#ChristmasPresents #NetGalley is a fascinating thriller that really kept me on the edge of my seat.
Madeline Martin owns The Next Chapter, A small independent bookstore that I'd love to visit.
Madeline has a traumatic past and when author Harley Granger approaches her about telling her story, she battles with her emotions, unsure of what to do. Meanwhile, there's another missing girl, and Madeline finds herself wrapped up in the investigation, risking it all just to find the truth.
I had to read this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down, I was glued to the pages, trying to work it out in my head. I was shocked at the end, but I loved this book and I'm looking forward to reading a few more of her works.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I have read other books by this author and liked them too..

Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for the copy of Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger. I don’t really love novellas or Christmas but I love Unger’s writing so I took a chance on this book because I know Unger can spin a great tale! It didn't feel like a novella because the characters and story still had depth. If you’re looking for a fast, fun holiday read with interesting characters, don’t miss this one. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

A Christmas themed thriller? Sign me up! I enjoyed this novella and will definitely reread it by the glow of my Christmas tree in a few months.

I have just recently discovered Lisa Unger's writing and am working my way through her books. As a novella, this was a quick read. Good story, but think I will stick with the author's full length books. Recommended for Unger fans, as well as those who enjoy mystery and suspense.

Just finished this novella by Lisa Gardner. It was a quick read. The story was a good concept but being a novella there was not enough time for in depth character development. So I didn’t feel very connected to them at all. I also felt the story was rushed especially to the end. All in all 4 star rating.

I read my first Lisa Unger book a few weeks ago, Confessions on the 7:45, and loved it. Christmas Presents was just as good. Yes, this is a Christmas thriller that imbued just the right amount of Christmasy feelings and murder. It wasn't too hard to pick out the killer due to lack of characters from the past, but it was still a page turner for me. I will most definitely be picking up more of her books.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this and review this book.

I have always loved Lisa Unger and will continue to read her books but this one wasn’t as good as I expected. It started off great for me. I was engaged, liked the characters and the plot. It had mystery, suspense, a true crime feel and I had a high rating in mind until I got to the last few chapters. There things started to fall apart. There was a random shooting that was out of place and we never learn who committed it. It couldn’t have been the serial killer as he was busy elsewhere at the time. Also, the romance between the characters seemed unrealistic and rushed. It came out of nowhere and there wasn’t enough of a lead up in the story to make it believable. Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for allowing me to read an ARC and give my honest opinion.

4 stars out of 5!

Wow, this was such a great read, I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed the multiple POV's and all the twists and turns. Lisa Unger is one of my favorite authors and this book does not disappoint. The reason I docked this book down from 5 stars was due to the ending. I felt it was abrupt and seemed a little unrealistic. I really was wanting more to tie everything up. Also, who shot Harley? I don't remember reading about that but maybe it was uncovered?

The book starts off with a stripper named Lolly being kidnapped. We then meet Madeline Martin who currently owns The Next Chapter bookstore. Her life seems to be going well until Harley Granger comes into the book shop. He is a true crime podcaster who wants to interview Madeline about her past. Madelines best friend Steph was murdered and her 2 other friends, Sam and Ainsley, are still missing 10 years later. Their "friend" Evan Handy was charged with the murder of Steph and the attempted killing of Madeline. This book takes us along side Harley as he is investigating the cases and other similar cases that recently happened.

Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the opportunity to read Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger. I have read, and will continue to read, everything by this author. This though, in my opinion, was not up to par.

Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger publishes September 2023. Well Lisa Unger does it again. Another twister of a book. When a podcaster comes to investigate a murder’s story of four girls, one dead two missing and one left with a scarred face. Could the women who are missing now be related. But if the original killer is serving life. HOW CAN IT BE

Based on the glowing reviews, I was sure I'd love this book. However, I struggled to connect with the writing. Multiple POVs and timelines are always hit or miss for me, and in this case, it was a big miss. Not a fit for this reader, but I'm sure others will like it much more than me.

This is a mystery/thriller novella which takes place around Christmas time. It is a quick read and very compelling. Ten years earlier, Madeline Martin survived an attack at a Christmas party by her then boyfriend, Evan Handy, who eventually was convicted of killer her best friend. Also, two other friends went missing that night and are still missing when true crime podcaster Harley Granger comes calling.

I enjoyed this story as it involves mystery, thrills, love, the holidays in a small town and is written by one of my favorite authors!

Starts great, but ends abruptly

This starts with the story of a stripper who is kidnapped. Then it goes to a bookseller who was attacked in a slowly revealed event where one friend was killed and two others disappeared. An author/podcaster wants to interview the bookseller and the man imprisoned for the attack to see if there was more to the story and to find the missing girls.

It had me rushing through my projects so I could squeeze in a little more reading. Then it was over. There was a pretty random shooting at the end that just didn't make much sense and suddenly the good and bad people are identified. It felt like 3/4 of a book with the last chapter tacked on.

The title also doesn't really fit, There are some Christmas presents in the plot and the original attack and this story happen at Christmas time, but the holiday or presents aren't a big plot point.

This was a strong 5 star for me until the very end.

This book started off strong, and I found the first 75% of the story to be really engaging and interesting. However, I found that towards the end the twists became very unrealistic and abrupt. I am still confused about who shot Harley and why? I don’t recall that every being mentioned but it couldn’t have been Chet because at that time he was with Lolly in the woods I thought ? That whole occurrence felt very out of place and random to me. I also didn’t love the chapters from Harleys POV, I didn’t feel like that added any extra insight to the story and I feel like if his interactions had been told from Maddie’s POV the plot would have felt more linear and less random / abrupt.

Overall I really did enjoy the first ~75% of this book, the ending just felt really rushed / random / unrealistic to me.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review :)

This was my first Lisa Unger novel and certainly not my last.

Christmas Presents follows Madeline Martin who has built a successful life, despite her childhood trauma, and owns a bookstore called The Next Chapter Bookshop. When true crime podcaster, Harley Granger shows up days before Christmas making Maddie relive her trauma and the events that took place. Maddie is the only surviving victim of Evan Handy. Handy was convicted of killing her childhood best friend, Steph and is a suspect in the disappearances of two sisters, Ainsley and Sam. Maddie's father, Sheriff James Martin helped put Handy away for life, but was obsessed with finding Ainsley and Sam up until he had a recent stroke.

However, since Evan Handy has been in jail, more women have gone missing, including college dropout, Lolly. Some people think that Handy didn't act alone that night, but others think that he did act alone and that the case is closed. Harley Granger was brought to town to re-examine the case and to find out once and for all what happened on that night nearly a decade ago. As Christmas day gets closer, Maddie and her childhood friend Badger are challenged to re-visit the night in question and discover the truth once and for all.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but was able to guess the big reveal earlier on in the book. The novel was action-packed, had twists and turns, and was suspenseful.

A massive thank you to Lisa Unger, Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press, and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A short read but another hit from the author. Filled with page turning mystery and suspense. This is a book which I recommend to those like a good mystery. And it be coming out close to Christmas.

Lisa Unger does it again! With amazing characters, an amazing plot, and twists and turns… this is a must read. My only regret is reading it during the summer and not on a snowy winter day!

I always devour Lisa Unger's work and this was no exception. This was the perfect little Christmas Novella with the holiday imagery, small town vibes and a cold case clashing with the present when a woman goes missing. The only complaint I have is that it's a novella and not a novel, I wanted a bit more from the ending as well as the past storyline. Otherwise this is perfect for the holiday season when it releases, I definitely recommend it. Four Stars.

Thank you Netgalley and Penzler Publishers for this ARC.

Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

There is no better author in my opinion than Lisa Unger. She continues to give everything she has as a writer so that her readers experience something that comes natural to her……a great thriller. I have read almost all of her books and I would say that they get better but it is more her ability to create characters that are so well developed and they grow within the story. This is one of those slow burn thrillers that will keep you on your toes the entire time. The twists and turns that she takes you on make you feel as though you are on a roller coaster but instead of wanting off, you can’t wait to go again and again so that you can get to the ending. Oh the ending,, the ending is NOT what you expect… Do not even try to figure it out. This one is not predictable, unless you read from back to front, and will keep you engrossed the entire time. Thank you Lisa Unger for sharing your amazing talent with the world.

5 out of 5 stars


Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author and publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.