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Family Skeleton Mystery #1
A Skeleton in the Family
“An effortlessly narrated, meticulously crafted cozy mystery.”
—
The Big Thrill
An adjunct professor worries she’s made a grave mistake returning to her hometown when she’s drawn into a decades-old murder mystery...by the victim’s skeleton!
Georgia Thackery isn’t exactly thrilled to be moving back to her childhood home, not that she has much choice. As a struggling adjunct English professor and single mom to a teenage daughter, Georgia takes jobs wherever she can find them. At least with this new teaching gig in Pennycross, Massachusetts, she has a rent-free place to live. Besides, there’s a major upside to Georgia’s Sid!
Every family has secrets, but the skeleton in Georgia’s closet isn’t just real, he’s a living (kinda), breathing (sorta), cringey-joke-making part of the family–who happens to be her best friend! No one quite knows the origins of Sid’s remains, and he can’t recall anything from before meeting Georgia and taking up residence in the Thackery attic. But all that changes during an outing to the local college campus, when Sid recognizes a face from his literal past life...and it chills him to the bone.
Now, Sid has questions about the circumstances of his death and Georgia will do whatever it takes to help him dig up the truth. But when all signs point to murder, is Georgia in danger of becoming the next family skeleton?
Fans of Charlaine Harris and Sofie Kelly will adore this charming supernatural cozy mystery—the first in the beloved Family Skeleton series—by Agatha Award-winning author, Toni L. P. Kelner, writing as Leigh Perry.
Praise for A Skeleton in the
“A very touching and entertaining whodunit. The mystery is intelligent and nicely done with fun insights into academia and anthropology.” — RT Book Reviews
"You’ll love the adventures of this unexpected mystery-solving duo.” — Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author
"A charming debut ... Amateur sleuth Georgia, and her sidekick, Sid, are just plain fun!” — Sofie Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Cat Trick
An adjunct professor worries she’s made a grave mistake returning to her hometown when she’s drawn into a decades-old murder mystery...by the victim’s skeleton!
Georgia Thackery isn’t exactly thrilled to be moving back to her childhood home, not that she has much choice. As a struggling adjunct English professor and single mom to a teenage daughter, Georgia takes jobs wherever she can find them. At least with this new teaching gig in Pennycross, Massachusetts, she has a rent-free place to live. Besides, there’s a major upside to Georgia’s Sid!
Every family has secrets, but the skeleton in Georgia’s closet isn’t just real, he’s a living (kinda), breathing (sorta), cringey-joke-making part of the family–who happens to be her best friend! No one quite knows the origins of Sid’s remains, and he can’t recall anything from before meeting Georgia and taking up residence in the Thackery attic. But all that changes during an outing to the local college campus, when Sid recognizes a face from his literal past life...and it chills him to the bone.
Now, Sid has questions about the circumstances of his death and Georgia will do whatever it takes to help him dig up the truth. But when all signs point to murder, is Georgia in danger of becoming the next family skeleton?
Fans of Charlaine Harris and Sofie Kelly will adore this charming supernatural cozy mystery—the first in the beloved Family Skeleton series—by Agatha Award-winning author, Toni L. P. Kelner, writing as Leigh Perry.
Praise for A Skeleton in the
“A very touching and entertaining whodunit. The mystery is intelligent and nicely done with fun insights into academia and anthropology.” — RT Book Reviews
"You’ll love the adventures of this unexpected mystery-solving duo.” — Charlaine Harris, New York Times bestselling author
"A charming debut ... Amateur sleuth Georgia, and her sidekick, Sid, are just plain fun!” — Sofie Kelly, New York Times bestselling author of Cat Trick
312 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2013
262 people are currently reading
4331 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 498 reviews
September 16, 2019
3 1/2 stars to A Skeleton in the Family! In my scale, a 3 means it was good and I liked the book but not thirsting to read the author's next release whereas a 4 notes that it was a really good book and I'm definitely ordering the next one. This one gets a 3 1/2 as given the premise (a talking skeleton!), I was quite surprised by my ability to suspend any disbelief at how this occurred and just go with the story. I'm curious if we'll ever find out why the skeleton could talk so I gave it between a 3 and a 4... by the way, I rarely give out a 5 unless I can't even put the book series down -- you know -- passing up dinners with friends, skipping movies, not sleeping much until I finish the current book, etc. Doesn't happen all that often but when it does, I am hooked!
If you are able to just go with the fact that the main character has a best friend who is a skeleton, and that no one else (well mostly no one else) knows he can talk, then you have a stronger chance of wanting to stick with it. The main character isn't trying to figure out a murder for just any reason -- she wants to help Sid rather than out of boredom or curiosity on keeping up the sleuthing like in so many other cozies. I'm interested in what happens next but probably won't get back to it until after I finish more in my Reading Challenge and sampling different cozy styles again. Good start - thanks Leigh Perry!
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
If you are able to just go with the fact that the main character has a best friend who is a skeleton, and that no one else (well mostly no one else) knows he can talk, then you have a stronger chance of wanting to stick with it. The main character isn't trying to figure out a murder for just any reason -- she wants to help Sid rather than out of boredom or curiosity on keeping up the sleuthing like in so many other cozies. I'm interested in what happens next but probably won't get back to it until after I finish more in my Reading Challenge and sampling different cozy styles again. Good start - thanks Leigh Perry!
About Me
For those new to me or my reviews... here's the scoop: I read A LOT. I write A LOT. And now I blog A LOT. First the book review goes on Goodreads, and then I send it on over to my WordPress blog at https://thisismytruthnow.com, where you'll also find TV & Film reviews, the revealing and introspective 365 Daily Challenge and lots of blogging about places I've visited all over the world. And you can find all my social media profiles to get the details on the who/what/when/where and my pictures. Leave a comment and let me know what you think. Vote in the poll and ratings. Thanks for stopping by. Note: All written content is my original creation and copyrighted to me, but the graphics and images were linked from other sites and belong to them. Many thanks to their original creators.
October 3, 2017
I wanted a paranormal fantasy series for October and thought I'd give this a try. I didn't have high expectations going into it, figured this would just be plain silly at best or just dumb. But boy was I wrong, I loved the mother/daughter from the first chapter on, the mom Georgia is into pop culture and raised her daughter to be a geek as well. Madison is a huge otaku with a love for manga and anime and they both attend a con together. Sid, the skeleton is endearing as well, reading the Harry Potter books, his favorite movie being the Nightmare Before Christmas. So with characters like these how could I fail to love the book. I'm reading the next in this series for sure.
February 3, 2014
A Skeleton In The Family is the first book in the Family Skeleton series.
Even the author says this is a little off the wall and I have to agree, but I loved it and look forward to more books in this series.
Georgia and her teenaged daughter, Madison, have moved back to the family hometown, where she has gotten a teaching position at the local college. Georgia is looking forward to catching up with Sid, who is a skeleton.
The Thackery family has "owned" Sid the skeleton for around thirty years and Georgia had named him Sid when they "rescued" him from a traveling carnival.
This book centers around Sid wanting to know who he is and how he came to be dead. Georgia and him get a lead on a lady professor that looks familiar to Sid and sneak into her house, only to find that she has been murdered. A couple strange events had happened at college and they are wondering if she was killed or if she was a victim of burglary gone wrong.
I admit, I had my doubts when I started the book, but quickly changed to loving it. And Sid has some of the best lines. They be corney, but still, they made me laugh.
Looking forward to book #2.
Even the author says this is a little off the wall and I have to agree, but I loved it and look forward to more books in this series.
Georgia and her teenaged daughter, Madison, have moved back to the family hometown, where she has gotten a teaching position at the local college. Georgia is looking forward to catching up with Sid, who is a skeleton.
The Thackery family has "owned" Sid the skeleton for around thirty years and Georgia had named him Sid when they "rescued" him from a traveling carnival.
This book centers around Sid wanting to know who he is and how he came to be dead. Georgia and him get a lead on a lady professor that looks familiar to Sid and sneak into her house, only to find that she has been murdered. A couple strange events had happened at college and they are wondering if she was killed or if she was a victim of burglary gone wrong.
I admit, I had my doubts when I started the book, but quickly changed to loving it. And Sid has some of the best lines. They be corney, but still, they made me laugh.
Looking forward to book #2.
August 20, 2013
It was very easy to get lost in this entertaining, wonderful story.
When I first heard of this book, I was like..."What?" It sounded so unlike any other cozy mystery (or other book) I had ever read. I was right. It was like nothing else I had ever read and I LOVED every minute of it! From the moment I met Sid the skeleton I was hooked! Indeed, I myself wish I had a Sid.
The friendship of Sid with lead character Georgia is absolutely enchanting and fun! I was wrapped up in every bit of their dialog. Best friends since she was just a little girl, you can tell there is nothing they wouldn't do for each other. And as the story progresses that becomes all too true. I also enjoyed Georgia's relationship with her daughter Madison and Sid's relationship with Georgia's sister Deborah. I looked forward to turning each page to see what would happen next.
Make sure to add this book to your To Be Read stack!
When I first heard of this book, I was like..."What?" It sounded so unlike any other cozy mystery (or other book) I had ever read. I was right. It was like nothing else I had ever read and I LOVED every minute of it! From the moment I met Sid the skeleton I was hooked! Indeed, I myself wish I had a Sid.
The friendship of Sid with lead character Georgia is absolutely enchanting and fun! I was wrapped up in every bit of their dialog. Best friends since she was just a little girl, you can tell there is nothing they wouldn't do for each other. And as the story progresses that becomes all too true. I also enjoyed Georgia's relationship with her daughter Madison and Sid's relationship with Georgia's sister Deborah. I looked forward to turning each page to see what would happen next.
Make sure to add this book to your To Be Read stack!
August 24, 2021
I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut lately so I figured let’s pick up a cozy especially if we can find it on audio! A Skeleton in the Family was 100% what I needed. It’s book 1 in a series so if looking for a new cozy series to get into, I recommend picking this one up. I love that our main sleuth character is an adjunct professor trying to make it, she’s a single Mom and her best friend is Syd, the Skeleton who lives upstairs.
I really like that this first book is about investigating what happened to Syd. I think if you enjoy cozies with that touch of paranormal, you’ll really like this one.
I really like that this first book is about investigating what happened to Syd. I think if you enjoy cozies with that touch of paranormal, you’ll really like this one.
February 26, 2017
This is the 1st in the Family Skeleton series. I will admit to having some deep reservations about reading this, I mean come on, a skeleton named Sid, as one of the main characters? It seemed like it would be a little silly. Well, I started and finished it last night and I really liked it!. The sleuth is Georgia Thackery, an adjunct professor, who just moved home to her parents’ house while they are out of the country on sabbatical. Sid has been in the family since childhood. Georgia has a teen daughter, who she brings with her and together, the three of them make for a delightful family. Georgia is an intelligent, strong-willed, independent sleuth. Sid is smart and witty and the relationship between them is both touching and comic. The first case involves solving Sid’s murder as he starts to recover some memories from his life before he came to the Thackery household.
A great cozy read and I will definitely read more in the series.
A great cozy read and I will definitely read more in the series.
November 1, 2013
Most families have skeletons in their closets…
But Sid is a very special skeleton. He and Georgia Thackery have been friends for as long as she can remember. Sid is the Thackery family’s skeleton. He’s lived in the house as long as Georgia can remember, although no one, including Sid, knows exactly where he came from and how he came to be a skeleton.
Georgia has accepted a job back in her hometown and her parents are away on sabbatical so she has moved back into the family home with her teenage daughter, Madison. But her daughter knows nothing about Sid. He lives in the attic and stays out of sight whenever Madison is at home.
Sid walks, talks, reads and as far as Georgia know never sleeps. He even convinces Georgia to take him out of the house. That’s when things get crazy. He sees a woman who triggers memories of his past. Now he wants to know how he died and ended up living with the Thackerys. Georgia agrees to investigate a bit and leads that to “a killer who’s still alive and well and bad to the bone…”
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is a really fun premise for a mystery series. Sid is a complete treasure. I want a Sid of my own and after you read this you will too!
Georgia is wonderful too. She is a professor who just can’t get on the tenure track at any nearby colleges. But she doesn’t let it get her down. She has a very positive attitude and a great daughter. Her parents are both professors and have been for a long time which is why they are able to take a sabbatical. I am sure they will sow up in a future installment.
I don’t want to give too much of the plot away so I will just say that the mystery of Sid leads to a current mystery that circles back to the past. Very clever writing and thoroughly enjoyable. Funny and exciting and a great book to read on a chilly autumn evening. A terrific start for this new series.
But Sid is a very special skeleton. He and Georgia Thackery have been friends for as long as she can remember. Sid is the Thackery family’s skeleton. He’s lived in the house as long as Georgia can remember, although no one, including Sid, knows exactly where he came from and how he came to be a skeleton.
Georgia has accepted a job back in her hometown and her parents are away on sabbatical so she has moved back into the family home with her teenage daughter, Madison. But her daughter knows nothing about Sid. He lives in the attic and stays out of sight whenever Madison is at home.
Sid walks, talks, reads and as far as Georgia know never sleeps. He even convinces Georgia to take him out of the house. That’s when things get crazy. He sees a woman who triggers memories of his past. Now he wants to know how he died and ended up living with the Thackerys. Georgia agrees to investigate a bit and leads that to “a killer who’s still alive and well and bad to the bone…”
Dollycas’s Thoughts
This is a really fun premise for a mystery series. Sid is a complete treasure. I want a Sid of my own and after you read this you will too!
Georgia is wonderful too. She is a professor who just can’t get on the tenure track at any nearby colleges. But she doesn’t let it get her down. She has a very positive attitude and a great daughter. Her parents are both professors and have been for a long time which is why they are able to take a sabbatical. I am sure they will sow up in a future installment.
I don’t want to give too much of the plot away so I will just say that the mystery of Sid leads to a current mystery that circles back to the past. Very clever writing and thoroughly enjoyable. Funny and exciting and a great book to read on a chilly autumn evening. A terrific start for this new series.
June 21, 2015
This has to be by far the BEST cozy mystery I have read!
Sid is a lovable character even if he is dead!
Georgia and Madison are a fun mother daughter team who seem to live life to the fullest!
Georgia is an adjunct professor who goes wherever she's needed. This time she lucks out and has the chance to stay at her parents house, where she can renew her friendship with Sid, the resident family skeleton, literally!
Hiding Sid from Madison while trying to solve his murder is hysterical and Georgia plays it right!
Sid's sense of humor kept me chuckling until the very end!
Speaking of the ending: Fantastic, Great, Cannot wait to read the next book!!!
This is for sure my next kindle purchase!
Sid is a lovable character even if he is dead!
Georgia and Madison are a fun mother daughter team who seem to live life to the fullest!
Georgia is an adjunct professor who goes wherever she's needed. This time she lucks out and has the chance to stay at her parents house, where she can renew her friendship with Sid, the resident family skeleton, literally!
Hiding Sid from Madison while trying to solve his murder is hysterical and Georgia plays it right!
Sid's sense of humor kept me chuckling until the very end!
Speaking of the ending: Fantastic, Great, Cannot wait to read the next book!!!
This is for sure my next kindle purchase!
December 3, 2018
3.5*
A weird and quirky storyline, but engaging enough. A "living" skeleton, that's been in the Thackery family since Georgia was six, decides he now wants to know who he was, and how he came to be a skeleton. Solving that mystery will set loose a series of events, and another dead body, this one in the flesh, so the mystery thickens. Can Sid and Georgia solve the mysteries, and keep themselves safe in the meantime, as it seems that not everyone wants Sid's past life revealed.
The plot isn't over complicated, the characters, including Sid, the skeleton, are likeable, and the writing is good. I find that some cozies can have weak writing, but just because a storyline is cute, and not necessarily complex, does not mean the writing should be mediocre.
All in all a well structured and entertaining read.
A weird and quirky storyline, but engaging enough. A "living" skeleton, that's been in the Thackery family since Georgia was six, decides he now wants to know who he was, and how he came to be a skeleton. Solving that mystery will set loose a series of events, and another dead body, this one in the flesh, so the mystery thickens. Can Sid and Georgia solve the mysteries, and keep themselves safe in the meantime, as it seems that not everyone wants Sid's past life revealed.
The plot isn't over complicated, the characters, including Sid, the skeleton, are likeable, and the writing is good. I find that some cozies can have weak writing, but just because a storyline is cute, and not necessarily complex, does not mean the writing should be mediocre.
All in all a well structured and entertaining read.
June 18, 2019
A Skeleton in the Family is a humorous cozy mystery with endearing main characters. I liked how well Georgia and Sid worked together. The mystery itself is discovering who murdered Sid but what if the killer is still alive and ready to silence Georgia forever? Good pacing with an ending I wasn't expecting. Can't wait to read more.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mrs. N
July 8, 2019
I'm a latecomer to this series, but I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the Family Skeleton Mystery series. I was hooked right from the opening chapter. I found this to have a unique theme in terms of the paranormal. Sid is a fantastic character - smart, funny and sarcastic. The relationship between Georgia and Sid was perfect. I love how he became a member of the family and how this story ends. The secondary cast of characters - Georgia's sister and daughter - round out the story nicely. I'm looking forward to hopefully meeting Georgia's parents in a future book. The mystery was engaging and kept me on my toes. I was surprised by the identity of the killer and it was revealed in a climactic manner. I have already put the second book in the series on hold at my local library. I want to catch up before the next book in the series is released.
December 1, 2013
Leigh Perry is a pseudonym for Toni L.P. Kelner, of the former "Where are They Now?" series.
Georgia is a single mother who shuffles between college adjunct teaching jobs since she hasn't been one of the fortunate to get a tenured position. She is back in Pennycross staying at her parent's house and starting a new adjunct teaching job. Her life is busy, but average...except for the the "ambulatory skeleton" named Sid that she grew up with. Since she was six years old and Sid came to her rescue, the Thackery family has had Sid "living" with them. Sid is glad to have Georgia back home and resume their amigo relationship. Georgia's teen girl, Madison, is into manga and is excited to attend a manga convention called Mangachusetts. Sid devises a costume that will allow him to go to the convention as Lord Death and have a little fun.
Everything works perfectly and nobody realizes that a ghostly skeleton was among them. But Sid recognized a woman from his life before he awoke all bones. Dr. Kirkland is the only clue to who Sid may have been when he was breathing. So Georgia and Sid go about investigating who Sid had been, and find Dr. Kirkland murdered...and evidence that Sid was murdered too. Now, they are trying to find the killer out of self-preservation.
Georgia is one of the few "mom" characters that I really enjoy. She is smart, fun, responsible, and loyal. She isn't too chatty as a narrator either. Sid, the family skeleton, is a unique and fresh character and a delightful side-kick. He is a ghostly skeleton who loves puns and one-liners, reads voraciously, and loves The Nightmare Before Christmas. He is the best friend providing moral support to Georgia, like when she was facing being a single parent. I grew fond of the character quickly and wanted to see him happy. That is an accomplishment with a skeleton! Madison is an enjoyable child with a low drama factor and is reasonable. Thank You! Dorothy, Georgia's sister, has a bad attitude that I didn't care for, but does speak to family dynamics in general. Fletcher Wildman is a Journalism adjunct and reporter who is the romantic interest in the story. Fletcher gets mixed reviews for being a stereotypical reporter. There is Dr. Kirkland's dog, an Akita named Byron, who joins the ragtag little family as well. Dr. Charles Peyton is a "dapper" history professor and old friend of Georgia's who I loved and hope he gets more than a bit part in the next novel.
The small college town of Pennycross is the setting, which has McQuaid Univeristy and also Joshua Tay University. The colleges have room to be developed in subsequent novels since this book mainly utilized the prejudice against adjunct teachers and the pressure of doctoral dissertations.
The plot is solid for a debut: find out how Sid became a skeleton with evidence of a head trauma and knife wound. He has no memories of his life but recognizes a Joshua Tay University professor. That is the starting point and the avenues for investigation are logical. The pacing remains steady and light with information revealed piece-meal.
The climax was dramatic - my thanks. The killer was kept hidden until the very end, and while hints were given in a general sense, this isn't like a traditional mystery with a laundry list of suspects to eliminate. The wrap-up provides closure for an important element of the story and sets up the next novel nicely.
This is a great paranormal cozy with plenty of humor, mystery, and a smidgen of romance culminating in a light, enjoyable, and quirky debut novel.
Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.
Join me at Mysteries and My Musings book blog
http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
Georgia is a single mother who shuffles between college adjunct teaching jobs since she hasn't been one of the fortunate to get a tenured position. She is back in Pennycross staying at her parent's house and starting a new adjunct teaching job. Her life is busy, but average...except for the the "ambulatory skeleton" named Sid that she grew up with. Since she was six years old and Sid came to her rescue, the Thackery family has had Sid "living" with them. Sid is glad to have Georgia back home and resume their amigo relationship. Georgia's teen girl, Madison, is into manga and is excited to attend a manga convention called Mangachusetts. Sid devises a costume that will allow him to go to the convention as Lord Death and have a little fun.
Everything works perfectly and nobody realizes that a ghostly skeleton was among them. But Sid recognized a woman from his life before he awoke all bones. Dr. Kirkland is the only clue to who Sid may have been when he was breathing. So Georgia and Sid go about investigating who Sid had been, and find Dr. Kirkland murdered...and evidence that Sid was murdered too. Now, they are trying to find the killer out of self-preservation.
Georgia is one of the few "mom" characters that I really enjoy. She is smart, fun, responsible, and loyal. She isn't too chatty as a narrator either. Sid, the family skeleton, is a unique and fresh character and a delightful side-kick. He is a ghostly skeleton who loves puns and one-liners, reads voraciously, and loves The Nightmare Before Christmas. He is the best friend providing moral support to Georgia, like when she was facing being a single parent. I grew fond of the character quickly and wanted to see him happy. That is an accomplishment with a skeleton! Madison is an enjoyable child with a low drama factor and is reasonable. Thank You! Dorothy, Georgia's sister, has a bad attitude that I didn't care for, but does speak to family dynamics in general. Fletcher Wildman is a Journalism adjunct and reporter who is the romantic interest in the story. Fletcher gets mixed reviews for being a stereotypical reporter. There is Dr. Kirkland's dog, an Akita named Byron, who joins the ragtag little family as well. Dr. Charles Peyton is a "dapper" history professor and old friend of Georgia's who I loved and hope he gets more than a bit part in the next novel.
The small college town of Pennycross is the setting, which has McQuaid Univeristy and also Joshua Tay University. The colleges have room to be developed in subsequent novels since this book mainly utilized the prejudice against adjunct teachers and the pressure of doctoral dissertations.
The plot is solid for a debut: find out how Sid became a skeleton with evidence of a head trauma and knife wound. He has no memories of his life but recognizes a Joshua Tay University professor. That is the starting point and the avenues for investigation are logical. The pacing remains steady and light with information revealed piece-meal.
The climax was dramatic - my thanks. The killer was kept hidden until the very end, and while hints were given in a general sense, this isn't like a traditional mystery with a laundry list of suspects to eliminate. The wrap-up provides closure for an important element of the story and sets up the next novel nicely.
This is a great paranormal cozy with plenty of humor, mystery, and a smidgen of romance culminating in a light, enjoyable, and quirky debut novel.
Rating: Near Perfect - Buy two copies: one for you and one for a friend.
Join me at Mysteries and My Musings book blog
http://www.mysterysuspence.blogspot.com
August 30, 2020
This was just what I needed. I laughed and smiled and devoured this little book. It was such a fun, joyful little thing and I will surely continue with the series!!
October 18, 2013
This is a fun, clever mystery of the cozy-flavor, told with a lot of wit and charm. It features an adjunct English professor and single mother named Georgia Thackery who has to scramble to keep herself and her teenaged daughter Madison afloat. When she gets a temporary job at a local university they move into her parents' house while the parents are overseas. The Thackery family has a literal skeleton in the family, Sid, who's been Georgia's companion since her early childhood, and the story concerns them solving the mystery of Sid's murder. Throughout the book there are many pithy observations about the stratification and hierarchies of the academic lifestyle and social culture, and the lengths that Georgia and the other instructors have to go to in order to survive it. It would all be very depressing if the madcap antics of the investigation (part of which is set at an anime/manga convention!), didn't always stay in the forefront. There were a couple of points I didn't quite get (why was Sid so set against meeting Madison?), and I really didn't warm up to the Thackerys as much as I did to Tilda in the Blast From the Past series (published as by Toni L.P. Kelner), but it was quite a fun read.
Unrelated to the current comments, perhaps due to my relative unfamiliarity with the cozy genre, I kept wondering how other authors would have written the same characters and situations. There's the desperation of the single mother, the angst of the teen daughter, some grisly murders, some spooky settings, some off-beat secondary characters, the dead guy who's haunting them all... It would be fun to see the same thing done by Brian Keene and Laurel K. Hamilton and Dean Koontz and Tanya Huff and so on to see what different novels would result.
Unrelated to the current comments, perhaps due to my relative unfamiliarity with the cozy genre, I kept wondering how other authors would have written the same characters and situations. There's the desperation of the single mother, the angst of the teen daughter, some grisly murders, some spooky settings, some off-beat secondary characters, the dead guy who's haunting them all... It would be fun to see the same thing done by Brian Keene and Laurel K. Hamilton and Dean Koontz and Tanya Huff and so on to see what different novels would result.
October 4, 2017
This cozy mystery has it all. For someone who is just a pile of bones, Sid is by far my favorite cozy mystery sleuth. He has so much depth (ha) for a dead person and his likeability factor is off the charts. He's witty, caring, nostalgic, sensitive, and handsome in a clean-cut, boney sort of way.
While the story is about Sid, it is so much more. The writing is outstanding. Even when Sid wasn't in a scene, his adopted family was just as likable. Georgia Thackery, an adjunct English professor at the local college, is a single mom to teenage Madison and sister to one of the town's locksmiths, Deborah. Georgia struggles to maintain a stable environment for Madison while constantly having to change jobs as an adjunct professor. Throw in a murder (or two) and you have two amateur sleuths, Georgia and Sid, for twice the fun. All the plot points were well "fleshed out" creating a seamless work of fiction. I was torn as I wanted to keep reading but at the same time didn't want the story to end. And the ending was perfectly done I might add.
The Thackery's have a unique family dynamic that works. Sid is not just a skeleton, he is part of the family. Highly recommend!
While the story is about Sid, it is so much more. The writing is outstanding. Even when Sid wasn't in a scene, his adopted family was just as likable. Georgia Thackery, an adjunct English professor at the local college, is a single mom to teenage Madison and sister to one of the town's locksmiths, Deborah. Georgia struggles to maintain a stable environment for Madison while constantly having to change jobs as an adjunct professor. Throw in a murder (or two) and you have two amateur sleuths, Georgia and Sid, for twice the fun. All the plot points were well "fleshed out" creating a seamless work of fiction. I was torn as I wanted to keep reading but at the same time didn't want the story to end. And the ending was perfectly done I might add.
The Thackery's have a unique family dynamic that works. Sid is not just a skeleton, he is part of the family. Highly recommend!
September 17, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. Leigh Perry is a pseudonym for Toni L.P. Kelner. I thought this was a nice first book in a new cozy mystery series. Georgia Thackery has been stuck teaching as an adjunct professor since finishing grad school. Her latest job takes her to the college where her parents are tenured professors. Her parents are on sabbatical, so Georgia and her daughter are able to live at their house. Georgia was happy to spend time with her best friend Sid, who is a skeleton that lives in her parents' attic.
There isn't a lot of dwelling on why Sid the skeleton can walk and talk and pull himself together, Sid just is. There was a couple pages of confusion for me when the book started talking about a carnival, but it resolved itself pretty quickly.
The mystery was good, there were some red herrings to keep you guessing. I liked Georgia, Sid and Georgia's daughter, who is an anime-crazy high school student. I think this is a great set up for a series and I can't wait to read Georgia and Sid's next adventure!
There isn't a lot of dwelling on why Sid the skeleton can walk and talk and pull himself together, Sid just is. There was a couple pages of confusion for me when the book started talking about a carnival, but it resolved itself pretty quickly.
The mystery was good, there were some red herrings to keep you guessing. I liked Georgia, Sid and Georgia's daughter, who is an anime-crazy high school student. I think this is a great set up for a series and I can't wait to read Georgia and Sid's next adventure!
February 3, 2014
this was a neat, refreshing cozy mystery. I really liked the humour and the tiny slice of supernatural (Sid). I even didn't mind the first-person present-tense too much:P I did find the foreshadowing at the end of each chapter a bit annoying as the book went on, but it wasn't a big issue.
March 20, 2014
Can I get a skeleton like Sid plz?
October 12, 2017
Ok, I had to suspend disbelief a lot to accept a walking, talking skeleton. In fact, I almost put the book down when Sid the skeleton made the scene. However, I kept on reading, and I'm glad I did. Perry is so good at character development that I was sucked into the story just because the people were all so interesting. Perry also told the story in the first person, which helped a lot in accepting Sid as a character. The mystery in this first-in-a-series book revolves around who killed Sid and why, and also who killed a local zooarchaeologist and why. Are the two murders connected? What kept me particularly interested in the story were the humorous touches, especially all the references to the hard life of an adjunct faculty member in a college. Having worked in a college myself, I know all too well that Perry wasn't exaggerating anything! The banter between Georgia and Sid was witty as well. As for the mystery, I never guessed who the killer was, but I thought the after-the-mystery-was-solved chapters wrapped up the loose ends a bit too quickly and unbelievably. However, I realize that this novel served to set up the characters for the next book in the series, which so far has 4 volumes. Will I read another one? Oh yes. Recommended, especially if you like a rather quirky mystery.
August 31, 2021
I've been wanting to read this for a long time - it's actually been on my TBR since 2015. I'm so glad I finally made the effort because this quirky book is the best cozy mystery I've read in a while. The premise is a bit unusual, so I thought it might be too silly. But it wasn't! I instantly liked Georgia and her daughter and fell completely in love with Sid. He actually reminds me a bit of Harry Dresden's "Bob". Read it in record time and will definitely be continuing with the series!
January 16, 2024
Such an enchanting read!
June 6, 2024
Help! This was so dang cute. Am I a cozy mystery person now?
March 25, 2016
Firstly, it's refreshing to have a book from the perspective of the adult who's hiding the family magic secret from the teenager for once. It's the "Mirror, Mirror" version of a YA novel.
Georgia has a teen daughter, a crappy adjunct professor job, and a skeleton in the closet. His name is Sid, and he's a sarcastic anime fan whom Georgia's family has been hiding since she was six. As the family settles after a move, Georgia's effort to keep Sid's existence from her daughte are complicated.
He goes to an anime convention.
That's not the issue. They pull it off with strong enough cosplay, honestly. Still, he sees someone he knows, which is the first hint ever of a memory of his pre-death life. Time for Georgia help her best friend solve his own murder.
It felt like it took a little while for the mystery to really start rolling. As a writer of supernatural mysteries, I totally forgive that. I had to do some initial world-building as well, and the interactions between the cast more than makes up for it. After that, I had a little more issue with the pace. It's really weird to me that, it's continues for over three weeks since the beginning of the investigation. Well, there's no police captain screaming at them, I guess.
For most of the book, I didn't exactly get a sense of dramatic urgency. Maybe that's just my preferences as a mystery writer coming out; my own Murder With Monsters happens over a long weekend, whereas this takes about a month to unfold. I'll keep an open mind; this could be one of those "cozy" mysteries I've heard about. The pace does get suitably frenetic and the stakes tense by the last act.
Here are some of the many reasons I enjoyed it.
-Georgia and Sid have no fancy CSI equipment, and their investigation tactics are plausible and clever.
-I love how Leigh uses actual geek terminology instead of making up weird-ass fictional franchises, as many are wont to do.
- The flashback to the main character meeting the skeleton at a childhood carnival catastrophe is ADORABLE.
-The patter is great. "Truly you are the Houdini of skeletons. Though I guess, at this point, Houdini is the Houdini of skeletons"
Despite my issues with the pacing (or, y'know, unfamiliarity with the subgenre), I'll definitely be picking up Skeleton Takes a Bow. Us monster mystery writers have to stick together.
If you could provide enough of a regular special effects, this would make a hell of weekly mystery show.
November 24, 2013
Review from Backchatting Books
If you are in the mood for a smart but off-beat cozy mystery then "A Skeleton in the Family" might just be for you. Georgia Thackery is an adjunct professor which means that she is poorly paid and has no job security even though she is fairly bright. She moves into her parents’ home temporarily with her daughter Madison and reunites with her best friend Sid who is…a walking, talking skeleton. Sid convinces her to take him to an anime convention where he spots a woman from his pre-skeleton days.
Georgia is a single mother who is trying to survive in a cut-throat industry and raise her daughter. There is a saying in academia which is ‘publish or perish’. It’s a vicious circle as Georgia doesn’t have the time to get her name in academic journals because of the heavy workload universities give adjuncts but she can’t become tenured unless she does. Short term contracts at different universities are the best she can hope for. Her relationship with her sister Deborah is complicated as the woman can’t seem to understand why Georgia can’t ‘get her life together’ and refuses to acknowledge the existence of Sid.
Georgia first met Sid when she got lost at a circus. Somehow he came to life to protect her and followed her home. Sid cracks really bad jokes about skeletons and bones but he supports Georgia whenever she needs him. Sid has his fair share of problems such as not remembering anything about his life when he was alive and being afraid of being abandoned. He gets frustrated when Georgia reminds him that he can’t walk around outside given his physical appearance as apart from that, he is basically alive. Some of the funniest sections of the book come from Sid trying to fend off a dog that has a taste for bones.
The mystery is a bit slow at the beginning while we wrap our heads around a sidekick skeleton but it picks up pace as it goes along. There are a good dose of red herrings and clues sprinkled along the way so you should have a fairly good idea whodunnit by the end. When Georgia and Sid start investigating the mystery of who Sid is and how he died, they are quickly confronted with a modern death that might just be connected. There is a mild romance of sorts in the background but it never overshadows the main plot.
You can read this book for the relationship between Sid and Georgia, the novelty of a walking, talking sidekick skeleton or even for the engaging mystery set in a university but just make sure you read it.
If you are in the mood for a smart but off-beat cozy mystery then "A Skeleton in the Family" might just be for you. Georgia Thackery is an adjunct professor which means that she is poorly paid and has no job security even though she is fairly bright. She moves into her parents’ home temporarily with her daughter Madison and reunites with her best friend Sid who is…a walking, talking skeleton. Sid convinces her to take him to an anime convention where he spots a woman from his pre-skeleton days.
Georgia is a single mother who is trying to survive in a cut-throat industry and raise her daughter. There is a saying in academia which is ‘publish or perish’. It’s a vicious circle as Georgia doesn’t have the time to get her name in academic journals because of the heavy workload universities give adjuncts but she can’t become tenured unless she does. Short term contracts at different universities are the best she can hope for. Her relationship with her sister Deborah is complicated as the woman can’t seem to understand why Georgia can’t ‘get her life together’ and refuses to acknowledge the existence of Sid.
Georgia first met Sid when she got lost at a circus. Somehow he came to life to protect her and followed her home. Sid cracks really bad jokes about skeletons and bones but he supports Georgia whenever she needs him. Sid has his fair share of problems such as not remembering anything about his life when he was alive and being afraid of being abandoned. He gets frustrated when Georgia reminds him that he can’t walk around outside given his physical appearance as apart from that, he is basically alive. Some of the funniest sections of the book come from Sid trying to fend off a dog that has a taste for bones.
The mystery is a bit slow at the beginning while we wrap our heads around a sidekick skeleton but it picks up pace as it goes along. There are a good dose of red herrings and clues sprinkled along the way so you should have a fairly good idea whodunnit by the end. When Georgia and Sid start investigating the mystery of who Sid is and how he died, they are quickly confronted with a modern death that might just be connected. There is a mild romance of sorts in the background but it never overshadows the main plot.
You can read this book for the relationship between Sid and Georgia, the novelty of a walking, talking sidekick skeleton or even for the engaging mystery set in a university but just make sure you read it.
September 18, 2013
Going into this book I was a bit nervous. The concept is absurd. I miss Toni Kelner's (now known as Leigh Perry) last protagonist, Tilda Harper. And, I'll say it again, the concept is too silly to be believe.
But Kelner... Perry... whoever she is, she makes it work.
The skeleton concept just works right off the bat. It's treated as a joke in all the right ways: goofy bone puns, clever ways to break into houses involving bones and doggy doors, etc. Other than that, it's serious and sincere. That could be said of the whole book, it's serious and sincere, but with a wicked streak of humor. (In a life-of-death situation, Georgia thinks, "Great. Even murderers had career advice for me.") Both Georgia and Sid are thoughtful, non-judgmental people. Yes, they have their conflicts. They're not perfect. But they're not going around and snarking on other people either. Sid is completely open-minded about the possibility that he might have been gay when he was alive, and Georgia shows great empathy when it comes to a colleague's unique living situation.
The narrator of this book, Georgia Thackery, is an adjunct college professor. There are all sorts of fascinating details about this grueling job. Plus, Georgia seems to be a perfect combination of Tilda Harper's stellar research ability with Laura Fleming's (Kelner's first heroine) family dynamic (Georgia and her sister have a relationship best described as "teeth-grittingly tense"), with even a sprinkle of classic computer programming knowledge thrown in for good measure.
The plot is pretty low-key, but driven steadily along by the fact that Georgia and Sid, the skeleton, never stop working. They are constantly working toward the conclusion. Evidence doesn't just fall into their laps. Nothing comes up randomly. Through Googling, library research, and networking, they figure everything out. It's inspiring how resourceful they are, and it shows you how much can be accomplished by putting two skulls together.
I hope this book doesn't get lost in the shuffle of "re-branding" Kelner as Leigh Perry. I don't understand that side of the publishing industry, or the road leading to this decision. All I know is that this is her strongest book to date, I love it, and I hope it gets recognized.
But Kelner... Perry... whoever she is, she makes it work.
The skeleton concept just works right off the bat. It's treated as a joke in all the right ways: goofy bone puns, clever ways to break into houses involving bones and doggy doors, etc. Other than that, it's serious and sincere. That could be said of the whole book, it's serious and sincere, but with a wicked streak of humor. (In a life-of-death situation, Georgia thinks, "Great. Even murderers had career advice for me.") Both Georgia and Sid are thoughtful, non-judgmental people. Yes, they have their conflicts. They're not perfect. But they're not going around and snarking on other people either. Sid is completely open-minded about the possibility that he might have been gay when he was alive, and Georgia shows great empathy when it comes to a colleague's unique living situation.
The narrator of this book, Georgia Thackery, is an adjunct college professor. There are all sorts of fascinating details about this grueling job. Plus, Georgia seems to be a perfect combination of Tilda Harper's stellar research ability with Laura Fleming's (Kelner's first heroine) family dynamic (Georgia and her sister have a relationship best described as "teeth-grittingly tense"), with even a sprinkle of classic computer programming knowledge thrown in for good measure.
The plot is pretty low-key, but driven steadily along by the fact that Georgia and Sid, the skeleton, never stop working. They are constantly working toward the conclusion. Evidence doesn't just fall into their laps. Nothing comes up randomly. Through Googling, library research, and networking, they figure everything out. It's inspiring how resourceful they are, and it shows you how much can be accomplished by putting two skulls together.
I hope this book doesn't get lost in the shuffle of "re-branding" Kelner as Leigh Perry. I don't understand that side of the publishing industry, or the road leading to this decision. All I know is that this is her strongest book to date, I love it, and I hope it gets recognized.
October 20, 2016
In this month's GR newsletter, I noticed author Charlaine Harris recommending this cozy-mystery series. As soon as I took a peek, the cover made me giggle! So I read the free preview and I was hooked in the first chapter as Sid came clattering down the hall!
Dr. Georgia Thackery is an adjunct English professor at a small Massachusetts college who moves into her parents house with her teenage daughter, Madison. This family literally has a skeleton in the closet- well, make that the attic! A skeleton named Sid lives in the attic, as he has since he saved Georgia when she was a young girl. Sid walks, talks, reads, can use a phone and computer and can be collapsed into a suitcase for traveling purposes. But Sid doesn't know who he really is- or was, in his past life.
Georgia and Sid begin to investigate Sid's previous (human) life which leads to break-ins, suspicious behavior, assaults and murder with multiple oddball suspects. The author uses dry humor and wit to bring Sid to life. With occasional nods to bones falling off and dogs taking nips at tasty tibias, the conversations between these two best friends is as normal as any other sleuthing duo.
This was a fun book! I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good cozy-mystery with a unique paranormal twist. I'm looking forward to reading more and hope this is just the beginning of a long series.
Dr. Georgia Thackery is an adjunct English professor at a small Massachusetts college who moves into her parents house with her teenage daughter, Madison. This family literally has a skeleton in the closet- well, make that the attic! A skeleton named Sid lives in the attic, as he has since he saved Georgia when she was a young girl. Sid walks, talks, reads, can use a phone and computer and can be collapsed into a suitcase for traveling purposes. But Sid doesn't know who he really is- or was, in his past life.
Georgia and Sid begin to investigate Sid's previous (human) life which leads to break-ins, suspicious behavior, assaults and murder with multiple oddball suspects. The author uses dry humor and wit to bring Sid to life. With occasional nods to bones falling off and dogs taking nips at tasty tibias, the conversations between these two best friends is as normal as any other sleuthing duo.
This was a fun book! I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good cozy-mystery with a unique paranormal twist. I'm looking forward to reading more and hope this is just the beginning of a long series.
December 19, 2024
I loved this book! I hope the next book in the series will come out soon!
There are not too many lol mysteries that I've read, but this one certainly is 'humurus'. I also appreciated the fright of the Akita ... Also receiving a look into a world that I wish I could have been a part of, the academic life. One could learn about how university education, glimpses into educational specialties, topics that one would not often think of, and appreciate professors and adjunct educators in a new light.
Sid is a real kick - and the way he and Georgia worked together to find out who he really is, who murdered him and why, ... and how Georgia and Sid continue to rescue each other, just as Sid had rescued Georgia when she was a young girl.
I couldn't wait to find out 'whodunit' but was so disappointed to finish the book as it was just way too much fun.
If you like to laugh at sometimes dry or sometimes witty jokes, enjoy cozy mysteries, and want to read one with a new twist, this book is worth every hour of sleep that you lose to read it. Great work, Leigh Perry!! Looking forward to the next book!
There are not too many lol mysteries that I've read, but this one certainly is 'humurus'. I also appreciated the fright of the Akita ... Also receiving a look into a world that I wish I could have been a part of, the academic life. One could learn about how university education, glimpses into educational specialties, topics that one would not often think of, and appreciate professors and adjunct educators in a new light.
Sid is a real kick - and the way he and Georgia worked together to find out who he really is, who murdered him and why, ... and how Georgia and Sid continue to rescue each other, just as Sid had rescued Georgia when she was a young girl.
I couldn't wait to find out 'whodunit' but was so disappointed to finish the book as it was just way too much fun.
If you like to laugh at sometimes dry or sometimes witty jokes, enjoy cozy mysteries, and want to read one with a new twist, this book is worth every hour of sleep that you lose to read it. Great work, Leigh Perry!! Looking forward to the next book!
October 27, 2015
Georgia Thackery has had to move back home to take her new adjunct teach job, but the bright side is that means reconnecting with her best friend, Sid the skeleton. Yes, Sid is a walking, talking skeleton, and he just appeared in Georgia’s life 30 years ago. But when he suddenly recognizes a face from his living past, he begins to wonder who he was and what happened to him. Georgia and Sid quickly realize they are dealing with a 30 year old murder mystery. Can they solve this cold case?
I don’t normally read paranormal mysteries, but I’m glad I made an exception in this case. The story is a bit slower than I would have liked, but it did pick up as we grew closer to the climax, and I was satisfied at the end. The characters are wonderful, and yes, that includes the very life like Sid. Sid’s puns help lighten the mood. After all, there’s no such thing as a bad pun.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I don’t normally read paranormal mysteries, but I’m glad I made an exception in this case. The story is a bit slower than I would have liked, but it did pick up as we grew closer to the climax, and I was satisfied at the end. The characters are wonderful, and yes, that includes the very life like Sid. Sid’s puns help lighten the mood. After all, there’s no such thing as a bad pun.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
September 9, 2019
This cozy mystery was such fun to read,with an interesting mystery as a plus.I would have finished this in one sitting if I hadn't had too many errands to run for two days,then fell asleep early.
If you enjoy quirky humor in TV shows like The Munsters,and Bewitched,then you would love 'Sid' the skeleton in this humorous cozy.He has such a delightful,fun personality,and the relationship between him and the heroine[Georgia] brings even more pleasure to the story.
After an outing to an animime convention where Sid recognizes someone from his past life,he becomes obsessed with finding out his history which he can't remember.Georgia agrees to help and thus begins the very engaging mystery with plenty of humor and dastardly happenings along the way.
I am a Newbie to reading this genre,but I hope to find many more as entertaining to read as this one was. I hope this author writes many more.
July 22, 2016
Wednesday afternoon I finished A Skeleton in the Family by Leigh Perry. This was a book suggested to me by my friend Karen and suggested during the #saveourcozies read-a-long. I could not find it in store near me but my wonderful library had it and I could not wait to read it. I was THRILLED with it, as much as it is a cozy paranormal mystery it really did not feel paranormal if that makes sense. It was so well written and oddly plausible in a pleasing way. I quickly fell into step with story and loved every minute of it. It was funny, it was sad and it was endearing and it was wonderful. Great story, great characters and lots of heart. I was so sad to learn this series has been canceled and I truly hope that author Leigh Perry finds away to bring Sid to a new publisher or self publishes this series.
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