Book Review: Buried Bones

Reviewed By: Carol Schwaderer Dickinson - RAM

Buried Bones     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Carolyn Haines
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Woman Main Character   Amateur Sleuth   Supernatural   Cozy
Series: Southern Belle Mysteries
Bantam 2000 $5.99 354

A Christmas mystery from the Mississippi Delta, "Buried Bones" is apparently a second in a series. There is a lot throughout this book that makes broad references to previous events of the recent past. While the basic plot of the mystery was interesting once the plot started moving, it had a very slow start. Most of the first forty pages was a rather boring cocktail party that would have induced me to set the book aside except I kept expecting the body to appear in the following paragraph.

The positives in this were some well written imagery, and an avante garde approach to holidays, and possibly the ghost of a long dead slave that kept popping up although she was more than absurd and beyond willing suspension of disbelief, often adding an element of confusion for me when she appeared.

The negatives were the former or potential boyfriends of Sarah Booth Delaney the sleuth/heroine who were universally flat characters that I couldn't tell apart. I didn't see the point of many other characters being added in the book especially Sarah's friend Tinkie, and real life folks like J. Edgar Hoover and Dolly Parton.

I doubt I will read another in this series although people who like Southern and quirky in their mysteries may find it pleasurable. If you like un-Christmas as a holiday theme its perfect for your holiday reading list.

Carol Schwaderer Dickinson - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Carol Schwaderer Dickinson - RAM