Sid, the family skeleton…uh, family secret….does it again, starring not only in his latest novel but contributing to the success of the high school production of Hamlet as poor Yorick. Yes, the court jester suits Sid’s personality well (but don’t tell him I said that!) The Skeleton Takes a Bow is the eagerly awaited second in A Family Skeleton series by Leigh Perry. You’ve heard about family skeletons, and how some families have a skeleton in the closet? Well, this family has Sid, the really cool walking, talking skeleton in the attic who has been part of Georgia Thackery’s family since they lived in the home her parents still own and where she and her daughter currently live. Sid is one of my favorite characters!! The Skeleton Takes a Bow follows its predecessor, A Skeleton in the Family, with laugh-out-loud fun, thought-provoking info regarding higher education and adjunct professors, gentle anatomy lessons, and nail-biting scenes of life-or-death suspense. In short, I love the book even more than the first one! The characters, Adjunct Professor Georgia Thackery and her daughter Madison, Deborah, Georgia’s strait-laced sister, Byron the dog, who still makes Sid’s teeth chatter, and of course, Sid, are well-developed, three-dimensional folks. I’d love to live next to the Thackery house, spend time with humbly intelligent Georgia and her precocious teenager. Sid’s active presence always had a purpose – when he felt needed. If he ever felt truly unnecessary, his bones could disconnect…and as one who believed there was a Santa Claus longer than many kids, I’d love to have him around! The plot is unique – when Madison takes Sid’s head to her high school class to use as Yorick in their play, Hamlet, things start to happen. Yes, Sid was pleased to go even to high school, as it had been so long since he had been out of the house! Smuggled in a bowling bag, then forgotten (Coccyx!) one night when Madison was in a hurry, Sid heard a murder take place. Being stuck in the bag, he couldn’t see the culprits. When Georgia and Madison finally pick up Sid, they hear the story and listen for murders in the news. But their desire to see justice done may well end in tragedy for the Thackery family…There are so many things that I learned from this novel, including how challenging the career of an adjunct professor is, and what a big business the SAT tests are. I continue to get anatomy lessons, as well as in family dynamics, including how much siblings really need each other. In and around the serious subjects and the plot, Leigh Perry continues my education, and opens my eyes to the often-unknown challenges in higher education. I can’t recommend this book enough to cozy lovers of all ages! If you like a contemporary cozy mystery overflowing with humor, suspense, and an extraordinary, engaging family with an endearing family skeleton – make that secret – this is for you. The Skeleton Takes a Bow is a five-thumb phalanges-up hit! The Family Skeleton Mysteries are a strange mix of supernatural whimsy and realistic mundane mystery that blend surprisingly well together.Supernatural whimsy: Sid, the talking skeleton. Sid's existence was established in the first book, so there is less "world building" around Sid this time, and I kind of missed it. And although it's nice that he can spy on people by being a disembodied skull in a duffel bag, I'd have liked a little more flexibility from him. (In the last book, they fed his bones through a doggy door, I think, to get him into a house. That was fun.)Realistic, mundane mystery: the mystery revolves around an SAT scam, and it's really interesting and organic, and you can picture this kind of scandal happening in a small college town like the one where the Thackery family lives. It's nice to have a mystery that doesn't revolve around sexual infidelity or family betrayal.For some reason, this installment didn't capture me as much as the debut. Perhaps it's because all the rules had been established, so this was a little more par for the course. Also, Georgia felt kind of isolated. She occasionally interacts with her colleagues, but spends most of her time with Sid or her daughter. I like the family scenes, which always ring true despite involving a talking skeleton, but I wish other outside characters had been integrated a little more into the story. As a result, it's easy to guess who committed the crime, because s/he is one of the only outside characters Georgia speaks to. But, Perry makes things a little more complicated than the simplest solution, which is appreciated.
What do You think about The Skeleton Takes A Bow (2014)?
better than the first one, if possible.
—ferolivas
