It’s been quite a while since I read one of the Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries. Her behavior in the early mysteries I read was somewhat erratic for a private investigator. She’s come a long way in Independent Bones, the latest by Carolyn Haines. I will always have issues when a PI who is dating a law officer keeps secrets from them. And, Sarah Booth does it just because she wants to be independent instead of safe. She doesn’t want to rely on Sheriff Coleman Peters. Sometimes, it’s better not to keep secrets.
Sarah Booth’s best friend and business partner, Tinkie Richmond, is eight and a half months pregnant. How to keep that willful woman out of trouble is a problem, even for Sarah Booth. Attending the dedication of Zinnia, Mississippi’s Erkwell Park might be an answer. But, the speaker is Dr. Alala Diakos. Tinkie has heard of her, and she doesn’t think Zinnia is ready for the professor’s philospohy. “Men who abuse women should be exterminated.” Well, maybe the mob of women who attack domestic abuser Curtis Miller are ready.
Alala is pleased that she’s stirred up trouble, but, when Miller is found dead, shot in the heart, she’s the obvious suspect. Sheriff Peters reveals that Alala was suspected in the shooting of a professor at Ole Miss. When Alala hires Sarah Booth and Tinkie to prove her innocence, Sarah Booth is skeptical. It seems the good doctor was also suspected in another murder as well.
While Sarah Booth does most of the legwork, Tinkie uncovers an interesting group, one that Curtis Miller participated in locally. AVA, the American Values Association, is a national organization formed to keep women in their place. There’s a great deal of money going into it to limit women’s rights, their right to economic, educational and medical choices. And, the dead men all seem to have been involved in this group that is in opposition to Dr. Diakos’ philosophy.
Haines’ latest book has an important message about women’s independence, and the role of abuse in shutting that down. Jitty, the ghost of Sarah Booth’s great-great-grandmother’s nanny and former slave, has some stories to tell, messages to Sarah Booth from women who lived independent lives, even if they were outlaws.
Although there is are several heavy issues in this book, there are also light moments. All of the dogs and cats in the story participate in their own way in the investigation, whether tracking missing people, or attacking the wicked. Then, there’s Roscoe, the little devil dog with a large role in stirring up trouble. He can be a hero at times. And, of course, how can you expect Tinkie to get through his investigation without giving birth?
As I said, I still have a few problems with Sarah Booth, despite the message about independence. But, she’s come a long way since the early books I read in this series. There are important messages in Independent Bones.
Carolyn Haines’ website is http://www.carolynhaines.com
Independent Bones by Carolyn Haines. Minotaur Books, 2021. ISBN 9781250257871 (hardcover), 368p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a .PDF to review for a journal.
