The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking by Leigh Perry

Welcome!  Leigh Perry is the author of A Family Skeleton Mystery series.  Sid, the walking and talking skeleton, is the best friend of Dr. Georgia Thackery.  Leigh Perry was born in Pensacola, Florida and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina.  She has been living in Boston, Massachusetts for the last twenty-six years.  Leigh lives with her husband, two daughters, two guinea pigs and a ludicrous amount of books (there is no such thing). While the number of people and guinea pigs remain constant, the number of books continues to rise. Sid was inspired old television shows Leigh watched like Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie and The Ghost & Mrs. Muir (great movie).  She writes A Family Skeleton Mystery series under the pen name of Leigh Perry because they were a departure from the type of novels she had written previously.  Under Toni L.P. Kelner she has eleven novels along with twenty something short stories.  She also co-edited five urban fantasy anthologies with Charlaine Harris.  Readers can follow Leigh Perry on Facebook and visit her website.

The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking by Leigh Perry has Dr. Georgia Thackery along with her daughter, Madison and her best friend, Sid living back at home with her parents in Pennycross, Massachusetts.  Georgia is working as an adjunct at nearby Bostock College.  The family is looking forward to a joyful holiday where Sid can take part in all the festivities.  Sid has been searching online for the perfect gift for each family member.  Georgia arrives home from work to find an upset Madison pacing on the front porch.  It seems that one of her parents’ grad students let their dog, Byron slip out the door (again).  They locate Byron a short time later with a femur in his mouth.  The go to apologize to Sid only to discover that he has all his bones.  The retrace Byron’s path with Sgt. Louis Raymond and discover the rest of the bones buried in front of where the old Nichols house used to be.  Georgia has every intention of not investigating until she learns that her friend, Dr. Charles Peyton could be implicated in the victim’s death.  Sid is raring to go, and the pair set out to catch the killer before the Christmas.

The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking by Leigh Perry is the sixth novel in A Family Skeleton Mystery series.  It can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out some fun adventures with Georgia and Sid.  Georgia and the Thackery family are looking forward to a merry holiday season with Sid by their side.  This will be the first Christmas they have all been together since Madison learned of Sid’s existence.  Then Byron is found with a femur bone in his mouth and it is not one of Sid’s (this time).  It seems that Byron stumbled upon a victim who has been dead at least ten years.  Georgia would like to sit out this case, but then her friend, Dr. Charles Peyton tells her information that if he shares with the police could get him arrested.  Georgia wants to solve the case and clear Charles.  Sid is thrilled that Georgia has changed her mind especially since he already has a spreadsheet started.  Can Georgia and Sid wrap up this chilly case before the holidays?  The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking has such great characters.  I just love Sid.  He is such a unique character being a walking, talking skeleton.  He holds himself together by force of will.  I like that the family has outfitted his attic for him.  He has a busy online where he takes classes, communicates with friends, plays games, does research, and shops.  The mystery was interesting.  I like that it is a cold case which is harder for the duo to solve.  There is active investigating, good clues and even a twist that some people may not expect.  I like that Georgia meets up with Brownie once again.  There is only one thing standing in the way of Georgia having a fulfilling relationship with Brownie—Sid.  I love the humor in the story that has me laughing frequently.  The Thackery’s have a grad student who cannot stop talking about his dissertation or eating all the Thackery’s food.  He provided some snarky comments and amusing moments.  The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking is a lively tale with staff on strike, a cold case, a previous paramour, an abandoned abode, and happy holiday happenings.

The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking can be picked up here* (Amazon UK).  You will find the rest of A Family Skeleton Mystery series here (available in digital and paperback).  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my review.  I will return tomorrow with Address for Murder by Tonya Kappes.  It is the second novel in A Mail Carrier Cozy Mystery series (Stamped Out is the first book & it is available on Kindle Unlimited).  I hope that you have a happy day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.

The Skeleton Makes a Friend by Leigh Perry: My Review, an Excerpt & a Giveaway

The Skeleton Makes a Friend (A Family Skeleton Mystery)

by Leigh Perry

About the Book

The Skeleton Makes a Friend (A Family Skeleton Mystery)

Diversion Books (November 6, 2018)

Paperback: 280 pages

ISBN-10: 1635764440

ISBN-13: 978-1635764444

Digital ASIN: B07GT39K2X

Georgia Thackery is feeling pretty good about her summer job teaching at prestigious Overfeld College, and she’s renting a rustic cabin right by a lake for herself, her daughter, Madison, and her best friend, Sid the Skeleton. Together again, the trio are enjoying the quiet when a teenager named Jen shows up looking for her friend. Georgia doesn’t recognize the name, but she learns that the person Jen was looking for is actually Sid.

Sid reveals that he and Jen are part of a regular online gaming group that formed locally, and one of their members has gone missing. Sid admits that he might have bragged about his investigative prowess, enough so that Jen wants him to find their missing player. Given that Sid doesn’t have many friends offline—none, really, unless you count the Thackery family—Georgia agrees to help him search. They manage to discreetly enlist Jen, who lives in town, and follow the clues to... a dead buddy.

Now they've got a killer on their hands. Probing the life of Sid's friend, they realize a lot is wrong both on campus and in the seemingly quaint town, and someone doesn't want them looking deeper.

About the Author

Leigh Perry is the author of A Family Skeleton Mystery Series: A Skeleton in the Family, The Skeleton Takes a Bow, The Skeleton Haunts a House, and The Skeleton Paints a Picture. 

Author Links

Author Website: http://leighperryauthor.com/

Author Facebook: https://twitter.com/Family_Skeleton

Sid's Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/LeighPerryAuthor

My Alter Ego:  Toni L.P. Kelner: www.tonilpkelner.com

Here is an excerpt from The Skeleton Makes a Friend for your enjoyment:

Sid unzipped the rest of the way, pulled himself out of the suitcase and back together, and tried to turn the knob. “It’s locked.”

“Can you open it?”

“Easy peasy,” he said, pulling a set of lock picks from inside the suitcase. My locksmith sister Deborah probably hadn’t realized that teaching my daughter Madison how to pick locks was tantamount to teaching Sid. Madison had shared everything she’d learned with him, and he’d promptly ordered his own picks online. “You really should learn to do this, Georgia. It’s not that hard.”

Despite his assurance, it seemed to take an awful long time to get the door open. Or maybe it just seemed like a long time because I kept looking down the stairs, worried that somebody would hear us and come to see what was going on.

Finally there was a loud click, and Sid said, “Nailed it!” He opened the door, and cold air streamed out.

“Brr!” I said. “Wouldn’t you know that a department with everybody on vacation would be the one with overachieving air conditioners?” The window unit in my classroom had gone out twice. “Not to mention the waste of electricity.”

“You can complain about it later,” Sid said. “Come on.”

I followed him into the human resources department, pulling the empty suitcase along.

There were four more closed doors: three offices labeled with names and one marked File Room.

“Here we go,” Sid said, using his picks on one of the office doors.

This lock was easier to deal with, which was a relief, but unfortunately, the smell seemed to be coming from that office. “I’m going in.”

“Remember what I said. Get in, look around fast, get out.”

“Got it.” He stepped inside.

Between the cold, the horrid stink, and the fear of being caught, I was hoping that Sid would be swift, but I was surprised when he came out in under two minutes. “That was fast. Did you find something?”

“Don’t go in there.”

“I wasn’t going to—”

Then I looked at him.

He shouldn’t have been able to look like anything but bone-colored, but somehow he seemed paler than usual, and his bones were so loose he was nearly falling apart. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s in there. At least I think it’s him.”

“Did he see you?” I said stupidly.

He slowly shook his skull, and only then did I realize what it was we’d been smelling.

My Thoughts

The Skeleton Makes a Friend by Leigh Perry is A Family Skeleton Mystery series.  Georgia Thackery along with her daughter, Madison and best friend and skeleton, Sid are spending the summer in Overfeld, New Hampshire.  Georgia is teaching a creative writing seminar as part of a high school enrichment program at Overfeld College.   The three of them are swimming in the lake when Jen Cater shows up looking for Skalle Beinagrind.  Skalle is a gaming friend of Jen’s from Runes of Legend who was bragging about his expertise as a private investigator.  One of their fellow players, Erik Bloodaxe has gone missing and Jen wants to enlist Skalle’s help in locating him.  Georgia quickly deduces that Jen is looking for Sid (use translator on Skalle Beinagrind).  While Sid cannot meet with Jen in person (for obvious reasons), he does want to help locate their fellow player.  Sid sifts through the online information on Erik to track down his real world identity.  Erik works at Overfeld College, but he has played his last game.  Sid and Georgia find him dead and it looks like he has been there for a few days which explains the malodorous stench in the building.  The duo uncover problems at the college and the culprit has no intention of stopping his deadly game.  Can the duo expose the killer in time? 

The Skeleton Makes a Friend is a humorous cozy mystery with delightful characters.  Sid is one of those characters that you cannot help but love.  He is a skeleton with a quirky personality and a zest for life.  He has been Georgia’s best friend since she was a little girl (he saved her life at a carnival).  Thanks to the advent of Wi-Fi, Sid can now have online friends in addition to the Thackery family.  The Thackery’s have come up with creative solutions that allow Sid to go out in the world (the bowling bowl tote bag is ingenious).  Madison is back in this tale and she gets involved with the mystery.  I just love the interactions between Georgia, Sid and Madison along with their creative curse words.  The mystery is complex with misdirection.  Readers get clues as Georgia and Sid investigate the victim, suspects and the college.  While The Skeleton Makes a Friend is the fifth A Family Skeleton Mystery, it can be read alone.  Georgia and Sid’s backstory is provided so new readers will not be lost.  I thought The Skeleton Makes a Friend was well-written and plotted with developed characters.  The story has smooth transitions and moves along at a brisk pace.  I especially appreciate that there are no loose ends at the end of the story except where Georgia will work in the fall.  The Skeleton Makes a Friend is a light and lively tale that will tickle your funny bone.

The Skeleton Makes a Friend will be out on November 6 and can be purchased on Amazon, B&N, and Kobo .  The author is hosting a giveaway in honor of the tour.  You can click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below.  Thank you for stopping by today and I hope you have found a new book to add to your TBR pile.  I will return tomorrow with my review of A Wrench in the Works by Kate Carlisle.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS

November 5 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

November 5 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

November 6 – Mallory Heart's Cozies – REVIEW

November 6 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 7 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW

November 8 – Carstairs Considers – REVIEW

November 8 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

November 9 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

November 9 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

November 10 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW

November 11 – This Is My Truth Now – REVIEW

November 12 – Here's How It Happened – REVIEW

November 12 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 13 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

November 14 – Varietats – REVIEW

November 14 –My Reading Journeys – REVIEW

November 15 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 15 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW

November 16 – The Layaway Dragon – REVIEW

November 17 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

November 17 – Mysteries with Character – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

November 18 – The Montana Bookaholic – REVIEW

The Skeleton Paints a Picture: A Family Skeleton Mystery

Hello!  A Place at Our Table by Amy Clipston will be published on November 14.  It is the first book in An Amish Homestead series.  The first three books in A Family Skeleton Mystery series are  A Skeleton in the Family, The Skeleton Takes a Bow, and The Skeleton Haunts a House.

The Skeleton Paints a Picture by Leigh Perry is the fourth tome in A Family Skeleton Mystery series.  Dr. Georgia Thackery is working at an adjunct at Falstone College of Art and Design (FAD) in Falstone, Massachusetts.  Georgia arrives home (the borrowed bungalow) and finds two packages on her porch.  She opens them to find her best friend, Sid inside—a walking, talking skeleton.  Sid was feeling lonely (too many grad students at the Thackery home) and decided to visit Georgia (who was equally lonely).  That night Sid (who doesn’t need to sleep) is out exploring the backyard and spots a car crashed in the woods behind the bungalow.  When Georgia and Sid check it out, they find the body of a woman.  The next day, Georgia discovers the victim is Kelly Griffith who ran the writing lab at FAD.  Georgia and Sid believe there is something off about Kelly’s death and start researching the victim (and faculty—Sid is whiz with computers).  It seems that Kelly was involved in her own investigation and it ended up getting her killed.  Can Georgia and Sid follow the trail and find Kelly’s killer?

The Skeleton Paints a Picture is nicely written and easy to read.  I just love Sid.  He is such an entertaining and unique character (Sid will provide many laugh out loud moments) and Georgia is the perfect counterpart for him.  I like that their relationship is changing and developing into a partnership (a team).  I especially like the creative “swear” words that they utilize.  The author has certainly found some creative ways for Sid to get out and explore the world as well as investigate (Sid just loves snow blowers).  I do want to mention the author included a “gender fluid” character.  I applaud the author for tackling a gender fluid character and her handling of it (though it was confusing to read about the character without the gender specific pronouns).  My rating for The Skeleton Paints a Picture is 4 out of 5 pumpkins.  The mystery is medium complexity.   I think some readers will be surprised by the solution (pay very close attention & it can be solved).   I did miss Georgia’s parents and daughter (Madison) in this installment.  I hope they return in the next book in A Family Skeleton Mystery series.  While The Skeleton Paints a Picture is the fourth book in this series, it can be read alone.  Personally, I am glad I have read each book in the series.  I believe you will be missing out by not reading the first three books (you find out more about Sid and how he joined the family, Georgia’s teaching history).  The Skeleton Paints a Picture is a humorous (Sid makes a “humerus” pun in story that will tickle your funny bone) cozy mystery that will delight many readers.  I am glad that Sid is back!  

I do hope that you are having a lovely day (and that it is not stressful).  I am currently reading Cremains of the Day by Misty Simon.  I will be reviewing The Girl Who Saved Ghosts by K.C. Tansley tomorrow (10/17).  Thank you for visiting, take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader