Madeline has built a life for herself as an indie bookstore owner. She’s overcome a lot since she was abducted and escaped near death as a teenager.

Henry Granger has a gift for seeing things that other miss. He failed as a novelist but now he’s excelling at being a true crime podcaster. He’s taken an interest in the man that attempted to kill Madeline.

As Christmas approaches and a blizzard comes, Madeline is forced to face her past in order to save someone. Will she and Henry be able to figure it out before it’s too late?

I was excited to read this one because I loved Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six. This was an interesting thriller set at Christmas. I haven’t read many thrillers set around this time, so it was a nice change. This book was short but did a good job of annunciating the point and listing key points. I would have liked the ending to be a little less rushed, but it was still good. The pacing was well done and did a good job of keeping me engaged. Despite being short the twists on this one was a lot of fun and kept me on the edge of my seat. This one was also full of action, which I enjoyed.

If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller set around Christmas, then check this one out.

Thank you Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press and Netgalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A short, but fast paced Christmas thriller. This kept me turning the pages, but also felt the ending was wrapped up a little too neatly, this is perfect when you want something thrilling but don’t want a novel, like a plane ride read.

I typically devour Lisas books but this one just didn't do it for me. I've never read a Christmas thriller so I was very optimistic about how the setting would be depicted, but this ultimately fell flat. This really isn't very christmas-y and the plot twist was pretty predictable. The ending seemed very rushed as well, which was disappointing.

Thank you #NetGalley and # PenzlerPublishers and #Mysterious Press for letting me read this book.Instead of presents this Christmas, a true crime podcaster is opening up a cold case.his is a novella, so a little shorter of a read. The ending was a little too neatly wrapped up for me.

Such a fun read! I'm a fan of anything Lisa Unger writes, and this was no different! A great holiday read, and I loved that it read more like a short story than a long, unwinding mystery.

Christmas presents is a high paced thriller that keeps those pages turning as you race to the ending to see what really happened the day one girl was murdered , two disappeared and one survived.

Harley Granger is on town to talk to Madeline the only survivor and to delve into the case for his upcoming podcast.

Evan Handy is already locked up in prison for the murder of the one girl .

Madeline cant or wont let her memory go back to that fateful night.

Secrets are in the air .

The book is faced paced (a novella) and I would have loved a longer story .

Highly recommend Christmas Presents so get your copy and settle in for a quick but very good story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for the opportunity to read and review Christmas Presents.

Christmas Presents is a novella thriller set in the days leading up to Christmas in a small town where tragedy keeps striking.
Madeline survived a terrible attack while she was in high school, on the same night where one of her best friends was killed and two more disappeared without a trace. A decade later and Madeline is still living in the town where she runs a bookstore and cares for her aging father.
Shortly before Christmas, Harley Granger arrives in town. He's a podcast host and author who investigates cold cases and is hoping to make a big break in the mysterious case that's been haunting the town for the past ten years.
I actually wish that this book was not a novella but a full length novel because I longed at points for more detail and for being a short story I feel that some parts were more predictable not really having twist like I expected. It felt like the turn of events happened so rapidly, just when I was getting pulled into the story it was completed. I enjoyed the characters but felt like they had so much potential to have more background or depth
Picturesque settings and a twits-y plot allows immediate envelopment into this story. I will say the final reveal was satisfying but not completely shocking for me. A fun holiday thriller for sure nonetheless.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishing/Mysterious Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

As a teenager, Madeline Martin was the only surviving victim of Evan Handy, who was convicted of murdering her best friend Steph and suspected in the disappearance of two other friends. Now Madeline runs a thriving bookstore while caring for her aging father, the former sheriff. When true-crime podcaster Harley Granger arrives just before Christmas, he suspects there is more to the story. Women are still disappearing and Harley wonders if Evan might have had an accomplice.

Lisa Unger can certainly set a scene with this novella about a decades-ago murder at Christmastime. Christmas Presents had a good mix of tension and twists to keep you wanting more. The novella's short length made it a very quick read; however, it didn't leave as much time as I would have liked for character development.

The Christmas Presents is Lisa Unger’s latest phycological thriller. Madeline Martin is the owner of The Next Chapter Bookshop. When Harley Granger, a true crime podcaster, comes to town to investigate the disappearance of three young women and how/if they may be connected to an old crime, Madeline’s life is turned upside down. Ten years early, Evan Handy was convicted of killing Maddie’s best and suspected in the disappearance of two other friends and sentence to live in prison. Just as Maddie was trying to get her life in order, old memories must be reexamined.

All the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. It is a fast paced, easy read that that you will not be able to out down. The perfect book to curl up with on a cold winter night.

Madeline is the owner of a popular bookstore, and also the only surviving victim of murderer Evan handy. Evan handy was convicted of killing Madeline’s best friend and is a suspect in the disappearance of two of her other friends. Madeline has been trying to get on with her life and forget her trauma… then Harley Granger walks into the next chapter bookshop. Harley is an author turned true crime podcaster and he’s intent on finding out what really happened. Since Evan went to prison 3 other women have gone missing from the same area. Is Evan really the killer or is someone else out there. This book has plenty of twists, chills and suspense. Keep you up all night thriller! Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy.

“But when I look back the road is empty. ‘Who?’ asks the big, bearded man she's with. ‘Who's following you?’
‘Santa,’ I breathe, using my last bit of strength.”

🎅🏼

Wow. Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for this holiday thriller. Coming October 2023 - just in time to keep you entertained on that long flight home for the holidays!

I (snow) plowed through this 230(ish) page novella in less than two days and loved every frosty second. Fast paced and somehow both cozy as a winter fire and scary as Krampus at the same time! This story has blizzards, teenage killers, friends to lovers, cliffhangers, an indie bookstore, and is truly a fun (sleigh)ride from start to finish. Have you ever imagined what it would be like to be chased by a serial killer Santa through frozen winter woodlands? Well have I got the book for you: Lisa Unger’s Christmas Presents!

Harley Granger is a true crime author and podcaster opening up a cold case in a small rural town. A decade ago, Madeline Martin was left for dead at a riverbank, one of her best friends was murdered and two other friends disappeared. Evan Handy was charged with the murder & attempted murder and is serving a life sentence in prison. The two girls have never been found. Despite the small area, another three women have also gone missing in the area. It can't be Evan, he's in jail. Harley is in town asking questions and digging up the past determined to find out if he is indeed the killer or falsely accused.

This book was a great read from the first page to the last. I absolutely love the the flow of the story, the character development and the suspense. While I had a good suspicion what was happening, it did not diminish my wanting to read to the end. The descriptive writing had me able to envision in my mind the surrounding and people clearly. I liked the winter vibe to it. Despite a very busy week, I found myself reaching for the book to sneak in a chapter to two in between doing things because I was absolutely invested. I really liked the podcast spin on the story.

The ending was fast paced and had great closure (very important to me!) I may have even had some watery eyes at the end. The book is shorter and a very fast read, highly recommend.

4.5 solid stars (only reason not 5 stars for my rating because it is a bit predictable. A 5 star for me is when I am blindsided) Rounding up to 5 stars for Goodreads rating.

Thank you SO much to Netgalley and the publisher Mysterious Press for a digital advanced reader copy to read and review.

I literally couldn’t put this book down from the moment I picked it up. The one surviving member of a serial killer. Many have questions and want to know why her. And what makes her so special. Things had died down but now people are questioning again thanks to an author coming into town and digging things up. This book has so many twists and turns it left my head spinning and holding my breath to find out what happened! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Unfortunately, this just wasn't the book for me and I had to DNF, even though I love a good Christmas murder. I know that other readers will enjoy this, it just wasn't what I was looking for and it was hard to follow

Thank you to @netgalley and @MysteriousPress for this ARC. Harley is a podcaster who looks into cold cases or those wrongfully accused. He arrives in town to speak to Madeline who survived the night she was slashed with a knife and left for dead while her best friend was killed and two others missing. With one man in jail, the disappearances has continued. Was Evan, the convicted, innocent or was he acting with someone else to get the deeds done? This novella was a quick read and I didn't want it to end. #ChristmasPresents #LisaUnger #Oct2023 #MysteriousPress

This novella was an easy read but I guessed the twist (which I rarely do because I'm an oblivious person by nature) and that knocked my rating down to 3 stars.

Christmas Presents is a thriller set in the days leading up to Christmas in a small town where tragedy keeps striking. Madeline survived a terrible attack while she was in high school, on the same night where one of her best friends was killed and two more disappeared without a trace. A decade later and Madeline is still living in the town where she runs a bookstore and cares for her aging father. Shortly before Christmas, Harley Granger arrives in town. He's a podcast host and author who investigates cold cases and is hoping to make a big break in the mysterious case that's been haunting the town for the past ten years.

I enjoyed this thriller and found it quite suspenseful until I guessed who the killer was and that kind of put a damper on the book for me. I will say this is worth the read and despite it being full of murder the book taking right before Christmas gave it a cozy feel. The premise was great and a lot of action was packed into a short book, but I didn't like the side romance plot point and felt it took away from the overall plot of catching the killer. Overall, I thought this was a fun read for anyone who likes thrillers and would recommend it!

Thank you to Penzler Publishers and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

No one, and I mean no one, does twisty better than Lisa Unger. Christmas Presents focuses on Madeline Martin, her father (also the Sheriff), and her collection of friends at the time: Badgers, Sam, Ainsley, and Steph... and the new guy, Evan. At a Christmas party ten years ago, Steph was murdered, Madeline scarred, and Sam & Ainsley disappeared. Now a podcaster has come to review the events of that evening, as well as see if there's a link between the missing girls from the party and more missing girls from the area. Told in alternating voices, Ms. Unger tells a wonderfully twisty tale... it's a must read! Thank you to Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for the Arc! Unfortunately, this just wasn't the book for me and I had to DNF, even though I love a good Christmas murder. I know that other readers will enjoy this, it just wasn't working for me.

A nice quick read that captured the mournful haunting of the past while also creating a sense of urgency with the current events. The characters were generally likable and the author painted a great picture that had me visualizing the scenes, feeling the small town vibe. I've generally enjoyed Lisa Unger's work and this title is no exception!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishing/Mysterious Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Lisa Unger does it again. I absolutely devoured this novella. Picturesque settings and a twits-y plot allows immediate envelopment into this story. You truly never know which direction it is going to go over the course of the story and I will say the final reveal was satisfying but not completely shocking. Harley and Madeleine's dynamic is intriguing to say the least and contributed greatly to the unsettling tension that surrounded the book as a whole. I found myself wanting more and only wished it would have been a full length novel. I feel like it could have been explored so much further and that the plot had so much potential, I could have read it for another 200 pages. 3.5/5 stars rounded up.