Jeeeeepers. I finished this just after midnight and now it’s almost 9 am and I’m still feeling off balance. I just don’t trust the ending lol. I had someone else (Badger) pegged as the accomplice and I just can’t get it out of my head. Are we supposed to trust the way it wrapped up and cheer for the happy ending just in time for Christmas? Or is anyone else feeling like Chet took the fall for something they were doing together? I just feel like the fact that the abducted girls all looked like Maddie and the flashback she had where she wasn’t sure if it was Badger stabbing Steph, and the guy who picked up Lolly had a wedding ring and called himself Steve, and the way her dad was trying to communicate to her not to leave with Badger…I guess they were all red herrings but in this case I feel the author did her job TOO well because I trust the red getting more than the “actual” perp revealed. Also how was Chet shooting Rog and Harley and then back at the lake house so quickly?!?! I guess I don’t have AC exact timeline for the POVs but it seemed like Lolly’s escape from Santa and the shootings were happening kinda simultaneously. I don’t know, but the book was great! 4/5 stars

2 very generous stars
I love Lisa Unger. This book had a fascinating premise. However, I never felt completely engaged in the novel due to writing issues that made the narrative choppy and the characters not really connect with me.

So you have a true crime podcaster tackling a cold case that completely wrecked a town. Ironically, Christmas seems like the most legitimate time to open these wounds. Maybe because the man( Evan Handy) put behind bars wants to tell his side of the story. Enter Madeline Martin, ex-girlfriend of the convicted man and survivor. Madeline's a local bookstore owner and reluctant to give the podcaster what he wants. As the 226-page "novella" jumps from past to present, some very startling truths come to light.

So as I sit on Outlier Island, I do feel this book almost drowned me. I hated the backstory taking up so much space. To me, it was easily summed up and anything else afterward just felt like repetition. And the ending just left me "meh." Very disappointing.

I received access to this title because of NetGalley and Penzler Publishers. All opinions expressed are my own.


Expected Publication 24/10/23
Goodreads Review 09/09/2023


#ChristmasPresents #NetGalley.

I was very happy to be granted an ARC of Lisa Unger's, Christmas Presents, as I always love her stories. This one did not disappoint. Eventhough it was only 224 pages, it still brought all the suspense and terror that I always expect from Lisa. I did correctly guess the killer about halfway through, but that in no way made me like the book any less. The unique setting of Christmas helped make this novella even more chilling. Definitely a must read for Lisa Unger fans & anyone who enjoys a good whodunnit.

Christmas Presents is a thrilling Christmas season read! There were some twists throughout the novella, and I was not sure until the end who was responsible for several murders and abductions. The story kept me guessing, and I enjoyed the main characters. i have read all of Lisa Unger's books, and this one did not. disappoint! Thank you to NetGalley and Mysterious Press for the ARC!

I had trouble with this book. The chapters jumped from present to past and sometimes it took a minute to figure out what time period we were in. There was a mystery but with a few twists. The book was set around Christmas but other than the title and. Few references to the holiday it didn’t feel very christmasy. I usually like her books but this one wasn’t for me. I will read her again. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This CHILLING 226 page novella by Lisa Unger may take place in the five days leading up to Christmas, but this is definitely NOT a Christmas story!

Madeline Martin is now the owner of a thriving independent business, The Next Chapter Bookshop, managing to put the past behind her despite being the only known survivor of a gruesome crime that took place while she was a high school student in her small, picturesque hometown. She loves escaping to her shop, wrapping gifts, and discussing books with her loyal customers.
(Can you guess which books they are?)

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.

TRUE CRIME is STRANGER THAN FICTION (and more lucrative)

It’s an investigation into the crime that had obsessed her father Sheriff James Martin right up until his stroke took his faculties-and it’s the one that scarred her, claimed the life of her closest friend, and is responsible for the unexplained disappearance of two of the other friends from their once tight knit group.

A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL IS STILL HELD FOR THE TWO MISSING SISTERS EVERY CHRISTMAS EVE.

But, since Evan Handy was convicted of the crime, three other women have gone missing-the latest a college dropout named Lolly who was working her last shift at a topless bar, before heading home to her parents house to regroup and get her life back on track.

That makes five young women missing in a decade in the same small area.

Are the latest crimes connected to those in the past? Or could Evan Handy actually be innocent of some of the things he was convicted of?

This atmospheric and engaging crime story grabbed my attention from page one and I finished the book in one day! Don’t expect sweet and sentimental from this one!

AVAILABLE OCTOBER 24, 2023
READ IT ANYTIME!

Thank You to the Mysterious Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley! It was my sincere pleasure to offer a candid review!

Thank you to Lisa Unger and The Mysterious Press New York Publisher for giving me an arc of Christmas Presents. I read Lisa Unger previous books and I was happy to get this arc from an author who writes great books. Christmas Presents is a novella and the title is misleading, this book is a true crime mystert and not the cozy book you expect when you read the title. Every couple of years a girl goes missing a podcaster/author tries to solve the case.

A podcaster has come town to resurrect interest in a cold case from Christmas 10 years ago. Maddie, owner of The Next Chapter Bookshop survived that night, but not without a lack of memory and scars both inside and out. Her best friend Stephanie was killed and two sisters disappeared. The killer? He sits in jail denying his reign of terror. Most don’t want the past brought up. Maddie’s father was the Sheriff when the murder occurred and even though retired, he constantly reviews the files for clues he may have missed. What happened that night? Did the killer act alone? Will this case ever be closed? An excellent fast paced thriller. Well worth the read no matter, even if it is not as yet Christmas. Thank you Netgalley and Penzier Publishing, Mystery Books for the early copy. I am voluntarily leaving this review.

Thank you to NetGalley, The Mysterious Press, and Lisa Unger for the opportunity to review this ARC of Christmas Presents. I enjoyed this novel, especially the fact that it wasn’t just a thriller; there was some romanice as well. I think the friendship with possibility of romance between Madeline and Badger was one of the best aspects of the story. I enjoyed Madeline’s friendship with her father’s caregiver and thought it added to the novel as well. The setting was perfect for a holiday book, rural and snowy, and it added to the creepy thriller aspect. While I greatly enjoyed the story, I had a few issues with the thriller aspect of it. First of all, I found the transition from the first chapter to the second extremely abrupt. I actually thought I might be reading a book of short stories and had to double check. I also found, without giving too much away, that how this cold case was solved a little unbelievable, as was the serial killer. It just seemed too easy and convenient and didn’t add up for me. Overall, I couldn’t put down this book, and while some parts of it including the ending were a little unsatisfying, there were some great parts. Lisa Unger is one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to her new releases.

A Christmas thriller!!! What more could you ask for?!? I was able to fly through this book, being only 260 pages but so much was packed in this novella and leaves you wanting more but in a good way. If you are a fan of Lisa Unger you will not be disappointed. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Serial killers, Christmas. My two favorite kinds of books. Thriller and Christmas. I enjoy this book I may read it again at Christmas time.
Thank you net Galley in publisher for providing this advanced copy

I am not usually one for Christmas stories, but a nice uncozy thriller set at Christmas time seemed to be up my alley and I was right! This book packs a wallop in not a lot of space. The characters are well developed and there is a sweet but not overbearing love story on the side. I wouldn't say it is super twisty but it is hard to put down and I may have yelled and gasped a few times while reading.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. I wish it was a novel instead so we could get more background and in depth character building but overall it was a great little read. I had an inkling of what was going to happen but I was still guessing quite a bit until the reveal. I would definitely recommend this book!

Wow! Lisa Unger delivers yet again! Loved this fresh take on podcasts and cold cases. This novella had a little bit of everything great. Lots of emotion and all the feels. Some definitely creepy characters! Just the perfect storm of a story!
Thank you NetGalley and Lisa Unger for the opportunity to read and review this book

Thank you NetGalley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

What a haunting and gripping Christmas thriller! While it was a longer novella (260 pages) I still found myself wanting MORE!! This is my first read by Lisa Unger and it will not be my last! I am not sure why I waited so long to read one of her books🤔?! I loved every page and it was a quick unputdownable read. 🎄❤️🎄❤️🎄

Madeline barely survived a horrifying attack that happened over ten years ago. Her best friend was murdered and two more friends disappeared without any trace. Evan, her boyfriend at the time, was convicted of the crimes and sentenced to life in prison. Now a decade later, she has learned how to move forward with her life and is the owner of The Next Chapter Bookshop in her small town. When a famous true crime podcaster comes to town to reopen the cold case it causes Madeline to revisit the events of that tragic night. Simultaneously, another woman goes missing! Are the crimes connected if so how? Could there have been more than one person involved in the crimes?

Overall, a predictable but satisfying ending and I cannot wait to read more by Lisa Unger! I highly recommend this book!🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was very well written but not very well developed. I would have loved to read a full novel on this topic.

This was a wonderful book. A great Thor ill er that kept me guessing the whole time. I would recommend this to all thriller lovers!

From the start this book sucked me in. I could not put it down. Over all it was a great thriller and gave us an interesting take on the true crime podcast aspect. It was not overly Christmas feeling but enough to keep that feel. I will say I did have a line in the suspect and when I reached the end was proven right. There were a few things I quite didn’t figure out. I will definitely recommend this to my friends and audience.

Christmas Presents is a riveting novella that skillfully weaves together the festive atmosphere of the holiday season with a spine-tingling true crime mystery. The story introduces us to Madeline Martin and Harley Granger, who embark on an engrossing journey to unearth the truth behind a long-buried case involving murder and disappearances. As the narrative unfolds, the tension steadily builds, keeping readers eagerly turning the pages. With its well-crafted characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the end, this novella is a must-read for those who enjoy a perfect blend of suspense and holiday charm.

Pub date Oct 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

Not your typical Christmas read! This is a suspenseful mystery set around the Christmas holidays.

Ten years ago, at 17, Madeline was rescued by her friend Badger after being knifed across her face. Her friend her murdered and 2 other friends went missing. An arrest was made but the girls never found. Each year she gets a gift at Christmas. This year, an investigative podcaster arrives in town when he finds out other local girls are missing.. Secrets open up, surprises abound.

This one kept me guessing although I had my suspicions!!