A good book. Well written with great characters and a good plot. The storyline flows and the mystery is enjoyable. I highly recommend.,

This series is so fun. Sid is a hoot; I’m so glad it was continued!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

This entire series is wonderful! It sounds weird, but Sid the skeleton is an amazingly human character, whose characteristics are well-developed and believable. He's part of an amazing family and it is a pleasure to read about their adventures!

I always love the trouble that Georgia Thackery and Sid get into. This time it involves someone who comes looking for Sid! As it turns out, one of his online gaming friends has mysteriously disappeared and he needs Georgia's help to solve the mystery. I will forever be wishing I had a friend like Sid (skeleton or not) and it is heart warming to see him make a real (sort of) friend in this story.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Diversion Books for allowing me an advanced copy of this book to review. It is my favorite cozy mystery series!

This series keeps getting better and better. This is book 5 in the Family Skeleton series and I love how Georgia and her daughter Madison move around the country teaching at various colleges. They are accompanied by Georgia's childhood friend and skeleton Sid. He now travels with them in his suitcase and helps out when needed. This summer Georgia is teaching at a college offering camps for bright kids. Someone is out to ruin the program and shut down the whole college. This is a wonderful cozy series with just the right touch of paranormal to make it enjoyable and fun. Can be read as a stand alone. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair an honest review.

A story of the adventures of a family with a skeleton in the closet - or to be more exact; a living, talking, walking, tech-savvy skeleton who sometimes resides in a "bacon" design suitcase or a skull bag.
Georgia, Madison and Sid the skeleton are spending the summer at an isolated lake cabin whilst Georgia teaches as an ajunct at a college. Through online gaming Sid finds and makes some new friends, his first outside the family, And then one goes missing and another somehow traces Sid's online persona to the cabin they are staying at.
Together Georgia, Sid and Madison delve into this mystery and discover something more sinister is afoot.
Just after starting this book I realised it was part of a series - the 5th book - so I missed out on a lot of "back stories" but this didn't detract from this story or any enjoyment, so I'd say its not essential to have read the other books in the series.
This was a nice fun, light read for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

The Skeleton Makes a Friend: A Family Skeleton Mystery
By Leigh Perry
Diversion Books
November 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

Sid never intended to catfish his online gaming group, but when one is a sentient, ambulatory skeleton, posting a real selfie is not an option. That’s why Sid assumed the not-so-subtle identity of Skalle Beinagrind – translated from Swedish and Icelandic as “Skull Skeleton” – for his Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game of Runes of Legend. Having lived with adjunct professor Georgia Thackery’s family since she was six years old, Sid’s inexplicable presence is fully accepted and matter-of-fact. It’s why he has accompanied Georgie and her daughter Madison to their rented lake cabin in New Hampshire while Georgia teaches at Overfeld College’s high school summer enrichment program. Sid thought he was being discreet when he joined an online gaming group, but fellow gamer Jen Cater-Brame is clever enough to track him down at their cabin. Jen is seeking Skalle for his self-proclaimed detective skills, as one of their members has gone missing from the game and she knows that something must be wrong.

Sid having a detachable head as well as a hand quick with a cellphone proves instrumental in stakeouts and break-ins, which results in discovering that “Erik Bloodaxe” is not just on vacation and that he has a connection with Overfeld’s experimental new program. While Georgia enjoys teaching the advanced high schoolers boarding at the college, someone seems intent on sabotaging Overfeld and its already shaky future. The town-and-gown rivalry is at a high pitch, with locals being led by none other than Jen’s mother. While Sid uses his unique skills to investigate and do a little inside duffle bag eavesdropping, Georgia still has to contend with academic politics, an overbearing professor, and continual threats against the institution.

What is so delightful about this series is how naturally it incorporates Sid into the series without needing an explanation for his existence. His friendship and bond with the Thackery family is heart-warming, while his love of movies, pop culture, and of course online gaming is an entertaining delight. Continuing to be fascinating is the depiction of the life of an adjunct professor, with Georgia never entirely secure in her profession and always battling with administrators, tight budgets, and precocious students. Topical issues arise with the MeToo movement, but not in the way one would expect. An all-too-brief appearance by her parents reveals that the protective paternal bond remains strong well into adulthood, with the results being cheer-worthy and hilarious. This is the one of funniest, moving, and undeniably fun mystery series being written today. That a talking skeleton the hero is just the icing on the cake.

What more can you want in a book than a skeleton who’s solves crimes? Entertaining and fun. While I haven’t read the other books in the series that doesn’t mean I won’t!

The premise isn’t new but a lot of the concepts are!

If anything read the book for the hero skeleton. He’s a gem!

5 out 5

I received this ARC for a honest review. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley.

Readers would be forgiven for assuming that a novel featuring an ambulatory skeleton as an amateur detective might not address too many real-world issues, however, Leigh Perry’s Family Skeleton series repeatedly proves that just because a book features paranormal elements does not mean it has to be devoid of sociological examination. Today marks the release of The Skeleton Makes a Friend, the fifth novel to star Sid the Skeleton and his human “family.”

As The Skeleton Makes a Friend begins, Georgia Thackery is working as a summer adjunct professor at Overfeld College during a semester designed to prepare younger students for University life. She and her daughter have even scored a sweet deal on a rustic cabin by the lake – which also means there is plenty of room for Sid the Skeleton to frolic unseen.

One day, while hanging out at the lake, Georgia is surprised to find two strangers on the property. The younger of the two is looking for her friend – Skalle Beinagrind. Georgia explains that they are only renting the cabin and that she does not know this individual. The girl, Jen Cater-Brame, understands and tells Georgia she is looking for Skalle because he is a detective and that she really needs his help, but since there has been some miscommunication, Jen and her mother leave without incident. By this point, Georgia has already figured out that this is connected to Sid in some way.

Turns out that Sid has been playing a MMORPG – Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game – with a group he met in the virtual world. Since he is unable to interact with people in the real world, this is his only outlet for social communication beyond the Thackery family. And yes, Sid might have bragged to his online friends about how he has helped to solve a few crimes over the years. But now, one of that group is uncommunicative and Jen needs Sid’s help to find their missing friend.

Sid convinces Georgia to join him in helping Jen and before long, they discover a murder on the Overfeld campus that has ties to this missing persons case.

Fans of Sid will delight in watching him navigate the challenges of having his first “outside” friendship while never straying to far from his smart-alecky roots. Series readers will also be thrilled to know that Sid is helped by not only Georgia, but also by Georgia daughter, Madison, on this case. This is a formidable trio who never lets the world get them down for too long and they certainly know how to take care of themselves – and each other.

The ensuing investigation covers such wide-ranging topics as the financial struggles of small learning institutions, claims of sexual harassment, and as always, the challenging career path for adjunct professors. Leigh Perry knows her pop culture and references to the latest in movies, Broadway shows, musical acts, and more ground the book in our current reality. Playing off the theme of friendship, Leigh also makes casual references to her crime fiction pals such as Charlaine Harris, Dana Cameron, and Doris Ann the librarian, which will delight devotees of the genre.

Make no mistake about it, the Family Skeleton books are light and humorous, but it is the heart and soul at their core that keeps readers coming back to join in Sid’s latest escapade over and over again. The Skeleton Makes a Friend is charming without straying into saccharinely sweet territory.

The Family Skeleton mystery series by Leigh Perry keeps getting better and better! You'd think that it might get hard to find believable new ways to get a living skeleton out into the world where he can help his best friend solve murders, but the author keeps making it happen. In The Skeleton Makes a Friend, the rustic lakeside cabin that Georgia has rented while she's working at a college summer program is the perfect place for her daughter, Madison, and her skeleton friend, Sid, to enjoy the sun. If someone happens to wander by while they're swimming he can just sink to the bottom of the lake until the coast is clear.



Things get more complicated when a teenage girl comes to the cabin looking for Sid, who she met through an online game. A member of their group has gone missing and she wants Sid's help finding him, but of course it's impossible for him to meet up with her in real life. So Georgia helps her in person while Sid helps online. I loved this one. It kept me guessing until the very end.

This is my first in this series, but I got enough back story that I didn't feel like I was missing anything. Very clever insights into academic life, coupled with great writing and intriguing characters. I loved all the "business" of the skeleton getting around, and found him to be a surprisingly warm character. I definitely want to read the rest in this series.

The Skeleton Makes a Friend by Leigh Perry is A Family Skeleton Mystery series. Georgia Thackery along with her daughter, Madison and best friend and skeleton, Sid are spending the summer in Overfeld, New Hampshire. Georgia is teaching a creative writing seminar as part of a high school enrichment program at Overfeld College. The three of them are swimming in the lake when Jen Cater shows up looking for Skalle Beinagrind. Skalle is a gaming friend of Jen’s from Runes of Legend who was bragging about his expertise as a private investigator. One of their fellow players, Erik Bloodaxe has gone missing and Jen wants to enlist Skalle’s help in locating him. Georgia quickly deduces that Jen is looking for Sid (use translator on Skalle Beinagrind). While Sid cannot meet with Jen in person (for obvious reasons), he does want to help locate their fellow player. Sid sifts through the online information on Erik to track down his real world identity. Erik works at Overfeld College, but he has played his last game. Sid and Georgia find him dead and it looks like he has been there for a few days which explains the malodorous stench in the building. The duo uncover problems at the college and the culprit has no intention of stopping his deadly game. Can the duo expose the killer in time?

The Skeleton Makes a Friend is a humorous cozy mystery with delightful characters. Sid is one of those characters that you cannot help but love. He is a skeleton with a quirky personality and a zest for life. He has been Georgia’s best friend since she was a little girl (he saved her life at a carnival). Thanks to the advent of Wi-Fi, Sid can now have online friends in addition to the Thackery family. The Thackery’s have come up with creative solutions that allow Sid to go out in the world (the bowling bowl tote bag is ingenious). Madison is back in this tale and she gets involved with the mystery. I just love the interactions between Georgia, Sid and Madison along with their creative curse words. The mystery is complex with misdirection. Readers get clues as Georgia and Sid investigate the victim, suspects and the college. While The Skeleton Makes a Friend is the fifth A Family Skeleton Mystery, it can be read alone. Georgia and Sid’s backstory is provided so new readers will not be lost. I thought The Skeleton Makes a Friend was well-written and plotted with developed characters. The story has smooth transitions and moves along at a brisk pace. I especially appreciate that there are no loose ends at the end of the story except where Georgia will work in the fall. The Skeleton Makes a Friend is a light and lively tale that will tickle your funny bone.

Dr. Georgia Thackery has landed a summer job teaching a high school enrichment program on the campus of Overfeld College. Even better, she's found a semi-private cabin on a nearby lake to rent, meaning that her daughter, Madison, and her best friend, Sid, are able to accompany her. Even better, they are isolated enough that Sid, who is a living skeleton, can get outside the house occasionally. Their solitude is interrupted when a teen shows up asking to meet Sid. She is a member of Sid's clan in an online game, and she thinks a third member of their clan has gone missing. Sid and Georgia haven't investigated for too long before they stumble over a dead body. Can they figure out what is going on?

Those who love this series are in for another treat. Drop everything and read this book now. If you haven't picked up the series yet, you really should do so. Yes, there is a slight paranormal element to the book, but it really is slight. The characters are so strong that you'd swear they were fully fleshed out, yes, even Sid. We don't have a large cast of recurring characters, but the new characters more than make up for it. The twists keep us guessing up until the very end, when everything comes together perfectly. But it is Georgia, Sid, and Madison that make up the heart of this book. Their relationship is wonderful, and the bone puns and other jokes kept me smiling. I truly enjoyed my time with the characters.

Well. That was one amazing read. One of the best cozy mysteries that I have read in a good long time.

Leigh Perry has got her Sid mojo back and this one was nothing but pure delight even after I figured out who the bad person was. It actually did not ruin it for me at all as I wasn't sure about the "why" [I missed a few queues at the beginning that would have clued me in] and the reveal is something you will not ever forget. One of THE BEST reveals in a very long time.
The author writes nerdy gamer girls much better than she does non-binary, gender fluid characters which is a huge relief - I truly enjoyed the addition of Jen and a beginner's course to the online gaming world, though I will admit that I understand it no more than when I started the story. One of the downfalls of being old. ;-) I do hope that we see bits and pieces of Jen in future stories through Sid and Madison's friendship with her; she was good for both of them and they were a huge boon to her and her life.

I was so glad to get back into the world of Sid and Georgia and Madison and I surely hope that the author can keep writing these books for a good long time.

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Diversion Books Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Where do I begin with this review? Of all the concepts one could create, this truly is a stunning and clever series. A skeleton is alive. It once belonged to a man, but he was murdered. "How?" you ask. You'll have to read one of the earlier books to find out, but I promise, it's 100% worth it. This is in my top ten series of all times... between creativity, character growth, cozy settings, unique approaches, ability to do almost anything and get away with it, and well... tons more reasons. But let's focus just on Leigh Perry's latest book in the Family Skeleton Mystery series, The Skeleton Makes a Friend.

Sid's lonely. He can only talk to Georgia -- his best friend and caretaker. Although he's able to move on his own, Sid's smart enough to know if anyone found out his secret, his 'life' would be over. Other than Georgia, her parents, her sister, and her daughter are the only other 4 people who know anything about Sid. Georgia is an adjunct professor who goes from college to college teaching English courses. Everywhere she goes, someone dies. And Sid feels compelled to figure it out. The poor bony guy's got nothing else to do but play video games and search the Internet. And video games is exactly what leads him to playing amateur sleuth again in this caper.

I laughed at least once a page while reading this book. Sometimes it's a chuckle, other times I have to cover my mouth and try not to cry. Perry's hilarious, and I can only imagine what she's like in real life. She adeptly balances humor knowledge by carefully educating readers on various topics... such as video games, college life, skeletons, novels, etc. It's the kind book where you feel connected the whole way through, and even if there are a few pages focusing on side stories other than the actual murder, you're turning the pages feverishly to indulge yourself in as much as you can. I could read these all the time and never get bored.

Georgia is just cool. She is respectful, but if you cross her, she can push back in clever ways. Madison, her ~16-year-old daughter, has been a minor character in the past, but she's front and center in this edition, and I'm glad to see how it unfolded. By showing us how both a ~40-year-old and a ~16-year-old (as well as a skeleton) try to solve a murder, it's a fresh perspective. They have to work together on different levels, but it all makes complete sense. When Georgia and Sid find the body, even though Sid is dead and can't smell things, I wrinkled my nose by his (okay, fine, it was Perry's) description. Who goes in search of a foul smell when it's not in your own office or home? Run away... but not Georgia... she locks Sid in a suitcase and sets him loose in the dark, only to see him come running full-speed at her when he finds a dead body that's been idling (good word choice, right?) for days!

I rarely read sci-fi or fantasy, and I'm not sure I can truly say this falls in those categories... but Sid is a walking / talking skeleton, and the last time I checked, that's not a real thing, so I suppose I have to say I'm loving the fantasy stuff these days! Just don't tell anyone I said that. This is a high recommendation from me... I really love the caliber of the writing, characters and plot. This one has a witty approach to the reason why the victim died, and I can't say anything more without giving away the plot. Rest assured, it was definitely unintentional on some level, but still... it had so many connections, it made red herrings a feast for the eyes. Kudos to the author for delivering one of the best in the series with this one.

I am so happy to see Sid again! If you haven’t met Sid, he is the Thackery family skeleton. No, not the skeleton in the closet – the skeleton who sometimes lives in the attic! It is summertime now, and Georgia, her daughter Madison, and Sid are in New Hampshire. The characters continue to be fabulous, Sid is as entertaining as ever, and the mystery is unique.
Georgia is an adjunct professor, having no permanent teaching position. Sid and Georgia have been best friends since she was six years old. He lived in the attic for many years, and when Georgia and Madison moved back to the family home, he was waiting for them. Sid gets most of his input from online searches, chats, and gaming, but has no real friends other than Georgia, her sister Deborah, and Madison.
Georgia is teaching at a high school enrichment program at Overfeld College. She is doing creative writing workshops and enjoying it. Madison spends time at the lake or at the local gaming center. Sid spends his spare time gaming, Runes of Legend being his current favorite. One evening, a teenage girl, Jen, and her mother came to their rental cottage searching for Skalle Beinagrind, a player in Runes who she thinks is a detective. Georgia told her that nobody is there by that name, despite the photo of the lake that matches their view that Skalle had posted. A couple days later, Georgia sees Jen when picking Madison up from Wizard Gary’s Game Store. Jen wants help looking for Erik Bloodaxe, the main player in their group, who has disappeared.
Sid and Georgia work together, Sid doing internet investigating to narrow down who Erik might be; he is sure Erik works at Overfeld. The two of them, with Sid in his suitcase, attempt to go to the HR rep’s office when a powerful odor drives them back. Sid went bravely in to find Neil Farmer, AKA Erik Bloodaxe, dead for several days, stabbed with Erik’s sword. Off they go on another investigation. The stakes are higher than ever, as people are involved that they never thought, and there are real clues and fake clues.
Sid and Georgia are very well-defined. If I see someone rolling a suitcase down the sidewalk, I might have to call “Sid” just in case – I would enjoy a best friend like him. Georgia is pretty cool herself, as are some of her fellow adjunct profs. Gaming is a whole new language that lost me from the first sentence of acronyms, so Madison and Jen are brilliant to understand them!
I always look forward to the new A Family Skeleton Mystery having been hooked from the first one I read. Georgia, Sid, and Madison have so much fun together, and I enjoy the skeleton jokes and expletives (such as coccyx!) This is a challenging mystery to solve! It is so challenging that, especially with the plot twists, I didn’t have any idea who the bad guy was or why. The end was a complete surprise, in more ways than one, and I was very satisfied with the results. Friendship is highly valued in this cozy mystery, and like Georgia, I hadn’t considered how lonely Sid could be. Sid made more than one friend in this novel, learning throughout how friends get along together. Learning more about higher education is enlightening, too! I highly recommend The Skeleton Makes a Friend!
From a grateful heart: I received a copy of the e-Arc from the publisher and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Georgia Thackery, professor at Overfeld College is vacationing by the lake with daughter Madison and family pal Sid the Skeleton(literally a skeleton). Sid formed online gaming friendships with a local gaming group. A professor is murdered. Whodunit? The Skeleton Makes a Friend is a rollicking cozy. Enjoy it and read the other titles in the series.

The Skeleton Makes a Friend by Leigh Perry is the 5th book in A Family Skeleton Mystery series, and my another fun addition. I loved this book and Sid the skeleton makes the story not only unique, but he also adds humor.  Dr. Georgia Thackery is teaching in the summer at Cattenhall College. Her cabin is on the lake and daughter, Madison, and Sid are with her. When Georgia and Sid find a dead body, they set out to solve the murder. I love all the twists and turns in this book, and it kept me reading page after page. I plan on going back and reading all the books in this series, but don't feel I missed anything because I read this book first. I strongly recommend this book for anyone who likes a fun cozy mystery.

I was given a copy of this book for a fair and honest review.

THE SKELETON MAKES A FRIEND marks the fifth mystery featuring Sid and his best friend Georgia as amateur sleuths. This book is delightful – one of my best reads of the year.

I LOVE Sid! He is one of my favorite literary characters ever. What is there not to like about a walking, talking skeleton sidekick who is smart, witty, thoughtful, and a loyal friend? Granted, a skeleton main character does require a bit of suspending reality, but, truthfully, Perry has made Sid so totally down to earth and realistic that I think the scenario is totally believable.

In this installment, adjunct professor Georgia is teaching an enrichment course at Overfeld College, and, to make it more like a summer family vacation, rented a lovely cabin on a lake for Sid and her teen daughter Madison to enjoy. Things get moving right away when one of Sid’s online gaming friends arrives at the cabin looking for Sid in hopes of him helping find a fellow player who seems to have disappeared. Sid and Georgia soon find that the player is connected to Overfeld College and a murder victim. Surely his demise is not related to the gaming world, is it? A faculty cover-up? A money issue? Georgia and Sid put their investigative hats on to get to the bottom of it all, facing danger while they are at it.

Perry has created wonderful, memorable characters in the Family Skeleton series. Reading each book is like catching up with old friends. The writing sparkles, the dialogue is brisk, and the story moves along at a steady pace. The mystery in THE SKELETON MAKES A FRIEND is complicated enough to keep me guessing until the very end

THE SKELETON MAKES A FRIEND is a treat for series fans and readers new to Sid alike. I encourage readers who do not usually gravitate to paranormal cozies to give the series a chance. Highly recommended.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley and voluntarily shared my thoughts here.

Georgia, Sid, and Madison are spending the summer at lakeside cabin that's nearer to a summer job Georgia has but is also secluded enough to allow Sid to get outside more and to swim in the lake. A complication is thrown into their peaceful, carefree summer, however, when a girl comes looking for Sid. She knows of him through an online RPG that they both play and she wants his help to find another in-game friend who has missed a few scheduled game events. I won't say more about the plot so as not to spoil the story.

Wow, I freaking LOVED this book. It just had so much heart, so much emotion, so much humor, that I couldn't help but flip head over heels for these excellent adventures of our favourite skeleton and his loving family. I was so impressed with how well the author conveyed how much the Thackerys care about each other and how much Sid in particular cares about his titular friend. There was one thing I had been expecting to carry over from the previous book that did not but I can forgive it that. So, the bottom line: Yes, yes, yes. Pick yourself up a copy of the Skeleton Makes a Friend today and spend some fun times at the lake.