I'm definitely a Lisa Unger fan, so I was super excited to see a fun "little" novella from her!

However, it's pretty long for a novella (Full disclosure, I have not done any research into what makes something a novella). I also felt that the first 70% was pretty boring. Then, the climax was just kind of out there. I mean, mid conversation, it was basically "Oh, it was so-and-so?" And that's it. I don't know. It just felt very weird.

Overall, it wasn't bad, but wasn't anything groundbreaking either.

This was a good story, although I often felt confused by the way events were presented. The premise of the book was good and the characters are well described and real. I wasn’t too surprised when it became clear who the predator actually was because there were some few clues. I always enjoy books by Lisa Unger and this was no exception. I received an arc of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to Net Galley, Mysterious Press and the author for a sneak peek of this book to read and review!

As always, Lisa gives you all the elements you are looking for in a great thriller … but when she adds in a Christmas setting? BAM! Whole ‘nutha level! This was a nice switch up from the normal holiday cozy mystery or Hallmark-y rom com that is so popular with holiday reads. AND it’s a novella so it moves pretty fast. The characters, the plot and all the twisty reveals are packaged up with a big, pretty bow giving you one heck of a great Christmas suspense!

I read this as a Christmas in July selection and it was perfect for it … but the creepy factor would certainly be more intense on a dark and snowy night, sitting by the dim, twinkly lights of the tree … just sayin’.

Lisa Unger never fails me. I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Christmas Presents is a novella, I started last night and finished this morning. There are several moving parts, good character development and background, and plot inside of just 200 + pages. Some books over 300+ pages don't get that covered.

Madeline Martin (we could be related) survived an attack by her criminal boyfriend, who killed her best friend Steph, and subsequently, her other 2 best friends went missing. Her friend "Badger" saved her while looking for his little brother Chet.

In the current year, Madeline is the owner of the bookstore in town and is very successful, but her dad, who was the Sheriff, had a stroke 6 months earlier. And now an author and true crime podcaster, Harley Granger has come to town to investigate. Just when another girl goes missing.

The suspense was really well done, the way it cut between Harley, Madeline and Lolly, the missing girl, the flashbacks to 17 year old Maddie, and her interest in Evan Handy. I may have guessed who the other bad guy was, but it didn't bother me because of the quick pacing, and I couldn't put it down.

TW for drugging, sexual assault, kidnapping, and murder. 4/5☆ out 10/24/23.

I was immediately captivated by the intriguing and unique premise of this Christmas thriller. In a world dominated by True Crime Podcasts, the incorporation of this element felt remarkably relevant, grounding the plot in a chilling realism. Lisa Unger's talent for hooking the reader from the very first page was on full display, making it a swift and engaging read, yet without sacrificing the spine-tingling, ominous atmosphere she is known for.

The contrast between the cozy setting of the book and the suspenseful, thriller plot was a stroke of brilliance. It drew me deeper into the story, creating a gripping and immersive experience that I couldn't put down. Despite being a quicker read than some of her other works, it didn't diminish the intensity of the narrative, and I found myself completely engrossed in the mystery.

The one critique I have is that it would be useful to know whose point of view we are reading at the beginning of the chapter, as well as the time. it flips from past to present through points of view and you have to figure that out by yourself.

This fast-paced mystery is perfect for any reader, even those who might not typically gravitate towards thrillers. It has the power to captivate and enthrall all kinds of audiences. If you're looking for a thrilling and exciting read that will keep you on the edge of your seat, this book is an absolute must-read. Lisa Unger's ability to blend the cozy with the suspenseful is masterful, leaving you with that wonderful creepy feeling that lingers long after you turn the last page. #ChristmasPresents #NetGalley

Quick novella from Unger, that I wish was a full length story...or a short story. There was a lot of repeating, but also not enough information. A conundrum of most novellas
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Book Title: The Christmas Presents
Author: Lisa Unger
Publisher: Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press
Genre: Holiday Mystery
Pub Date: October 24, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 288

Note from Author, Lisa Unger
~I was visiting with Otto Penzler of Mysterious Bookshop and Mysterious Press fame and he asked
me “have you ever thought about writing a Christmas novella?” I had, in fact. I’m always looking for
he shadow side of a beautiful thing, and Christmas with all its glitter and high expectations has
been on my mind for a while now. So, I started writing, and the result is this novella entitled
:Christmas Presents".!
Ms. Unger added ~
Don’t expect something sweet, cozy, and sentimental — well, maybe it’s a little sentimental in the
darkest possible way. Hope you enjoy! ~

This is my twelfth : Lisa Unger novel. I especially liked " Secluded Cabin Sleep six". "Confessions on the 745", "Ink and Bone", "The Red Hunter", and "Darkness, My old Friend"..

I loved the idea of reading a Christmas story on a hot July day. However based on Ms. Unger Unger’s note plus the others I read I was sure this just may be more of a mystery than a Christmas story!

Ten years ago Madeline boyfriend Evan Hardy had a big party that was crashed by many uninvited students. Madeline was attacked at a party and left for dead. Her best friend Stephanie Cramer was killed and friends Ainsley and Sam Wallace went missing.
Evan Handy went to prison for the murder of Stephanie Cramer and he is presumed to have killed the Wallace sisters and hid their bodies.
However while he was incarnated other young women went missing ~ so was he innocent of these earlier crimes?

Madeline is now the owner of The Next Chapter Bookshop. Her father was the sheriff at the time of her attack he retired but soon after had a stroke and needs Madeline’s care.
Harley Granger a famous podcaster who tries to solve cold cases has comes to town to revisit the crimes and also wants Madeline’s help in hoping to find new information.

While this is going on Lolly Morris a dancer at a local bar called “Headlights” appeared to be abducted after work. The Security camera show her talking to someone in the parking lot and then later having a late dinner at a local diner with a man perhaps the person from the parking lot. . However she left alone in her own car.

Story kept me glued to my reading chair. Enjoyed this thriller and did love the added flavor of Christmas.

In the acknowledgement Ms. Unger] thanks many people but also tells us more about her how her chat with Otto Penzler did turn out to be the inspiration for his Christmas Novella.
She adds that perhaps he thought it was going to be a bit ‘Cozier” than how it turned out. But, he did indulge in her psychological thriller tendencies. She finished her thank you to us readers and adds how appreciative she is to us for making her writing life a wild and wonderful ride. Merry Christmas! (Insert diabolical laughter here.)
With that I totally busted out laughing and thought yep that is why I love reading her stories!

Want to thank NetGalley and Penzler Publishers- Mysterious Press for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 24, 2023.

Lisa Unger has written her way onto my favorite authors list!

I was hooked from the first few lines which I have to say is typical of Ungers books.

This book has it all, a crime podcast, twists and turns, likable characters, unlikable characters and characters that you root and cheer for, which I have to say is quite a feat for a novella.

If you like thrillers about true crime podcasts with some twists and turns, this one is for you.

Christmas Presents was a twisty mystery that I definitely enjoyed. I must say though, that I had figured out who the murderer was before long.

17-year-old Madeline Martin had a boyfriend, Evan Handy, who turned out to be a murderer. He murdered her best friend. Steph, and her friends Sam and Ainsley turned up missing. In her struggle to save her friend, Evan's sliced her face. She was left to die by the river , but her friend Badger came and rescued her. 10 years later, the disappearance of the two girls remained unsolved.

At the behest of Mrs. Wallace, Sam and Ainsley's mother, Hardy Granger, author and crime solver came to town in hopes of solving the mystery of the missing girls. There were also two women who were murdered, and a stripper named Lolly who had gone missing.

Lolly had been held captive by someone dressed in a Santa's mask. He had untied her hands and feet and she was able to escape out of a window. She ran from him as fast as she could over the snow while barefoot. That same night, Madeline and Badger decided to go out to his family's lake house in search of answers. While in route they came across lolly and her kidnapper who turned out to be someone else in the story. Once arrested, he confessed to killing the other two women. He also kidnapped and killed Sam and Ainsley. It seems he'd had an ongoing relationship with Evan who encouraged his darker side to surface. So Hardy got his story and the murders were solved along with the disappearances of the two girls.

The title of the book came from the Christmas presents that Madeline received every year. She thought they were from Evan or that Evan had arranged to have delivered to her, but they weren't from him. I was surprised to learn who they came from. Even though this book was an easy read, and even though I had figured out who the murderer was, I stuck with it because the author did a good job developing the story. I gave it four stars.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advance reader copy. Talk about a mystery! Five young people missing in the same area. This is a case for a totally mysterious who done it.. Madeline and Badger have a mystery to solve! Come along with them as they delve into this crime solving question. Even though the title is situated around Christmas you can enjoy this thriller. any time of the year.

I didn't realize this ebook was a novella but it explains how everything wrapped up so quickly! Fast read that held my interest without being overly gory. Wish the characters had been a bit more fleshed out but again...novella.

The premise of a Christmas thriller was so intriguing and unique to me! True Crime Podcasts have truly taken over lately so having that detail included in the plot felt very relevant to real life as well. Lisa Unger, as per usual, hooks the reader from the very first page. This was a quicker read than some of her other books but it still didn't take away from that wonderful creepy, ominous feeling! I loved the juxtaposition between the cozy setting of this book and the thriller/suspenseful plot! This is a perfect fast paced mystery for absolutely any reader, even if thrillers aren't usually your cup of tea, you will enjoy this one!!

This suspenseful thriller involves a cold case and secrets locked in a small town. The local bookstore owner has to face her history of being a victim and the only one who survived that horrible event. When a podcaster opens old wounds, she must work through the horrors again. This book had me scared yet hopeful. It was well written and kept me turning pages quickly to get answers. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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.

HOWEVER if you liked Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six and are a big Unger fan I might still recommend it for a quick winter read.

Thank you Santa for bringing us a Christmas novella by the queen herself, Lisa Unger. It was the perfect read for Christmas in July!

Despite her tragic childhood, Madeline Martin has built a life for herself as the owner of The Next Chapter Bookshop. Harley Granger, a true crime podcaster walks into her shop one day and starts digging up memories Madeline has been trying so hard to forget. She’s the only survivor of Evan Handy, the man convicted of murdering her best friend and is suspected of the disappearances of two sisters.

This was such a quick read. I’ve read a couple of Lisa Unger’s books in the past and loved them. There’s just something about her writing that hooks you from the very first page. I enjoyed the setting of the story and there were some twists I didn’t see coming. This is a solid novella that wrapped up nicely!

If you love cozy settings with a good suspense plot then I highly recommend checking this one out on October 24th! Perfect for anytime of the year.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for the e-arc!

What a terrific holiday read! I absolutely LOVED reading Unger's novella, Christmas Presents. It was ace! There was suspense, mystery, and a bit of holiday cheer. All in all, this was a great whodunit that focused on true crime podcasts and their impact on culture and society. I just loved the flashbacks and the red herring - definitely made me keep guessing. Such a fun read!

I’m a big fan of Lisa Unger and also really into Christmas and cozy mysteries. This book is not exactly cozy, but it’s the perfect read for a cold winter day when you’re snowed in and want to make some hot chocolate and read a wintery psychological thriller! It’s a novella but it’s not super short (which I appreciated because it was that good!)

It follows Madeline Martin, a bookshop owner who survived a teen tragedy years ago and is just trying to get by, while taking care of her father who has suffered a stroke. She’s shocked one night when a famous author/true crime podcaster shows up in her shop right before Christmas, but he’s not just there to buy presents. He wants to investigate the case of local brutal murders…the one that Madeline barely survived and was witness to the murder of her best friend, Steph, and two of their other friends whose bodies were never found. Recent kidnappings and murders of women in nearby towns have Harley convinced that they are all somehow connected.

I really liked this fast-paced thriller and really can’t think of anything I didn’t like about it. It was just what I needed to get me out of my reading rut!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

Madeline Martin had a traumatic and life changing experience in her past. She now cares for her father and owns The Next Chapter Bookshop. She is enjoying the status quo of her life until one night a man walks into her bookstore and makes a purchase. The man is author turned true crime podcaster, Harley Granger. He purchases a Christmas present for his father and in the process brings up the events of the past that Madeline does not want to revisit.

Harley Granger has a knack for seeing things in a different light and plans on doing a podcast on Evan Handy who has been in jail for killing Madeline's friend, Steph and almost killing Madeline. Two sisters have been missing since that night and it is believed that he is responsible for what happened to them as well.

I enjoyed the setting of this book and the mounting tension and unease. The setting and snow created a chilling atmosphere which I enjoy in books. I thought Lisa Unger did a great job showing how Madeline was forever changed by the event. She is scared on the inside and outside from the events of that night. She will carry the weight of that night with her for the rest of her life.

This is a short book that was a fast read with a few twists and turns. I had two suspects in mind while reading and enjoyed how things turned out. The final resolution was not shocking but was enjoyable and made sense. This book was a reminder of how much I enjoy Lisa Unger books!

Gripping, well written, atmospheric and fast paced.

When I got approved for this first was excitement then oh snap it’s a Christmas Book. After dragging my feet a bit I was like “Wow thank you Christmas in July” , from the minute I started I honestly didn’t want to put it down. It kept me engaged and guessing….. I tend to devour all of Lisa Ungers books and this one did not disappoint! I gave it four stars but honestly it deserved 4 1/2!

Totally gripping, definite page turner, short and sweet! This Christmas Novella by Lisa Unger releasing this October tells the story of a woman living in a small town working to forget about her past until it all comes back around the ten year anniversary when a famous journalist rolls into town. She has to face truths she never wanted to face! This book has such a unique structure that really kept you at the edge of your seat. Plus it was super short so a nice and satisfying read. There’s a twist you won’t see coming and even a sprinkling of romance. Lisa Unger always gets it right and she delivered with this one!