So This Is Christmas by Kay Bratt

 

My thoughts

This book was even better than the last. Each seems to get better. 

The Hart's Ridge series is so good. Each book has a mystery wrapped around a true to life crime. Also more about the Gray family and all that entails. 

Taylor just had her baby and is home on leave from her job while recuperating from almost dying and from having her daughter. Sam, her husband, insists on her doing nothing that relates to her job as a deputy. She needs no stress. Of course that is not easy for Taylor.

As you get to know each of the Grays you also read about a horrific murder. A family who were shot and killed on Christmas Eve. Who would do such a horrible thing to this very nice and loving family. 

This book kept me turning the pages and wanting more. It held me captive until the last sentence. Kay weaves enough of a real life crime into the story that you keep trying to figure out who did it. Who the killer or killers were. I had my suspicions and was half right. 

There is also a bit of mental illness in this story. Of course with such a horrific murder I believe the killer suffered deeply from a mental illness but this was about Taylor's sister. Lucy has so many problems and you hear from her again in this story. Her problems seem to escalate until she just can't deal. Taylor of course wants to fix it but this time she can't. 

I was so happy to read the part about Lydia and Caleb after her return. That is from the book Hello Little Girl. Lydia had been kidnapped and held for a long time. I wondered what became of them and was so happy that Kay added this part in the ending. Maybe an upcoming book about them??

I love this series and hope it can continue for a while. There are a few characters that I'd like to hear more about.

Another winner. Five big stars.

About

The quaint town of Hart's Ridge glistens with holiday magic each Christmas, as festive lights and holiday attractions draw visitors to its charming streets. This year, Deputy Taylor Gray is enjoying a quieter holiday at home, fully embracing her new role in the midst of family festivities.

But peace and goodwill are shattered on Christmas Eve when four bodies are discovered and two children are left as orphans. Taylor finds herself walking a fine line between her desire to please her husband, Sam, who insists she stay out of the investigation, and her passion for keeping the town safe. As she navigates her restrictions, she must find a way to contribute without jeopardizing her promise to Sam.

“So This Is Christmas” is book eleven of the bestselling Hart's Ridge small-town mystery series, written by Kay Bratt, million-copy best-selling author.