A solid read that flew by! Readers who enjoyed Secluded Cabin, or are looking for reads with similar plots to Ruth Ware may enjoy this.

Great read ! Full of mystery and suspense and twists that keep u guessing. This follows a true crime podcaster who is investigating old cases and a book store owner , whose life was changed by a night of violence and rage and murder. Thank you to Netgalley and Penzler publishers, mysterious press for the arc in exchange for my honest review. !

With some past/present and podcast elements, this story kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat. This would make the PERFECT gift for the book lover in your life - but give it to them early so they can devour it during the holiday season!

#ChristmasPresents #NetGalley

Christmas Presents is not a cozy Christmas story but a walk on the dark side during a cold Christmas holiday.
Henry Granger is a talented Podcaster who is able to see things most people miss. Therefore he is very successful on coldcases. He decides to work on a very old case in Little Valley where most people just want to forget the horrible event and move on.

Madeline is a bookstore owner and a surviving victim and doesn't want to revisit this event either. However this resistance from the town doesn't stop Henry from his research at all.

Lisa Unger wrote a tantalizing story of deception and tragedy with a twist at the end. Anyone who loves mysteries will enjoy this book.

I want to thank Netgalley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Madeline was the only one who went home after going to a house party 10 years ago. Found bleeding at the freezing riverbank after seeing her friend Steph murdered. The same night, sisters Ainsley and Sam went missing and have not been seen since. Madeline testified that Evan Handy was the one who killed Steph and he is under suspicion for the disappearance of the other two girls. In present day, Madeline has learned to deal with these tragedies and try to make the most out of the life she was given. While caring for her father, the town Sheriff, after he suffered a stroke, she is running a small local bookstore when well-known true crime podcaster and author Harley Granger comes in to buy a Christmas present. And asks her for an interview to discuss what she witnessed that terrible night and how multiple other young women have gone missing since Handy has been imprisoned. But Madeline doesn't want to speak with him about it, because she's moved on from all of that... right?

As this book is featured as a novella, I did not expect very deep character building. However, I was impressed that Unger was able to provide the perfect amount of characterization throughout the story in these 224 pages. I enjoyed the multiple points of view across different timelines and they were easy to follow. I really was into this book for the first 80% or so, but something about the ending just didn't do it for me. The twist in this book was good and satisfying, but after that, it felt that everything was wrapped up too happy and clean and it was nowhere what I anticipated as the ending of the book. I will say that I thought the podcast transcript as the closing few pages in the book were a great surprise and I always love that sort of mixed media in a book.

A great fast paced quick read. Interesting characters. An easy to follow plot that moved along nicely. The ending came quickly and felt a bit rushed but as this was a shorter novella I didn’t count that against it. You also don’t get to know the characters really well but again a shorter story is the cause. Overall I would recommend this as a good read. I enjoyed the characters and the pace of this one. It had some seriously creepy vibes

First and foremost, I love that this book is a thriller with a Christmas theme, because most Christmas books are romances. I’m a big fan of reading seasonally and while this story may not exactly put you in the holiday spirit—due to all of the murders and abductions!—if you are a fan of thrillers you might enjoy reading this book in December. One of the things I love about Lisa Unger’s books is that the characters are nuanced: no one is ever truly good or evil. Like real humans they are flawed; this lends a lot to her books, as nothing is ever strictly black and white. In this long novella the protagonist, Maddie, and her loved ones are still recovering from the events of a decade ago, when Maddie was attacked by her boyfriend, her best friend was killed, and two other friends disappeared. But the man imprisoned for these crimes insists that he is not guilty of all of them. As Christmas approaches, another woman disappears and a podcaster arrives in town to investigate the story. As new evidence emerges the tension rises. This is a quick read—you will quickly become engaged—and a very enjoyable one. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Podcasts and true crime are both extremely popular in the zeitgeist of our era, and Lisa Unger has combined the two with her new novella, “Christmas Presents.” Centered on a young woman in a small town who survived a brutal crime that claimed the life of her best friend, and led to the disappearance of two others, Unger’s latest story weaves together Madeline’s desire to move forward with her life with the questions being asked by famed podcaster Harley Granger about whether the truth of that night has actually been revealed.

Set during the holiday season, “Christmas Presents” exudes the charm of life outside the hustle and bustle of a large city, while also exploring what can happen when outsiders upset the sometimes delicate balance of small town life. The tale is told in both the present day and flashbacks at the time when Madeline’s life started going sideways after meeting the new guy in town. Is he truly guilty of the crimes he has been convicted of? Is it possible he managed to kill one girl, come close to killing another, and abduct two more teenagers who have never been found on his own? Has Madeline’s desire to move on clouded her judgment and memories of the night everything went wrong? The supporting characters are interesting, but I thought they could have been more fully developed to ensure readers care about what happens to them as things unfolded.

The story is fast-paced, and reaches a satisfying conclusion. I do think that the aforementioned character development, as well as a deeper dive into the motivations of Harley Granger, Madeline and Badger’s past, and more about the initial investigation undertaken by Sheriff Martin would have helped to round out the story, and move it from a novella to a full-length novel.

This starts out intense.
I love the transition to Maddy's life running a bookstore. I too want to run a bookstore. I also love the social media thoughts. And the bookstore does all the events we used to do when I worked in the library! The characters are like our patrons as well. It made me feel warm and also sad. It was just perfect.

I hated Harley because he is a weird creep but good on him for being popular and solving crimes. Also LOVE that name.
I loved everything about this book actually.

Absolutely amazing Christmas thriller by Lisa Unger!

Thanks to Netgalley and Penzler Publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Madeline Martin was the lone survivor of an attack by Evan Handy back in high school when 3 of her friends were murdered around Christmas time. She has tried to move on, since Evan is in jail and she needs to focus on her book store business and her dad who is recovering from a stroke. But when a podcaster turns up in town hoping to reopen the case at the request of one of the dead girls’ mothers, Madeline has to face the past again.

Madeline Martin is the only victim that survived the killing spree of Evan Handy. Her best friend Stephanie was murdered, and twins Ainsley and Sam are still missing a decade later. When true crime podcaster Harley Granger shows up in Little Valley with the intent to reopen the case, Madeline must reface her past. With her childhood friend Badger by her side, they take a second look at the case, and realize the pieces don’t quite fit together as they once did.

Meanwhile, as Evan has sat in prison, three other women in the area have gone missing. Is it coincidence? Or perhaps there is another explanation that ties all of the horrific events together.

What I liked:
- The book is a novella, so there is not much time for a slow burn. Everything was quick and thrilling, but no shortage of descriptive writing!
- The way the timelines connected (that was incredible!!)
- Heartpounding escape scene
- Madeline was an excellent main character; selfless, intelligent, so brave! And she paired with Badger perfectly in my opinion

This was an easy 5 star read for me! Though this takes place around a typically joyous holiday, there was no shortage of suspense and chills.

Thank you to NetGalley and W. W. Norton & Company for the advanced reading copy!

I loved this thriller. It has everything you would want to keep you turning the pages. Poor Madeline was attacked ten years ago and has been trying to put the attack, the death of her BFF Steph, and the disappearance of two of two other friends behind her. She goes along with her life. She owns a bookstore and takes care of her father who was the Sheriff when the attack took place. He has had a stroke and is recovering at home. Her mother left them a long time ago. Her best friend now, Badger gives her all the emotional support she needs. Then a mystery writer/podcaster comes in to her bookstore asking about the attack. He wants to help Evan Hardy, the man who is charged with the murder/disappearance. Things start happening when the author starts digging and then is when the fun begins. The attack took place around Christmas and hence the title. I would recommend reading this book but it is not the typical Christmas mush it is more thrilling.
Thanks to #netgalley, @mysteriouspress and @launger for an ARC of this delicious read.

I love Lisa Unger but this story fell short for me. The plot was hard to follow and I don’t think it was as mystery/thriller as it was described.

Madeline is a local bookstore owner with a tragic past, living in a small town. Her friends were murdered a decade earlier by Evan Handy, now incarcerated. Harley Granger is a podcaster who comes to town to revisit the crimes. Since Evan Handy went to jail, three other young women have gone missing. Five young women missing in the same area in the last decade. Was Evan Handy innocent after all? Or was someone else there that night? Someone who is still kidnapping young women.

Lisa Unger does not disappoint with this one. I find cold cases fascinating so the idea of Harley Granger reopening a cold case drew me in from the start. The twists and turns had me on the edge of my seat, reading to find out what would happen next. The story is told from different points of view and timelines, which adds to the depth of the story. I enjoyed the characters and the picturesque snowy Christmas setting. I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys thrillers! I give it 4/5 stars.

What really happened on the night that Madeline Martin narrowly escaped with her life when her then boyfriend, Evan Handy, went on a murderous rampage where one person was left murdered and two others missing. The question always remained how could Evan have murdered Madeline's best friend, Stephanie, while also doing something with two other bodies? Madeline's dad, then sheriff, always felt that Evan couldn't have acted alone that night and when Harley Granger, a true crime podcaster, connects a string of local missing young women, he comes to town to find the answers to long asked questions!

Will he prove Evan's innocence or will they uncover an unlikely accomplice? Is any character in Christmas Presents truly who they say they are? You'll be devouring this book to find out!

I was enthralled with Christmas Presents from beginning to end and devoured it! It was short, to the point, and interesting throughout the whole story! The characters were multi-dimensional and believable! Lisa Unger does a great job of building suspense with multiple scenarios that could play to keep you guessing! If you're looking for a quick, easy read full of suspense, then this is it!

Thank you Netgalley and Penzler Publishers for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Nearly a decade following a brutal murder, a savage assault, and the disappearance of two sisters, Harley Granger–an unsuccessful novelist-turned-crime podcaster–decides to play Mr. Grinch and reignites painful memories for the lone survivor (Madeline Martin) and the once serene town of Little Valley.

Reliving horrific details, which had lay dormant since the conviction of Evan Handy–Madeline’s teenage crush–Madeline, along with her lifelong friend Badger, consider Sheriff Martin’s theory regarding a second psychopath not so implausible and, together, they pick up the lawman’s rusting baton, determined to locate the most recent abductee. But can they identify the killer and find the woman before it’s too late?

A satisfying quick read from a proven author, CHRISTMAS PRESENTS is a cozy mystery with a somewhat predictable ending and a sprinkling of romance and suspense. I look forward to reading other titles by Ms. Unger. Much appreciation to NetGalley, Lisa Unger, and Mysterious Press for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I found this novel to be so fun and heartwarming, a perfect read leading up to the holidays. The characters felt real, the plot was developed well. I don’t try to guess the endings or plot twists, but I did see this one coming. However, it doesn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. I enjoyed following the clues Lisa Unger left for her readers and putting them together. For such a quick and easy read it felt very developed. This is my first book by the author, but I will definitely be picking up more in the future.

Years ago, Madeline survived a brutal attack by her boyfriend. Her best friend was murdered though, and two of her other friends disappeared without a trace. Now, she’s still trying to put it behind her when a true crime podcaster comes into town looking into the case. There’s another woman missing and Madeline hopes to find the truth before it’s too late.

This a novella so I think that threw things off here. I think this plot would’ve been better served by a full novel because we didn’t really get much investigation in. What we had was fine, but I wanted more. It just felt very surface level. It could’ve been like some other recent books with podcasters where we get episodes between chapters. It also just ends without a super satisfying conclusion. Not my favorite of Unger’s works, but an overall decent read.

Don't be fooled with the title nor the publish date. Christmas Presents is a wintery, murder mystery, thrilling novella. I picture people reading this novella on a cozy couch by a fireplace in the dead of winter (not on Halloween). Even though it sits at just under 230 pages, it still felt engaging and satisfying for a perfect winter read. Of course it was fast paced and got straight into the heart of the story, but it also did a great job of pulling you in to each scene and gave off such great ambience. I was seriously jealous of the main character's career as a local bookshop owner, especially located in a cozy small town. If you like books that touch on true crime podcasts, you have to check this one out.

This is a great holiday novella! Just kidding... it's actually really creepy and disturbing. If you're looking for a short thriller set around Christmas, this is the perfect read. I would go into it blind since the book summary gives SO much away. I loved the setting of this story and the abandoned houses the true crime podcaster, Harley explores. The small town was traumatized by the horrible crimes that took place 10 years ago.

The main character, Maddie, is very likable. I enjoyed the flashbacks to her teenage years with her friends, meeting Evan, and the night it all happened. Although I wasn't too surprised by the reveal at the end, I enjoyed the ride. It's a fast-paced thriller with a satisfying ending.