What do you think?
Rate this book
Family Skeleton Mystery #4
The Skeleton Paints a Picture
Adjunct English professor Georgia Thackery has a new job teaching at Falstone Art and Design University, known as FAD to its students and faculty. It's lonely isolated in a borrowed bungalow during a winter of record-breaking snow, until, that is, she receives a package with the body of her best friend, Sid. Sid is a walking, talking skeleton who has lived with the Thackery family since Georgia was six. She's used to the oddities of having an ambulatory bag of bones as a best friend, but for him to mail himself to her is unusual, even for Sid. It turns out that Sid, who normally lives with Georgia's extremely busy parents, was lonely, too.
The two of them make plans for a cozy semester: reading, watching movies, Georgia grading papers and doing research while Sid games and works on homework for his online class. It might have worked out that way if Sid hadn't gone out wandering the first night and spotted a crashed car. When they go to investigate, they find the driver, apparently dead from the crash.
Initially police think it's an accident, so Georgia and Sid think that's the end of it--until Georgia finds out the body she found hit closer to home than she'd realized...
The two of them make plans for a cozy semester: reading, watching movies, Georgia grading papers and doing research while Sid games and works on homework for his online class. It might have worked out that way if Sid hadn't gone out wandering the first night and spotted a crashed car. When they go to investigate, they find the driver, apparently dead from the crash.
Initially police think it's an accident, so Georgia and Sid think that's the end of it--until Georgia finds out the body she found hit closer to home than she'd realized...
257 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 2017
107 people are currently reading
1115 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews
March 12, 2020
When there are thousands of cozy mystery series available, it's often difficult to figure out which one to choose. A little over two years ago, I stumbled across a a brilliant series called the Family Skeleton Mysteries written by Leigh Perry. I'd read the first few and loved them, but had to wait until she wrote her fourth one. I got a bit behind but when I saw she was releasing her fifth one this fall, I ordered a copy of The Skeleton Paints a Picture and read it this week. I think it's probably my favorite one to date. I'm still reveling its hilarity.
To start with, the main character is an English professor in New England-- two things I adore! the other main character is a 'dead' skeleton that can move and talk. Yes, you heard me correctly. The guy who inhabited the body/skeleton in the past was murdered and searched for his killer in an earlier book, but... the gist of the series is that he doesn't really know much about his former life, and since a majority of the population would not accept him living in society as a skeleton, he hides out with Georgia and her family. As her lovable, witty, and sarcastic sidekick, Sid helps Georgia solve crimes whenever they fall into her lap... which is usually because Sid has stumbled into them.
Think of the humor and imagination in this series. Leaving a skeleton in a room to listen to people and find out clues without anyone knowing you're doing it. Then again, what if someone catches the skeleton walking around since he CAN move? Creativity without any bounds in Perry's awesome series. I truly look forward to reading each successive book. In this caper, Georgia's working out of town and she has no one with her (parents, daughter, friends)... so Sid ships himself in a box to her rental house where he inadvertently finds a dead body in a car during a snowstorm. He was restless and had to go walking in the middle of the night. Who can blame the poor guy?
Georgia interviews colleagues while trying to do whatever she can to win the coveted tenured position that's up for grabs. Will she do it? Will an ex who still has feelings for her cause a final downfall with Sid's discovery... or discovery of the talking skeleton himself? So many laughs... great character development and constant page-turning brilliance. A must read for anyone who likes their books a little more unusual than the norm!
To start with, the main character is an English professor in New England-- two things I adore! the other main character is a 'dead' skeleton that can move and talk. Yes, you heard me correctly. The guy who inhabited the body/skeleton in the past was murdered and searched for his killer in an earlier book, but... the gist of the series is that he doesn't really know much about his former life, and since a majority of the population would not accept him living in society as a skeleton, he hides out with Georgia and her family. As her lovable, witty, and sarcastic sidekick, Sid helps Georgia solve crimes whenever they fall into her lap... which is usually because Sid has stumbled into them.
Think of the humor and imagination in this series. Leaving a skeleton in a room to listen to people and find out clues without anyone knowing you're doing it. Then again, what if someone catches the skeleton walking around since he CAN move? Creativity without any bounds in Perry's awesome series. I truly look forward to reading each successive book. In this caper, Georgia's working out of town and she has no one with her (parents, daughter, friends)... so Sid ships himself in a box to her rental house where he inadvertently finds a dead body in a car during a snowstorm. He was restless and had to go walking in the middle of the night. Who can blame the poor guy?
Georgia interviews colleagues while trying to do whatever she can to win the coveted tenured position that's up for grabs. Will she do it? Will an ex who still has feelings for her cause a final downfall with Sid's discovery... or discovery of the talking skeleton himself? So many laughs... great character development and constant page-turning brilliance. A must read for anyone who likes their books a little more unusual than the norm!
October 19, 2017
How to make a crime story a bit more original - add a walking, talking, internet surfing skeleton! My introduction to this series and it didn't disappoint. Full of lots of quirks such as the amount of different names for bones that can be used instead of swear words. I really did like the skeleton although it took a few chapters for me to get sued to the idea. Very inventive in the way he could be used to sneakily watch people for signs of criminal activity while pulling double duty as an artists model
Lots and lots of plot twists. I think nearly everyone on campus was accused of the murder and art theft. It flows well, it's a fairly quick read. There's a slimy creep and lots of well defined characters. I'm really looking forward to the next one and happy to go back and check out the first three books
Free arc from netgalley
Lots and lots of plot twists. I think nearly everyone on campus was accused of the murder and art theft. It flows well, it's a fairly quick read. There's a slimy creep and lots of well defined characters. I'm really looking forward to the next one and happy to go back and check out the first three books
Free arc from netgalley
March 26, 2018
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I am so happy this series has found a new home.
Georgia Thackery has a new position at Falstone College of Art and Design, which meant moving out of her parents home but leaving her daughter there to stay in her school. That means Georgia gets a little lonely and all the snow falling doesn’t help. One day she arrives home from work to find 2 large boxes waiting on her porch. Imagine her surprise when she opens the first on to find her pal Sid. Sid the skeleton would walks and talks and loves to shovel snow. Sid has lived with her family since Georgia was six. His arrival was just what she needed. Then Sid wakes her up in the middle of the night telling her he found something. She bundles up and trudges out in the snow following Sid to what appears to have been a car accident. The driver did not survive. Georgia is shocked to learn the victim was part of her department at the college and she and Sid start to think her death was not an accident but murder. Especially when the police started questioning her more about the case. They decide to use Sid’s mad computer skills to start an investigation of their own.
I want my own Sid! What a cool thing to have. Who wouldn’t want a friend like him? He is a great sounding board, gives awesome advice, doesn’t sleep and loves to clean and cook and is an excellent assistant sleuth!
We meet a whole new cast of characters with Georgia’s new job. It is a crew full of artists and the English professors that teach the classes that are part of the general curriculum for students to get their degrees. They are a unique group. Georgia does have a past history with one of the profs, but can barely stand to be around him now, he is kinda creepy.
Leigh Perry has made my day by continuing this series. Georgia and Sid are two of my favorite cozy characters. At no time do you feel as if Sid is beyond the realm of possibility. The relationship he has with Georgia and family seems perfectly real. I don’t even think that is this any kind of a paranormal story when I am reading. Sid just IS and I have accepted that – at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂
The author also gives us a solid mystery to solve. Who would want to kill the woman who runs the writing lab at the college? Full of twists and turns and a lot of digging by Sid brings forth several suspects. Georgia enlists the help of a couple of students to try to draw out the real killer. The pace was brisk, the dialogue was just right and the drama was at the perfect level. There are also many laugh out loud moments, your funny bone will be tickled. Sid antics just crack me up and had me cheering when he saves the day at the end of the story.
This is a great series but with a new publisher this one can be read all on its own, but I bet you will want to go back and read the first three too!
I am so happy this series has found a new home.
Georgia Thackery has a new position at Falstone College of Art and Design, which meant moving out of her parents home but leaving her daughter there to stay in her school. That means Georgia gets a little lonely and all the snow falling doesn’t help. One day she arrives home from work to find 2 large boxes waiting on her porch. Imagine her surprise when she opens the first on to find her pal Sid. Sid the skeleton would walks and talks and loves to shovel snow. Sid has lived with her family since Georgia was six. His arrival was just what she needed. Then Sid wakes her up in the middle of the night telling her he found something. She bundles up and trudges out in the snow following Sid to what appears to have been a car accident. The driver did not survive. Georgia is shocked to learn the victim was part of her department at the college and she and Sid start to think her death was not an accident but murder. Especially when the police started questioning her more about the case. They decide to use Sid’s mad computer skills to start an investigation of their own.
I want my own Sid! What a cool thing to have. Who wouldn’t want a friend like him? He is a great sounding board, gives awesome advice, doesn’t sleep and loves to clean and cook and is an excellent assistant sleuth!
We meet a whole new cast of characters with Georgia’s new job. It is a crew full of artists and the English professors that teach the classes that are part of the general curriculum for students to get their degrees. They are a unique group. Georgia does have a past history with one of the profs, but can barely stand to be around him now, he is kinda creepy.
Leigh Perry has made my day by continuing this series. Georgia and Sid are two of my favorite cozy characters. At no time do you feel as if Sid is beyond the realm of possibility. The relationship he has with Georgia and family seems perfectly real. I don’t even think that is this any kind of a paranormal story when I am reading. Sid just IS and I have accepted that – at least that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. 🙂
The author also gives us a solid mystery to solve. Who would want to kill the woman who runs the writing lab at the college? Full of twists and turns and a lot of digging by Sid brings forth several suspects. Georgia enlists the help of a couple of students to try to draw out the real killer. The pace was brisk, the dialogue was just right and the drama was at the perfect level. There are also many laugh out loud moments, your funny bone will be tickled. Sid antics just crack me up and had me cheering when he saves the day at the end of the story.
This is a great series but with a new publisher this one can be read all on its own, but I bet you will want to go back and read the first three too!
October 13, 2024
I was so grateful to get this from NetGalley and the publisher as this is one of my most favorite series in the cozy genre.
I love this series. Sid is one of the best characters out there and Georgia is a great compliment to him [because, even though they are told from Georgia's POV and she is the main voice, these stories are ALL about Sid. And HE. IS. AWESOME.] and I truly love how they work together to solve mysteries and help people in the process.
This book felt a little off for me this time. I [personally] felt it was a little too long [maybe about 25 pages or so] or that it felt like it took to long to get to the conclusion [and then when we did, I don't feel like the explanation of "WHY" was fleshed out as well as it has been in the past], though it was how the killer was revealed that bumped this book from 3 stars to 4 [even though the "WHY" fell a little flat]. I also enjoyed Georgia's self-discovery of things she didn't realize where super important to her and deal-breakers in how she moves forward in relationships as well.
I missed Madison and Deborah and the interaction there and maybe that is why Georgia felt "off" to me for the whole book; I am used to the interaction between Georgia and her daughter and sister as well as Sid and with that missing, it made for some odd syntax at times.
I LOVED the use of the bone verbiage as "swear words" and how that both picked up and intensified in this book. It is hilarious and I will be honest here, I have totally used them in my own vocab and the looks on people's faces is priceless.
I did not like the handling of the gender-fluid character - while I completely admire Ms. Perry for writing and using a gender-fluid character, I felt it fell short. There were real moments of confusion and I felt that there was a ton of attention to that after the character was introduced that just wasn't needed***.
Overall, it was a good read. Because I love Sid and these stories I was willing to overlook some of the things that bugged me and kept reading on. And I am glad I did because it was, in the end, a pretty decent story. Enough so that I will keep reading her books as they continue to be written.
*** For a great example of a gender-fluid character that is well-written and part of a fabulous story-line, please see Magnus Chase and The God's of Asgard. Book Two: The Hammer of Thor. Rick Riordan does an excellent job of both presenting and writing a gender-fluid character.
I love this series. Sid is one of the best characters out there and Georgia is a great compliment to him [because, even though they are told from Georgia's POV and she is the main voice, these stories are ALL about Sid. And HE. IS. AWESOME.] and I truly love how they work together to solve mysteries and help people in the process.
This book felt a little off for me this time. I [personally] felt it was a little too long [maybe about 25 pages or so] or that it felt like it took to long to get to the conclusion [and then when we did, I don't feel like the explanation of "WHY" was fleshed out as well as it has been in the past], though it was how the killer was revealed that bumped this book from 3 stars to 4 [even though the "WHY" fell a little flat]. I also enjoyed Georgia's self-discovery of things she didn't realize where super important to her and deal-breakers in how she moves forward in relationships as well.
I missed Madison and Deborah and the interaction there and maybe that is why Georgia felt "off" to me for the whole book; I am used to the interaction between Georgia and her daughter and sister as well as Sid and with that missing, it made for some odd syntax at times.
I LOVED the use of the bone verbiage as "swear words" and how that both picked up and intensified in this book. It is hilarious and I will be honest here, I have totally used them in my own vocab and the looks on people's faces is priceless.
I did not like the handling of the gender-fluid character - while I completely admire Ms. Perry for writing and using a gender-fluid character, I felt it fell short. There were real moments of confusion and I felt that there was a ton of attention to that after the character was introduced that just wasn't needed***.
Overall, it was a good read. Because I love Sid and these stories I was willing to overlook some of the things that bugged me and kept reading on. And I am glad I did because it was, in the end, a pretty decent story. Enough so that I will keep reading her books as they continue to be written.
*** For a great example of a gender-fluid character that is well-written and part of a fabulous story-line, please see Magnus Chase and The God's of Asgard. Book Two: The Hammer of Thor. Rick Riordan does an excellent job of both presenting and writing a gender-fluid character.
September 17, 2017
Today I am sharing my review of The Skeleton Paints A Picture, which is a book I finished September 5th. I was so thrilled when I got approved to read and review this book and was delighted to find that Leigh Perry brought all the magic over to her new publisher with The Skeleton Paints A Picture, this is the 4th book in the series which quickly earned a spot as a series in my heart. While technically this is a paranormal cozy mystery, it really doesn't read like one. The magic is Sid himself, an extraordinary character, rich in depth, emotion, humor and grace you almost forget that he is a skeleton. The banter between main character Dr. Georgia Thackery and Sid is my favorite part of the book, the way they have chemistry that pops off the page, they are Best Friends and unlikely sleuths who share a love of movies and the internet. I am always so amazed with author Leigh's ability to create new ways that Sid can "roam free" and how with each book, I feel jealous that I do not have a skelton best friend of my own. This was a great story and mystery, different from the last three but built on the magic and mystery solving duo I love. I enjoyed that Georgia and Sid are on their own in this one but I did miss the snarky teenage daughter and quirky sister. All in all I loved this book, this series even got me over my fear of skeletons at Halloween! Now I even want one!
October 18, 2017
Georgia is thrilled when her childhood friend Sid mails himself to her new location teaching at an art college. She’d been feeling isolated and lonely, and having this living skeleton there is perfect. However, that first night, Sid finds the scene of an accident. The police think that Georgia is hiding something when she reports finding the dead body, never dreaming it is Sid. The victim worked at the college with Georgia. Could someone on campus be the killer?
Since Georgia has started teaching at a new college, this book is light on returning characters, just Sid and Georgia. However, they are more than enough to carry the book, especially when surrounded by a strong group of new characters. The plot is strong and a lot of fun, although the ending does seem rushed. I felt like we got some PC forced in at one point, but this was more than offset by the humor throughout the entire book.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Since Georgia has started teaching at a new college, this book is light on returning characters, just Sid and Georgia. However, they are more than enough to carry the book, especially when surrounded by a strong group of new characters. The plot is strong and a lot of fun, although the ending does seem rushed. I felt like we got some PC forced in at one point, but this was more than offset by the humor throughout the entire book.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
November 25, 2017
Make no bones about it, you’re going to love THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE!
I can’t begin to describe how happy I was when I heard there was going to be another book in the Family Skeleton Mysteries. The wait was excruciating, but totally worth it!
It was delightful to be back with Sid the skeleton, and his living flesh and blood besty, Georgia. This fourth installment finds Georgia living in a new town for her work. A lonely Sid surprises Georgia by having himself shipped to her. It doesn’t take long after Sid’s arrival for death to be on their doorstep again, and the buddies are off on the hunt for answers.
THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE is fantastically fun, and fast paced mystery. With more twists and turns than there are bones in the human body, Leigh Perry had me guessing with every turn of the page. I was holding my breath as through the exciting reveal, and was smiling as I read the final sentence.
With this series finding a new publisher, a few things have changed. One - the cover graphics. But they’re still delightful and capture the mood of the series. Two – you won’t find this book in “mass market” paperback. It is in print, but in “trade” (larger, and thinner) paperback. Three – the writing has changed . . . for the better! That’s something I would not have thought possible, but author Leigh Perry really outdid herself with, THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE!
I can’t begin to describe how happy I was when I heard there was going to be another book in the Family Skeleton Mysteries. The wait was excruciating, but totally worth it!
It was delightful to be back with Sid the skeleton, and his living flesh and blood besty, Georgia. This fourth installment finds Georgia living in a new town for her work. A lonely Sid surprises Georgia by having himself shipped to her. It doesn’t take long after Sid’s arrival for death to be on their doorstep again, and the buddies are off on the hunt for answers.
THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE is fantastically fun, and fast paced mystery. With more twists and turns than there are bones in the human body, Leigh Perry had me guessing with every turn of the page. I was holding my breath as through the exciting reveal, and was smiling as I read the final sentence.
With this series finding a new publisher, a few things have changed. One - the cover graphics. But they’re still delightful and capture the mood of the series. Two – you won’t find this book in “mass market” paperback. It is in print, but in “trade” (larger, and thinner) paperback. Three – the writing has changed . . . for the better! That’s something I would not have thought possible, but author Leigh Perry really outdid herself with, THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE!
January 9, 2020
4 stars
Sid and Georgia are my second favorite sleuthing team, only Nick and Nora have more charm and laughs. But Sid and Georgia are more truly a team, Sid like Nero Wolfe can’t get into a lot of the physical detecting because of course he can’t allow himself to be seen. I love the pop culture references peppered throughout the book, Monty Python’s Spanish Inquisition, Sid’s favorite movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, the fact that he’s so good with a computer, not a true hacker but given time a great researcher. But his best quality is that he loves Georgia so much he do anything for her. She is just as good a friend to Sid, forgoing a relationship to be with her friend.
For a paranormal mystery it’s entirely unique, I’ve never read, seen or heard of anything like Sid before. The “7th Voyage of Sinbad” skeletons can’t compare to the wisecracking warm being that is Sid.
This is the fourth book in the series and I would really recommend that you start with book, so that you really get to know the characters, but if this book is all you have it will definitely stand on its own.
I missed Georgia's daughter Madison in this book and hope she back in book 5.
I'm making 2020 my year to catch up on all the great cozy mystery series and I’m glad I still have two more unread books in this series to look forward to.
Cozies Reading Challenge
Sid and Georgia are my second favorite sleuthing team, only Nick and Nora have more charm and laughs. But Sid and Georgia are more truly a team, Sid like Nero Wolfe can’t get into a lot of the physical detecting because of course he can’t allow himself to be seen. I love the pop culture references peppered throughout the book, Monty Python’s Spanish Inquisition, Sid’s favorite movie “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, the fact that he’s so good with a computer, not a true hacker but given time a great researcher. But his best quality is that he loves Georgia so much he do anything for her. She is just as good a friend to Sid, forgoing a relationship to be with her friend.
For a paranormal mystery it’s entirely unique, I’ve never read, seen or heard of anything like Sid before. The “7th Voyage of Sinbad” skeletons can’t compare to the wisecracking warm being that is Sid.
This is the fourth book in the series and I would really recommend that you start with book, so that you really get to know the characters, but if this book is all you have it will definitely stand on its own.
I missed Georgia's daughter Madison in this book and hope she back in book 5.
I'm making 2020 my year to catch up on all the great cozy mystery series and I’m glad I still have two more unread books in this series to look forward to.
Cozies Reading Challenge
March 17, 2018
In this latest Family Skeleton mystery Georgia abandons much of the infrastructure that has been established in the first three books; she's in a new town at a new school, away from her sister and daughter and dog and parents... not to mention with a new publisher. Sid the skeleton soon joins her, of course, and hilarity, hijinks, and murder ensue. It's an entertaining mystery, cleverly told (I didn't figure it out ahead of time), with lots of interesting bits. One of the supporting characters is gender-fluid and I found myself distracted and annoyed by the use of impersonal plural pronouns, and then was amused by a scene in which the English professors have an un-resolvable discussion on that very subject. Altogether a light, fun, and captivating read.
August 23, 2017
The Skeleton Paints A Picture is the fourth book in this series by Leigh Perry.
I've been a huge fan of this series since the first book and each one gets better and better.
Georgia Thackeray is an adjunct professor and her newest assignment is at an art school.
Georgia has barely settled in when she finds some packages at her front door. Of course, I can't tell you what was in them.
A night time search turns up an unexpected development and when the body of a fellow professor is discovered, Georgia can't help but get involved.
Stolen art, a battle for tenure and a sleazy professor are just a few of things Georgia will discover in her search for truth.
You won't want to miss this exciting add to the family skeleton series.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
I've been a huge fan of this series since the first book and each one gets better and better.
Georgia Thackeray is an adjunct professor and her newest assignment is at an art school.
Georgia has barely settled in when she finds some packages at her front door. Of course, I can't tell you what was in them.
A night time search turns up an unexpected development and when the body of a fellow professor is discovered, Georgia can't help but get involved.
Stolen art, a battle for tenure and a sleazy professor are just a few of things Georgia will discover in her search for truth.
You won't want to miss this exciting add to the family skeleton series.
I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
October 16, 2017
Make no bones about it, you’re going to love THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE!
I can’t begin to describe how happy I was when I heard there was going to be another book in the Family Skeleton Mysteries. The wait was excruciating, but totally worth it!
It was delightful to be back with Sid the skeleton, and his living flesh and blood besty, Georgia. This fourth installment finds Georgia living in a new town for her work. A lonely Sid surprises Georgia by having himself shipped to her. It doesn’t take long after Sid’s arrival for death to be on their doorstep again, and the buddies are off on the hunt for answers.
THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE is fantastically fun, and fast paced mystery. With more twists and turns than there are bones in the human body, Leigh Perry had me guessing with every turn of the page. I was holding my breath as through the exciting reveal, and was smiling as I read the final sentence.
With this series finding a new publisher, a few things have changed. One - the cover graphics. But they’re still delightful and capture the mood of the series. Two – you won’t find this book in “mass market” paperback. It is in print, but in “trade” (larger, and thinner) paperback. Three – the writing has changed . . . for the better! That’s something I would not have thought possible, but author Leigh Perry really outdid herself with, THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE!
I can’t begin to describe how happy I was when I heard there was going to be another book in the Family Skeleton Mysteries. The wait was excruciating, but totally worth it!
It was delightful to be back with Sid the skeleton, and his living flesh and blood besty, Georgia. This fourth installment finds Georgia living in a new town for her work. A lonely Sid surprises Georgia by having himself shipped to her. It doesn’t take long after Sid’s arrival for death to be on their doorstep again, and the buddies are off on the hunt for answers.
THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE is fantastically fun, and fast paced mystery. With more twists and turns than there are bones in the human body, Leigh Perry had me guessing with every turn of the page. I was holding my breath as through the exciting reveal, and was smiling as I read the final sentence.
With this series finding a new publisher, a few things have changed. One - the cover graphics. But they’re still delightful and capture the mood of the series. Two – you won’t find this book in “mass market” paperback. It is in print, but in “trade” (larger, and thinner) paperback. Three – the writing has changed . . . for the better! That’s something I would not have thought possible, but author Leigh Perry really outdid herself with, THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE!
October 3, 2017
Georgia Thackery was a lonely adjunct professor at Falstone College until she received a package containing Sid, her best friend and living (well, sorta) skeleton. Things are going well for the pair until one winter night when Sid sneaks out to enjoy the snow and spots a car that has crashed at the end of the property. He wakes Georgia to investigate and she discovers the driver has been killed. Georgia and Sid assume it’s an unfortunate accident but, when they learn that the driver was someone Georgia not only knew but worked with, they find themselves involved in something a whole lot worse and certainly more dangerous. Good thing Sid and Georgia have plenty of experience investigating murders.
The Skeleton Paints a Picture is the fourth installment of Leigh Perry’s Family Skeleton Mystery but it is the first I’ve read. It’s a fun cozy mystery with just a touch of the paranormal – Sid although apart from the whole no skin or, well, being alive thing, he’s a very likable and sympathetic character. Sure, a skeleton as investigator is a bit of a stretch but that’s the thing about cozies – the reader expects to don their willing suspension of disbelief and just enjoy the ride. And I did – quite a lot.
Thanks to Netgalley and Diversion Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
The Skeleton Paints a Picture is the fourth installment of Leigh Perry’s Family Skeleton Mystery but it is the first I’ve read. It’s a fun cozy mystery with just a touch of the paranormal – Sid although apart from the whole no skin or, well, being alive thing, he’s a very likable and sympathetic character. Sure, a skeleton as investigator is a bit of a stretch but that’s the thing about cozies – the reader expects to don their willing suspension of disbelief and just enjoy the ride. And I did – quite a lot.
Thanks to Netgalley and Diversion Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
January 16, 2018
I really enjoy this cozy series. Before I read the first book, I was thinking there was no way a skeleton could carry a story... much less a whole series! But I was wrong. This series is very entertaining, humorous and Sid just becomes "alive" for the reader. Certainly not highbrow, but definitely one of the better, more imaginative cozy-mysteries that I've come across. I'm glad Sid and Georgia are finally back, and I hope we don't have such a long wait for the next installment!
December 2, 2019
..
The Skeleton Paints a Picture is he fourth book in the 'Family Skeleton Mystery' series written by Leigh Perry. It features Georgia Thackery, her trusty side-kick - SID, and murder at Georgia's new workplace.
This series includes a unique aspect, none other than Sid, a collapsible skeleton with the ability to move at will, think, and talk. These attributes certainly hook and intrigue the reader. This book in a new setting and Georgia is definitely surprised to get an unexpected package from home. Although it was a bombshell, it was just what Georgia needed to eradicate her loneliness.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Georgia Thackery, an adjunct English professor, has a new job teaching at Falstone College of Art and Design, known as FAD to its students and faculty. Living in a borrowed bungalow during winter in the snowiest part of Massachusetts, Georgia feels her isolation weighing as heavily as the weather. Then she receives a package containing her best friend, Sid, a walking, talking skeleton who has lived with the Thackery family since Georgia was six. With Georgia working out of town, Sid was lonely too.
The two of them make plans for a cozy semester together, and it might have worked out that way if Sid hadn’t snuck out in the middle of the night to play in the snow and spotted a crashed car. When he drags Georgia out to investigate, they find the driver behind the wheel, apparently dead from the collision.
Initially, police think it’s an accident, so Georgia and Sid think that’s the end of it―until Georgia finds out the body hits closer to home than she’d realized...
This is one interesting whodunit cozy mystery series that is humorous and entertaining. The conundrum surrounding a murder in this book led Sid and Georgia on a merry chase after red-herrings designed to throw the reader's deduction skills into a flurry of confusion.
Each series invariably contains a mysterious murder that Sid is anxious to assist Georgia in solving. His invaluable skills are of inestimable worth to their success. What a positively vivid imagination and sense of humor Leigh Perry snares with readers!
This is a cozy mystery that offers a unique mystery-solving duo in an intriguing adventure that concludes with a H.E.A. I am grateful to my local library for making this series available through on my Kindle.
-----------------------------------------
The Skeleton Takes a Bow
(A Family Skeleton Mystery Book 2) Kindle Edition
by Leigh Perry (Author)
Print Length: 304 pages
..
The Skeleton Paints a Picture is he fourth book in the 'Family Skeleton Mystery' series written by Leigh Perry. It features Georgia Thackery, her trusty side-kick - SID, and murder at Georgia's new workplace.
This series includes a unique aspect, none other than Sid, a collapsible skeleton with the ability to move at will, think, and talk. These attributes certainly hook and intrigue the reader. This book in a new setting and Georgia is definitely surprised to get an unexpected package from home. Although it was a bombshell, it was just what Georgia needed to eradicate her loneliness.
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
Georgia Thackery, an adjunct English professor, has a new job teaching at Falstone College of Art and Design, known as FAD to its students and faculty. Living in a borrowed bungalow during winter in the snowiest part of Massachusetts, Georgia feels her isolation weighing as heavily as the weather. Then she receives a package containing her best friend, Sid, a walking, talking skeleton who has lived with the Thackery family since Georgia was six. With Georgia working out of town, Sid was lonely too.
The two of them make plans for a cozy semester together, and it might have worked out that way if Sid hadn’t snuck out in the middle of the night to play in the snow and spotted a crashed car. When he drags Georgia out to investigate, they find the driver behind the wheel, apparently dead from the collision.
Initially, police think it’s an accident, so Georgia and Sid think that’s the end of it―until Georgia finds out the body hits closer to home than she’d realized...
This is one interesting whodunit cozy mystery series that is humorous and entertaining. The conundrum surrounding a murder in this book led Sid and Georgia on a merry chase after red-herrings designed to throw the reader's deduction skills into a flurry of confusion.
Each series invariably contains a mysterious murder that Sid is anxious to assist Georgia in solving. His invaluable skills are of inestimable worth to their success. What a positively vivid imagination and sense of humor Leigh Perry snares with readers!
This is a cozy mystery that offers a unique mystery-solving duo in an intriguing adventure that concludes with a H.E.A. I am grateful to my local library for making this series available through on my Kindle.
-----------------------------------------
The Skeleton Takes a Bow
(A Family Skeleton Mystery Book 2) Kindle Edition
by Leigh Perry (Author)
Print Length: 304 pages
..
November 10, 2017
I owe an a apology to Leigh Perry and her so very creative character (Sid the skeleton.) & Georgia too for not completing this delightful book in much less time. Leigh Perry’s The Skelton Paints a Picture is the first of the author’s works that I have read. What a divine idea to base a series around! Shortly, after I began to read this cozy, I received books that I had been waiting to read. I believe that I made quick work of the 3 books that arrived & came back to finish this clever book. It truly is quite good. 31/2-4 stars. (Having been a teacher, I felt there is too much ‘shop talk’ relating to teaching, but I am sure that is relating to my many years in teaching.)
October 7, 2017
I am so glad to see Georgia and Sid again! Who is Sid, other than the best friend of Georgia, an adjunct English professor? Sid is the best! He is her confidant, someone to laugh with, who pampers her, and has known her most of her life. Someone who felt so useless at her parent’s house when she took a one-semester position at a small, out of town art college that he packed himself up and sent himself to her. Sid is a skeleton. A walking, talking, skeleton who, when alive, had been murdered, and has been with Georgia’s family since she was a child.
Georgia’s parents are professors who returned from sabbatical and are helping students with meals and homework needs, leaving Sid no place to be except back the attic, alone. Georgia’s daughter Madison is staying with her grandparents, but she is so busy with school that she can’t spend much time with him.
Sid awakens Georgia to see a car with its headlights in the yard behind the summer cottage property she stays at. It was dark, very cold, and snowing hard. Sid boosts her over the wall where they find drops of blood leading away from the car to the body of a woman lying face down in the snow. Only later did she find it was Kelly, the woman who worked in the writing lab to help students with research and preparation of papers for classes.
Sid believed Kelly was murdered. Georgia, not so much…until she met and listened to Indigo, the student who claimed to be Kelly’s assistant. In truth, Kelly was helping Indigo find who has been stealing the students’ artwork, mostly graphic art. Yet if Kelly, a journalist, couldn’t find who the thief was – and if the thief and the killer were one and the same…what could Georgia do? Lieutenant Buchanan seems to think Georgia is a suspect and has questioned her on more than one occasion. Someone has been leaving footprints in the snow and peering in the windows where Georgia lives, which is enough to creep out even Sid! In the meantime, one of the five adjunct English professors is being considered to fill a tenured new opening at the private art college. The other four profs go into self-protection, backbiting mode, as creepy as the footprints.
I love how fully-defined Sid and Georgia are! A reader can almost begin to believe that Sid is a real…okay, he sure seems like … oh, never mind. We see events through Georgia’s eyes, as well as how she and Sid approach finding the source of the problems at the college. They and the other characters, including the department chair, her secretary with his resourcefulness, adjunct professors, and two students enjoy snappy, witty dialog with further-defining behaviors.
Plot twists change the suspect list frequently, even though it seems Kelly would have few enemies since she did not have close friends. There are two additional layers of mystery surrounding the department and staff that make solving the murder and theft even more challenging. Liberally sprinkled within the novel is humor, sometimes completely unexpected, at other times as part of the comfortable friendship Sid has with Georgia. The end brought surprises, as I had thought someone else to be the bad guy(s)! It is completely satisfying, however, and I am already looking forward to the next one. I absolutely love this series, and highly recommend The Skeleton Paints a Picture as well as the earlier three in the series.
From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the author and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
Georgia’s parents are professors who returned from sabbatical and are helping students with meals and homework needs, leaving Sid no place to be except back the attic, alone. Georgia’s daughter Madison is staying with her grandparents, but she is so busy with school that she can’t spend much time with him.
Sid awakens Georgia to see a car with its headlights in the yard behind the summer cottage property she stays at. It was dark, very cold, and snowing hard. Sid boosts her over the wall where they find drops of blood leading away from the car to the body of a woman lying face down in the snow. Only later did she find it was Kelly, the woman who worked in the writing lab to help students with research and preparation of papers for classes.
Sid believed Kelly was murdered. Georgia, not so much…until she met and listened to Indigo, the student who claimed to be Kelly’s assistant. In truth, Kelly was helping Indigo find who has been stealing the students’ artwork, mostly graphic art. Yet if Kelly, a journalist, couldn’t find who the thief was – and if the thief and the killer were one and the same…what could Georgia do? Lieutenant Buchanan seems to think Georgia is a suspect and has questioned her on more than one occasion. Someone has been leaving footprints in the snow and peering in the windows where Georgia lives, which is enough to creep out even Sid! In the meantime, one of the five adjunct English professors is being considered to fill a tenured new opening at the private art college. The other four profs go into self-protection, backbiting mode, as creepy as the footprints.
I love how fully-defined Sid and Georgia are! A reader can almost begin to believe that Sid is a real…okay, he sure seems like … oh, never mind. We see events through Georgia’s eyes, as well as how she and Sid approach finding the source of the problems at the college. They and the other characters, including the department chair, her secretary with his resourcefulness, adjunct professors, and two students enjoy snappy, witty dialog with further-defining behaviors.
Plot twists change the suspect list frequently, even though it seems Kelly would have few enemies since she did not have close friends. There are two additional layers of mystery surrounding the department and staff that make solving the murder and theft even more challenging. Liberally sprinkled within the novel is humor, sometimes completely unexpected, at other times as part of the comfortable friendship Sid has with Georgia. The end brought surprises, as I had thought someone else to be the bad guy(s)! It is completely satisfying, however, and I am already looking forward to the next one. I absolutely love this series, and highly recommend The Skeleton Paints a Picture as well as the earlier three in the series.
From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the author and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.
September 28, 2021
Love this series, I mean who wouldn't want a skeleton to talk to and melp you solve murders. Georgia and Sid (the skeleton) find a person dead in what looks like an accident, but turns out to be murder, As she starts investigating art theft in the college she is now at, she discovers that the person she found dead was doing the same. So she and Sid try and solve both cases and Georgia is saved by Sid and they solve both cases.
June 27, 2020
Yet another hilariously funny cozy mystery in the Family Skeleton series. I want a dance party with Sid, the only skeleton I know who makes solving murder fun. Even though each book is self-supportive, I do recommend reading from the beginning of the series to experience the full enjoyment of the family dynamic and improving sleuthing skills of both Sid and Dr. Georgia Thackery.
Georgia is an adjunct English professor and as such moves around quite a bit. The first 3 books take place in Pennycross at McQuaid University and now Georgia has found herself teaching at Falstone College of Art and Design (FAD) in Massachusetts. Instead of uprooting her daughter, Madison again, she leaves her in the care of her parents along with Sid back in Pennycross. Sid has other plans though and soon joins Georgia in Massachusetts in the middle of winter.
Not long after Sid arrives that he stumbles on a dead body and his bones are telling him there is foul play. Unfortunately, Sid and Georgia's sleuthing skills are put to the test as all of FAD and then some are possible suspects. Add a competition for a tenured position for Georgia and the complications of solving this murder appear insurmountable until Sid goes undercover. The only flaw was the insertion of a gender fluid character “they” into the story but since it’s obvious the students run college campuses these days it seems almost necessary to push that liberal agenda to be true to the plot. This also begs the question, can a book that takes place on a college campus not include everyone’s preferred gender?
Once again, the mystery unwinds as Sid and Georgia methodically work their way through the endless list of suspects. They are amateurs after all so there are plenty of misleading clues and wrong accusations as they figure out whodunit. It's a process but with Sid's bone-dry sense of humor, there is never a dull moment. Plus, this series always includes a suspenseful ending which I never see coming.
I love the strong family ties shown throughout. The main characters are well-thought out and you can see the relationships develop over the series. And even though Sid does not age, you can see him mature as well. Nicely done minus the flaw of a gender neutral character which only took away from the story and just made the dialogue confusing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Diversion Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Georgia is an adjunct English professor and as such moves around quite a bit. The first 3 books take place in Pennycross at McQuaid University and now Georgia has found herself teaching at Falstone College of Art and Design (FAD) in Massachusetts. Instead of uprooting her daughter, Madison again, she leaves her in the care of her parents along with Sid back in Pennycross. Sid has other plans though and soon joins Georgia in Massachusetts in the middle of winter.
Not long after Sid arrives that he stumbles on a dead body and his bones are telling him there is foul play. Unfortunately, Sid and Georgia's sleuthing skills are put to the test as all of FAD and then some are possible suspects. Add a competition for a tenured position for Georgia and the complications of solving this murder appear insurmountable until Sid goes undercover. The only flaw was the insertion of a gender fluid character “they” into the story but since it’s obvious the students run college campuses these days it seems almost necessary to push that liberal agenda to be true to the plot. This also begs the question, can a book that takes place on a college campus not include everyone’s preferred gender?
Once again, the mystery unwinds as Sid and Georgia methodically work their way through the endless list of suspects. They are amateurs after all so there are plenty of misleading clues and wrong accusations as they figure out whodunit. It's a process but with Sid's bone-dry sense of humor, there is never a dull moment. Plus, this series always includes a suspenseful ending which I never see coming.
I love the strong family ties shown throughout. The main characters are well-thought out and you can see the relationships develop over the series. And even though Sid does not age, you can see him mature as well. Nicely done minus the flaw of a gender neutral character which only took away from the story and just made the dialogue confusing.
Thanks to NetGalley and Diversion Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 1, 2018
Georgia Thackery is now in Massachusetts at FAD, an art college, as an adjunct professor of English. She's teaching basic writing to art students who need these skills as part of their art career. Sid, the family skeleton and her very best friend shows up in the mail not long after she's settled into a borrowed bungalow near campus. His first night there he calls Georgia outside and they trudge through snow and over fences (it's handy to have a skeleton as a friend who doesn't get cold and can lift you when you need to get over things!) to find that a car has gone off the road. Following a blood trail, they discover a young woman in a ditch so Georgia calls 9-1-1.
Georgia is afraid that the officer on duty suspects her of foul play because of all the questions and the officer's follow-up visit to her house. Georgia feels that somehow this was not just an accident and since Sid is always up for a good mystery, the online research that goes with it, he happily starts investigating what he can online while Georgia teaches or sleeps. The two sleuth friends find out that Kelly, the woman who was killed, was investigating art theft of students' art work so that becomes a complicated maze of who, what, when where and why...and, does this have anything to do with Kelly's death?
Can I just say that I am in love with Sid the Skeleton? This was the first book in this series that I read but it will definitely not be the last! I'm anxious to see how Sid came into Georgia and her family's lives. Georgia normally lives with her parents who are also professors, her teenage daughter and their dog Byron (who once left Sid with a bite mark on his femur). I got such a kick out of Georgia and Sid's private little swear words that have to do with bones or skeletons and how sometimes they'll slip and use them among regular people but the people are apparently used to it.
The mystery itself was a really good one and I had no idea who was behind the murder and/or the art thefts too. Lots of good twists and red herrings along the way. Sid makes me laugh and smile so much that it was just a joy to read this book. We got to meet some quirky and interesting characters at this college. This was my last book for 2017.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader's copy of this book.
Georgia is afraid that the officer on duty suspects her of foul play because of all the questions and the officer's follow-up visit to her house. Georgia feels that somehow this was not just an accident and since Sid is always up for a good mystery, the online research that goes with it, he happily starts investigating what he can online while Georgia teaches or sleeps. The two sleuth friends find out that Kelly, the woman who was killed, was investigating art theft of students' art work so that becomes a complicated maze of who, what, when where and why...and, does this have anything to do with Kelly's death?
Can I just say that I am in love with Sid the Skeleton? This was the first book in this series that I read but it will definitely not be the last! I'm anxious to see how Sid came into Georgia and her family's lives. Georgia normally lives with her parents who are also professors, her teenage daughter and their dog Byron (who once left Sid with a bite mark on his femur). I got such a kick out of Georgia and Sid's private little swear words that have to do with bones or skeletons and how sometimes they'll slip and use them among regular people but the people are apparently used to it.
The mystery itself was a really good one and I had no idea who was behind the murder and/or the art thefts too. Lots of good twists and red herrings along the way. Sid makes me laugh and smile so much that it was just a joy to read this book. We got to meet some quirky and interesting characters at this college. This was my last book for 2017.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader's copy of this book.
November 9, 2017
This has been my least favorite of the Family Skeleton series. There was really no need for the gender fluid crap in this book. It contributed nothing to the story and it made the story harder to follow. When the boy and girl (and yes they were boys and girls) were being referred to, it was a royal pain in the ass to figure out if 'they' meant the two kids, or the boy who wanted to be a 'they' instead of a he. Whether the folks like it or not, there are two genders. One generally is male and one is female. There are an extremely small percentage of ambiguous individuals out there who may have cause to identify as something in between. Stick with telling a good story and stop trying to jump on the 'hey look at me, I am not like you bandwagon'
December 27, 2017
Another great book in this series.
November 30, 2024
2.5⭐️
August 27, 2019
This is such a fun series and I am having a delightful time catching up. Georgia and Sid are wonderful characters and their friendship is so well written it keeps me returning to the series. This time around, Georgia has a new job so the secondary cast of characters is new. However, that does not detract from the story, it allows you to focus more on Georgia and Sid's teamwork. The plot is solid and the book has a quick pace. The mystery is well done and unfolded nicely throughout the entire story. It kept me guessing and I still wasn't sure the identity of the killer and/or art thief. There was a nice twist at the end with a tense reveal of whodunit. I'm off to the library to get the next book in the series and then I will be caught up for the new release in October.
February 26, 2019
OMG I want to have a dance party with Georgia and Sid in this humorous mystery of theft and murder with dialogue and situations that almost had me rolling around on the floor with laughter and amazement.
See more at fundinmental
See more at fundinmental
October 10, 2024
Oh my gosh. What a delight. This book absolutely brightened my mood and got rid of my reading slump. What a great joy to be back with Georgia and Sid and their amazing friendship and sleuthing ways. I love reading about Georgia's experiences as an adjunct English professor and this was an even more interesting setting at a small art school. I loved every second of this mystery and the many different twists and routes the story took. Sid is such a light and I love their banter and how they work together and bounce ideas off each other. The ending was an adrenaline rush and I was on the edge of my seat to see how it would turn out.
ALL THE STARS. This is one of my favorite series EVER!!
ALL THE STARS. This is one of my favorite series EVER!!
October 17, 2018
Love these books
January 13, 2020
Utterly charming and delightful, as always! It was a perfect read for cold winter nights.
July 23, 2017
Review
Last updated on 21 Jul 2017
Once again, a very enjoyable romp with Sid and Georgia! Working yet again as an adjunct professor, this time at an Art College., Georgia is feeling a little bit lonely until she finds two packages mailed from her parent's house sitting on her front porch. Sid mailed himself to her! Because it is deep winter with lots of snow, Sid is able to wear lots of clothing layers to disguise the fact he is a skeleton. Lots of opportunities for him to be out and about the neighborhood after dark which leads to him finding a body. The woman works at the same college as Georgia, in fact in the same department. Fearing she is the top suspect in the woman's death, once again Georgia (and Sid) are chasing clues and searching for not only a murderer, but an art thief as well. Well thought out and entertaining book, I totally enjoyed the hijinks.
February 24, 2018
You know, I usually like a man with more meat on his bones... but I ♡ me some Sid!
August 15, 2017
I really like this series and I was pleasantly surprised that the book included a genderfluid character who was treated with respect and dignity and not as a plot twist or narrative device. This is the first time I've seen this in a cozy mystery and it's been a long time coming!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 200 reviews