Skeleton in the Closet

Sharon McCone #28.5

by Marcia Muller

Sharon McCone is excited--and relieved--to move her detective agency into the perfect new office space. Unfortunately, real estate woes aren't the only headache that the new building brings into Sharon's life. Possible nineteenth century ghosts and a shady "intra-reality organization" ensure that Sharon's new office will bring as much excitement as any of her clients. Approx. 7000 words.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Fiction, Detective

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Marcia Muller is an American author of mystery and thriller novels.
Muller has written many novels featuring her Sharon McCone female private detective character. Vanishing Point won the Shamus Award for Best P.I. Novel. Muller had been nominated for the Shamus Award four times previously.
In 2005, Muller was awarded the Mystery Writers of America's Grand Master award.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, and graduated in English from the University of Michigan and worked as a journalist at Sunset magazine. She is married to detective fiction author Bill Pronzini with whom she has collaborated on several novels.

Reviews

[SuperWendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very short story (Amazon says 36 pages) and it's fine. It's time for McCone Investigations to finally move into a new office space and they've found one. The fly in the ointment? A skeleton found in a storage space. Like, an actual skeleton. The woman has been dead a good long time.

The story feels like a throwback and reminded me a bit of the second book in the series, Ask the Cards a Question, with it's huckster "bad guy" swindling folks with a concept of "another dimension." Which, OK. What really stuck out for me was a continuity error - leaving the office space at the pier was mentioned in the previous book in the series, and so was the fact that Mick had broken up with his girlfriend - and yet, he's still with her in this story? Huh?

Anyway, it was fine. A quick read. Something that kept me occupied on a lunch break.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Challenge: Mysterious MAYhem 2022 - Skeleton in title/key on cover. This short story is far along in the Sharon McCone series with books published from 1977 to 2021, but it is easily enjoyed on its own. Well-written in a matter-of-fact voice and succinct in content, a delectable mystery of an unsolved 1800s murder and one very recent unsuspected one. A nice kickoff to reading the mysterious in May. Entices one to go back and read this series from the beginning. A must-read author along with Sue Grafton and Sara Paretsky.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mistakenly thought this was the first book in a series (it wasn't) and I also thought it would be longer (basically a novella), but that said it was an enjoyable introduction to a SF-based detective. The story was about a mysterious, Scientology-like group called the Fourth Dimension and a haunted house. Look forward to reading more of her work and starting from book 1

[Janice · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this short story, Sharon in looking for new office space for her team. Finds something which seems to be perfect until Sharon and realtor find old skeleton in the building. Leads to a mystic and an old murder.

This one might have been more fun if fleshed out.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointed that there wasn't more1

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't realize this wasn't a full book. Interesting but not long enough to really delve into.

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Sharon McCone short story--48 minute audio!

[Jacquelin Siegel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief 48 minute audio book that gives a backstory to the building that briefly served as the McCone Investigation's office. Entertaining.

[Carole D'Arcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too short with no ending

[Rachel Purves · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had so much potential for a good story, but it felt rushed and ended without an actual ending. Thankfully this was a library book and not an actual purchase.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually enjoy these short editions of series by authors that I like. I found this one to be disappointing. Kristi & Abby Tabby

[Kat87 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very short story! Not really long enough for the twists and turns we've come to expect from MM.

[Marseydoats · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was too short.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only a short story, a VERY short story !

[Thomas Bruso · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the end of City of Whispers, Muller's 28th Sharon McCone detective novel, Sharon McCone decides to leave her past life on Pier 24 1/2 behind. She returns, in this brief, exciting short story. McCone Investigations has moved from Pier 24 1/2 to a different location. A place on Telegraph Hill, where McCone's office manager, Ted Smalley, thinks is "the perfect place." With slanting ceilings, skylights, plush beige carpeting, Sharon and her associates are thrilled with their new prospects.

But unbeknownst to anyone, especially PI McCone herself, a secret is buried within the alcove of the new property. After Sharon signs the lease agreement and revisits her new business digs with realtor, Bobbi Connors, they uncover the skeleton remains of a woman in a locked bench.

Soon, the air of mystery meets the doom of eccentricity: The Fourth Dimension. And its inhabitants, Hobart and Shirley Divine. In the midst of strange seances and occurrences, Sharon stumbles across a more personal realm: Shirley Divine. In her new office, Sharon hears the sound of a key rattling in her door. Then the moaning out in the hallway, Shirley ranting on about a woman named Blanche. And suddenly, in the middle of the conversation, Shirley attacks Sharon. Sharon watches as Shirley flees from the room. The incident propels Sharon to investigate Blanche Carey. But as Sharon digs deeper into the case, she wishes she would had left the dead skeleton dormant.

"Skeleton in the Closet" picks up where "City of Whispers" ended. And even in its brevity, the short story gives purpose to this rich, on-going popular detective series. Included in the Kindle edition: an excerpt, the first chapter, of Muller's 29th Sharon McCone novel, "Looking for Yesterday".

[Ellen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skeleton in the Closet (Sharon McCone Mystery)

Skeleton in the Closet (Sharon McCone Mystery)


2.0 out of 5 stars Skeleton in the closet, September 6, 2013

This review is from: Skeleton in the Closet (Sharon McCone Mystery)
This short story was included with the CD of "Looking For Yesterday". It came at the conclusion of the book much to my surprise, although it is mentioned on the cover as a bonus short story.

This was a short story that left me hanging and wondering why ...
"Skeletons in the Closet, in my opinion, could have been written in book form instead of short story. It had all the ingredients but fell short of substance.

In short, this was one short story that could and should have been avoided.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a tease, but the best kind- reminding us of Sharon McCone's style and space and whetting our appetite for the next book. I always enjoy reading about San Francisco and the California coastal area through Marcia Muller's eyes and the eyes of my first favorite female P.I.

[Nick · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a very very short story. It seemed rushed. The ending was also very abrupt. It wasn't a bad story just too quick. There always seemed to be a hole between a couple of the books. For that I'm glad I found this.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't notice that this was just a short story so I had settled in for a nice cozy mystery read... and then it was over! It did remind me of how much I enjoy Sharon McCone, so I've been sucked back in for the next few installments.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story about finding new "digs." This story shows that Sharon has not lost any abilities and that she's not ready to retire.

[Penny Ramirez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice piece to tide us over until the new McCone book is released.... until I realized that I hadn't read the LAST McCone book from 2011! Guess what I'll be starting soon....

[Marjorie Goldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always enjoy the Sharon McCone series and this did not disappoint

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Short story which takes place as Sharon moves from Pier 24 1/2 to her new digs. Another disappointment -she never really solves the murder of the body found in new offices - just makes conjecture.

[Elly Wendy · Rating 2 out of 5]

an odd little shorty

[Amy Bradley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very short story set between City of Whispers and Looking for Yesterday. As McCone Investigations signs a lease on a new building for the office, Sharon finds a skeleton in a bench. Investigating it leads to more questions than answers.

Felt slightly unsatisfying, but was interesting to have some background on the new office space for the firm.