I normally do not read Novellas but I love Unger so much as an author that I figured I would give her newest a shot. Christmas Presents is almost the length of a novel and is yet another wonderful, well written story about true crime writer who decides to investigate the Evan Handy murders. Maddie, the only survivor of the attack, is just trying to work at her bookstore and care for her dad when her past is dug up. The book had a great flow to it with multiple points of view and a good amount of suspense to keep me wanting to read. I figured out the ending rather early on but it did not take away from the entertaining read that this book was.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this arc.

Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger
Madeline Martin was left for dead 10 years ago when her boyfriend, Evan, killed her best friend then turned his knife on her. Strangely two of her other best friends went missing that same night too and were never found. Evan has always claimed he was innocent but is serving life in prison. In the meanwhile other girls have gone missing. Harley Granger is an author/true crime podcaster who comes to town to dig up the past that nobody seems to want to revisit. Is there a connection between what happened 10 years ago to the girl’s disappearances now? The story is told in the past and present. You have to pay attention to this but it was pretty easy to follow. Lisa Unger always writes a good story. Read this in 1 day.

What happens when your worst nightmare gets reopened by an ambitious true crime pod caster? Are the old memories and relationships true and trustworthy? Book store owner Madeline Martin and pod caster Harley Granger pull together to find long awaited answers. Will this finally be the break that is needed to put the past firmly behind? This psychological thriller will keep you guessing to the last page.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." eARC provided NetGalley and Mysterious Press

Well once again the blurb tells way too much about the plot, especially considering that this is a novella and only 224 pages long!!

Because of the explanatory blurb I’m going to go with a pros and cons review!

PROS: Interesting premise although not unique. A small town, simply named “Little Valley” experienced a violent crime a decade ago.

Those involved still have not found closure, in spite of the indictment and imprisonment of Evan Handy. He was found guilty of the murder of one, attempted murder of another and possible kidnapping and murder of two other young women who are still missing.

A likable protagonist, Madeline Martin, was the one who survived Evan’s attack. She is left with physical and emotional scars. I enjoyed the description of her bookstore and how she loved what she did.

CONS: The blurb!! Geez, leave more for the reader to discover!

Despite some twists and deflections I was able to pick out the “monster hiding in plain site”. It was only a matter of time before this person was revealed.

Despite the apparent closure of the mystery there were still quite a few loose ends that didn’t quite add up.

If you enjoy this author and want a quick read, you will enjoy this.

I received an ARC of this novella from the publisher through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to read and review this title.

Lisa unger never disappoints! I loved this book just like I loved her others. This book was so atmospheric, creepy, thrilling & kept me on the edge of my seat. It made me feel like someone was watching me or behind my back. I love the story & twist & turns. Amazing character development. I will read anything by her!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

Madeline Martin lives a quiet life where she owns a bookstore in the small town she grew up in.

Harley Granger is a novelist turned true crime podcaster who is determined to discover the truth of what happen to Madeline Martin and her friends in high school. Events of the night left Madeline fighting for her life, another girl dead and two sisters missing.

Evan Hardy was Madeline's boyfriend at the time who was arrested for murder and suspected in the disappearance of the sisters. But if Evan is in jail, how do you explain the other missing girls?

Another good read from Lisa Unger! 4 stars!

I wish this was a novel and not a novella because it had me dying for more. This is my first Unger book and she has a very compelling writing style. A great concept and my type of holiday read, but everything felt very surface level. There was just so much potential! I wanted to know more about everything and everyone. And it wasn’t a particularly shocking read; Unger did a good job dropping clues for the reader. Had the story been more fleshed out with more extended flashbacks to tie me in emotionally, I think I would’ve enjoyed it a lot more. Overall, a really fun read that’s fast-paced with a fantastic plot. Perfect read for this winter considering there’s a Santa mask involved!

I really loved this! I couldn’t put it down and was picking it up whenever I had a chance! I would recommend it. Even when I thought I had an idea what was going on I still was excited to read and figure out for sure. Kept me entertained till the end. Not your typical Christmas book!

Christmas Presents is a fast-moving, solid mystery with various clues swirling around to lead to the surprise ending. Lisa Unger has created another suspenseful, dramatic thriller worth reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Will the attention of a true crime podcaster help solve a decades-old mystery, or will it just open old wounds?

Nearly a decade ago in a small town called Little Valley, NY, a teenage party held just before Christmas ended in tragedy. A group of four friends went to the party; of them, one girl named Steph was murdered; her friend Madeline was horribly injured and left for dead; and Ainsley and Samantha, the two sisters who rounded out the group, disappeared without a trace. Evan Handy, the boy who hosted the party, was new to town, the quintessential “bad boy” who arrived with rumors of violent behavior whispered in the school corridors. Maddie’s father, the sheriff, wanted her to have nothing to do with Evan, but for the first time in her life the somewhat nerdy “good girl” disobeyed her father. She was in love and didn’t believe that Evan was as bad as others said. She found out differently on the night of that party years ago. She survived, but her three friends either died or disappeared. Evan was convicted of killing Steph, with Maddie as the primary witness, but no trace was ever found of Ainsley or Sam. Maddie believes that the tragedy was all her fault, and many wonder why she alone survived. Life has gone on in Little Valley; Maddie runs a small but reasonably successful bookstore in town and helps care for her father, the now-retired sheriff who is slowly recovering from a devastating stroke. Mrs. Wallace, mother of the missing and presumed dead sisters, has contacted true crime podcaster Harley Granger and asked him to consider looking into the events of that night long ago. Harley has found more success investigating old crimes for a true crime podcast and writing books about them than he ever did writing novels; some say that his ethics are less than commendable, but he does seem to have a talent for picking up on things that others have missed. When he show up late one December night at Maddie’s bookstore, he tells her that he has bought the Wallace house and will be looking into the events of that night. Maddie doesn’t want to talk to him, and her best friend Badger wholeheartedly agrees. Why rip open the healed scars and bring pain to those who still suffer from the aftermath of the crime? But Harley likes to say that the past is alive, and that it is dangerous to try to bury things when they remains unresolved. A young woman has recently disappeared in the area, as have two others since the night of the party. Are those disappearances connected to that of Ainsley and Sam, as Harley believes? What happened on that night at Evan Handy’s house? Did Evan really kill Steph, and if so did he act alone? Why does Maddie blame herself? And what happened to Ainsley and Sam? Maddie decides that it is time to confront the demons of her past….but is she risking her life in doing so?

This novella is no cozy Christmas caper, but instead is a well-written if dark tale of evil deeds in a small town. With the popularity of true crime podcasts and TV series in the world today, using one such show and its creator as the impetus to relook at a past crime is an interesting hook. Maddie is a sympathetic character….she survived a horrible attack and betrayal, and has been able to create a life for herself despite those events. Anyone who ever fell for a bad boy or lied to their parents to go have fun can relate to Maddie’s actions back in the day, and be thankful that their own choices didn’t result in tragedy. As Maddie’s memories of that night start to return, and as Harley’s digging turns up interesting new facts, it is clear that there is more to that night than has thus far been discovered. As the story unfolded at a satisfyingly quick clip, I followed along hoping that in the end the truth would be known (and very much enjoyed the journey). Readers of Ms Unger’s previous works should find this holiday novella appealing, as would readers of Mary Burton, Lisa Jackson and Robert Dugoni. And if you just like a little murder with your ho-ho-ho, pick up a copy of Christmas Presents. Many thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press for allowing me access to an advanced reader’s copy.

A great novella that kept me reading as do all of Lisa Unger's books. Liked the way the mystery was tied together in the end and the seasonable elements worked well. Looking forward to the next book by Lisa Unger.

What if the man in prison isn’t the only monster?

Madeline has done her best to move on from the night that she got the scar on her face; the night that her best friend was murdered, and the night that two of her other friends went missing. Ten years later she’s running an independent bookstore in her hometown when an infamous true crime author/podcaster wanders in to buy his father a Christmas gift - at first Madeline is a little starstruck (after all, she carries many of his books) but that sours quickly as she realizes Harley Granger’s other reason for visiting is her past. He’s looking into that horrific night a decade ago with the hope that fresh eyes will be able to unearth a clearer picture of what really happened, & to see if the three women that have come up missing in the time since are in any way connected. The teenage psychopath that terrorized Madeline & killed Steph is rotting in prison, but Granger thinks it’s possible that someone helped him with the other two girls & has continued kidnapping women.

I tore through this Christmas novella in one day - the story was addictive, & I loved all of the references to bookstores & authors & the writing process. The different focuses (Madeline, Granger, & the most recently missing woman, Lolly) kept the plot moving & showed how pieces of the past related to the present events transpiring. The shiny holiday season has a serious dark side in this thriller & the author does a fantastic job of showing that that time of year isn’t always a holly jolly experience for everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley & Mysterious Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Quick read, somewhere between a short novel and novella and this will be a fun, twisty Christmas read. Madeline owns a small local book store in up state New York. As a teenager she was the victim of a killer who murdered her friend and tried to kill her, leaving a long scar on her face. Madeline tries to forget about the past but everything is brought up again when a crime podcaster named Harley Granger arrives in town and wants to bring look into her case. .

Madeline's story alternates with the story of Lolly, a young woman who works as an exotic dancer and who was kidnapped shortly before Christmas. As Lolly dreams about being returned to her family, we also find out more about Madeline's ordeal, her murdered friend and two other friends who were missing and presumed dead. I liked the idea of the podcaster but I also thought the description of Harley, convicted killer Evan and local man Chet all sounded exactly the same. I liked the close relationship Madeline had with her father and I always like books set in bookstores. Recommend for people who like twisty, serial killer stories. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.

3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

This book is on the shorter side (under 250 pages) yet I feel like it needed to be longer. It was sort of rushed in areas, especially the ending which left me wanting for more.

I was a bit confused at first, especially in the beginning. The story is told in different POVs both in first person, except the chapters weren't labeled and it took me some time to figure out. It got easier as the book went on, but sometimes I was still confused at which POV I was reading.

The plot was captivating and intriguing. I enjoyed the re-opening of a cold case for a true crime podcast and delving into the secrets that were held in a small town where it seems everyone knows each other.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for a digital ARC and allowing me to have Christmas in July!

This book follows a woman named Maddie, who ten years after an unspeakable tragedy, is still trying to move on and let the past remain in the past. When a true crime podcaster comes to town wanting to talk to her about new evidence that has been uncovered, Maddie is forced to face all of her memories and feelings about that night ten years ago and question everything she thought she knew. This book takes you on a journey of healing, closure, and moving forward in a beautiful way, all while giving you the great suspense of a classic “whodunnit.” This book was a great read and you definitely won’t regret reading it! The characters and their pain sink their claws into you from the beginning and don’t let go. This story was full of twists and turns and the ending was not at all predictable. The only critique I had is that when the chapters switch back and forth between character’s different POV’s, I wish the author would have made it clear which character’s POV we were in, whether by adding that character’s name to the chapter number, or by some other method. It is easy to tell which character’s POV you are in once you have read a couple of sentences, but that would be my only critique if I were to nit pick the book. If you’re a fan of true crime, adult fiction, or suspense/thriller, you will enjoy this story.

This is not a warm and cozy Christmas story. It’s dark and sad. It’s wonderfully written. Lots of twists and turns. I didn’t quite like the back and forth between past and present but that just my personal taste in writing styles. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the ARC of this novella!

Murder stories and Christmas, its like someone knows the things that make me most happy (why am I like this?) Madeline Martin was the lone survivor of a brutal attack within her circle of friends right before Christmas, two whom are still missing a decade later. We join the story at Christmas time once again, when a famous true crime pod-caster comes to town to try and uncover what really happened that fateful night. And then another young girl goes missing.

What I love about Lisa Unger is that she doesn't just write a plain old psychological thriller, she incorporates emotions, trauma, relationships and the complexity of the human experience into her stories. So you get meaningful characters as well as suspense, and this beauty is no exception. I think she really wanted this one to fit the novella profile so it felt a bit rushed...everything is thrown together at the end to wrap it up: someone is shot, there are love confessions, and they figure out whodunit in 10 minutes when the case has been unsolved for a long time. I would have liked to see the author just let the story tell itself instead of trying to cut it down, but I still really enjoyed it!

While Lisa Unger’s Christmas Presents was better than the other Christmas story I read recently, I think I’m going to stick with Charles Dickens for stories of the ghosts of Christmas past. Neither of the recent books are very Christmassy, in my opinion.

Madeline Martin doesn’t have time for a podcaster. She’s the owner of an independent bookstore, The Next Chapter Bookstore. Although she has caregivers for her father after his stroke, she also takes care of him. She also suffers from survivor’s guilt and PTSD. Why would she want to talk with Harley Granger, a true crime author and podcaster, about the events that leave her trapped emotionally and physically, in this small upstate New York town?

Madeline still blames herself for what happened almost ten years earlier. She and her childhood friends were a close-knit group at seventeen. Madeline ran around with Stephanie Cramer, sisters Ainsley and Samantha Wallace, and her best friend, Badger. She’s the one who introduced a newcomer to the group. Evan Handy already had a reputation when he arrived in town, and Madeline’s father, Sheriff James Martin, knew he was trouble. Despite warnings, Madeline broke every rule to be with Evan. It all blew up on Dec. 23, 2014 at a party at Evan’s house. Stephanie was killed, Ainsley and Sam disappeared, and Madeline was left for dead in a riverbank. Although Sheriff Martin arrested Evan, he always suspected there was a second person involved in the violence. He chased the truth until his stroke six months earlier.

Now, almost ten years later, Handy still protests that he’s innocent. Granger is in Little Valley to question townspeople. And, another young woman has disappeared, a dancer at a local topless bar. Granger points out that five young women have disappeared in the last ten years in the local area. He lets Madeline know he thinks she has the clue to the truth.

Unger’s story is truly about the ghosts of the past, and how they continue to haunt survivors. In a story with two timelines, she peels back the layers to a surprising solution. It’s right before us, but unexpected. For those looking for a disturbing story for the holidays, Christmas Presents works.

Love Lisa Unger, always a great story by a better storyteller. Thanks for the advance copy. Not quite as good as her earlier works but will continue to read as I just like the way she tells a story

Another GREAT Unger story with all the right elements in place: suspense / intrigue /danger and a touch of guile added in.
Madeline Martin is living her life doing what she loves most: selling books in her own hometown bookstore and helping with the care of her infirmed dad, the former sheriff. Having survived a brutal attack, many years previous, by the boy she thought loved her, and seeing her best friend killed in front of, with two others gone missing, she is working on finding peace in her life, doing what she loves as the boy who broke her heart and nearly took her life, lives out his in prison.
Until it all becomes headlines and a struggle, once again.
Harley Grager, famed podcast and solver of "cold cases", comes roaring into town to revisit the crime, determined to interview Maddie and others. and to prove that perhaps, an innocent man has been jailed all these years.
The story builds and builds, continually reeling you into it, in the very innocuous Unger style.
Great storyline, well developed and defined characters and excellent use of the "then and now" back and forth.
Ready for another.