Christmas Presents is a “novella” that feels more like a novel. At 224 pages it is a fast read but you get a full story and it doesn’t really feel extremely rushed. This is a multi-pov novella. In this our main female character, Madeline is the owner of an independent bookstore. She is also the victim of a very violent crime. When she was in high school she was violently assaulted, with her best friend also being murdered in front of her and two of her other friends disappearing. There has been an arrest and sucdessful prosecution of the person who murdered her friend and the assault she loved through though she was left for dead. Her father, the local sheriff, also believes there was a second person who was involved.
Harley is an author and podcaster who is looking into the case. He received a plea from the missing girls mother and from the man who was prosecuted for the murders to relook at the case. In this we also see the pov of another woman who was recently kidnapped.

I really liked this overall I give it 4 stars and really look froward to reading the authors other works. I did figure out who did it long before I got through the first half of the book. But still enjoyed the journey the author paved out to get to the end. Would recommend for new readers of Lisa Unger.

Lisa Unger never disappoints. I enjoyed the mysterious cold case theme as well as the characters. While I understand the premise behind a novella, I agree with other reviewers that this story really could have been longer. Some of the things that happened in the story were "glossed over" and a more in-depth view might have added to the novel (the relationship between Madeline and her mom, Evan's story from prison, more of the high school years when Madeline was dating Evan but Badger pined for her). While I had a couple suspects in mind, I didn't immediately guess who-done-it. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was supposed to be a novella, but it definitely felt like a full length novel. I loved the atmosphere and Christmas theme. The setting, the bookstore, the crime solving podcaster was all great. I was right in my suspicions about how it all ended, which didn’t necessarily change my enjoyment of this story. This was a good, chilling thriller, perfect for a cozy December night.

I was torn between 3 and 4 stars with this one. It had moments where I was engaged and couldn't read fast enough and other moments where I just wanted a little more context. With that being said this book still gave me that creepy feeling of being watched. I was correct with my early detection about whodunit but still was surprised with some aspects of the story. This would. be a good thriller book to read around the holidays. That is if you're not too scared. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

It's Christmas in August! I am a firm believer it is never too early for Christmas, so was thrilled to get an ARC of this novella. I say novella because it is much too short to be considered a book. This is a fast paced, read in one sitting type of story. It will be perfect for those home for the holidays and looking for an escape.

So what is it about? It's about a woman named Madeleine, who after surviving a killer has opened up a successful book shop. She is visited by Harley Granger, a podcaster, who is looking into her case. At the same time, a stripper in town goes missing and people start to wonder if the 2 cases are connected.

I found the concept fascinating. So fascinating, that I wish it had been a longer book! haha That rarely. happens, but is why I have this on e 4 of 5 stars. If you want a little murder in your holiday season check this one out!

Madeline Martin owns a local bookshop and is star struck when a true crime podcaster shows up in her store. Harley Granger isn’t just there to shop though, he intends to dive into a cold case which occurred right before Christmas several years back. At a party, Madeline’s best friend was murdered, her 2 friends disappeared and were never seen or heard from again, and she herself was brutally attacked and left for dead. Madeline’s ex Evan Hardy is in prison for life for the murder and her attack… but what became of her other 2 friends who disappeared? Could Evan have done all that himself? And if he had, why was there no evidence? And now another girl has gone missing… Lolly, a dancer who never made it home after her shift. Turns out she is the 3rd missing dancer near the area in the past few years. This book skips around between the night of the attacks, Madeline in the present, and Lolly.

I found this story captivated me from the start. They’re no big twists or things that really threw me off, and I found it a bit predictable, but it wasn’t overly obvious. I felt our main characters were well developed. I very much enjoyed this and would definitely recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I requested this book from Net Galley because I have enjoyed Lisa Unger’s books. It will be published in October in time for the holidays.
Madeleine Martin experienced a traumatic experience when she was 17. She was the only survivor of a horrific attack. Years later she owned The Next Chapter Bookshop and cares for her father who suffered a stroke. A cold case involving a dangerous killer, Evan Handy, now incarcerated, with a presumed accomplice is still on the loose. A young woman is missing. A true crime podcaster, Harley Granger visits Madeleine at her bookstore delving into the case thereby opening a cold case. Evan Handy is in jail for killing Madeleine’s friend, Stephanie, and he almost killed her and 2 sisters are missing and presumed kidnapped or killed.

The author divulged how Madeleine has been changed by this event and carries the weight of that night. She and her childhood friend, Badger made attempts to investigate the case. With a tip from Madeleine’s father’s notes and some nuances from him recovering from his stroke, they manage to solve the mystery of the 2 sisters and rescue the missing young woman. It is an intriguing plot and characters and an enjoyable fast read.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for this digital copy to read for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Unger and Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press for a digital ARC of Christmas Presents in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own and may not be reproduced (except quoted synopsis).

“Instead of presents this Christmas, a true crime podcaster is opening up a cold case…

Madeline Martin has built a life for herself as the young owner of a thriving business, The Next Chapter Bookshop, despite her tragic childhood and now needing to care for her infirm father. When Harley Granger, a failed novelist turned true crime podcaster, drifts into her shop in the days before Christmas, he seems intent on digging up events that Madeline would much rather forget. She’s the only surviving victim of Evan Handy, the man who was convicted of murdering her best friend Steph, and is suspected in the disappearance of two sisters, also good friends of Madeline’s, who have been missing for nearly a decade. It’s an investigation that has obsessed her father Sheriff James Martin right up until his stroke took his faculties.

Harley Granger has a gift for seeing things that others miss. He wasn’t much of a novelist, but his work as a true crime author and podcaster has earned him fame and wealth—and some serious criticism for his various unethical practices. Still, visiting Little Valley to be closer to his dying father has caused him to look into a case that many people think is closed—and some want reopened. And he has a lot of questions about the night Stephanie Cramer was killed, Ainsley and Sam Wallace disappeared, and Madeline Martin was left for dead, bleeding out on a riverbank.

Since Evan Handy went to jail, three other young women have gone missing, most recently a young college dropout named Lolly. Five young women missing in the same area in a decade. Are they connected? Was Evan Handy innocent after all? Or was there some else there that night? Someone who is still satisfying his dark appetites?

As Christmas approaches and a blizzard bears down, Madeline and her childhood friend Badger return to a past they both hoped was dead—to find the missing Lolly and to answer questions that have haunted them both, discovering that the truth is more terrible and much closer to home than they think.”

I’m a huge Lisa Unger fan, but she has been hit or miss with me lately. I still always hop on board to review her books though!

This was a solid 4 star read and much better than Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six from last year.

This story was very haunting and atmospheric. The pacing was perfect. I was engaged and invested in the characters. This is a perfect Fall read that I would recommend to any book lover!

I will read anything Lisa zinger writes! A novella rather than a full length novel, this was told in multiple POVs and had some good twists. A quick read that could be finished in a day. I really enjoyed it and wish it was longer!

I absolutely loved this story! It's a novella so it was a quick read but definitely didn't leave you feeling like you missed out on anything. The true crime and thriller vibes sucked me in immediately and I loved that in additional to the "main" storyline we had a few other side stories going on as well - it really made you connect with the book and the characters. Can't say enough great things about this one!

Madeline lives a quiet life as the proprietor of a bookstore in her home town while taking care of her retired sheriff father who has had a stroke and maintaining a close relationship with Badger, her childhood best friend and his brother, Chet. She is haunted by the memory of being a survivor of an attack 10 years ago by a monster who killed her best friend and may also be responsible for the disappearance of two other friends. He has been locked away all this time but, as the anniversary of the attack and disappearances approaches, a writer has come to town to investigate these incidents for his true crime podcast. To add to Madeline’s discomfort, another local girl suddenly goes missing.

Don’t let the title or the bookstore locale mislead you…no cozy mystery or rom com this. That is not a criticism as I couldn’t put this dark thriller down. It is engrossing and very fast paced. A novella rather than a full length novel, it can easily be a one day read. I think, though, it may leave many readers yearning for more. Quite atmospheric, I could feel those icy, slushy conditions as the days lead up the Christmas. Told in alternating POVs and timelines, there are no real surprises; despite some violence, it is a very entertaining read.

Regarding the title…you will just have to read the book to discover its significance.

Madeline is a survivor. Her high school boyfriend, Evan Handy, has been convicted of murdering her best friend and is suspected in the disappearance of two of her other friends (sisters) who vanished the same night. A true crime podcaster comes to town to investigate the missing girls and find out what really happened that night.

I pretty much never want books to be longer, but I wish this novella had been fleshed out a bit more into a full-length novel. Madeline was a great character and the setup was excellent - just didn't love how abruptly everything was wrapped up. I'd recommend this for thriller fans looking for a quick read who don't mind a bit of a rushed ending.

(3.5)

I am not a fan of short stories, but if the phone book had the name Lisa Unger on the cover, I would read every single word, so I gave this one a chance. This turned out to be a really good, fast read. Madeline survived an assault 10 years ago that left a friend dead and two others missing. Her boyfriend was convicted and is in jail. Other girls are going missing. Enter podcaster Harley to dig everything all back up. While I liked Harley and Madeline and enjoyed the story, I felt it was missing more detail by being a short story. This would have been a really great full-length novel with more backstory and such. But as it is, I still recommend it. Fun read, good twist and lots of clues so pay attention! Look forward even more now, to Lisa Unger's next book!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Lisa Unger and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication.

This was such a quick and intense read. I was sucked in immediately. I loved the different narratives of what was happening with the podcaster, Maddy, and the unknown girl. This has a major twist for me and a little bit of a love story which I loved.

No Christmas cozy stories in this house!
Lisa Unger has brought us a fantastic mystery/thriller novella to put under our tree 🎄
It's set around a bookstore owner, Madeline, who, along with her friends, was attacked one cold December night. Two missing, one dead. She survived.

A decade later, a true crime Podcaster comes to town inquiring about Madeline's case. Questions are raised. Was the right man in jail? What does Madeline remember from that fateful night?

This is a story of how ghosts from the past can affect our present and the people around us. About healing and love.

I was caught up right away in this suspenseful whodunit. I liked how the story switched back and forth between the present day and the past, filling in the gaps of what actually happened.
The characters were believable, but being a short novella, the back stories were not entirely developed.
Lisa Unger is definitely one of my favorite authors, and this short read really packs alot if detail and has an ending. I didn't see coming.
Thank you, Netgalley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date 24 October 2023

This was definitely on the longer side for a Novella but honestly would have loved it to be a full novel. There were a few parts of the story that would have been better explained with a few more chapters.

The characters were easy to empathize with. And a story with a bookshop in it? Added bonus. The atmosphere was well described and you can feel the unease mounting.

Loved this novella! It had all the elements I love from Lisa Unger, and definitely took me most of the book to figure out the real villain. I was close in a few of my early guesses—but not completely on point.

I love the concept of a true crime podcaster/writer working with a bookstore owner (also: crime victim) to solve the biggest unsolved case around. I also loved Unger’s deep dive into the reactions of the affected community—I felt like she hit that part out of the park.

I wouldn’t change anything—but I also wouldn’t object if she turned this into a full-length novel at any point!

Want thrill? Lisa Unger delivers. Want suspense? Lisa Unger delivers. "Christmas Presents" joins her other works as other gripping page-turned, with some holiday flavor.

Ten years ago, Madeline Martin was left for dead on a riverbank on the same December night her best friend was killed and two other friends went missing. Her boyfriend Evan Hardy went to prison for the heinous crimes, but now a true crime podcaster is intent on raking things back up. He’s convinced that cases of other missing young women are linked and that there’s more to the story than originally thought, leading Madeline to question everything she thought she knew about that night.

A Christmas thriller novella set in a bookstore penned by the talented Lisa Unger – what’s not to love? It has a creepy Christmassy vibe (no cozies here!) kept me hooked. The chapters are short and the plot fast-paced, seamlessly weaving in some history with the present timeline. The story gets all wrapped up with a nice shiny bow in a little over 200 pages, making it the perfect length to squeeze in some Christmas thrills during a busy holiday season!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penzler Publishers, and Mysterious Press for providing me an advance copy of this book.

I enjoyed this. The plot was intriguing and the characters interesting. Some were better fleshed out, particularly Maddie, than others