Pranced by Christy Barritt

By Kelly Bridgewater

Lights. Cookies. Movies. Tree. Ornaments. These are just some of the things that people think of when they think of Christmas. What about baby Jesus? Santa Clause. Reindeer. Santa’s sleigh. Reindeer. More items of interest.

What is a better way to spend an hour during the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, then curled up with a good book? I don’t know of any other way. Christy Barritt in her latest novella, Pranced, which is part of the Sierra Files that includes Pounced and Hunted places Sierra and her loving husband, Chad, on another mystery. This time the mystery features hunting for missing reindeer.

Yes, you read correctly.

Reindeer.

As expected, I wanted a story that featured the characters I have come to love and enjoy. Sierra and Chad have traveled to Chad’s side of the family for Christmas. In  Hunted, we visit Sierra’s side of the family and hunt for a missing dog.

The writing is concise and sharp. Barritt allows the readers to experience all the internal thoughts of Sierra since the novel is written in first person point of view. We experience all Sierra’s fear, uncertainty, and struggle as she tries to find the reindeer before the light show starts at Chad’s relatives’ house. The plot moved along seamlessly. There was no point of view shifts. We stay in Sierra’s mind the entire time, which makes it easy for the reader to follow the hunt for clues without shaking our head in wonder.

As for the mystery, Barritt does a good job at allowing Sierra and Chad to trace the clues. From Sierra’s animal activist job, which has threaten captive animals before to the neighbors who are a little down on their luck. The motivation of the villain was completely understandable, and I totally didn’t expect the reasoning or the person who stole the reindeer. Barritt surprised even me who usually figures out the mystery before the end of the book. Good job!

This book is a great page-turner with light hearted Christmas joy for the season. This was a good mystery for all fans, either mature or young. It is short, so it wouldn’t take long to lose yourself in the plot. I finished the book in under an hour. There is enough tension and joy to be called a Christmas mystery, which will bring a smile to the readers face.

Christy Barritt adds to her Sierra Files with a joyful, action packed plot in her latest mystery novel. Returning to the growing story of Chad and Sierra, fans of Barritt’s writing will be excited to follow the trail of clues and wrap themselves in Christmas coziness, set against a background of a Christmas light show in the mountains.