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Rebecca Schwartz #5
Other People's Skeletons
"Nobody gets inside her characters like Julie Smith."
Linda Barnes
When Rebecca Schwartz learns that her best friend and legal partner Chris Nicholson is accused of murder and won't give an alibi, Rebecca gets curious. To her amazement, Rebecca finds that her partner has a secret life--and so did the victim, dashing critic Jason McKendrick. For that matter, so does everyone else in the case, causing Rebecca to wonder what planet she's stumbled onto. One thing she knows with She has to shake some skeletons from the closets--and fast--or Chris is going to prison....
Linda Barnes
When Rebecca Schwartz learns that her best friend and legal partner Chris Nicholson is accused of murder and won't give an alibi, Rebecca gets curious. To her amazement, Rebecca finds that her partner has a secret life--and so did the victim, dashing critic Jason McKendrick. For that matter, so does everyone else in the case, causing Rebecca to wonder what planet she's stumbled onto. One thing she knows with She has to shake some skeletons from the closets--and fast--or Chris is going to prison....
231 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 4, 1993
314 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
About the author
Julie Smith
263 books404 followersAuthor of 20 mystery novels and a YA paranormal adventure called BAD GIRL SCHOOL (formerly CURSEBUSTERS!). Nine of the mysteries are about a female New Orleans cop Skip Langdon, five about a San Francisco lawyer named Rebecca Schwartz,two about a struggling mystery writer named Paul Mcdonald (whose fate no one should suffer) and four teaming up Talba Wallis, a private eye with many names, a poetic license, and a smoking computer, with veteran P.I. Eddie Valentino.
In Bad GIRL SCHOOL, a psychic pink-haired teen-age burglar named Reeno gets recruited by a psychotic telepathic cat to pull a job that involves time travel to an ancient Mayan city. Hint:It HAS to be done before 2012!
Winner of the 1991 Edgar Allen Poe Award for best novel, that being NEW ORLEANS MOURNING.
Former reporter for the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE and the San Francisco CHRONICLE.
Recently licensed private investigator, and thereon hangs a tale.
Resident of New Orleans, Louisiana
In Bad GIRL SCHOOL, a psychic pink-haired teen-age burglar named Reeno gets recruited by a psychotic telepathic cat to pull a job that involves time travel to an ancient Mayan city. Hint:It HAS to be done before 2012!
Winner of the 1991 Edgar Allen Poe Award for best novel, that being NEW ORLEANS MOURNING.
Former reporter for the New Orleans TIMES-PICAYUNE and the San Francisco CHRONICLE.
Recently licensed private investigator, and thereon hangs a tale.
Resident of New Orleans, Louisiana
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
November 2, 2019
Great story, but a really abrupt end. Several threads were left dangling, which bothers me. None of the other books in the series were like that.
May 14, 2017
Well, it's OK. Not horrible but not a riveting mystery. Someone said they didn't understand the name but it is glaringly obvious based on the fact that everyone has one in their closet. Even the main character. The real challenge is figuring out which closet has the most interesting skeleton.
There is a mystery here. Who killed Jason McKendrick. However, after reflection, this book is basically a philosophical rant by the main character. No one fits into the molds she'd constructed for them. This is the problem with the book. The story, whatever it was, is overpowered by these rants against religion (two specifically) and the fact that her friend has become a psychic (which she appears to equate with a religion, too) and she can't figure out which man she wants in her life. All of which are exceedingly boring.
Had she stuck with the real mystery and saved the rant it could have been a better, albeit far shorter, story. But that's just me. I could care less about the religious aspect. If I wanted a book about religion, I'd go to the Christian bookstore. However, it is also a bit hypocritical to spend a lot time of writing about how Christians are intolerant when the Main Character is highly intolerant of quite a few things. But of course, it is fiction...
I have a book about writing by this author and it is pretty good. I've never read any novels by her and I see that this one is the 5th in a series. That's too bad because I probably won't read the previous ones. It was just poorly constructed. I wonder if she just wanted to get this series over with?
One note, I have the Kindle version and in the book description is a "Review the Reviewers". I've never seen this done before by an author and in fact, I don't know if the author wrote it or not but it was quite snarky about the reviewers, almost insulting. So, to whoever wrote it, I might point out, reviews are the opinions of the readers, whereby sales are made or broken. If that is a problem, writing might not be a good occupation. Since the writer is not an inexperienced writer, I have my doubts that she wrote that particular item. I find it a bit cheap to insult people because they didn't like the book for whatever reason, valid or not. Books have to stand on their own merits and if they require a sniper to fire at the reviewers who don't like it, perhaps that is the best clue as to the merits of the book.
There is a mystery here. Who killed Jason McKendrick. However, after reflection, this book is basically a philosophical rant by the main character. No one fits into the molds she'd constructed for them. This is the problem with the book. The story, whatever it was, is overpowered by these rants against religion (two specifically) and the fact that her friend has become a psychic (which she appears to equate with a religion, too) and she can't figure out which man she wants in her life. All of which are exceedingly boring.
Had she stuck with the real mystery and saved the rant it could have been a better, albeit far shorter, story. But that's just me. I could care less about the religious aspect. If I wanted a book about religion, I'd go to the Christian bookstore. However, it is also a bit hypocritical to spend a lot time of writing about how Christians are intolerant when the Main Character is highly intolerant of quite a few things. But of course, it is fiction...
I have a book about writing by this author and it is pretty good. I've never read any novels by her and I see that this one is the 5th in a series. That's too bad because I probably won't read the previous ones. It was just poorly constructed. I wonder if she just wanted to get this series over with?
One note, I have the Kindle version and in the book description is a "Review the Reviewers". I've never seen this done before by an author and in fact, I don't know if the author wrote it or not but it was quite snarky about the reviewers, almost insulting. So, to whoever wrote it, I might point out, reviews are the opinions of the readers, whereby sales are made or broken. If that is a problem, writing might not be a good occupation. Since the writer is not an inexperienced writer, I have my doubts that she wrote that particular item. I find it a bit cheap to insult people because they didn't like the book for whatever reason, valid or not. Books have to stand on their own merits and if they require a sniper to fire at the reviewers who don't like it, perhaps that is the best clue as to the merits of the book.
March 3, 2019
I enjoyed the story of Rebecca Schwartz- although I feel like I jumped into a world that had been going on without me for awhile. Rebecca’s partner Chris has a big secret that gets revealed when she becomes a suspect in a murder case. With a group of Chris’ new friends and and ex-boyfriend, Rebecca tries to prove Chris’ innocence.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of and each one had something to bring to the investigation that was important for figuring out the mystery. But then everything was wrapped up too quickly in the last chapter. And then The End. I would have liked a bit more of a conclusion.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of and each one had something to bring to the investigation that was important for figuring out the mystery. But then everything was wrapped up too quickly in the last chapter. And then The End. I would have liked a bit more of a conclusion.
August 10, 2019
Other People’s Skeletons
Phone calls in the middle of the night are seldom good news. Rebecca Schwartz, a lawyer, is surprised by the bad news that her law partner, Chris has been arrested for murder. Chris also has a secret that she needs to share with Rebecca—she is a psychic. Rebecca has more trouble dealing with this revelation than that her partner was arrested. Chris’s car was used to murder a reviewer (Jason McKendrick) of plays, movies, and restaurants. Rebecca’s old boyfriend, Rob, suggests that they team up to find the real murderer.
This plot has more twists than an old country road. I enjoyed it very much.
Phone calls in the middle of the night are seldom good news. Rebecca Schwartz, a lawyer, is surprised by the bad news that her law partner, Chris has been arrested for murder. Chris also has a secret that she needs to share with Rebecca—she is a psychic. Rebecca has more trouble dealing with this revelation than that her partner was arrested. Chris’s car was used to murder a reviewer (Jason McKendrick) of plays, movies, and restaurants. Rebecca’s old boyfriend, Rob, suggests that they team up to find the real murderer.
This plot has more twists than an old country road. I enjoyed it very much.
August 19, 2020
Rebecca worked for her friend Chris who was a lawyer. One day Chris calls her and says Im in jail and charged with the murder of a man I dont even know. Chris was starting to get involved into clairvoyance and card reading and such. She thought she was gifted with some of it so she joined a group. Tho she didnt want anyone to know about it. So they go investigation on their own to prove her innocent in the murder. The man Mr. McKendrick seemed to have a strange life. He was very popular and dated lots of woman but was he gay and trying to hide it or what. In the end the truth comes out. We may forget things but sometimes we dont and seek revenge.
April 28, 2025
This book was a little weirder than the four previous ones in the series, but Rebecca was no less entertaining. Sadly, that's the end of the series, except for two little short stories I just purchased Blood Types and Cul-de-Sac. I may save those for my next vacation reads.
April 27, 2023
This mystery is full of so many different sub-mysteries that it's difficult to keep everything straight. There are plenty of surprising secrets. The main characters, Rebecca and Chris, have multiple problems and it's easy to get off the track of the overriding mystery of the book. I guess it really helps to get the reader to feel like these characters are real people because you find yourself caring deeply about them. At least I did. l highly recommend this book. I'm sure it will leave the reader wishing for more.
March 25, 2020
The last book in the Rebecca Schwartz series was not very impressive. It seemed important that everyone of Rebecca’s acquaintances have some kind of secret or for her to believe they did, leading to an opportunity to do lots of philosophizing. The mystery was convoluted and the ending tied it up but left all the main characters hanging, with barely hints of what happens next. Abrupt way to end a series.
November 15, 2020
A trying read
The book had a great premise upon which to base a plot but it never moved beyond that point. Unfortunately, there were too many sub-plots and characters competing with the main character, who being poorly developed, came across as a caricature. To fair, the other characters were just as poorly developed. Overall, it was a tedious read with one star given for the initial premise.
The book had a great premise upon which to base a plot but it never moved beyond that point. Unfortunately, there were too many sub-plots and characters competing with the main character, who being poorly developed, came across as a caricature. To fair, the other characters were just as poorly developed. Overall, it was a tedious read with one star given for the initial premise.
February 12, 2025
I read the first four Rebecca Schwartz books and thought they were just fine. This one was a cut above. It was unusual for an author to take an established character's world and let it be so shaken up. Rebecca learns something about her law partner, Chris, that leads from consternation to insight and quite a few honest steps in between. This book improved my view of the ones that went before. The perfectly ordinary closing line is chilling.
November 7, 2018
Interesting plot.
This storyline has so many twists and turns with the murder, trying to find the killer and the whys and how of it. To the heartfelt scare that can happen to any woman. Characters are different but they all care .
This is a great enjoyable read that keeps you on your toes!!
This storyline has so many twists and turns with the murder, trying to find the killer and the whys and how of it. To the heartfelt scare that can happen to any woman. Characters are different but they all care .
This is a great enjoyable read that keeps you on your toes!!
August 31, 2019
I have read and enjoyed other books in the Rebecca Schwartz series, but not this one. It was convoluted, discombobulated and just lacked an even flow. I stopped reading it about 40% in and just gave up.
If this is the manner of book that will continue in this series, I, for one, will not be reading any more.
If this is the manner of book that will continue in this series, I, for one, will not be reading any more.
June 26, 2024
I read all five books. I have no idea why, they were not that good and a little confusing. Rebecca falls in and out of love a lot; which is actually typical for a 20 something. But I just did not care for her character. For a smart person, she does a lot of dumb things. Anyway, I did read all 5 books. Will probably not read any more.
October 22, 2018
Great little murder mystery
There were so many laugh out loud moments during this read. I wanted more about Julio. Also thought the ending was too abrupt with a few things unresolved.
There were so many laugh out loud moments during this read. I wanted more about Julio. Also thought the ending was too abrupt with a few things unresolved.
December 28, 2018
All right
Not bad, definitely compelling, I like a lot of the characters and I love the plot this was my first book in the series, and I’m definitely going to check out the rest of the
Not bad, definitely compelling, I like a lot of the characters and I love the plot this was my first book in the series, and I’m definitely going to check out the rest of the
July 31, 2019
Not her best
Not her best work. Good characters. Different plot line.a little disjointed and it felt like she was trying to pull in a theme that didn’t quite come together. Her books are always worth reading but this wasn’t one of her better ones.
Not her best work. Good characters. Different plot line.a little disjointed and it felt like she was trying to pull in a theme that didn’t quite come together. Her books are always worth reading but this wasn’t one of her better ones.
September 10, 2019
Twisted
A dead newspaper columnist starts the unravelling of many things for lawyer, Rebecca. She discovers too many secrets held by people she felt she knew well. Where will it end?
A dead newspaper columnist starts the unravelling of many things for lawyer, Rebecca. She discovers too many secrets held by people she felt she knew well. Where will it end?
June 15, 2023
An interesting story, Lots of mystery and suspense. It was a struggle for me to get through. I think the hardest part was with conversations in the book. It took a lot of concentration to know who was talking.
June 23, 2017
Best yet
Great plot twists with action galore!
Keeps you guessing from page to page and anxious to find out what happens in the next episode!
Great plot twists with action galore!
Keeps you guessing from page to page and anxious to find out what happens in the next episode!
September 10, 2017
Let down
After enjoying other books by Julie Smith, I was very disappointed. About 1/3 of the way thru the book went south.
After enjoying other books by Julie Smith, I was very disappointed. About 1/3 of the way thru the book went south.
July 19, 2018
Rachel
Julie Smith has written another good book! I enjoyed reading another good story centered around Rebecca and her law partner Chris.
Julie Smith has written another good book! I enjoyed reading another good story centered around Rebecca and her law partner Chris.
September 12, 2018
Love the series can't wait for the next installment
October 30, 2018
Cute and drama filled..
Each book builds a little on the last . Her characters are warm, funny and seem so real.. I find them hard to put down
Each book builds a little on the last . Her characters are warm, funny and seem so real.. I find them hard to put down
November 20, 2018
Good read
I love these stories, a very good story teller. I've read most of Julie Smith's books and want to read many more.
I love these stories, a very good story teller. I've read most of Julie Smith's books and want to read many more.
January 30, 2019
Unlike her other novels, this has little LGBA content (surprising and enjoyable). Plot was intricately woven and ending wasn’t clear too soon.
August 3, 2019
Good book. Funny and entertaining.
August 7, 2019
Not my cup of tea.
March 20, 2020
Lots of twists and turns and it just to go show, everyone had something to hide.
May 7, 2020
This book confused me. It just ends. No trial, no acquittal. No boyfriend wrap up or an ending to what happens with her sister, Mickey.
August 5, 2020
Love the Schwartz series, yet another great read with lots of fun and action. Never tire reading this series. Very highly recommended for the entire series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews