It is no secret that I am a huge Sid the Skeleton fan and this holiday-themed offering from Leigh Perry may just be the best in the series. Few writers can pull off hilarious one-liners, yet Leigh Perry always manages to give Sid more than a few, but even the other regular characters have moments that will make readers smile and laugh. The mystery this time out is compelling and surprising and like all good holiday resolutions, this one aims straight for the the heart by the end. Don’t miss it!

Sid is back in a holiday themed mystery featuring professor Georgia and her daughter Madison. Georgia has accepted another adjunct professor position, this one at Bostock College, which means she is once again living with her parents. Christmas is in full swing however the discover of a skeleton threatens to dampen everyone's Christmas spirit. Byron, the family dog, goes missing only to be found with a femur bone hours later. The first and most obvious owner of the femur is Sid, the family skeleton, however it turns out Sid has all of his bones accounted for. A quick search uncovers the rest of skeleton and the beginning of a fresh mystery. It turns out Georgia works with a woman who may know the recently discovered victim. In an effort to protect her friend, Georgia, and Sid of course team up to solve the mystery. This time they include Charles as well. Of course the road to justice never did run smooth. Along with the investigation, Georgia has other matters to contend with, including a strike at the college, the appearance of an ex-boyfriend, Christmas, and raising a spirited teenager.

The family skeleton mysteries are always a delight to read. The newest addition to the series is no exception. The mystery is compelling and leads in some surprising directions, with an added twist at the conclusion. Georgia, Charles, Sid and Madison are a great mix of quirky spirited characters that always add an extra layer of sass and warmth to the plot. I highly recommend this book to those looking for a fun Christmas mystery though each story in this series is just as enjoyable.

Reviews shared on Amazon and Barnes and Noble Websites

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-skeleton-stuffs-a-stocking-leigh-perry/1130571027#/reviews-header

Great murder mystery with our favorite skeleton, Sid, and human, Georgia. This is one of my favorite series and they are never disappointing. Each book grows with the characters growing and evolving in their personal development, the primary as well as the secondary. The mystery keeps you guessing throughout until the very end. Enjoyed the whole family being in this along with other recurring characters from the previous books. Already looking forward to the next installment in this series. Thanks to NetGalley for an early read for my honest opinion.

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.

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.

When Georgia's dog escapes the house and comes home gnawing on what looks like a human femur, her first response is to apologize to her skeleton friend. But it's not Sid's leg. The bone came from an empty lot and the rest of the remains are still there.

I love reading about Sid and Georgia and the situations they get themselves into. Author Leigh Perry always manages to find new and interesting ways for the walking, talking skeleton to get out into the world and investigate murders. In this one, he's also up to the part of his skull that would hold his ears with online Christmas shopping while Georgia negotiates a potential strike at the college where she's currently working as an adjunct. This series just keeps getting more and more fun. The murder mystery in this one did get to me a bit because it's more emotional than just the usual "that nasty person we barely knew is dead now" that you see in so many cozies. It's a good thing, but if you want to avoid sadness this one might not be the best choice to read on that particular day.

If quirky cozies are your thing, I can't recommend this series enough!

It’s December in Massachusetts in the latest adventure of Sid the animated skeleton where The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking in anticipation of Christmas morning.

When Bryon, teenager Madison’s Akita, finds a human femur, it is no surprise. After all, their family has an animated skeleton named Sid living in their attic. Her mother, Georgia, quickly agrees to go with Madison to give the bone back to Sid and apologize. However, when they talk to Sid, he quickly informs them that he isn’t missing a bone. Realizing the bone is from a stranger, they call the police. The skeleton’s identity leads the police to suspect one of Georgia’s fellow adjunct professors. Georgia decides to solve the crime with the help of Sid’s head.

It is a credit to the author that you don’t have a minute of doubt with any of the paranormal aspects of Sid’s very existence. An animated skeleton who help solves mysteries by hiding his head and a cell phone in Georgia’s Day of the Dead bucket bag? It sounds absurd but somehow works. I’ve read at least three of the six cozy mysteries in this series including the first two books but The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking is fine as a standalone mystery. However, beware the genuine characters and laugh-out-loud humor of the series will draw you in quickly. You will soon be quietly stalking your library, bookstore, or Amazon account looking for the entire series. If you like cozy mysteries, you can’t miss this excellent book. 5 stars!

Thanks to Diversion Books and NetGalley for granting my wish for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

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.

The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking by Leigh Perry is the 4th book in A Family Skeleton Mystery series, and another great addition. I loved this book/series and Sid the skeleton makes the story, not only is he unique, but he also adds humor. Dr. Georgia Thackery is a professor who lives with her daughter, Madison. Georgia and Madison are living with her parents, while she teaches at Bostock College. When Madison's dog, Byron, finds a human bone, that does not belong to Sid, the mystery begins. I love all the twists and turns in this book, and it kept me reading page after page. What a perfect Christmas book to get you in the mood. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes a fun cozy mystery


I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Diversion Books . Thank you.

Sid and Georgia just keep getting better and better. The whole gang is together for Christmas, and they even have a few guests. The mystery in the middle of the festivities is handled with a deft hand so that a reader is genuinely engaged in the outcome and is ready to come home for a holiday celebration with all the trimmings. I hope this series continues for a very long time: it’s one of the best!

Georgia is an adjunct English professor with a secret. She has a skeleton in her closet....literally. Her buddy Sid is a skeleton. He walks. He talks. He gets into mischief. And he's been her best friend since childhood. Georgia keeps her bony best buddy a secret from everyone outside her family. Other people might be more than a bit freaked out by a living skeleton, no matter how sweet and funny he is.

It's the holiday season and Georgia's family has gathered for Christmas Things are great....until Byron the Dog gets loose. When the dog comes back, he is carrying a femur in his mouth. And Sid isn't missing one..... In fact, the rest of the skeleton is in a nearby vacant lot. Sid & Georgia are on the case to clear this cold case before one of her coworkers goes down for murder.

I love this series! Sid is awesome....and the humor just makes this such a fun series to read! The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking is the sixth book in this series, and I have to say my favorite one so far! This series seems to get better with each book.... Some nice character development in this book. The mystery is engaging and moves at a nice pace. There are plenty of suspects and twists in the story. It definitely kept my attention the entire time.

I'm definitely eagerly awaiting the next book in this series! Always an entertaining read!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Diversion Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I loved this latest addition to the series just as much as I have loved all the rest! The mystery was a little out there but still believable, with enough twists and turns to keep me reading and guessing. I loved all of the supporting characters and enjoyed watching the main characters relationship develop. I also love that darn skeleton. You know you have found a good writer when they make you love an ambulatory skeleton. If you enjoy great cozy mysteries that are a bit quirky this one is most definitely worth checking out!

The Skeleton Stuffs a Stocking is the 6th book in the delightful 'Family Skeleton' mystery series by Leigh Perry. This series is beloved by cozy mystery fans and we are thrilled it is back. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinions are my own. I have read the entire series and highly recommend this wonderful series for all cozy mystery fans. This is one of my top favorite cozy series and I read a lot of cozies ! This is a delightful book that is the perfect introduction to the Christmas season mysteries. This series has everything I love about cozy mysteries, great charcters, humor and always a well crafted sleuth.

In this next in series our protagonist Georgia is busy as a English Professor in New England and raising her teenage daughter. Her best friend from childhood is Sid, a talking thinking funny Skeleton who lives in her house behind locked doors to protect him. Sid is delightful and so funny in each book he is more and more endearing. Sid has a great relationship with her daughter and with Georgia who he watches over and protects. Sid cannot be seen by anyone else so he spends his time studying and learning on the computer. He is very intelligent and has helped Georgia solve crimes in the past with his wise insight. What I delight in is the witty repartee of Sid and how sweet a friend he is to Georgia and her daughter. Sid is a authentic friend to them and part of their family.

When their family dog brings home a human bone Georgia is determined to solve the mystery especially since it may involve one of her ex's who all of a sudden is back in the picture.. She is a savvy investigator and has proven in the past to solve complex crimes with the help of Sid. The bone is found to belong to a young women murdered long ago . Georgia and Sid are on the case sharing expert opinions and clues as Georgia reports back to Sid as her trusty detective friend . I admit I did not figure out the sleuth and found it quite pleasing to conclusion. The Christmas theme was delightful as Georgia and Family celebrate with Sid and her family.

I loved this book ! It made me laugh, kept me guessing to the conclusion and the charcters are a delight. Sid and Georgia have such a wonderful friendship and great repartee I enjoy reading their figuring out crimes and navigating family life with Sid at the center of their blended family.

Thank you to the publisher for reviving this wonderful series. I look forward to the next in series. Very well done to the author ! Leigh Perry please keep writing this series.

Georgia is back in a Christmas time story. Her daughter Madison finds a human bone that leads to a dead body and a mystery to solve. Of course Sid has to get involved. Along the way there are missing people, and missing things and trouble at the college where Georgia is teaching. When I first started reading this series, I was skeptical about the premise of a walking, talking skeleton. You have to really suspend belief. But it works, and the result is a quirky, cute story that is different from anything else out there. Sid is a likeable character that you would want as a friend. Hurry up with the next one!

When I first saw that there was [hallelujah] was going to be another Sid book, I was so excited I immediately texted my friend [who also reads and loves Sid and who's daughter is the one who shoved these at us and said "WE need to read these NOW"] and while I was doing that, I found that [at first] these were only going to be in paperback and so the texting became crying which was relieved by her telling me that she would read the whole book to me so I wouldn't have to miss out on Sid and Co.

Fast forward and they also were releasing it on the kindle and then it became available on NetGalley and here we are. At the end of another EXCELLENT book that features Georgia [an adjunct professor] and her unlikely companion - a fully animated skeleton named Sid. Georgia is finally back home in Pennycross and the whole gang is here [Gosh I missed Deborah {Georgia's hilarious and acerbic sister} sarcasm and hilarity] and it was just like going home. Even Georgia's adjunct friend Charles is here and he plays a key role in the whole story.

This is a great mystery - I was pretty clueless throughout most of it [which is a great sign of a great writer, which I will say here, Leigh Perry is] and the whole reveal was WOW. And the end of the book did make me a bit verklempt. OK, it made me a lot verklempt. ;-) And again I am in awe of reading a story about an animated skeleton and not thinking it is weird at all.

I highly recommend this [and all the others - you need to read them from the beginning; these are NOT stand alone or "start in the middle" kind of books]book. You will not be sorry.

Thank you to NetGalley and Diverson Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the first book in this series that I've read (& will be my last). I felt that the book was slow moving and boring. There were no descriptors of interest, the characters were plain (except for Sid). I hope others enjoy this much more than I did.

SID!!!! I love this series of books - have read and recommended them all. This was a great addition - and the ending was very satisfying (no hints or spoilers) but it left me with a smile! Leigh Perry you must write faster - I do love Sid! (Is there any way Sid can have a girlfriend? Maybe a rival carnival with a skeleton that is like Sid??)

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.

ARC provided by NetGalley