Sarah Booth Delaney Books in Order

How to Read the Sarah Booth Delaney Series

Step into the sultry, sun-drenched landscape of the Mississippi Delta, where private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney solves crimes with a healthy dose of Southern sass, a loyal network of friends, and an opinionated ghostly sidekick named Jitty. Written by award-winning author Carolyn Haines, this long-running cozy mystery series blends Southern gothic atmosphere, romance, and supernatural humor. With nearly thirty novels and a handful of companion novellas, jumping in can feel like navigating a maze of cotton fields. Fortunately, following Sarah Booth's adventures is simple once you know the path.

The Recommended Starting Point

For the best reading experience, you should start at the very beginning with Them Bones (1999). While each book features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the final page, the true heart of the series is the continuous development of the characters. Reading the books in order allows you to watch Sarah Booth evolve from an unpaid, dog-napping Southern belle desperate to save her family plantation into a confident, professional private investigator. More importantly, Sarah's complex romantic life, her partnership with Tinkie Richmond, and her ongoing relationship with Dahlia House's resident ghost, Jitty, build from one book to the next. Starting mid-series will spoil major relationship updates and character milestones.

The Complete Reading List (Chronological and Publication Order)

The list below combines the full-length novels and the holiday novellas into a single, cohesive reading order. The novellas are best read in their publication order to avoid spoiling the status of Sarah Booth's relationship with Sheriff Coleman Peters and other recurring Zinnia residents.

1. Them Bones (1999) — Sarah Booth makes her debut, reluctantly taking on a kidnapping case to save her ancestral home, Dahlia House.
2. Buried Bones (2000) — A trip to a friend's wedding turns deadly, forcing Sarah Booth to dig into Zinnia's long-buried secrets.
3. Splintered Bones (2002) — Sarah Booth investigates the murder of a prominent horse breeder.
4. Crossed Bones (2003) — A blues musician is accused of murder, and Sarah Booth plunges into the Delta's rich musical history.
5. Hallowed Bones (2004) — Sarah Booth takes on a case involving a pagan sect and the kidnapping of a young girl.
6. Bones to Pick (2005) — A wealthy developer is murdered, exposing greed and corruption in Zinnia.
7. Ham Bones (2007) — Sarah Booth travels to New York to pursue her acting dreams, but murder follows her north.
8. Wishbones (2008) — Sarah Booth helps a Hollywood production company filming in Zinnia, which quickly turns into a crime scene.
9. Greedy Bones (2009) — A mysterious illness strikes Zinnia, and Sarah Booth must find the cure before it is too late.
10. Bone Appétit (2010) — A culinary competition at a historic Delta hotel turns into a recipe for murder.
11. Bones of a Feather (2011) — Sarah Booth investigates the death of a prominent Zinnia resident during a charity pageant.
12. Bonefire of the Vanities (2012) — A high-profile custody dispute escalates to murder in Zinnia.
13. Smarty Bones (2013) — A controversial historian makes shocking claims about a Civil War-era corpse, leading to a modern-day murder.
14. Shorty Bones (2014) — Novella. A quick holiday mystery that sees Sarah Booth looking for a stolen artifact.
15. Booty Bones (2014) — Sarah Booth and Tinkie head to a retreat on the Mississippi River, only to run into pirates and plunder.
16. Bones on the Bayou (2014) — Novella. Sarah Booth solves a Christmas mystery set in the misty bayous of Louisiana.
17. Bone to Be Wild (2015) — Sarah Booth takes a case involving a country music star with a dark past.
18. Jingle Bones (2015) — Novella. A cozy Christmas caper at Dahlia House with plenty of holiday cheer and ghostly interference.
19. Guru Bones (2015) — Novella. A yoga retreat in Zinnia becomes the site of suspicious activities.
20. Rock-a-Bye Bones (2016) — Sarah Booth finds an abandoned baby on her porch, sparking an emotional search for the mother.
21. Sticks and Bones (2017) — A mysterious stranger arrives in Zinnia, bringing old rivalries to a boiling point.
22. Bones and Arrows (2017) — Novella. A Valentine's Day mystery that tests Sarah Booth's investigative skills and romantic life.
23. Charmed Bones (2018) — Sarah Booth looks into a modern-day witchcraft coven operating in the Delta.
24. A Gift of Bones (2018) — A heartwarming holiday mystery with high stakes as Sarah Booth rushes to solve a crime before Christmas.
25. Clacking Bones (2018) — Novella. A short, fast-paced investigation focusing on Zinnia's local gossip network.
26. Game of Bones (2019) — Sarah Booth delves into local folklore and archaeological excavations that go horribly wrong.
27. Enchanted Bones (2020) — Novella. A magical, atmospheric story highlighting the supernatural side of the Delta.
28. The Devil's Bones (2020) — Sarah Booth protects an old friend accused of a horrific crime.
29. A Garland of Bones (2020) — A festive mystery where holiday celebrations are threatened by a sinister plot.
30. Independent Bones (2021) — Sarah Booth takes on a high-stakes case protecting a controversial feminist professor.
31. Lady of Bones (2022) — A gothic mystery exploring local legends and a missing person case in a historic mansion.
32. Bones of Holly (2022) — A festive mystery that finds Sarah Booth and Tinkie competing in a library decorating contest that turns deadly.
33. Tell-Tale Bones (2023) — A mystery involving a long-lost sibling and a wealthy estate.
34. Lights, Camera, Bones (2024) — A Hollywood film crew arrives in Zinnia, bringing glamour, drama, and murder.
35. Blue Christmas Bones (2024) — Sarah Booth tackles a holiday mystery with a musical twist.
36. Doggone Bones (2025) — Sarah Booth's latest adventure involves a mystery surrounding animal rescue and local rivalries.

What to Know Before You Start

Before diving into the Sarah Booth Delaney mysteries, it helps to understand the unique elements that define the series. The setting itself, Zinnia, Mississippi, is a fictional town located in the very real Mississippi Delta. Carolyn Haines writes with a deep love for the region, capturing the humid air, the rich historical backdrop, and the complex social structures of the American South. The tone is light and humorous, but the books do not shy away from serious issues like economic disparity, historical trauma, and gender expectations.

The most unique element of the series is Jitty, the resident ghost of Dahlia House. Jitty is the spirit of Sarah Booth's great-great-grandmother's nanny. Rather than a terrifying specter, Jitty functions as a comedic foil, a critic, and a supportive family member who frequently appears in various elaborate costumes to badger Sarah Booth about getting married, having children, and preserving Dahlia House. If you enjoy a touch of the supernatural mixed with classic cozy tropes, Jitty will quickly become one of your favorite characters.

Spin-offs and Connected Works

While Sarah Booth Delaney remains Carolyn Haines' most famous creation, readers who finish the series might enjoy her other works. Haines has written the Pluto's Snitch series, which features Raissa James, a young widow in post-WWI Mobile, Alabama, who has the ability to see spirits. It offers a slightly darker, more historical take on the cozy ghost mystery genre. Additionally, Haines has contributed to the Familiar Legacy collaborative mysteries, which focus on Trouble, a black cat detective. While not direct spin-offs of Sarah Booth, these series share the same playful, mystery-solving spirit and Southern charm that fans love.