In Lisa Unger's latest, CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, we are introduced to Madeline Martin, who survived a tragedy ten years prior and is now a bookstore owner. Unfortunately, one in her friend group Steph did not survive that tragic night. Another two sisters have been missing for the last decade with their mother putting on a vigil at Christmastime for them.

Now Madeline is confronted by Harley, a writer turned podcaster, who turns up in the small town and wants to investigate the case. Meanwhile, a local dancer has disappeared, so the time is right to figure out what has been happening to young women around town.

This was a propulsive, action-packed (particularly in the last half) thriller. As what typically occurs in these edge-of-your-seat thrillers, there isn't a ton of character development. For that reason, I probably won't remember the story in the too distant future; however, it held my interest very well while I was reading.

A note on the Christmas vibe: There were probably 7-10 mentions of Christmas/winter, like decorations and bitter cold, but I wouldn't say that it has an overwhelming "read me in winter" vibes. Of course, I read it in July.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three POVs, two in the first person. One POV in the present and flashbacks. It sounds more confusing than it is and that wasn't an issue for me with this book.

What WAS my issue is none of the characters are fleshed out, I didn't understand the motive, we never get the jail house interview, the girl missing is from a local stripclub that has local patrons and there's a local truck stop and yet no suspects from any of these local places came up? Huh?

This felt more like an outline of a book than a book. Which means there are items there that have promise but it all feels a bit half baked.

That said, I know there's an audience for a quick who dun it, and this is paced rather briskly. Those looking for a read with a resolution, and not a totally bleak ending, will enjoy this.

2.5 stars

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.

I am not usually a big reader of novellas and didn’t realize that’s what this was when I requested it but overall it was pretty good. It was short but not so short that a story couldn’t be developed. But my complaint is that I didn’t feel like enough info was turning up often enough to keep me totally interested. Looking forward to this author’s next full length novel.

It’s been a few weeks since I read this. I didn’t immediately leave a review because, frankly, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this novella. Someone else compared it to ‘90s teen suspense fiction and that resonated—that’s not intended as a slight, but it does likely explain why I was underwhelmed by the story yet still read it quickly and with interest. Ultimately there were just too many pieces that didn’t work for me.

It’s short enough that you won’t be upset because of wasted time even if you only find it a three star book. Fans of the author will be happy to spend a couple hours in her newest work. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

Madeline survived an attack as a teen that left her three friends either dead, or missing. While she tries to deal with the trauma of her past, a podcaster wants to review the case and shows her that more girls have gone missing and everything may be connected.

This was a very short and fast paced read. The author packed a lot of plot points in to the short pages. Some aspects worked, some seemed too rushed. More development was needed between characters and how the mystery unfolds. Overall, it kept me interested to the end!

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s Christmas in July!! 😯🎁🎄

I requested this book from NetGalley because I’ve enjoyed previous reads from Lisa Unger in the past, and this book is a novella (although at 260 pages, I felt it was a rather long novella 🤷🏻‍♀️). Of course with that being said, I think I would have enjoyed this story more had it been even longer. For once, I found myself wanting more from a story.

Madeline Martin is the only survivor from a horrific crime that happened ten years prior. Her attacker, Evan Handy is locked up in prison for the crimes that he committed. Little does Madeline know that three other crimes have taken place in her small, quiet town since.

Madeline is informed of these other crimes by Harley Granger. Harley Granger is in town to interview Madeline for his true crime podcast about her vicious attack, and the murder and disappearance of her two friends ten years ago right before Christmas. Madeline is not comfortable talking about that horrific night. Why can’t she remember clearly what happened? Did Evan Handy have help committing his crimes?

All in all, this was an enjoyable read. As I mentioned above, I would have liked a bit more to it. I also found it to be a little predictable, as I guessed what would happen early on. Regardless, I wouldn’t hesitate to add this book to your Christmas list! 😉
(3.5 stars, rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Penzler Publishers, and the author for an ARC of this book, which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: October 24, 2023.
Genre- General Fiction (adult), Mystery & Thrillers

3.5 🌟 rounded up

When I saw that Lisa Unger had a book coming out with Christmas in the title, I felt like it was Christmas. Murder and Chris? I mean
what could be better? Lisa Unger did not disappoint with this book either. In true Lisa Unger fashion she kept me guessing what would happen next and surprised me with twists and turns. Harley Granger, failed author, but successful Podcaster starts looking into an interesting case that left madeline Martin barely survived. He best friend Steph died. Evan Handy was arrested in her attack and Steph's murder. He Aldi suspected in two sisters kidnapping and disappearances. That should be case closed, right? Madeline's dad, also a sheriff, remained obsessed with his daughters case right up until he had a severe stroke. Since Evan's arrest multiple other girls have gone missing. Madeline keeps getting Christmas presents left at her door every Christmas and Evan is determined to find out the truth once and for all.

This was a quick read that I wished would've benefitted from more plot and character development. I enjoyed Christmas Presents but thought it would've been even better if it were a bit longer.

Thanks to Netgalley and I Penzler Publishers for this ARC for my honest and unbiased review.

Loved this book. Finished it in 2 days and couldn’t put it down. So many twists and suspenseful moments.

CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, written by Lisa Unger, is a wonderful novella. In this book, Madeline Martin is a trauma survivor working in her independent bookshop, The Next Chapter, in rural New York. Harley Granger, a bookseller, author, and true-crime podcaster meets her in the bookshop. He plans to investigate the case involving Evan Handy, the person responsible for causing Madeline’s facial scar and for stabbing 17-year old Stephanie Kramer to death. Evan continues to claim his innocence regarding Stephanie’s murder and the whereabouts of Ainsley and Samantha Wallace, two sisters who went missing the night of the murder. New evidence sparks renewed interest in Evan Handy and his crimes. Harley Granger intends to explore this case in his podcast. Also, Madeline receives a Christmas present each year, but the sender is unknown. Who is sending her the gifts?

Lisa Unger knows how to grab your attention and keep it focused on the story. I like the way she teases out the happenings from the past. As a result, I carry on reading late into the night until I reach the satisfying conclusion. Thank you, and Penzler Publishers and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review the advance reader copy of CHRISTMAS PRESENTS.

3.5 stars-You just need to say Lisa Unger and I am all in. This is a novella, so a little shorter of a read. The premise was so promising….but for me this lacked the cleverness and depth you typically find in a Lisa Unger novel. The ending was a little too neatly wrapped up for me. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc. All opinions are my own.

I inhaled this novella. To say that the plot was catnip to me is an understatement. Bookshop-owning protagonist that survived a murderous person (maybe serial killer?) is being sought out by a true crime podcast host. What really happened around Christmastime that night 10 years ago? Is the true killer behind bars? I don’t want to say more about the plot because the less you know the better. Having a book-loving protagonist is just the bee’s knees for me, it couldn’t be any better.

This is the first Lisa Unger book I’ve read so I didn’t know what to expect. I can understand why she is a big name in the thriller genre! The plot is tight and extremely suspenseful, the characters are well-developed, the writing is fantastic, unusually lyrical for a thriller. The narrative was a bit confusing at times with two female characters written in first person present tense. Things are wrapped up (no pun intended) a bit too quickly but there was also an unexpected love story, so all in all I can just say wow. Loved it.

Thank you @penzlerpub and @netgalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

I will read this kind of story, the one dredging up an old crime, probably a billion times and still be satisfied. And I'm satisfied here, so yay for us all. While I didn't find the mystery itself too mysterious, this is still a delightful tale that doesn't overstay its welcome. And in fact, I kinda wished it were longer.

What a thriller within a novella. Lisa Unger has done it again. What a quick read and a real thriller. Christmas Presents was not your typical Christmas story. Yes there is shopping involved, buying the prefect book and having it wrapped. There is a snowstorm and family and friends gathering for this special day. Yet this is not your typical Christmas tidings

Madeline Martin is a young women who has a bookstore that is doing great at this time of the year. All is going well until a famous podcaster that deals with cold case crimes enters her store. Maddie was involved in a murder abduction case almost ten years ago. Her best friend was murdered and two of her other friends were never found. This all happened at a party that Maddie's so called boyfriend Evan Handy was throwing. Evan is in jail now convicted of killing her friend Steph and attacking Maddie and leaving her to die. Now this cold case podcaster Harley Granger wants to open this case up again to the dismay of all the towns people and Maddie.

Not only is Maddie running her bookstore she is also trying to take care of her father who has had a stroke. He was the sheriff at the time of the murder and abductions. He vowed he would never give up trying to find the truth behind this case. Then he became ill and Maddie with the help of her best friend Badger try to pick up where her dad left off.

There were many twits and turns in this little novella. So much went into these characters and what they went through to find out the truth. Maddie was a strong young lady who fought through her PTSD especially when the case was to be re opened to find out the truth. There was some hurt along the way lies that were told. The ending was a surprise but that was one of the things I like about thrillers. The element of surprise.

Thank you Ms Unger for a very captivating novella. I couldn't wait to finish it. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC. Loved it and hope to read more from Ms. Unger.

Christmas in July! I really enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and super easy to get through. This was my first Christmas thriller read and I really liked it. There were some nuggets throughout that led to me guessing who the killer was but it was still a good twist. The only thing I really didn’t find believable was the love story between Maddie and Badger. I did like the different points of view and found that that contributed to the fast pace of the book. Also give me a book seller in a story and I’m sold. I loved the story behind Maddie’s book store. Overall this was a good read and one my fellow thriller lovers should definitely pick up for the holiday season!

Once I started this mystery/thriller Christmas novella, I could not put it down. The details in narrative about having a podcaster/true crime book author researching a killing ten years prior and the disappearance of four girls was timely. The story vacillates between the present and ten years ago around a main character, Madeline Martin. The other characters are fully developed. Honestly, reading this reminded me of how much I enjoyed author Mary Higgins Clark's Christmas novellas for years. Thank you Net Galley and Penzler Publishers Mysterious Press for the opportunity to read this in return for a review. It was a delight.

Not all holiday stories are happy ones and as a renowned podcaster begins to look into a murder and disappearance in a sleepy town things begin to unfold very quickly! Maddie was the survivor the night her boyfriend killed her best friend and tried to kill her, the same night two of her other friends went missing. In a flash her whole life changed but she never left her small town qnd the memories, hoping someday hers might become clearer. There were lots of twists and turns in this story and an ending I didn’t see coming. This author always does a great job of keeping her reader guessing!

Wow! Lisa Unger never fails to deliver a twisty and scary thriller!

This Christmas novella will have you racing to the end to figure out “Whodunnit”.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Great novella by Lisa Unger. I really enjoyed this one and the ending was a bit predictable but I wasn’t positive. I liked the characters in this one and even though it was listed as a novella it was a decent length.

I get so excited when a book grabs my attention from the first few pages. I am invested and don't want to do anything else but read! Unger's Christmas Presents did just that. It's a shorter story but well written with lots of characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars.

This was a shorter novella, but still just as good as anything else written by Ms. Unger. This tells the story of some unsolved disappearances and kept me wondering until the end. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this as an early ARC.