Wait, I Was Supposed to Watch for Reindeer???

 

TITLE: I Pitty the Yule

AUTHOR: Kathryn Mykel

PUBLISHER: Independently Published

PUBLISHING DATE: December 10, 2024

PAGES: 96   

SOURCE: Kindle Unlimited

FROM GOODREADS: A small-town sleuth must sift through sweet secrets and bitter rivalries to uncover the killer hiding in plain sight. With her one-eyed pit bull, Bruizer, Rena Mulberry dives paws first into the mysterious death of diva Delia Winters, strangled by holiday lights. 

The suspects—including her festive boyfriend—are piling up fast. Rena must untangle a web of secrets, bake-off drama, and zany townsfolk to catch the killer before her holiday spirit fizzles out forever. 

Can Rena crack the case, or will the truth remain tangled up?

MY THOUGHTS: This read was a carryover from the holiday season which I finished in early January.  I guess it's no surprise why I grabbed it, and while I am glad that I met Bruizer, overall, this book was just "meh."  

Rena is doing her best to avoid most holiday activities when town diva, Delia Winters, is murdered.  Rena's boyfriend becomes the prime suspect and I'm not sure why she thinks she is capable of finding the real culprit, she jumps right in and starts investigating.  Of course, this greatly upsets the town sheriff who is onto her every move and almost ends up getting herself arrested. However, instead of arresting her, he makes her participate in the holiday bake-off even though she is a horrible baker and isn't a huge fan of the holidays.

This book was cute but a bit weak plot-wise.  I should have guessed all along the murderer because once it is revealed, it is so obvious I wanted to smack myself.  Rena's pit bull Bruizer clearly steals the show in the book and since he goes everywhere with Rena, it's not hard for him to do.  I loved all of his sneaky antics, and I think anyone who loves animal sidekicks would as well. 

Overall, an okay Christmas read with a fabulous dog which made it bearable.  Oh, and the reindeer.  At the end of the book is a note from the author asking if the reader found all of the reindeer mentioned in the book.  No Ms. Mykel, I didn't.  I didn't know I was supposed to be looking and I'm afraid if I had known, it might have made the book even less enjoyable.  

MY RATING: 3 PAWS