by Cynthia Chow

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of The Skeleton Makes a Friend, and a link to purchase it from Amazon, and an indie bookstore where a portion of the sale goes to help support KRL.

Sid never intended to catfish his online gaming group, but when one is a sentient, ambulatory skeleton, posting a real selfie is not an option. That’s why Sid assumed the not-so-subtle identity of Skalle Beinagrind – translated from Swedish and Icelandic as “Skull Skeleton” – for his Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game of Runes of Legend. Having lived with adjunct professor Georgia Thackery’s family since she was six years old, Sid’s inexplicable presence is fully accepted and matter-of-fact. It’s why he has accompanied Georgie and her daughter Madison to their rented lake cabin in New Hampshire while Georgia teaches at Overfeld College’s high school summer enrichment program. Sid thought he was being discreet when he joined an online gaming group, but fellow gamer Jen Cater-Brame is clever enough to track him down at their cabin. Jen is seeking Skalle for his self-proclaimed detective skills, as one of their members has gone missing from the game, and she knows that something must be wrong.

Sid having a detachable head as well as a hand quick with a cellphone proves instrumental in stakeouts and break-ins, which results in discovering that “Erik Bloodaxe” is not just on vacation and that he has a connection with Overfeld’s experimental new program. While Georgia enjoys teaching the advanced high schoolers boarding at the college, someone seems intent on sabotaging Overfeld and its already shaky future. The town-and-gown rivalry is at a high pitch, with locals being led by none other than Jen’s mother. While Sid uses his unique skills to investigate and do a little inside duffle bag eavesdropping, Georgia still has to contend with academic politics, an overbearing professor, and continual threats against the institution.

What is so delightful about this series is how naturally it incorporates Sid into the series without needing an explanation for his existence. His friendship and bond with the Thackery family is heart-warming, while his love of movies, pop culture, and of course, online gaming is an entertaining delight. Continuing to be fascinating is the depiction of the life of an adjunct professor, with Georgia never entirely secure in her profession and always battling with administrators, tight budgets, and precocious students. Topical issues arise with the MeToo movement, but not in the way one would expect. An all-too-brief appearance by her parents reveals that the protective paternal bond remains strong well into adulthood, with the results being cheer-worthy and hilarious. This is the one of funniest, moving, and undeniably fun mystery series being written today. That a talking skeleton the hero is just the icing on the cake.

To enter to win a copy of The Skeleton Makes a Friend, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “skeleton friend,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen January 12, 2019. U.S. residents only. If entering via email please include your mailing address (so if you win we can get the book sent right out to you), and if via comment please include your email address. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Use this link to purchase the book & a portion goes to help support KRL & indie bookstore Mysterious Galaxy:

The Skeleton Makes a Friend: A Family Skeleton Mystery (#5)

You can also use this link to purchase the book on Amazon. If you have ad blocker on you may not see the link:

Cynthia Chow is the branch manager of Kaneohe Public Library on the island of Oahu. She balances a librarian lifestyle of cardigans and hair buns with a passion for motorcycle riding and regrettable tattoos (sorry, Mom).

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases using those links. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.