live animals and 2 little terrors stealing the show Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie are asked to find out what happened to the Baby Jesus doll that was taken from the Creche LAST Christmas. When they do all heck breaks loose and hi jinx ensue a cute quick short story to make you laugh
December 21, 2019
Jingle. Bones by Carolyn Haines
(A Sara Booth Delaney novella) (Rb Digital Audiobook Librarybook). It’s Christmas time in Zinnia and the Delaney Detection agency is hired yo find out who stole the baby Jesus doll from the church pageant last year. The ending of this novella is super funny and a great read.
(A Sara Booth Delaney novella) (Rb Digital Audiobook Librarybook). It’s Christmas time in Zinnia and the Delaney Detection agency is hired yo find out who stole the baby Jesus doll from the church pageant last year. The ending of this novella is super funny and a great read.
December 30, 2018
Jingle Bones
I love Sarah Booth and her antics. I am finally glad to see that she and Coleman are FINALLY getting together. It's been long enough. Can't wait to see what happens next.
I love Sarah Booth and her antics. I am finally glad to see that she and Coleman are FINALLY getting together. It's been long enough. Can't wait to see what happens next.
November 29, 2019
Fun a d funny
Fun and funny but too short. Christmas day and everything goes wrong at the pageant. Tinky and Sarah Booth are hired to investigate a missing Jesus baby and mayhem follows.
Fun and funny but too short. Christmas day and everything goes wrong at the pageant. Tinky and Sarah Booth are hired to investigate a missing Jesus baby and mayhem follows.
December 14, 2020
Fun Christmas Romp
This is an upbeat novella that reads in about an hour or so. I've never read a book in this series before, so I didn't know the backstory that is obviously familiar to regular readers. It doesn't matter, though, because the story is so much fun.
This is an upbeat novella that reads in about an hour or so. I've never read a book in this series before, so I didn't know the backstory that is obviously familiar to regular readers. It doesn't matter, though, because the story is so much fun.
December 28, 2020
Nobody can out do Carolyn Haines and Zinnia, Mississippi
Another great Sarah Booth Delaney story! I am not sure who I love the best - Sweetie Pie or Chablis! This is a lovely short story with all of the crew. You will laugh your heads off!!
Another great Sarah Booth Delaney story! I am not sure who I love the best - Sweetie Pie or Chablis! This is a lovely short story with all of the crew. You will laugh your heads off!!
January 3, 2024
This was great, but it's not fair to tell me a book is 53 pages, and then it turns out to only be 19 --- with an excerpt from another book. Those rotten kids were awful. I would have hot shotted them and their worthless Mother until the batteries ran out...
December 26, 2018
For a short story, this was good. Had it been a novel, it probably would have gotten 3 stars, but since short stories are rarely of anything near the same quality (for me), I gave this one 4.
February 22, 2019
Another enjoyable story in this fun, long-running series.
March 11, 2019
Very short but fun.
September 25, 2019
Great short mystery read!!
Love this author and her characters. Can't wait to read the next book. The Sarah Booth Delaney series is a fantastic find.
Love this author and her characters. Can't wait to read the next book. The Sarah Booth Delaney series is a fantastic find.
February 13, 2020
Funny
I liked this one it was super funny haha ready to read the next installment. Obsessed with this series :)
I liked this one it was super funny haha ready to read the next installment. Obsessed with this series :)
May 27, 2020
The Christmas pageant director brings Sarah a nd Tinkie a small case of humor and horror to solve.
June 7, 2020
A ripping good yarn and a slam bang finish about a church's Christmas pagent mirroring a Little Rascals or Laurel & Hardy movie. What's not to like?
December 14, 2020
Chaotic.
December 17, 2020
Good read
Good read. I enjoyed this short story of Christmas Pageant .I recommend for a fun quick read. Funny ,witty characters.
Good read. I enjoyed this short story of Christmas Pageant .I recommend for a fun quick read. Funny ,witty characters.
December 27, 2020
Cute novella for the holidays. I have enjoyed every one of these Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries that I've read. This was cute and light.
December 28, 2020
Loved the little story of Christmas and mystery. Always enjoy Ms. Haines books.
January 1, 2021
Sorry but not worth the hour.
January 3, 2021
A wild and fun Christmas
Sarah is busy making Christmas fun for a whole town while fighting the interference of a couple of little houdlums
Sarah is busy making Christmas fun for a whole town while fighting the interference of a couple of little houdlums
October 4, 2021
This was the first book I've read by this author. I should have started with book 1. There were too many names thrown in at the beginning and hints of missing backstories to make this much of a book.
January 21, 2022
When a story makes me laugh, it gets 5 stars.
December 27, 2022
Hilarious Christmas adventure.
October 28, 2024
Need a quick read, and this fit the bill! It was ok.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews