Family Skeletons

A woman discovers the literal skeleton in her family’s closet in the first Family Skeleton Mystery! Moving back into her parents’ house with her teenage daughter had not been Georgia Thackery’s “Plan A.” But when she got a job at the local college, it seemed the sensible thing to do. So she settled in and began reconnecting with old friends. Including Sid. 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. Sid walks, he talks, he makes bad jokes, he tries to keep Georgia’s dog from considering him a snack. And he manages to persuade Georgia to let him leave the house. But when she takes him to an anime convention—disguised as a skeleton, of course—he sees a woman who triggers memories of his past. Now he is determined to find out how he died—with Georgia’s help. But their investigation may uncover a killer who’s still alive and well and bad to the bone...

In Rett MacPherson's Family Skeletons, as resident genealogist, historian, tour guide, and occasional amateur snoop, Victory "Torie" O'Shea can be found anywhere in the historic German town of New Kassel, Missouri--mixing fudge, giving tours, tracing family trees, and even investigating murder... When shop-owner Norah Zumwalt asks Torie for help in piecing together her family lineage to find her missing father, Torie cheerfully agrees. But before Torie delivers her results, Norah is brutally murdered. Now Torie must use her formidable skills at prying into the past--and the human heart--to solve a case of passionate secrets and betrayal. But as the Mississippi floods, she may be in deep trouble when evidence of another killing surfaces--and Torie comes face to face with a family skeleton that will chill her to the bone.

Following the loss of her husband to ALS, she struggled to raise her four children alone only to discover that her two eldest suffered from mental illness. She describes her interactions with various public agencies: social, medical, and judicial. In caring for an alcoholic, schizophrenic son—as well as a daughter with a personality disorder who eventually commits suicide—the challenges she faced were formidable. In the midst of waging her battles, the author examines her own past and family history, only to discover a long history of mental illness and alcoholism. After the author marries for a fourth time, she’s able to let go of her mentally ill son and find a measure of peace in her life.

Did you know that until 1823 suicides were buried at crossroads to prevent them returning to haunt the living? Or that until the Contagious Diseases Act was repealed in 1886, women in naval ports who were suspected of prostitution could be medically examined by force? Most families have a skeleton. You may have already discovered yours via the grapevine or your own research. Or you may simply be intrigued by the dark side of our past. This popular history explores the behaviour of our disreputable ancestors from the unfortunate to the criminal, and introduces a host of colourful characters including 17th century witches, 18th century 'mollies' and Victorian baby farmers. Thematically arranged by skeleton, the text also describes how society punished and provided for its 'offenders' - as well as the changing attitudes that could ultimately bring acceptance.

In 1979, Madeline Carmichael beat her youngest daughter Latanisha to death and hid the body in a mothball-filled trunk. After 20 years, Latanisha's older sister Sabrina came forward about her mother's frequent abuse, leading Andre Carmichael on a search to discover the missing twin sister he never knew.

Hot Dog Wars, Family Skeletons, and a Ghost is a story about a family with genetic, inherited bi-polar disease and some of their many quirks and hardships dealing with a difficult disease process. Intermingled among the mental problems faced by this family, the supernatural comes into play: Not always such a bad mix.

“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 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

Fifteen years after its hardcover debut, the FSG Classics reissue of the celebrated work of narrative nonfiction that won the National Book Award and changed the American conversation about race, with a new preface by the author The Ball family hails from South Carolina—Charleston and thereabouts. Their plantations were among the oldest and longest-standing plantations in the South. Between 1698 and 1865, close to four thousand black people were born into slavery under the Balls or were bought by them. In Slaves in the Family, Edward Ball recounts his efforts to track down and meet the descendants of his family's slaves. Part historical narrative, part oral history, part personal story of investigation and catharsis, Slaves in the Family is, in the words of Pat Conroy, "a work of breathtaking generosity and courage, a magnificent study of the complexity and strangeness and beauty of the word ‘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 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. Praise for A Skeleton in the Family: “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