Crossed Bones

by Carolyn Haines

I discovered Carolyn Haines' mystery series when I decided to do my Themed Reading Challenge using books that had the word bone in the title. (That's how I stumbled across Kathy Reich's novels, too)

This series features Sarah Booth Delaney as a private investigator in the Mississippi Delta. There's a good mix of humor, friendship, forbidden love and a satisfying mystery. The characters are human and Southern. I can't say the characters are real, because one reappearing character is a figment of Sarah Booth's imagination.

I have enjoyed reading two from this series - neither one in the correct order. Someday I'm going to start at the beginning, but I don't think it's hindered my enjoyment that I've been hit-and-miss so far. I love the covers on the earlier books with the square in the middle.

Maps of Bones

by James Rollins

When parishioners are burned to death in a German cathedral, the U.S. sends in the SIGMA force. The team discovers someone has stolen the priceless treasure stored in the cathedral's golden reliquary: the bones of the biblical Magi.

This is an intense, mystery/thriller adventure similar in style to Dan Brown's books. I read it for the themed reading challenge - my theme being books with the word bone/bones in the title. It's a page-turner, very interesting and a fun read. I will be looking forward to more books written by Rollins.

Bones to Pick

by Carolyn Haines

Amazon Book Description
"Wickedly witty and full of more dirt than a debutante's diary, the mysteries of Carolyn Haines bring the southern Delta to roaring, rollicking life...
Intrepid P.I. Sarah Booth Delaney has been known to single-handedly save her family's Mississippi plantation, converse with Dahlia House's ghost, and capture a killer or two. But when a local girl is found dead in a cotton field, it's enough to make a lady toss back a Bloody Mary before noon on Sunday.

Someone held twenty-three-year-old Quentin McGee's face down in the rich Southern soil until she suffocated. The lawmen think Quentin's lover killed her. When the suspect's brother hires Sarah to prove his sibling innocent, Sarah quickly learns that the victim had plenty of wealthy, powerful enemies. Each had a bone to pick with Quentin for writing a scandalous exposé on her hometown. Adding spice to the gumbo is the news that Quentin was due to inherit the family fortune the day after she was killed...and that a second book was in the works. From illicit lovers and outraged families to slandered aristocrats, everyone is a suspect--and no one is safe..."

This is book #6 in the Sarah Booth Delaney mystery series. I liked it a lot and plan to read more. I've mooched the first 3 in the series. I like the covers of the earlier books better than the later covers, but, oh well.

Cross Bones

by Kathy Reichs

I read this for the Themed Reading Challenge. My theme is books with the word bone in the title. So far I've read two by Kathy Reichs, both in the Temperance Brennan mystery series. Earlier I read Bare Bones - #6 in the series. Cross Bones is #8. I don't feel like it's mattered that I didn't start with the first book.

Since reading Bare Bones I've watched the first season of the TV series, Bones, which is based on the books. They are enjoyable.

The books are based on Reichs real experiences as a forensic anthropologist. In Cross Bones Temperance is called upon to help in a murder investigation of an antiquities dealer. The death may have something to do with some bones that may be from a family grave site at Masada.

Bare Bones

by Kathy Reich

I read this for the Themed Reading Challenge. I choice the theme of books with the word 'Bone' in the title. I know it sounds bizarre, but I had a lot of books on my shelves and on my TBR list that contained the word bone. Seemed like an obvious choice to me. Ever since I decided on my theme I've seen so many books that will fit this challenge. For the challenge I only need to read 4 books and I have a list of 18.

Bare Bones is a mystery AND it belongs to a series. Of course, I didn't read the first in the series, but I probably will someday. I definitely want to read more about Temperance Brennan, anthropologist. The TV series Bones is based on this series. Anyone into that series. I may have to check out the first season and watch it.

This is the first Kathy Reich book I've read. At some points I felt like there were too many story lines to keep track off, but they were all related in the end. I like a good mystery and this one filled the bill. Nothing really great, but enjoyable, nonetheless.

Midnight for Charlie Bone

by Jenny Nimmo

This series is a definite Harry Potter copy cat. I really hate it when authors aren't original enough to come up with their own theme. I was more annoyed at the beginning of the book and more forgiving towards the end. I just about quit reading at the first, but for some reason I kept reading and eventually was interested in the characters and what was going on.

Charlie Bone discovers that he has special 'endowments' when he is able to hear photographs speaking. His 3 aunts send him off to Bloor's, a special school for geniuses. He learns bits and pieces of a horrible mystery that he feels compelled to solve in spite of the dangers.

Themed Reading Challenge

I originally planned to read books with the theme of place, era, event (WWI) or something else that makes sense. As I was perusing the books on my shelves a weird theme started gelling in my mind instead. I found that I have several books with the same word in the title. So I decided my theme

I will be reading books that all have the word 'BONE' in the title. Isn't that bizarre?!

Wendy from Caribousmom is hosting this challenge. Check out her blog to read all the particulars of the challenge and to join. The basics are to read 4 books in 2008 from your chosen theme.

My pool from which I will choose those four books consists of the following:
1. The Bone People by Keri Hulme
2. Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo
3. Them Bones by Carolyn Haines
4. Hearts and Bones by Margaret Lawrence
5. Carved in Bone: A Body Farm Novel by Jefferson Bass
6. The Bone Doll Twins by Lynn Flewelling
7. Bone Garden by Tess Geritsen
8. Old Bones by Aaron Elkins
9. Remembering the Bones byFrances Itani
10. Interred with Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell
11. Bag of Bones by Stephen King
12. Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs
13. Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver
14. Beat Not the Bones by Charlotte Jay
15. White Bone by Barbara Gowdy