Sarah Booth Delaney Mysteries: The Ultimate Cozy Guide to Carolyn Haines’s Bones Books
If you like your mysteries with a Southern drawl, a stubborn heroine, and just a pinch of ghostly interference, Carolyn Haines is probably already on your radar.
Writing since the late 1990s, she’s built a whole fictional world around Mississippi Delta life, complete with eccentric neighbors, old scandals, and families who know exactly what you did three generations ago.
Haines herself grew up in Mississippi and has worked as both a journalist and novelist, which explains why her books feel equal parts sharp-eyed and warm-hearted.
She’s a prolific author across several series, but it’s the Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries that have become her signature – a long-running cozy series with humor, heart, and a heroine who refuses to behave the way a “proper” Southern lady is supposed to.
From the first book written in 1999, all the way through to her latest published in 2026, there are 30 books to get stuck into, so let me tell you what they are all about!
Meet Sarah Booth Delaney
Sarah Booth Delaney is an unmarried Mississippi belle in her thirties who has run out of patience with other people’s expectations.
When we first meet her, she’s more or less broke, single, and still clinging to her beloved family home, Dahlia House, in the small town of Zinnia, Mississippi.
Out of desperation (and a little defiance), she stumbles into private investigation, and discovers she’s got a real knack for sniffing out secrets.
Sarah Booth Delaney doesn’t sleuth alone. She’s backed up by her best friend and business partner, Tinkie, a fearless “Daddy’s girl” with a big personality and an even bigger wardrobe.
Then there’s Jitty, the opinionated ghost of a former family nursemaid, who appears in costumes, nags like only a ghost can, and nudges Sarah Booth toward both romance and responsibility.
Along the way, there are men to complicate things, dogs to comfort things, and plenty of Southern cooking to sustain the whole crew.
The Sarah Booth Delaney Series in Order
Below are the 30 Sarah Booth Delaney novels in order of publication, each with a brief, spoiler-light synopsis so you can decide where to dive in.
1. Them Bones (1999)
The series begins with Sarah Booth on the verge of losing Dahlia House, her crumbling family estate, and wondering how her life went so spectacularly off-script.
When she takes a job snooping on a local man’s love life, she ends up entangled in a decades-old disappearance that still haunts Zinnia.
With Jitty’s ghostly “career advice” and a few questionable disguises, Sarah Booth stumbles into her first real case and discovers she might just be a born private investigator.
2. Buried Bones (2000)
Sarah Booth and Tinkie are hired to dig into the past of one of the Delta’s most powerful families when an old scandal threatens to resurface.
A glamorous party at a restored mansion turns deadly, leaving Sarah Booth to sort out which secrets are worth killing for.
Between prickly suspects, old grudges, and Jitty’s unwanted commentary, the case proves that Zinnia’s past is never really buried.
3. Splintered Bones (2002)
This time, Sarah Booth Delaney is pulled into the high-stakes world of horse shows and wealthy owners when a champion rider’s death raises too many questions.
What looks like a tragic accident starts to feel more like murder as she uncovers rivalries, jealous exes, and financial pressure.
The Delta setting mixes with equestrian glamour, giving Sarah Booth a crash course in just how dangerous ambition can be.
4. Crossed Bones (2003)
When a local blues musician is accused of murdering a famous singer, Sarah Booth is asked to prove his innocence before he pays the price for a crime he swears he didn’t commit.
The investigation leads her into the music scene, where egos, contracts, and old betrayals make for a long suspect list.
With Tinkie at her side, she has to separate myth from reality before the wrong person goes down.
5. Hallowed Bones (2004)
Halloween in Zinnia should be festive, but Sarah Booth’s latest case involves a faith healer whose presence is splitting the town.
When someone close to the healer ends up dead, Sarah Booth must decide how much of the miracle man’s story she believes.
Ghostly Jitty has her own opinions, of course, making this one of the most spirited investigations yet.
6. Bones to Pick (2006)
A young woman is found dead in a cotton field, and rumors fly faster than the gossip can keep up.
Sarah Booth is hired to look into the murder and finds herself tangled in land disputes, complicated relationships, and longstanding resentments.
The case hits close to home, forcing her to weigh justice against the delicate balance of small-town life.
7. Ham Bones (2007)
A touring production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is opening right in the heart of Zinnia, bringing celebrities and chaos to the Delta, and of course, murder follows.
When a high-profile performer dies under suspicious circumstances, Sarah Booth dives into the tangle of money, ego, and old scandals behind the scenes.
The show setting gives her plenty of suspects and more than a few chances to put her acting skills to work.
8. Wishbones (2008)
Sarah Booth heads to Hollywood for a taste of the acting career she once dreamed of, but crime doesn’t take a holiday.
On set, she finds a stew of jealous co-stars, nervous producers, and a dangerous stalker lurking in the shadows.
Solving a case under the bright lights proves that Zinnia may be home, but trouble will happily follow her across the country.
9. Greedy Bones (2009)
Back in Mississippi, a mysterious illness sweeps through a town after a large poultry operation moves in, and Sarah Booth is asked to investigate.
As tensions rise between the company and locals, a suspicious death raises the stakes even higher.
10. Bone Appetit (2010)
A fancy food festival at a posh spa sounds like the perfect getaway, but Sarah Booth’s working, not relaxing.
When a rising-star chef is found dead, secrets simmer beneath the polished surface of the culinary world.
Between decadent dishes and dangerous rivals, Sarah Booth has to figure out who turned up the heat a little too far.
11. Bones of a Feather (2011)
Two wealthy sisters hire Sarah Booth and Tinkie to recover stolen jewels, but the seemingly straightforward job goes sideways fast.
The theft is tied to a kidnapping, and soon the detectives are racing to save a life as well as the glittering gems.
The sisters’ complicated bond makes this case as emotional as it is suspenseful.
12. Bonefire of the Vanities (2012)
A controversial preacher brings a “purity” crusade to town, and a campaign of intimidation follows in his wake.
When violence escalates, Sarah Booth must pick her way through political posturing, religious fervor, and dangerous secrets.
Jitty, as always, has pointed opinions about sin, redemption, and what Sarah Booth should be doing with her own life.
13. Smarty Bones (2013)
A television anthropologist arrives in Zinnia to film claims about a long-ago Native American massacre, and the town is instantly divided.
When a death occurs, Sarah Booth is pulled into a mystery that blends history, myth, and modern-day greed.
She has to navigate prickly academics, local pride, and the power of stories told and twisted over time.
14. Booty Bones (2014)
Graf, Sarah Booth’s on-again, off-again actor love interest, is working on a pirate movie when a real-life treasure hunt turns deadly.
Sarah Booth heads to the coast, where old shipwreck rumors and modern greed collide.
Sun, sand, and buried secrets make this adventure feel like a Southern pirate tale with a cozy mystery heart.
15. Bone to Be Wild (2015)
A beloved local music club is in financial trouble, and Sarah Booth wants to help save it, but things go from bad to deadly when a murder occurs.
The investigation forces her to confront heartbreak, old friendships, and the ways communities change. Music, memory, and mayhem all mix together as she fights to protect a place that matters.
16. Rock-a-Bye Bones (2016)
On a stormy night, an abandoned baby appears on Sarah Booth’s doorstep, followed quickly by a dead body.
Determined to protect the child, she follows the trail through family secrets and dangerous entanglements.
The case tugs at her heart and raises questions about what she really wants from her own future.
17. Sticks and Bones (2017)
A famous documentary family returns to the Delta to shoot a new project, reopening old wounds about a daughter’s “accidental” death years before.
When things turn violent again, Sarah Booth is asked to investigate what really happened back then.
Cameras, carefully curated images, and buried truths make this one especially twisty.
18. Charmed Bones (2018)
When three so-called witches move into a small Mississippi town, rumors of dark magic fly—and so does someone’s temper.
After a suspicious death, Sarah Booth is called in to determine whether the women are victims, culprits, or something in between.
The book leans into superstition, small-town judgment, and the dangers of labeling anyone “other.”
19. A Gift of Bones (2018)
Christmas in Zinnia is busy enough, but when a pregnant woman disappears days before the holiday, Sarah Booth cannot say no to the family’s plea.
The search pulls her into a tangle of secrets that threaten to ruin more than just Christmas.
Holiday lights, family drama, and a ticking clock keep the tension warm and bright.
20. Game of Bones (2019)
An archaeological dig on a Native American burial ground sparks fierce debate, and then a death.
Sarah Booth has to parse academic rivalries, local politics, and cultural disputes to find the killer.
The case asks hard questions about who owns history while still delivering all the cozy, character-driven moments fans expect.
21. The Devil’s Bones (2020)
A girl’s trip to a nearby resort for Easter weekend sounds restful, but murder cuts the getaway short.
Sarah Booth and her friends juggle spa appointments with sleuthing as they peel back the resort’s polished image.
Old grudges, hidden relationships, and a devilishly clever killer make relaxation impossible.
22. A Garland of Bones (2020)
Holiday festivities in a neighboring town attract Sarah Booth and Tinkie, but a string of “accidents” quickly dampens the cheer.
As injuries pile up, it becomes clear someone is using the celebrations as cover for something darker.
Sarah Booth has to untangle romance, rivalry, and vengeance before anyone else gets hurt.
23. Independent Bones (2021)
Sarah Booth takes on a case involving a charismatic college professor whose views on women’s independence stir up heated reactions.
When violence erupts, she must figure out whether the threat is personal, political, or both.
This is a cozy mystery with a thoughtful look at relationships, autonomy, and the meaning of freedom.
24. Lady of Bones (2022)
Halloween rolls around again, and a festival in Zinnia brings ghost stories to the forefront.
Sarah Booth is asked to investigate a missing woman whose case seems to echo an old local legend. Real danger hides behind costumes and tales, leaving her to sort superstition from genuine menace.
25. Bones of Holly (2022)
Another Christmas, another mystery, this time set against a literary festival where rival authors clash as loudly as their egos.
When a murder occurs, Sarah Booth must wade through publishing politics, jealousy, and secret collaborations.
For book lovers, it’s a particularly fun outing, filled with wry jabs at the writing life.
26. Tell-Tale Bones (2023)
A decades-old disappearance connected to a crumbling estate pulls Sarah Booth into a case steeped in Southern Gothic atmosphere.
Rumors, half-truths, and an eerie old house give the investigation a distinctly haunted feel, even without Jitty’s help.
As she uncovers the truth, Sarah Booth confronts how stories can both trap and free the people who live with them.
27. Lights, Camera, Bones (2024)
A true crime TV show comes to Zinnia to film an old murder case, and the cameras stir up more trouble than anyone expected.
Sarah Booth Delaney finds herself juggling on-screen appearances with behind-the-scenes snooping as a new crime unfolds.
The meta angle – crime about crime storytelling – offers lots of playful, media-savvy moments.
28. Blue Christmas Bones (2024)
Sarah Booth heads to the Gulf Coast for a blue Christmas filled with music, parties, and of course, one very inconvenient murder.
A local legend and a troubled musician sit at the center of the mystery, giving the book a bittersweet, bluesy tone.
Even away from Zinnia, Sarah Booth can’t help turning a holiday break into a working trip.
29. Doggone Bones (2025)
Dogs take center stage when a high-end kennel and training facility becomes the scene of a crime.
Sarah Booth is called in to deal with missing animals, upset owners, and a body that suggests someone will do anything for money and prestige.
For animal lovers, this one is especially charming, and it gives Sarah Booth plenty of excuses for extra dog cuddles between clues.
30. Ode to the Bones (2026)
When the local bank president hires her to track down missing farmer Danny Anderson, Sarah Booth Delaney has to turn her attention firmly back to the world of the living.
Danny is days away from losing his family’s long-held farm to foreclosure and is rumored to be tangled up in a secret romance with a preacher’s wife.
As Sarah Booth and her spirited partner Tinkie investigate, they stumble into a tangle of small-town gossip, ghostly whispers, and a mysterious land buyer quietly snapping up struggling farms.
Why Cozy Readers Love Sarah Booth
Part of the charm of the Sarah Booth Delaney series is how comfortable it becomes over time. You settle into Zinnia like you’re sliding into your usual seat at the local diner.
You come back for the mysteries, but you stay for the friendships, the slow-burn relationships, the ghostly advice, and the way the town grows and changes across thirty books.
If you’re new to Carolyn Haines, starting with Them Bones and reading in order lets you follow Sarah Booth’s journey from desperate, slightly directionless belle to confident private investigator and business owner.
And if you’re a seasoned cozy reader looking for a new bingeable series, the Bones books offer exactly what we love – crime solved, community restored, and just enough mischief to keep us turning the pages.
