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.

I've read 15 books by Lisa Unger. I've never given her less than 4 stars and three of them were Fivce-Star reviews. So I know I would want to read this one. This is another 5-Star review for me.

I liked that it was a shorter book. I never felt like the book was dragging or repetitive. I found all the characters likable and engaging. I would recommend this book to a friend.

I received this galley from NetGalley

10 years ago, Madeline Martin survived an attempted murder at the hands of her boyfriend, Evan. Her best friend was also killed and two other girls remain missing. Evan maintains his innocence. True crime podcaster Harley. Granger is coming to town in an attempt to shed some new light on the case. There is now another girl missing.

This was a short novella, but it still took me a while to finish, because I just didn’t feel a strong connection to any of the characters. I guessed early on what turned out to be the twist. This did not feel like an adult thriller. It read more like a 90s teen thriller. A Point Fiction book if you will. Not that those are bad, I loved them! I believe that is what got me to fall in love with reading thrillers. But it’s not what I want to read anymore as an adult. I feel like the story could’ve been written without Harley as he did not add much substance in my opinion. And nobody else except maybe Madeline was all that likable. I do like this author a lot, this book was just not a big hit for me.

I’d give this one a solid 4! I was hooked throughout and I felt the description and suspense were great. The only issue for me was I guessed the killer from the start.

I liked the dark side of Christmas vibes and while it wasn’t mind-bogglingly twisty, it was somehow both thrilling and comforting at the end.

A good, easy read.

Loved this thriller by one of my favorite authors! The whole plot line had me guessing at every turn and I loved the multiple POV of the characters leading to the dramatic ending that had me shocked with the twist at the end. As an avid true crime podcast listener myself I really enjoyed the aspect of the book.

Wow! What a novella. I found myself rushing through the ending to confirm my suspicions. Wanting to know who sent those Christmas presents, and who took Maddie’s friends all those years ago?
Maddie has always been the sheriffs daughter, always following the right path, until Evan comes to town. Evan plans a party, the night is supposed to be memorable for Maddie, her first time, but becomes memorable for other reasons. Maddie’s best friend is killed while she’s drugged and watching, unable to help. 2 sisters, and the other part of Maddie’s friend group also go missing, no clues ever found. Maddie is still searching for answers when a untrustworthy journalist shows up in town to interview her and find the truth.

I would’ve loved more perspective from Evan, maybe he should’ve made an appearance on the podcast with Harley. What’s his take? Why did he do it. Extended epilogue to give me answers!

Thank you to netgalley, and Penzier publisher for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Told in the past, the present, and the future this novella takes place in a town with a haunting history. The season is Christmas, a happy time for most, but in this small town with a terrible past, it brings back horrific memories. There are missing women, others murdered, and one who survived this event that seems to keep taking place in the minds of many. How could it be any other way when more women come up missing. Was the right killer arrested all those years ago? Or is this a copycat killer? Or worse? Will they truth be uncovered when a true crime writer comes to town to investigate? Or is he just out for himself?

Thank you NetGalley for a wonderful opportunity to read this ARC! I loved it!

Lisa Unger

#ChristmasPresents
#NetGalley

This is a book not to miss! Due out 10/24/23.

5 ⭐️’s

Something about Unger’s writing gets me every time! I had no doubts I’d enjoy this one as well. Of course, I wish it was longer 😂

The story kept me hooked from start to finish. Madeline was actually a likable character, which I haven’t found many of recently. That added an extra layer of enjoyment.

Oh my GOSH. I LOVED THIS ONE.

Thank you @mysteriouspress and @netgalley for this advance review copy in exchange for an honest review! 

Available October 24th 2023

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had such a hard time putting this down! Luckily at only 224ish pages it was a quick read and I didn't really have to.

Madeline, a little bookstore owner with a tragic past is trying to live her life despite the horrific events that transpired roughly a decade ago. One friend murdered, 2 friends missing, she herself nearly died, and the person believed to be responsible is in prison.

Enter Harley, failed writer, current podcaster and true crime researcher who's here to look more into the crime and see if he can't unearth details about the missing girls because, get this, 3 more women have gone missing since that day. Is it connected? Is it random? Was the wrong person put in jail?? Did he have an accomplice??

A cozy christmas thriller novella with dual timelines and multiple POVs is the thing I didn't know I needed in my life right now, and I swear even if it was 200 pages longer it would've held my attention just the same.

I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful Christmas novella by Lisa Unger! I would call it a smart, chilling & impactful page turner.

The twist towards the end was knockout good & the Podcast wrapped up the story with a neat little bow. I was so focused on what Lisa calls her “psychological thriller tendencies” that I forgot this was a Christmas novella!

A special thank you to The Mysterious Press, NetGalley & Lisa herself for providing an ARC for an honest review.

True crime Podcaster, abandoned in the blizzard-the murderer’s off the streets, but the girls are still dying familiar territory, but Lisa Unger always tells a good tale. Nice little Christmas package.