Ode to the Bones, by Carolyn Haines

 

Publication May 26, 2026

If you're not familiar with Bobbie Gentry's song "Ode to Billy Joe", it might be a good idea to give it listen or two before you begin reading. Or, maybe three. It is relevant and sets the rather chilling mood. While the Tallahatchie Bridge of the song burned in 1972, it's story lingers and, who knows, you might just spy a wispy ghost as you pass by even the current bridge. The mystery of what really inspired the song lingers on. As for our main character, Sarah Booth Delaney, the past is definitely eroding into her present in more ways than one.

There is so much going on here. I felt sadness reading of the farmer's plight here as it's reality, not just in the book. Climate change is having an impact on largely agricultural Zinna, Missouri, and the impact is widespread. In some ways, I felt like I could just as easily have read stories of current hardships farmers are facing in the newspaper as within this book. Author Haines has done her homework, that's for sure. She presents the human side of it, too, and not just from the farmers' angle. Sarah's partner Tinkie's husband Oscar is president of the local bank and his natural caring, wanting to help heart is caught between bureaucracy and going the extra step to help his friends and neighbors. Then, an respected young farmer goes missing after Oscar is forced to tell him foreclosure is near. That's when things really take off. And, that's only scratching the surface.

I came to this series late, bad me, but have come to expect and even thoroughly enjoy Sarah's contact with quirky ghost Jitty. Jitty is here in the guise of several 60's folk protest type singers, among them Dylan and Peter, Paul, and Mary. Well, Mary. Sarah doesn't quite understand the "rules" of befriending a ghost and, well, neither do I, but it works for me. This time, however, it's a spooky new ghost that Sarah is seeing. Was that really a wispy ghost in that equally wispy white gown flowing in the wind she saw on the bridge? She's never even shared her secret of Jitty with best friend Tinkie, so she's fearful that saying anything about it will create problems. Oh, but, poor Sarah. Ghostly bridge jumpers are the least of her troubles.

To be honest, as tempting as it is to rattle on endlessly about the goings on here, I don't want to ruin any reader's own experience. I'll simply say, let's see, it involves social and national commentary, secret affairs, buried treasure, drones, robbery, generations of families supporting themselves and neighbors, and there's even a famous model involved. Oh, and I cannot make myself not mention the nasty piece of homewrecker gossip that sticks her nose in everywhere, much to Sarah's dismay. Sarah comes face to face with her own demons and past. Why does she feel like she's always being watched? 

Bottom line, even to this series late comer, maybe not quite knowing all the past details of every book helps put me more into Sarah's sense of unknowing as the story goes along. It's definitely a wow of an ending, that's for sure. I am so looking forward to the next book. Thanks you #StMartin'sPress - #MinotaurBooks for introducing me to Sarah Booth Delaney and her world and allowing me this early peek. I've grown to feel like I know and care about these people and even find myself smiling when Tinkie has a moment with her daughter and shares it with Sarah. Thank you. #Carolyn Haines for creating such a place and people.

 

A Midsummer Murder, by by Kate Wells

 

Publication April 18, 2026

Despite what seemed to me a slow start, I ultimately enjoyed this tale of the odd combo of a wellness retreat and murder. To be honest, given the almost cult like wellness retreat vibes, I wasn't expecting to find the story as intriguing. True, it took it a bit to evolve and pull me in but overall the mystery was clever with lots of viable suspects, all with equally viable reasons to want wellness guru Inigo Sage dead. It was also a good reminder that what happens in the past can haunt you for a lifetime. Secrets have a way of finding their way to the surface. 

Main character Jude Gray seems to be an oasis of calm in the midst of chaos for most of this book. I have to admit to initially not particularly liking either friend George or Kerry, the originators of the wellness retreat, as both came across as maybe not helpless but downright needy at times. Or was that Jude's belief? We find out that Jude seems to have a need to try to make everything right for everyone, even when she's being pulled in multiple directions. I was glad to see artist boyfriend Marco there for her, offering a strong shoulder for her to lean on, although I'd have loved to have spent a bit more time with her quirky, personable animals. I have to admit to smiling when Rodney Trotter, the tiny Shetland pony, and Wonky the donkey made an appearance. Yeah, I know. I can be easily amused, especially when I wasn't finding many humans to be sympathetic too much of the time aside from Granny Margot and her newfound internet expertise. 

As it turns out, of course, all of the regulars seem to have a lot going on in their own lives, so I did ultimately see the "why" of their behaviors. Young Sebbie, of course, Jude's nephew, remains a whirl of motion and enthusiasm for, well, almost everything, especially his toy plane and helping Marco. As for the wellness retreat participants, well, the overnight guests weren't very likable, with various degrees of belief in Inigo Sage's teachings. Do I need to tell you where the list of suspects came from? Grin.

Bottom line,I did ultimately realize that I had become invested in finding out whodunit. That's a good sign that I'd finally been pulled into the flow of the plot. 3.5 rounded up. It was actually rather intriguing to see how George and Kerry's concepts differed from the vibe that Inigo brought to the retreat. I liked the concept of not only the, let's call it, written note of regret being written and set free on a body of water in the form of a paper boat right down to both the paper and writing instrument being soluble and quick to dissolve. Both the symbolism and reality of the effort not to defile nature made sense and was touching. I also enjoyed Jude and detective Binnie's relationship and mutual trust. Jude's trips back to the farm where she did typical, to her everyday type farm chores helped set the story in reality. Lucy's story is a fun, one, too. So, slow start or not, I did enjoy the read. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for letting me drop in early on Jude's life to see what she's been up to. Loved the ending, too. Can't wait to see how that works out.