A Skeleton in the Family (#1)
What has Sid so rattled?
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 homecoming: 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.
Reviews
“A very touching and entertaining whodunit. The mystery is intelligent and nicely done with fun insights into academia and anthropology.”RT Book Reviews
“An effortlessly narrated, meticulously crafted cozy mystery.”
“A SKELETON IN THE FAMILY is a very clever, engaging book with several LOL moments. I’m eagerly waiting publication of THE SKELETON TAKES A BOW."
“I had a grand time reading this fresh, original novel peopled (and skeletoned) with enchanting characters and a warm, engaging story. The undercurrent of the gift of love and loyalty between friends and family members gives this book a burnished glow of strength and peace. I totally loved every page and want to visit with Georgia and Sid again and again. Bring on book two of the series!”
“I loved this unique fusion of paranormal, cozy, and academic mystery.”
“The author’s dry humor and ability to poke fun at the pretentious is always evident and this eccentric mystery proves to be surprisingly grounded and realistic. I loved this fun mystery and can’t wait for a sequel that includes this bony and very likable sidekick.”
“This is a fun read and before you go making assumptions about skeletons that walk and talk—think about it!!”
“This off-beat paranormal cozy will resonate with a lot of different types of readers, from the single mom, to the professor, to the paranormal enthusiast. There is literally something for everyone!”
“Readers will not be able to resist smiling as they witness the predicaments that Georgia and Sid find themselves in […] Even readers who may not be fans of paranormal stories will find it hard to resist Sid’s charms and are likely to return for his next adventure.”
“Light-hearted whodunit filled with amusing banter and a great cast of characters in this wonderfully crafted debut series. There’s no bones about it, I can’t wait for the next book in this exciting series.”
“If you like cozy mysteries, I urge you to pick up A SKELETON IN THE FAMILY […] Georgia Thackeray and Sid make a terrific team. It’s an entertaining mystery involving a very special friendship.”Lesa’s Book Critiques
“The author’s dry humor and ability to poke fun at the pretentious is always evident and this eccentric mystery proves to be surprisingly grounded and realistic. I loved this fun mystery and can’t wait for a sequel that includes this bony and very likable sidekick.”
“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.”
“This was a fantastic and charming cozy mystery with a hint of a paranormal twist.”
“Dr. Georgia Thackery is smart, resourceful, and determined to be a great single mom to her teenager. Georgia is normal in every respect–except that her best friend happens to be a skeleton named Sid. You’ll love the adventures of this unexpected mystery-solving duo.”Charlaine Harris, The New York Times bestselling author
“Adjunct English professor Georgia Thackery makes a charming debut in A SKELETON IN THE FAMILY. Georgia is fiercely loyal to her best friend, Sid, an actual skeleton who is somehow still ‘alive.’ When Sid see someone he remembers from his past life-who later turns up dead-Georgia finds herself trying to put together the pieces of Sid’s past as she works to hunt down a killer. Amateur sleuth Georgia, and her sidekick, Sid, are just plain fun!”Sofie Kelly, The New York Times bestselling author of Cat Trick
“No bones about it, Leigh Perry hooked me right from the beginning. An unusual premise, quirky characters and smart, dry humor season this well-told mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. It’s too bad Perry’s sleuth is fictional — I’d invite Georgia over for dinner in a heartbeat.”Bailey Cates, author of Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti
“A delightful cozy with a skeleton who will tickle your funny bone.”Paige Shelton, national-bestselling author of If Bread Could Rise to the Occasion
“Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones! I don’t know about you, but Thanksgiving lingers in our house with turkey pot pies made with the leftover meat and vegetables and stock from the skin and bones. And speaking of bones, I’ve just binged on a new discovery for me: Leigh Perry’s “Family Skeleton” series. Sid is the title bag of bones who doesn’t want to stay in the Thackery family’s closet. I started with the first one and am nearly through the third. Light, fun, and totally charming mysteries. Georgia and her teenage daughter Madison remind me of Joan Hess’s Claire Malloy and her daughter.”Margaret Maron, award-winning author of Corpus Christmas, Bootlegger’s Daughter, and Up Jumps the Devil
Awards & Accolades
#4 Mysterious Galaxy Bookstore Paperback Bestseller