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 ( )

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.**
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Stands skull & scapula above other cozy mysteries!

I **really** look forward to each installment of this series as each book is fresh and clever. Dr. Georgia Thackery is the main character and she works as is an adjunct professor which is clever because her career keeps her moving around and the setting fresh. Sid is her partner and just happens to be an animated skeleton. Don’t knock it, it works. I often read the synopsis of paranormal mysteries and am pretty skeptical as to how well it is really going to work and pass on them. In this case, the character of Sid really works well and integral to the storyline. In The Skeleton Paints a Picture, Georgia takes a position at a small art school wherein lays a dead body and students who are having their digital art stolen. The investigation is fun and timely.

I like the audio edition of this book because Katina Kalin does a perfect job of narration. With all the tensions of the real world, the combination of her as a narrator and the adventures of Georgia and Sid is a welcome refuge. I look forward each fall to hearing her read books in The Family Skeleton serious. The downside is I binge listen and have too long a wait for both the next book in the series. Katina Kalin also has narrated some Judith Tarr books including Writing Horses: The Fine Art of Getting It Right which looks pretty interesting. Currently, there is an attractive deal for buying the Kindle and Audible editions. ( )

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. ( )

Dr. Georgia Thackery (?) is an Adjunct English Professor at Northeastern Art School, who is up for tenure; Georgia is also good at solving murders, but Georgia has a skeleton in her closet. The Skeleton's name is Sid.

Sid has been living with Georgia & her family for 20+ years; Sid however, is not just any skeleton, Sid is animated, which means he thinks, talks, walks, is able to use technology, and loves shoveling show & using the snow blower to clean the driveway & walks (which he does in the dead of night: No Pun)

Georgia has rented an out-of-the-way bungalow in the town where she is teaching and receives two mysterious packages, one of which contains Sid. During one of Sid's snow-blowing forays he stumbles upon a car that has been stashed behind Georgia's house, with Georgia in tow they come across the body of a young woman. It turns out that they young woman was working in the writing lab at the college, but had secretly also working on solving the case of art theft from two of the students.

Together Georgia & Sid suss out the thief, the murderer, & a creep who attempts to frame Georgia out of the race for tenure.

Some of the dialog was long and a bit tiresome, but I like the premise of a skeleton, rather than a ghost (although the ghost would have made for the PBT tag) and the story line & plot was interesting. ( )