Doggone Bones by Carolyn Haines

Intro:

Amazingly, there are now thirty titles in this series by Carolyn Haines. I have been following Sara Booth, Jitty, Tinky and others since the very first one was published back in 1999. I always come back because I love the characters and their relationships. So, while this title can definitely be read as a standalone, if new to the series, it might be fun to go back and read at least the first one at some point, just to meet the characters as they were first presented.

This time the story centers on dogs. As the publisher describes it:

After a dog belonging to local pet activist Tilly Lawson is snatched right out of her backyard in Sunflower County, MS, Sarah Booth and the Delaney Detective Agency are up to their ears in concerned pet owners. Could Tilly’s work liberating abused animals have come back to bite her, or was this a random act of dognapping?

Delaney Detective Agency has their work cut out for them, especially as a troublesome online pet detective agency tries nosing their way into the investigation. But as Sarah Booth and Tinkie start to sink their teeth into the mystery, they discover there’s much more at play than they thought: neighborhood rivalries, questionable dog breeders, and an illegal dogfighting operation.

As their digging churns up dangerous attention—and with their own beloved dogs, Sweetie Pie and Chablis, possibly next in line to be dognapped—Sarah Booth and Tinkie are in a race against time to track down the thieves and return the missing pets home.

My thoughts:

Here was another good read in the series. I enjoyed the southern setting and watching our detectives at work. At the same time, readers will be reminded of the importance of how our four pawed friends are treated.

Looking forward to the next in the series.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books for this title. All thoughts are my own.

Pub date: 27 May 2025