“If only October would get here.” That’s a favorite whine of my creator, Carolyn Haines, but I have to say, I agree with her totally. The Mississippi heat and humidity are getting to me. It’s too damn hot to even get interested in a murder.
Well, maybe that’s an exaggeration. Murder is always pretty interesting, and that’s how I, Sarah Booth Delaney, make the money to pay the mortgage on my family home, Dahlia House.
I’m Mississippi bred and born, and I love the fertile farmland of the region where I live, the Mississippi Delta. Folks have said the topsoil is eight-feet deep and the richest in the world. Part of the alluvial gifts of the Mississippi River. The dark green rows of cotton are vital to a way of life I love.
I work with my partner, Tinkie Bellcase Richmond, in the Delaney Detective Agency. Our partnership is a long story. We’ve known each other since first grade, but I have to say, I’ve made a lifetime habit of underestimating Tinkie. She comes across as a ditzy blond Daddy’s Girl (well, truth be told she is blond and she is a Daddy’s Girl, but the whole ditzy thing is just an act) but she is the smartest person I know. And a true blue friend.
When it comes to friends, I’m the richest woman in the world. Tinkie and I get plenty of help with our cases from Cece Dee Falcon (who used to be Cecil, but that’s another long story) and Millie from down at the café. Millie knows all the local gossip and Cece, in her capacity as society editor for The Zinnia Dispatch, knows all the dirt on the upper crust. And believe me, in the Delta that’s some crusty crust.
I stumbled into being a P.I., but I seem to have a talent for it. So far, I’ve solved eleven cases, and all with a little help from my friends.
And Jitty keeps me in line and honest. How to explain Jitty? She’s the ghost of my great-great-grandmother’s nanny, a woman who struggled side by side with Grandma Alice to keep Dahlia House in the family after the War Between the States. Jitty is…opinionated. And beautiful. And she’s determined to make sure I produce a Delaney heir so that Dahlia House stays in the family and she has someone to haunt in the future. She won’t help me a lick with my cases, but she is on the case when romance or sex comes into the picture.
Between Jitty, my horses, my dog, and my fiancé, I have my hands full, but there’s a lot of murders going on in rural Mississippi. I have to admit, some men just need killin’, but nonetheless, justice must be served. That’s my job.
I hope you’ll join me in solving my cases. Believe me, Carolyn needs all the help she can get. She’s been wearing her backside out typing away on my next adventure, BONEFIRE OF THE VANITIES. I keep telling her to write faster, that my audience awaits! But writers, you can’t live with ‘em and you can’t live without ‘em.
Y’all have a great “last days of summer.”
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You can read more about Sarah Booth in BONES OF A FEATHER, the 11th book in the “Sarah Booth Delaney” mystery series. The first book in the series is THEM BONES.
The life and times of Sarah Booth Delaney is written by Carolyn Haines who is the author of eleven Sarah Booth Delaney Mississippi Delta mysteries. The latest (2011, St. Martin’s Minotaur) is BONES OF A FEATHER, set in the Mississippi River town of Natchez. Carolyn also writes other books and is releasing a new e-book, SKIN DANCER, about a serial killer in South Dakota who skins and decapitates poachers. For more info or to sign up for her newsletter go to www.carolynhaines.com
** Carolyn has generously offered to give away two signed hardcover copies of BONE APPÉTIT. To enter, please leave an e-mail address in your comment. One entry per person and is open to anyone with a U.S. mailing address. Deadline to enter is September 7th at 6pm EST. The winner will be chosen using a random number generator and contacted via email for mailing instructions. **
Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Hi Dru,
I’ve been reading Carolyn’s books for ages… They are funny and always have a great story line. I’d love to own a hard cover edition of “BONE APPETIT”
NoraAdrienne (at) gmail (dot) com
I love the Adventures of Sara Booth, Tinkie, Jitney and friends. Great escape book from my grad school work.
Risa
idlivru1@gmail.com
I have not read any of Sarah’s adventures and sure would love to!
nlb1050 @ yahoo.com
Thank you, Nora and Risa. I’m working on BONEFIRE OF THE VANITIES. I feel like I’ve been working on it half my life! You would think the process of writing would get easier, but I have the worst behaved characters on the planet.
What a fun series. I remember reading a book in this series that I got from the library several years ago, although do not remember the title. I am having such fun following authors and book blogs and becoming acquainted and reacquainted with authors and stories that are such a treat to read. Thank you for the lovely giveaway opportunity.
dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com
Love this series and her stand-alones, too.
kfranklin11@att.net
Murder with a little humor sounds like a fun read—I’d like to win this book and discover a new author.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
This one of my most favorite series and always look forward to the newest. Alicia
afarage@earthlink.net
Four of the stand-alones were just brought out in e-book format by Tyrus Books. A printed book will soon follow! It is so wonderful to know that they’ll be back in print and available.
Sarah is one of my favorite women on the planet. I can’t wait to get my hands on the newest.
thank you for the giveaway!!!! definitely on my TBR list!!!!!
cyn209(AT)juno(DOT)com
My daughter nudged me here to read your reviews. She’s right. You do choose good books!
sharonsnote at gmaildot com
Dru is an astute reader. (She likes my books!)
I can’t get enough of Sara Booth and her cast of zany, loveable characters. Any scene between Sara Booth and Jitty is worth the read alone.
goinganon@aol.com
Thanks, Jill! That makes me feel terrific!
Would love to read this series. Thanks for bringing to our attention.
nyps2d35@yahoo.com
I work hard to make the stories lively and the characters behave. Honestly, I could as easily had a dozen children!
Love Carolyn Haines books, always puts a smile on my face when reading them.
summergal05 at gmail dot com
Sound like wonderful books. And I love the covers!
Look forward to reading this book
skeeter at up dot net
Oh, bones–I LOVE bones–being a biology teacher and all. And I LOVE Mississippi, though NOT in summer!
Would love a chance to start reading this author. Thanks for the offer.
I would love to have a chance to read this author. Sounds exciting.
Thanks ,Elizabeth
Thank you guys. My Internet has been down for a few days due to TS Lee. nothing bad, but a power outage killed my modem. Had to wait for repair service to bring another out and rehook all the cables and wireless stuff. But I am back up and running. Thank you all for your comments.
Would love to win this. Sdryburgh at hotmail dot fin
Sounds like a lovely series. I would love to read it.
karen_locke@hotmail.com
There is an underscore between karen and locke ie. karen_locke. You cannot see it in my last comment.
Contest is closed.
Congratulations to our winners: Sue Farrell and Denise Zagy.