“Mirth and murder blend beautifully” in this tale of an amateur sleuth and her bony best friend (Publishers Weekly, starred review). Dr. Georgia Thackery is back home with her parents after finding a new adjunct position at Bostock College. Everyone is excited for their first family Christmas with nothing to hide. Why? Because Georgia’s daughter Madison is now in the know about Sid, their … now in the know about Sid, their walking, talking family skeleton.
But their Christmas cheer is interrupted when the Thackerys’ dog Byron goes missing on a cold December night. When he’s finally found, he has a femur clutched between his jaws—and Georgia and Madison race to apologize to Sid for letting the dog gnaw on him yet again. Except that all of Sid’s bones are present and accounted for…
This bone is from somebody else, and when they trace Byron’s trail to an overgrown lot nearby, they find the rest of the skeleton. It’s the normal kind, not moving or telling jokes, and when the police come to take charge, they’re sure it was murder, and one of Georgia’s adjunct friends could be implicated. With tensions stirring at the college and everyone hiding a secret or two, Sid and Georgia must uncover the truth before the ghost of a Christmas past strikes again.
“Amateur sleuth Georgia, and her sidekick, Sid, are just plain fun!”—Sofie Kelly, New York Times-bestselling author of the Magical Cats Mysteries
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The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking is the 6th book in the ‘Family Skeleton’ mystery series and was written in 2019 by Leigh Perry. I’ve previously read and reviewed all the books in the series, and this one is definitely my favorite thus far. It seems each newly published tale is better than the last one. Before you read them, you need to know a few things to truly embrace the series.
Georgia is ~40ish adjunct English professor in New England. Her parents are both full-time professors at a different college, and she has a sister, Deborah, and a teenage daughter, Madison. There is also one other key person in Georgia’s life: Sid, a walking, talking skeleton. Now that you’ve picked your teeth off the floor and/or closed your mouth, stay focused! This series might have its roots in a bit of paranormal fun, but its heart and soul is truly realistic and wonderful. Few people know about Sid, so he’s more like a computer who can secretly interact with others to help George solve murders in her spare time. In this case, Madison’s dog brings home a bone. Georgia thinks it’s part of Sid, as the dog likes to bite the skeleton, but it’s not. From there, the entire family gets involved in solving this murder, including Georgia’s on-again/off-again boyfriend, Brownie, a carnie she came to know in an earlier book.
First off, the series has some of the best humor. When you have a dog and a skeleton, the trouble is endless. Toss in a few murders, and Georgia needs to be on her toes 24/7. She always is, but every once in a while, she slips up… and watching her back herself out of the situation is hilarious. Her colleague Charles is a main focus in this case, as he knew the person who likely belongs to the skeleton. Ten years ago, the two had been courting… and that’s all I’ll say, as I’m not a spoiler. Perry’s last few books in the series have been the kind you can’t put down. I tried to just read an hour’s worth, but I finished it all in a single setting. You breeze through them in a good way. They’re the perfect length and have a fine balance of complexity and levity.
I’m rarely a science-fiction or fantasy reader, but this series is one I won’t miss. I jumped on the chance to get an early copy of this book when I saw it was available on NetGalley. I wanted to save it until Christmas, since the book has a holiday theme, but I couldn’t last… I succumbed to the taunting as the lovable skeleton called to me every single time I opened Kindle. “READ ME” Sid said… so I did. And it’s fantastic. Clever and witty, full of heart and soul. It weaves back and forth seamlessly from Georgia’s personal life to Sid’s quest to be as real as he can possibly be to investigating the prime murder case. Georgia is beyond methodical, and I believe she can solve the case each time.
The conclusion is fierce… both in the mystery and in Georgia’s personal life. I pushed through about ~30 pages so quickly once the killer was revealed and the big-time chase scene got underway. It was a great ending, and I love the last two pages. I didn’t expect it to happen, and I’m not entirely sure how I feel about it yet, but it was thoroughly shocking in a good way. Can I please have the next one for Christmas in my stocking, Sid… this year? Thanks!
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.
When Dr. Georgia Thackery’s dog, Byron, gets out one afternoon, and when she and her daughter Madison find him again, he is clutching a bone. Naturally, the two assume it is part of Sid, and they race home to apologize to their friend. However, all of Sid’s bones are present and accounted for, so they get the police involved. It turns out that Byron has found part of a normal skeleton (you know, not walking and talking), and the police are able to determine that the skeleton was murdered. The police have no leads on who the skeleton might have been in life, but Georgia’s friend and fellow adjunct, Charles, approaches her. He thinks he might know the victim, but the only way to give the police that information might lead the police directly to Charles. And so Georgia jumps into action again, with Sid doing his best to research the case on the internet. Was the victim Charles’s friend? If so, who killed her?
If you are new to the series, you might be a bit lost. You see, Sid is a walking, talking skeleton and Georgia’s best friend. That’s the only paranormal element to the series, and it is done is a realistic manner, which makes it feel very natural. The characters, including Sid, are very strong, which certainly helps make it all seem real. The plot, while not a traditional cozy mystery plot, is very strong with plenty of twists and surprises along the way to the climax. In fact, I liked the fact that it was something different plot wise, and it certainly kept me engaged the entire time. I did think that Christmas aspect could have been stronger, but that’s my only complaint and a very small one at that. As a lover of puns, I absolutely loved the puns and other humor in the book. If you are just now meeting Sid, you are in for a treat. If you are already a fan, you’ll love this newest visit with him.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We meet many wonderful characters in most of the books we read, and in cozy mysteries, we meet their canine, feline and bovine friends too. But hands down Sid is my favorite character of all. This smart, savvy, witty, wonderful skeleton stole my heart back in book #1 – A Skeleton in the Family. Sid is a walking – talking – dancing skeleton that is Dr. Georgia Thackery’s best friend. Sid’s phalanges fly over the computer keyboard in his attic room, where he does his research to help Georgia solve murder mysteries. He is also quite portable in a special bag where he can stealthy see what is happening and text on his cell phone faster than I will ever be able to do with one hand. It is also not unheard of for him to don a disguise or two to help Georgia out. Sid is a character I will never forget and wish I had a Sid of my own.
This time Georgia is working at Bostock College and living with her daughter back at home with her parents. Christmas is right around the corner and it should be merry because the family is back together. But when the family dog, Byron brings home a prize bone that turns out to be a human femur (that does not belong to Sid) the merriment hits a bump in the road. Bryon becomes the star of the hour and they follow his trail to find the rest of the body. A body that may have ties to Bostock College. Hoping to wrap the case up before Christmas, Sid and Georgia use all their talents to catch a killer.
Georgia Thackery who I believe is in her early 40’s is an adjunct English professor so she goes where the job is around the New England area. Her parents are tenured professors at the local college and you can usually find a student or two at their dinner table. Georgia’s sister Deborah is a security expert and can open almost every lock. Georgia also has a teenage daughter, Madison. Sid has been a part of this household for years and is the family’s secret.
The mystery starts when the body that is found but then twists and turns with connections between the present and the past. I felt the story was very unique and was totally delighted to go along for the ride. I had completely escaped into the story excited for the big killer reveal which was great but that was surpassed by a whiplash-like twist Ms. Perry throws at us at the end. Nicely played Ms. Perry! Nicely played.
As you can imagine with a skeleton being a lead character, this story is full of humor. Readers will experience tittering, giggling, a chortle or two, and even laugh out loud moments. Ms. Perry also adds a little romance to Georgia’s life with a former character returning too. The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking excels at everything I look for in a cozy mystery.
“Oh, my spine and femur!” This is such a fantastic book! Leigh Perry has penned a marvelous cozy mystery. With winter/Christmas as a background, readers get to follow Georgia and Sid ever step of the way. This book is classified as a paranormal or supernatural cozy mystery. I really don’t think of it that way. For me, Sid just is Sid, nothing spooky or supernatural about it Coccyx, You just have to read it! Read the whole series!! You will come to love Sid as much as I do!
This book will be on my Best Reads of 2019 list!
Sid is a wonderful yet challenging member of the family. Leigh Perry continues to weave Georgia’s family and characters from prior stories into the next one while keeping things fresh and unexpected.
This is a super cute, fun, and slightly wacky paranormal cozy mystery.
Dr. Georgia Thackery is an adjunct college professor living with her professor parents and teenage daughter. Sid lives in their attic. Sid is a literal skeleton (how he’s animated no one knows), who loves online gaming, spreadsheets, and investigating murders. Clearly he can’t easily wander around town any day but Halloween, but his skeleton can disassemble for convenient investigating. His skull and hand, for instance, can be carried in a bag so that he can attend interviews, etc., and text questions to Georgia. Or otherwise be of assistance…”People swear by their cup holders, but there’s nothing as convenient as having a disembodied skeletal hand help hold your food while you’re driving.”
The Thackery’s and Sid are preparing for Christmas when their dog gets out of their yard and returns with a femur. Planning to apologize profusely to Sid, who they assume must be missing a femur, they’re surprised to learn all his bones are accounted for. A call to the police and another search with the dog leads to a long buried dead body. One of Georgia’s colleagues could be implicated in the murder so Georgia and Sid are on the case.
The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking is part of a series. This book can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the series in order. #cozymystery #paranormalcozymystery
It’s Christmas time but the merriment is interrupted when the Thackery’s dog Byron goes missing. When Byron is found he has a human bone in his mouth. Georgie and Madison go to apologize to Sid for Byron taking one of his bones. Sid’s skeleton is intact, so who does the bone belong?
This is book 6 but my first book in the series. I had this series on my TBR list for a while. I have been hearing good things from my fellow cozy mystery friends. I was not disappointed. I was able to enjoy this as a stand-alone mystery. I definitely look forward to reading the previous books in the series to learn more about Sid and the Thackery family. This a fun humorous cozy mystery. The characters are enjoyable and entertaining. The mystery moves at a quick steady pace with several twists and turns to keep the reader engaged in the story. I recommend this book to cozy mystery fans.
I voluntarily agreed to read a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and in no way have been influenced by anyone.
Dr Georgia Thackery is back at home with a new position as an adjunct professor at the local Bostock College. Heading home one evening, she gets a call from her daughter, Madison, telling her their dog an Akita named Byron, is missing. When Georgia and Madison find him, he has a large bone which they take home believing it to belong to the family skeleton, Sid. But Sid has all his bones so Georgia calls Louis, a detective on the police force who happens to be dating her sister. They take Byron to see if he can return to where he found the bone and he does. They find a skeleton which had been buried. The skeleton turns out to have been murdered around 10 years old which leads Georgia’s friend, Charles, to contact her. it seems he knows who the missing person is. Georgia and Sid are on the cold case. The case leads them through quite the mystery which ties into events occurring at Bostock College. It also brings Georgia back in contact with the owners of a local carnival and her ex-boyfriend, Brownie. There are several twists and turns throughout the mystery so can Georgia and Sid solve it before someone else is hurt?
I love this series and this book is no exception. Leigh Perry has really kept the series fresh and I’m eager to read each book as it comes out and do so as fast as I can get it from my library. The book’s well-written with depth and intrigue that grab you from the beginning keeping you hooked until the end. I highly recommend both book and series which I suggest you read in order.
What a great book. I know I have not read all the books in this series but this is great. Loved it.
I enjoy this series
This is my favorite book in the series to date. This series has everything I look for when reading and continuing with a cozy mystery series. The characters are rich, well developed and very likable. Georgia and Sid had a terrific relationship that continues to grow as her life and the people in it expand. The dialogue has plenty of wit and humor and a steady pace that kept me turning pages. This is a holiday story and both Sid and Georgia get a wonderful holiday gift. I like how the author has incorporated the secondary characters including Charles, Brownie and his parents.
The mystery was well done and it had me guessing through the entire story. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout that kept me stumped, especially the twist Ms. Perry throws in at the end of the story.
I find this to be a highly entertaining series and I will be back for as long as the author continues to write stories about these characters.
I voluntarily read a digital ARC provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.
I absolutely adore Sid. He is one of the most likable, witty, and engaging characters in the cozy mystery genre. THE SKELETON STUFFS A STOCKING, the sixth installment in the Family Skeleton Mystery Series, is the best book to date. Wonderful, well developed characters, a complex mystery to solve, and the Christmas backdrop make for a fabulously entertaining read.
When Byron the Akita brings home a femur, Georgia assumes it belongs to her best friend Sid, until Byron leads them to a shallow grave. There is nothing to identify the woman until Georgia’s friend and fellow professor Charles comes to her with a clue. She fears the police will implicate Charles so she and Sid decide to make inquiries about this cold case on their own. Their investigation leads them through many twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout the story. The surprise revelation at the end is both unexpected and delightful.
THE SKELETON STUFFS A STOCKING is marvelous. Highly recommended.
I received an ARC of this title through NetGalley from Division Books and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.
Wow. I am at a loss for words for this sixth book in the Family Skeleton cozy paranormal mystery series. Before I address the reason for that, this book starts with Georgia’s dog finding a femur. And, of course, poor Georgia is drawn into yet another mystery which she finally admits she does like to solve. We see Charles in this one as one of the main characters in the mystery, and I just love him. There are also a few other characters, and I admit that I hope they all stick around as they are so much fun. Add to that the interesting mystery and the twists and turns which made this an excellent addition to the series. This is your typical fun, light-hearted, cozy mystery, just what you’d expect in a great one. Now, back to the “wow” moment. The end just blew me away for a two reasons I can’t talk about or I’ll spoil the whole book. I am so glad they both happened, and for one I’d like to say it’s about time. I loved this book, and if you love paranormal cozies, you need to give this one a try. Highly recommend! I was provided a copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Every time I read the new mystery featuring Sid, Georgia and everybody else, I say it’s the best one yet. I’ll say it again, this is my new favorite.
Georgia is an adjunct professor and has always wanted to land a job close to family but her skill set in teaching wasn’t needed by the college until now. Some changes have been made in their focus and she now finds herself close to her parents who are both tenured professors. Looks like things are going her way……until the dog comes home with a leg bone. Now most people would call the police ASAP but not
Georgia. You see Georgia’s family has a resident skeleton named Sid. Not the kind that hangs on a metal frame in some anatomy class or is rolled out just for Halloween. No, Sid is a walking, talking, dare I say? a living breathing skeleton. Really. He walks and talks, cracks jokes, hangs out with the family, plays on the internet. So Georgia thinks the dog has done what a dog likes to do, at least in this family – the bone must belong to Sid. Oops, nope, it’s not Sid’s and that leads Georgia to back track the dog’s movements straight to a human skeleton.
With the police investigating the cold case their focus turns to one of Georgia’s co-workers. She is certain that Charles is not the killer so she does her own investigation. I’ll say no more because I’m afraid I might give something away.
I love Sid and Georgia and their very loving relationship. Having a skeleton for a family member really works and after awhile one can be excused for maybe forgetting that this family member is just bones. The mystery is very satisfying with a great ending that had me reading well past my bedtime. The sign of a really good book. More, please.
Love, love, love this series! There is something about having a skeleton for a best friend that sounds strange to some, but it sounds purely delightful to me! Especially when this skeleton enjoys celebrating with dance parties! This cozy mystery hits the ground running from the start and doesn’t let up until the last page.
Byron, teenage Madison’s dog, accidentally gets out of the house; when Georgia comes home from work, they search for the dog. Madison finally finds him, and he comes bearing a surprise. Georgia recognizes it as a femur, a human leg bone. Madison is worried that Byron has capitalized on one of Sid’s fears and taken one of his bones.
Sid is the family skeleton and Georgia’s childhood best friend. He lives in the attic at the Thackery home where her parents, tenured professors at a local University, have lived for decades. Dr. Georgia Thackery, an adjunct (think temporary) professor at another local university, and her teenage daughter Madison live with them when she has a local position.
Being with the vocal and ambulatory Sid is one of the benefits of being at the Thackery home, especially since Georgia has this avocation of trying to solve the murders of people she or her loved ones find. Sid is an expert researcher, spending endless hours online to help find clues and backgrounds when he isn’t reading or gaming. Byron’s find did not come from Sid, and Georgia was forced to contact the Pennyroyal police. Her sister Deborah is dating Louis, one of the investigators involved in most of the major crimes. They look to Byron to lead them back to where he found the bone. Sadly, it is part of a skeleton buried on some land from which the home was torn down years earlier.
Not only is this case as cold as a New England winter, there isn’t even a way to identify the remains other than that it is a murdered young woman. There are no missing person reports for the estimated time. One of Georgia’s co-workers has a clue to the person’s identity, but if he goes to the police, he could be the likely suspect.
This mystery sends Georgia and Sid, and ex-boyfriend Brownie who wants to be part of Georgia’s life on a merry romp through Pennyroyal and the surrounding areas and the campus where Georgia is currently teaching. Sid finds amazing clues with the little information they have, but they still seem to run up against a brick wall. This armchair sleuth wasn’t able to come up with the solution, whether motive or o suspect, so I simply went along for the ride. Plot twists and turns, Christmas preparations, and dance parties kept the story moving at a fast pace. Needless to say, there were surprises to be had at the end – and completely wonderful, delightful twists! I highly recommend this to those who love well-crafted cozy mysteries, romance, unusual partners in sleuthing, and a touch of romance. Don’t miss it!
From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Series: A Family Skeleton Mystery – Book 6
Author: Leigh Perry
Genre: Cozy Mystery/ Holiday/ Paranormal
Publisher: Diversion Books
Page Count: 280
Publishing Date: September 24, 2019
From Diversion Books comes a new holiday cozy, The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking, the 6th in the “A Family Skeleton Mystery” cozy series by author Leigh Perry. A new murder is causing Georgia stress, and Sid does his best to come to the rescue. With holiday cheer and a great deal of entertainment. The latest book in this series will leave readers gleefully mesmerized.
Georgia is used to Sid, the skeleton that lives with her family, and she loves him immensely. But even she gets frustrated with him sometimes. With a new murder to solve, which is actually old, she has her hands full. Sid can make life challenging, and during the holidays, he is in top form. To top it off, Georgia is worried that her love life may suffer unless she brings Sid out of the closet.
This is a wonderful series with main characters that leave readers chuckling and a wishfulness that only the holidays can bring. Georgia, Madison, her family, and friends, as well as Sid, are loveable, well-written and endlessly engaging. The plot in The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking is exceptionally original. Having a skeleton who can walk around and talk is definitely a unique character in cozies, and even more so in an x-mas holiday cozy. Most of the time skeletons only pop up in Halloween books or as corpses. It is refreshing to have one in a Christmas book.
Sid and Georgia will delight readers of all ages and types. It will be difficult to see Sid as anything other than a living breathing person (well… not truly breathing, but you get the idea) with emotions and concerns of a distinct skeleton kind. Readers will lose themselves between the pages of this holiday cozy and will find that they can’t wait for the Christmas festivities to start. Maybe they will see if there are any skeletons in their attics waiting to be seen and heard.
I truly enjoyed this holiday cozy and can’t wait for the next addition to this series. I am thrilled to recommend this book along with the entire series to cozy readers everywhere.