The Skeleton Paints a Picture: A Family Skeleton Mystery

Hello!  A Place at Our Table by Amy Clipston will be published on November 14.  It is the first book in An Amish Homestead series.  The first three books in A Family Skeleton Mystery series are  A Skeleton in the Family, The Skeleton Takes a Bow, and The Skeleton Haunts a House.

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!  

I do hope that you are having a lovely day (and that it is not stressful).  I am currently reading Cremains of the Day by Misty Simon.  I will be reviewing The Girl Who Saved Ghosts by K.C. Tansley tomorrow (10/17).  Thank you for visiting, take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader