Review: Santa 356

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Santa 365: A Chet and Bernie eShort Story (The Chet and Bernie Mystery Series) by Spencer Quinn
Published by Atria Books on November 24th 2015
Pages: 64
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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Santa doesn’t just deliver gifts—he takes them too!—in this delightful holiday e-short featuring New York Times bestselling sleuths Chet and Bernie.

He sees you when you’re sleeping. He knows when you’re awake. This year, jolly old St. Nick knows Bernie has been sleeping on preparations for a special Christmas celebration with his son Charlie. Enter Plumpy Napoleon, fresh from a short stint in prison, to save Bernie from the naughty list. Plumpy calls his latest business plan “Santa 365.” For a small fee (that only gets bigger), he’ll fill your life with holiday cheer, including elves, a festive party, gifts, and even a Christmas tree delivered right to your front door. Bernie signs on for the full yuletide experience. But after the blowout holiday bash, Bernie and Chet the dog discover one of Santa’s helpers helped himself to more than Christmas candy. The intrepid duo sets out to find the sticky-fingered perp and reclaim the stolen goods. Add in a surprise visit from Bernie’s mom, two elderly sisters seeking their own brand of justice, and an elf with a stocking full of secrets, and you have a Christmas mystery that only Chet and Bernie could possibly unwrap.

I’ve long awaited my chance to read a book from the Chet the Dog series, but I’ve also always been a bit apprehensive in regards to reading a novel written completely from the point of view of a canine. So, when I saw Santa 365 I figured why not? I couldn’t resist an  eShort story that could help me decide whether I really wanted to read this series or not. Results? Yes, I definitely want to read some more  of the Chet and Bernie series.

Plumpy Napoleon, freshly released from prison, visits the private detective who caught him only eight moths prior. Bernie, said detective, accepts Plumpy’s offer of being one of Plumpy’s first customers. What is Plumpy selling? Christmas spirit. Plumpy has started his own business called “Santa 365” which offers some home delivered Christmas cheer in the form of a festive Christmas party, a hand delivered tree plus Santa and his elves! All this for a nominal fee..with hidden extra fees, of course. Bernie signs on, attempting to prove to his son that Santa is indeed real. After the holiday bash Bernie realizes that Santa’s little helper helped himself to some very important belongings. Tracking down Santa’s helper only reveals another mystery that Chet and Bernie must solve. Unfortunately, adding to the mix is a visit from Bernie’s difficult mother and the business side of a shot gun (not at the same time, of course). This will be a Christmas this dynamic duo will never forget.

Santa 365 is properly cute and action packed; delivering an adorable story filled with Christmas cheer.

Santa 365 was a cute and heart warming story with plenty of action to keep things interesting. I loved that Chet is an eternal optimist who has a very high sense of self-esteem. It’s important to have high self-esteem! Often, Chet gets lost in some of the more complicated discussions between Bernie and the villains which only leads to some hilarious musings that only a dog’s brain could develop. Chet’s limited understanding oft he world around him adds an amusing twist to a largely serious story.

I’m going to be honest and say that, as a Border Collie owner, I find the breed much more serious and disdainful in certain circumstances. I don’t know if this is just a personality trait specific to how I raised my dogs (they are spoiled!), but I felt like Chet is the stereotypical “happy-go-lucky” canine. I honestly wish mine could learn some of these happier traits from Chet instead of being so judgmental. Does anyone think Chet gives lessons on how to be a nicer dog?!

I definitely think that Santa 365 is one of the few Christmas inspired novels I actually enjoyed. Although it focused on family, it also focused on the connection between a dog and his master and stars a funny, but exhilarating, chase to catch the bad guys before they ruin Christmas.

This novel will appeal to readers who enjoy novels from a dog’s perspective, mysteries, comedies and chronicles featuring private detectives. Chet and Bernie deliver a hilarious and unique type of detective novel in Santa 365 that will keep you interested until the last moment.

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