Sarah Booth Delaney Books in Order
#
Title
Date
How to Read the Sarah Booth Delaney series
Best Read in Order
· Start with Book 1
Standalone stories, but characters and relationships develop across the series.
Publication order gives the best experience for the Sarah Booth Delaney series. Each book has a complete central mystery with its own resolution, while character relationships and ongoing personal developments carry across the volumes. Readers who jump ahead miss the evolution of Sarah Booth’s life, key romantic arcs, and deepening friendships that add emotional layers to later stories.
About the Sarah Booth Delaney series
Series Premise
The Sarah Booth Delaney series follows an unconventional Southern belle turned private investigator as she takes on murder cases in the Mississippi Delta. Each book delivers a complete mystery with its own resolution, while Sarah Booth’s personal life—including her relationships, friendships, and life at Dahlia House—continues to unfold.
Main Characters
Sarah Booth Delaney is the central protagonist, a witty private investigator with a strong sense of justice. Recurring characters include her best friend Tinkie Bellcase Richmond, her loyal hound Sweetie Pie, ghost Jitty, and various romantic interests who appear at different points in the series.
Setting
The series is set in the small town of Zinnia in the Mississippi Delta. Many stories revolve around Sarah Booth’s ancestral home, Dahlia House, along with local plantations, cotton fields, and Southern small-town locations.
Tone & Themes
The tone is witty and atmospheric with a blend of cozy mystery and Southern charm. Core themes include friendship, independence, Southern traditions, justice, and balancing personal happiness with professional risks.
Is This Series Worth Reading?
Yes, for readers who enjoy cozy mysteries with strong Southern settings, humor, and well-developed characters. The series offers an engaging mix of crime-solving and personal storytelling.
Content Warnings and Heat Level
This is a cozy mystery series with moderate descriptions of murder and mild violence. Language is generally mild with limited sexual content.
The Sarah Booth Delaney series follows a Mississippi private investigator as she solves crimes while living on her family’s historic plantation. With its blend of self-contained mysteries and continuing character arcs, it rewards readers who follow the books in sequence. Carolyn Haines’ authentic Southern voice and memorable characters define the long-running series.
FAQ
How many books are in the Sarah Booth Delaney series?
37 books total: 31 main + 6 extra stories
When will the next book in the series be released?
The next book in the Sarah Booth Delaney series, Ode to the Bones, will be published in Jun-2026.
When was the most recent book released?
Doggone Bones was published in May 2025.
What was the first book in the series?
The first book in the series is Them Bones, published in November 1999.
What genre is the Sarah Booth Delaney series?
The series primarily falls into the Private Investigator genre.
Do you need to read the Sarah Booth Delaney series in order?
It’s best to read the series in order. Each book has its own story, but ongoing character arcs and relationships develop across the series.
What is the Sarah Booth Delaney series about?
The Sarah Booth Delaney series follows an unconventional Southern belle turned private investigator as she takes on murder cases in the Mississippi Delta. Each book delivers a complete mystery with its own resolution, while Sarah Booth’s personal life—including her relationships, friendships, and life at Dahlia House—continues to unfold.
Is the Sarah Booth Delaney series finished?
The series is ongoing, with the next book currently scheduled.
More Series Like Sarah Booth Delaney
If you enjoyed Sarah Booth Delaney, here are more private investigator series to explore.
