A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

A skeleton that solves murder mysteries with his best friend? Yes! I have read all of the books in the series, and all are terrific. Sid is a walking, talking, non-breathing sleuth and very lovable character. I genuinely like Sid and Georgia...wish they were real so I could have a cup of coffee with Georgia and talk with Sid!

I was given this book to review ages ago but when I realised it was part of a series I decided to read the earlier books in the series first and I am so glad I did this because this is such an entertaining series.

This is a lovely series of cozy mysteries about Dr Georgia Thackery and her talking, walking, living skeleton Sid. Georgia is an adjunct professor of English and Sid is her trusty sidekick. She is a single mom with a lovely daughter who sometimes helps her figure out the mysteries they find themselves investigating.

In this story Georgia takes a job in a different town and she leaves her daughter Madison and Sid with her parents and becomes an adjunct professor at an arts college. Sid decides to join Georgia and keep her company at her new job and new digs, but of course a mystery is on the horizon.

Out in the snow Georgia and Sid discover a dead body and it is even more puzzling when Georgia realises that the dead woman is someone she has been working with at the arts college. Georgia and Sid are drawn into a complex mystery involving the intellectual theft of some of the work by students at the college.

Georgia has to get to grips with a new job, a new town and a new murder.

I really enjoyed this and I am so glad I took my time to read through the series. I think each story can be read as a standalone but the best way of reading them is to read them in order. I really like Sid and reading the series shows how Sid came to be and his own back story.

The mysteries are really great and the solution to the murder is always complex. I like the way the two of them form a dynamic duo of crime busters.

This is absolutely a great series to get into. It combines humor and real laughter, as well as murder and mayhem. This is simply too good a combo to ignore. If you like cosy mysteries or any other kind of mystery then this is a very entertaining series to get into.

Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.

Picture this... a skeleton, dressed in a ski mask, winter coat, and boots, snow blowing your driveway. This is normal for Dr. Georgia Thackery and her BFF Sid, the human skeleton. In this book, Dr. Thackery is an English adjuct faculty at a New England art school and soon after her (and Sid's) arrival, they discover a murder and an art thief. But are the two connected? Dr. Thackery must dodge suspicious questions from local police, fight for a tenure position, ward off a pushy colleague who she formerly dated, and catch an art thief. With the help from Sid and some new acquaintances along the way, Dr. Thackery finds herself in a tricky situation.

Each book in this series gets better and better. I love the personality of Sid, he is written so well and I can picture him easily in my mind with all his expressions and antics he gets up to.

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 was given this book my Netgalley and athe publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I started late to this series, but I really liked it. Georgia Thackery is an English adjunct teaching at an art school. Her best friend is a skeleton named Sid, who mails himself to her. They go out in the snow and find a dead body. Come to find out, the dead person is a fellow teacher at the college.

Georgia discovers that the victim was trying to solve the mystery of who was stealing art students artwork for profit and figures that the thief was also the killer.

This book was really entertaining and moved along really quickly. It was unusual in that the skeleton was her partner (I wish that I had read the earlier books to know all the backstory), but really fun. Georgia was a fun character, and so was Sid. I will definitely read more of this series!

Some people have a proverbial skeleton in their closet, but adjunct Professor Georgia Thackery has a literal skeleton.  Which seems very appropriate for a literary professor whose best friend and sometimes sleuthing  partner is Sid the skeleton.  I loved this dip into the fantastic!  Being an adjunct means that Georgia goes where there is work and this time she finds herself at an art school that has decided to beef up its literary department. Apparently the school admin should have considered beefing up security because not only is original artwork being stolen from the students and resold as snazzy t-shirts on the net, another adjunct lit professor is murdered while investigating the problem and Georgia and Sid are the ones who find her. It could be anyone, from the art students to the faculty even that pesky co-worker who won't take no for a dating answer.  Sid holds it together (with sheer will power, he doesn't have any muscles and such) and helps Georgia to paint the picture and solve the crimes.

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.

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 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.

I love this series!! I''m a long-time fan of Leigh Perry (aka Toni L P Keller). She always makes me laugh no matter how intriguing the mystery. As sleuths Georgia and Sid make a truly odd pair, but they are equal to or even surpass some of the better-known duos in the genre. Of course some of Sid's less than human attributes do give them a bit of an edge. I highly recommend this book - especially to anyone who's ever been an adjunct or has friends who are!!!

Sid is back!!! That should be more than enough of a review right there. As a Sid fan, I was very excited to have him back in his bone shape manner. I was instantly laughing within the first few pages, but then had my suspense filled moments with the mystery. It was a delight to read.

The Skeleton Paints a Picture by Leigh Perry is the fourth tome in A Family Skeleton Mystery series. Dr. Georgia Thackery is working at an adjunct at Falstone College of Art and Design (FAD) in Falstone, Massachusetts. Georgia arrives home (the borrowed bungalow) and finds two packages on her porch. She opens them to find her best friend, Sid inside—a walking, talking skeleton. Sid was feeling lonely (too many grad students at the Thackery home) and decided to visit Georgia (who was equally lonely). That night Sid (who doesn’t need to sleep) is out exploring the backyard and spots a car crashed in the woods behind the bungalow. When Georgia and Sid check it out, they find the body of a woman. The next day, Georgia discovers the victim is Kelly Griffith who ran the writing lab at FAD. Georgia and Sid believe there is something off about Kelly’s death and start researching the victim (and faculty—Sid is whiz with computers). It seems that Kelly was involved in her own investigation and it ended up getting her killed. Can Georgia and Sid follow the trail and find Kelly’s killer?

The Skeleton Paints a Picture is nicely written and easy to read. I just love Sid. He is such an entertaining and unique character (Sid will provide many laugh out loud moments) and Georgia is the perfect counterpart for him. I like that their relationship is changing and developing into a partnership (a team). I especially like the creative “swear” words that they utilize. The author has certainly found some creative ways for Sid to get out and explore the world as well as investigate (Sid just loves snow blowers). I do want to mention the author included a “gender fluid” character. I applaud the author for tackling a gender fluid character and her handling of it (though it was confusing to read about the character without the gender specific pronouns). My rating for The Skeleton Paints a Picture is 4 out of 5 pumpkins. The mystery is medium complexity. I think some readers will be surprised by the solution (pay very close attention & it can be solved). I did miss Georgia’s parents and daughter (Madison) in this installment. I hope they return in the next book in A Family Skeleton Mystery series. While The Skeleton Paints a Picture is the fourth book in this series, it can be read alone. Personally, I am glad I have read each book in the series. I believe you will be missing out by not reading the first three books (you find out more about Sid and how he joined the family, Georgia’s teaching history). The Skeleton Paints a Picture is a humorous (Sid makes a “humerus” pun in story that will tickle your funny bone) cozy mystery that will delight many readers. I am glad that Sid is back!

Adjunct English professor Georgia Thackery has a new job teaching at Falstone College of Art and Design (FAD). While living in a bungalow in snowy Massachusetts, Georgia feels isolated and lonely until she gets a package containing her best friend Sid the Skeleton. Sid is a walking, talking skeleton who has lived with the Thackery family since Georgia was young. When Sid goes out in the middle of the night, he finds a crashed car. Sid wakens Georgia to come out to investigate and they both find the female driver dead nearby. The police think it was an accident but Georgia is surprised to learn the victim (Kelly) also worked at FAD as an advisor at the student's writing lab. The English adjunct staff has to temporarily work extra hours to cover Kelly's position. While there, Georgia finds evidence that Kelly had been stealing other artists' work and selling them as her own. Georgia and Sid snoop and try to find evidence to identify the killer. Meanwhile, the head of the FAD Engish department has announced that one tenure position is being created and most of the adjunct staff including Georgia are determined to be the successful candidate.

Sid is such a unique character and it is great that this enjoyable mystery series is continuing with a new publisher.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Diversion Books with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Long live Sid! I am so glad that Sid the skeleton and his best friend Georgia have found a new publishing home. I loved THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE and hope there are many more adventures to come.

Adjunct English professor Georgia has taken a spring semester teaching gig at an art school. Though she misses her parents, daughter, and dog, she must go where the job leads. She does not realize how lonely she has become until her best friend Sid, who happens to be a skeleton, mails himself to her. He’s lonely, too. The winter weather and Georgia’s somewhat isolated home give Sid the opportunity to get out the house, but when he goes for a late night stroll and happens upon a car accident, Georgia knows that her quiet life is about to be turned upside down…again. In addition to trying to figure out what her coworker was involved in that led to her death, Georgia has to deal with a former boyfriend’s amorous advances and vie for an open tenure position. Who knew that it all could be life threatening>

I really enjoy my time with Georgia and Sid. As implausible as it is to have an animated skeleton main character, it works here. Sid is smart and endearing yet maintains a contagious zeal for life and has a wicked sense of humor. Georgia provides a more serious foil for Sid, but she is sarcastic and courageous in her own right. The characters central to this mystery are varied to keep things interesting, and the mystery surrounding Kelly’s death is compelling. THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE kept me reading well past my bedtime.

I recommend THE SKELETON PAINTS A PICTURE to fans of the Family Skeleton series and readers who enjoy a heavy dose of humor with their murder.
4.5 stars

When I heard earlier this year that the Family Skeleton Mystery series was one of many cozy mystery series being cancelled by a large publisher, I was afraid that I wouldn't get to read more about Dr. Georgia Thackery and her rather bony friend, Sid. I was so happy when this series was picked up by a new publisher! I think it's the mixture of humor, great mystery and creativity that keeps me coming back for more Georgia and Sid! Sure, the idea of a girl growing up with a walking, talking skeleton as a friend is far-fetched, but it makes for a great cozy mystery series!

The Skeleton Paints a Picture is the 4th book in the series. The Basics: Georgia has a new position as an adjunct professor at an art college. Sid misses his bestie (he lives in the house owned by Georgia's parents), so he packs himself into a box and mails himself to Georgia. While this does complicate things for her a bit (she has to keep him hidden from other people because....well....how do you explain that your best friend is a skeleton that walks and talks?), she is glad to see Sid. Things in her new home of Falstone, MA are just a bit lonely for her. New job. New people. New everything. But the very night Sid shows up on her doorstep, something bad happens. Sid gets a bit restless so he goes out for a late night walk in the snow. Georgia's house is back from the road and well hidden by trees. So Sid figures if he puts on clothing to cover his bones that he can take a walk at that late hour without being seen. What he doesn't figure on is seeing a wrecked car down an embankment. He rushes back to the house and wakes Georgia. They find a dead woman laying in the snow. Later, Georgia finds out that it's not just any dead woman......the woman worked at the same art college where she teaches. Things get complicated pretty quickly. The police start investigating the death of Kelly Griffith, who ran the writing lab at the art college. Turns out her death wasn't an accident. So not only are the adjunct professors all vying for one tenured position, but one of them might be a murderer. Georgia and Sid are on the case again to find out who wanted Kelly dead.

Another enjoyable book in this series! The mystery is perfectly paced, with plenty of humor, investigation and college professor drama. Sid and Georgia make a great team. The cast of side characters is mostly different since Georgia took the new job at the art school. The drama involved in being an adjunct is still the same though.....competing for tenure, constant staff changes and frenemy relationships.

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series, and I'm so glad that it got picked up by a new publisher! Sid lives! :) And this is a great new addition to the series! I can't wait for the next book!

For more information on the author and her books, check out her website: http://leighperryauthor.com/

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

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.

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!

This is the first book I've ever read by this author though it is the fourth book in this series. I was able to follow along well enough to enjoy the story immensely. I loved Sid and I like Georgia a lot. The mystery was good, although I figured out who the culprit was. I still enjoy reading those stories, though, because I like seeing how the author gets the main character or characters to that same conclusion. I liked this book enough to be curious about how the series starts and also to hope that we can get more Sid and Georgia adventures in the future.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley but am voluntarily providing a review.

It seems I've found a new cozy mystery author to follow. I really enjoyed this read. I've always leaned towards mystery and suspense and usually I go for the forensic-type but every so often you just need a good cozy mystery. If the rest of the series is a good as this, I will be following the author. This was fun and light-hearted (as much as a book involving murder can be) while still having enough suspense to keep the ball rolling and the pages turning. I loved the family secret of the talking, animated skeleton. It's a strange and quirky addition that works well in the story and the character himself, Sid, is hilarious and just fun. I will definitely be looking to read more in the series and would recommend this to anyone looking for a good cozy mystery!

I really love Sid and was so excited to read his latest adventure. The setting for this one was fun; I loved the freedom it gave him. I think the book did suffer from the absence of the other characters, the reveal felt a bit clunky to me, and I’m not certain that Perry was entirely successful with her treatment of some LGBT issues. Still a very worthwhile read.

What a fabulous cozy mystery this book is! I loved it. It was well written and the characters, especially Sid the Skeleton! It was such a great book, with good solid characters and a great, fun storyline. And who can resist a "living skeleton"! Great read!