I love Lisa Unger books and her little novella, "Christmas Presents" was a quick awesome read. Great story

It’s nearly Christmas and Madeline, owner of The Next Chapter Bookshop in picturesque Little Valley in upstate New York, is surprised to find one of her favorite true crime authors buying a present for his father in her store. But he’s really there to talk to her, since Madeline is a final girl, a survivor of serial killer Evan Handy. This happened a decade ago and now the famous cold case investigator Harley Granger is restoring the abandoned home of missing sisters while he probes the old crime facts. He reveals something unknown to Maddie: other women have gone missing in the decade since Evan was imprisoned, including one just a few days ago.

Lisa Unger has delightedly decided to join the league of mystery writers who have published Christmas novellas (Janice Hallett has “The Christmas Appeal” and Peter Swanson has “The Christmas Guest” releasing in October 2023 when Lisa’s is due), and this one is perfect. Of course, there will be a big Christmas dinner to end the suspense, but who will survive to be around the table? 5 stars — this might not put you in a holly jolly mood, but it will satisfy a need for a holiday mystery!

Thank you to Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press, and NetGalley for a free advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Steph, one of the victims, had startling sea-glass green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Just the expected snow-covered and decorated trees you’d expect in a Christmas novella.