Maddie, a book store owner in Little Valley, NY survived a brutal attack in her teens. At the same time her friend Steph was killed and two girls went missing, both presumed dead. Maddie’s ex boyfriend Evan was convicted to life in prison for the attack, the murder and the missing girls.

Maddie memory of the attack has always been hazy till true crime podcaster Harley Granger arrives at Little Valley. He believes there’s more to the story and vows to find out especially as another girl has recently disappeared.

A great thriller to read to end the year- the story had me curious from the start and I really enjoyed the structure of the storyline. I managed to guess the ending quite early on but this did not affect me reading the book as I wanted to find out if I was right.

EXCERPT: Tonight a light snow starts to fall as I lock up the bookshop and make my way to the old Scout truck that used to belong to my dad. It's a beast, beat up and rattling. But I love it.
Five days until Christmas. There's a bigger storm coming. Some are saying we'll have a white Christmas for the first time in a long while. Global weirding. Last year Christmas Day was sixty degrees. This year, we're expecting a 'bomb cyclone' or some new media-generated storm name created to incite maximum fear and therefore maximum spending on the hoarding of supplies.
I shiver in the driver's seat, waiting for the heat to come up, still buzzing from my encounter with Harley Granger as I wind through the rural roads that lead home.
I don't live far from the Wallace place, but far enough that I rarely have to drive past it. Tonight, I make a left instead of a right, following the route that Harley must have driven in his muscle car. I take it slow. The asphalt is slick, the temperature dropping, you never know when a deer will leap out from the thickly wooded acres and total your car or worse. Around me the pines are already frosted with snow.
There it is on the rise. A big rambling place with a barn off to the right. Gray and shingled, two stores, vaulted roof, wraparound porch. I know what it looks like inside now - wallpaper pouting, water pooling, ceilings sagging. There are big holes in the roof through which you can see the sky. Graffiti on every surface. Probably easier to tear it down that fix it up.
Tonight, lights burn in the windows, orange eyes staring back at me.
Unfinished business, Harley Granger said.

ABOUT 'CHRISTMAS PRESENTS': Instead of presents this Christmas, one true crime podcaster is opening up a cold case…

When true crime podcaster Harley Granger drifts into Madeline Martin's bookshop days before Christmas, he seems intent on digging up a past that Madeline would much rather forget.

Granger's work has earned him fame and wealth — and some serious criticism for his various unethical practices. Granger also has a lot of questions about the night Madeline was left for dead, the only surviving victim of killer Evan Handy.

Handy, who also murdered Madeline's best friend and is suspected in the disappearance of two local sisters, has been in jail for a decade. Since then, though, three other young women have gone missing in similar circumstances. Is the true predator still out there somewhere?

As Christmas approaches and a blizzard bears down, Madeline must confront the past to answer questions that have haunted her since that day. Is the truth more terrible than she ever imagined?

MY THOUGHTS: There's lots of mystery and intrigue as events from Madeline's life are revisited due to the relentless prodding of podcaster Harley Granger and Madeline soon comes to realise that things may not have been quite how she remembers them.

There's not much that's sweet or sentimental in this Christmas novella. Instead, suspicion reigns supreme as people - young women - continue to go missing even after Evan Handy has been convicted. Harley has the knack of asking questions that have not been posed previously, and it soon becomes evident that that either Handy had help that night, or someone else took advantage of a random opportunity to live out their own sick fantasy.

There's a lot packed into this novella. The characterisation is superb and the plot tight. As always with Unger's books, I was immediately drawn into the story and didn't come up for air until I was finished.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.1

#ChristmasPresentsBook #NetGalley

MEET THE AUTHOR: Lisa Unger is an American author of contemporary fiction, primarily mysteries and thrillers. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Head of Zeus, Aries Fiction, via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

This is an excellent thriller about a young bookseller, working hard to juggle work, caring for her father and all while trying to move beyond a trauma.

Then, a famous author and podcaster arrives in town and asks if she will relive her earlier nightmare in order to possibly uncover the truth surrounding a series of disappearances of young women.

This is a tightly written story about small town life and characters you may have known all your life, but, do you really?

I thought I had worked it out, but, was delighted that I hadn’t.

Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the opportunity to preview and I wish the author every success on another page turner.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this book in exchange for a fair and frank review.

This was not a Christmas book at all. It was full of triggers and this should have been pointed out at the beginning. It was full of rape, murder and of drinking blood. This book is a very dangerous fraud especially if a younger person got a hold of it. This made me angry.

Nothing better than a Christmas story from one of my favorite authors! Short, sweet and to the point. Lisa Unger did a great job on this one.

Book Review: Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

Rating: 3 Stars

In this novella, we follow Madeline Martin, the owner of a quaint little bookshop called The Next Chapter, as she navigates her complex past and the responsibility of caring for her ailing father. Just before Christmas, the arrival of Harley Granger, a true crime podcaster with a knack for unraveling dark stories, sets off a chain of events that Madeline would rather keep buried.

Harley’s fascination with a cold case involving the murder of Madeline's best friend Steph and the mysterious disappearance of two other girls from their town puts him at odds with Madeline's desire to forget. The chilling background is all too real for Madeline, who bears the scars of her past as the sole survivor of a brutal attack. As they delve deeper into these old wounds, they uncover unsettling truths about the cases—and perhaps about themselves.

Christmas Presents is perfect for fans of mystery thrillers set against a backdrop of small-town charm. The juxtaposition of cozy holiday vibes with dark themes surrounding missing women makes for an intriguing read. I appreciate how the book plays with both past and present timelines, adding layers to the narrative that kept me engaged.

However, I did feel like the story could have benefited from a bit more depth. At times, it felt rushed and left me wanting more development—especially since there’s a lot to unpack regarding the characters and their histories. If you're looking for something that embodies the cheerful spirit of the holiday season, this might not be it. Instead, it leans into darker themes that won’t exactly have you feeling jolly.

In conclusion, Christmas Presents is an engaging little novella for those who enjoy their holiday reads with a twist of mystery and suspense. If you’re into stories that explore troubling pasts wrapped in a cozy setting, give it a go. Overall, I’d give it three stars—worth reading but left me hoping for a bit more.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Things I loved about this one:

✅ festive thriller 🎄🤶🏻
✅ small town vibes
✅ short snappy read
✅ popcorn thriller vibes

This is the perfect short thriller for the festive period. It's set in the lead up to Christmas, there is snow, its got what should be a cosy little town, Maddie owns a bookshop, what more could you want?

It hasn't got huge amounts of character development, but I liked Maddie and her best friend Badger. Most of the smaller part characters are likeable too.

I didn't guess the twist, and it has a nice tied up ending you know what's happening to all the characters, no loose ends here!

Id recommend this to anyone looking for a festive thriller!

RATING

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Christmas Presents is a fast-paced quick read following Maddie Martin, the survivor of a brutal attack at the hands of her first boyfriend and the witness to him killing one of her best friends.
Maddie has never gotten over that night. Who can blame her when she saw her friend murdered, two of her other best friends went missing and never found, and she was left disfigured and left for dead. Maddies father (the town sherif) never gave up investigating the case in his free time until he had a stroke 6 months ago. When a podcaster comes to town to do his own investigating after success with other cases, it all comes back to life for more than Maddie. But then another girl is abducted - as connections begin to form, can the abductor be linked to the killer of Maddies friend, or is it someone working separately?
This was a great thriller read for Christmas that had scream vibes within it. I did figure out who it was fairly early on but did think it was one of two people, so I was only partly right. Do check trigger warnings for this book.

I really enjoyed this thriller set at Christmas time. A quick read I read in one day as I wanted to find out how it would end. This book explores the nature of true crime on the people involved and how we consume it, with grief and our pasts all with a christmas backdrop. The characters were really well written and the story was full of twists. Thanks Netgalley.

Lisa Unger is such a talented writer. Mysteries set at Christmas, on podcasts and indeed in bookshops are all a staple of the crime shelves but Unger manages to combine these familar elements to produce a novel that feels fresh and engaging. Great festive read with some seasonal hope too

I was attracted to this book firstly because I like this author and secondly I like a book that involves true crime and podcasts. I did like this book but I found it to be too predictable.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book for an honest review.

Christmas Presents follows Madeline Martin owner of The Next Chapter Bookshop and survivor of a notorious serial killer Evan Handy who had killed many locals including her best friend and injured her to near death.

Madeline is trying to get on with her life following this traumatic events years ago when a famous true crime podcaster Harley Granger comes into town keen to dig up the past as he feels there is more to the story than was reported.

He has linked the case to multiple cases in recent years in the surrounding areas and he thinks that either the wrong person was caught or there was second killer.

Can they get to the bottom of this and should the past be dug up?

Overall I found this book OK I enjoyed reading it but found it to be quite predictable in who the second killer was and I was hoping there was a bit of a more clever twist to the tale.

It was quite a short book so maybe there weren't enough pages to flesh out the story satisfactorily.

Overall a fun read but probably not one I would reach for again.

I really enjoyed this thriller set around the Christmas period .Madeline Martin seems to have her life back together after an attack that left her scarred. She owns a bookshop which seems to be thriving. Along comes Harley a true crime podcaster, who wants to investigate what happened to her . It is only a short book but quite a lot happens and is definitely a page turner. We have snow, Santa , food and festivities and also a missing girl. I enjoyed the characters and I enjoyed how it all unfolded . We learn about Madeline’s past and her friends and family and her lovely bookshop. We have a dramatic ending which didn’t surprise me but a very enjoyable read .

This wasn't the cosy Christmas read I was expecting but something much darker. Madeline Martin is the owner of Next Chapter bookshop in a small town. Living with her father, retired sheriff, she is haunted by events of a decade ago when her best friend was murdered, she was left for dead and her other two friends disappeared and were never seen again. Maddy was rescued by her friend Badger and they remain close. When investigative author Harley Granger comes to town and opens the cold case, Maddy's feelings are once more stirred up. He's convinced the recent disappearance of local strip club dancer, Lolly is linked. Maddy and Badger look into her dad's case notes convinced he has discovered something. As the sheriff had a stroke six months previously he's locked in his body, unable to tell them. Maddy and Badger work it out and head on out to investigate. Harley and his friend, doing their own investigation, are not so lucky. Violence, danger and jeopardy, a really good read. #netgalley #christmaspresents

Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger is a suspenseful holiday thriller that pleasantly surprised me. I'm not usually a fan of holiday-themed reads, but the thrilling plot and well-crafted twists kept me hooked. The story unfolds with strong characters and plenty of suspense, blending festive charm with mystery. While I really enjoyed the pacing and intrigue, I felt the book could have been a bit longer to develop the plot even more fully. Still, it’s a gripping, fast read perfect for anyone looking for a holiday thriller. Definitely recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

When true crime podcaster Harley Granger drifts into Madeline Martin’s small town bookshop days before Christmas, he seems intent on digging up a past that Madeline would much rather forget. Granger’s work has earned him fame and wealth, as well as criticism for his various unethical practices. Madeline does not want to relive the night that she was left for dead, the only surviving victim of the notorious killer Evan Handy, but Granger is insistent.

Handy, who also murdered Madeline’s best friend and is suspected in the disappearance of two local sisters, has been in jail for a decade. Since then, though, three other young women have gone missing in similar circumstances. Is the true predator still out there somewhere? And is the truth more terrible than Madeline ever imagined?

Christmas Presents is a very well written crime story, with an elegantly crafted plot and some nicely developed characters. The dual timeline works very well, with Lisa adroitly capturing the essence of Madeline as a teenager, and later as a damaged young woman. The events in the present day imbrue the story with an overriding sense of suspense and tension, and the book builds to a surprising climax. The true crime podcast aspects of the story are also well handled, and enable the plot to unfold at a brisk pace.

Christmas Presents is a good reminder of Lisa’s skills as an author and her ability to quickly evoke a scene and its atmosphere

Overall, Christmas Presents is a very enjoyable, dark take on the Christmas mystery. Recommended.

Christmas Presents is a fun, dark, fast paced thriller set around Christmas. I normally would not pick up a holiday themed book but the fact this book was a thriller I had to give it a go. I really enjoyed getting to know all the characters and loved the small town feel of the book. I went back and forth with who I thought the killer was and loved how the ending tied up the loose ends. I think if this book was longer it could’ve been even better. Parts of the storyline needed extra build up for that thriller tension we all love so much. Overall, a great Christmas thriller novella!

3.5 stars
If you’re expecting a cosy Christmas read, then this one isn’t for you.
Madeline has a successful bookshop and manages work as well as caring for her father.
A famous podcaster comes into the shop and she’s starstruck, but when he asks if she’ll speak to him about her attack, she’s hesitant.
Madeline was left for dead after an attack when she was a teenager, and it seems young women are now being targeted again, so Harley wants to investigate this.
Madeline eventually speaks to him and we find out what really happened all those years ago.
This is a good read.
Thanks to Head of Zeus for the opportunity to read this book.

‘But that was a long time ago. Now Christmas brings back other memories.’
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With tour wrapping up my reading has taken a downward turn, but now we’ve closed the show, I’m ready and raring to have a few weeks of solid reading time! Starting with a buddy read with my dad actually!
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But I did just FINALLY finish this wonderful Novella that was published YESTERDAY! So perfect timing! And what a wonderful read to kick off my time off, it was short, thrilling and packed the punch a bigger novel also would yet only coming in at 260 pages!
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True crime podcasts, cold cases and independent bookshop owners all meet in perfect synergy to give us a juicy moreish thriller set around Christmas, so it’s the perfect book to pick up now to get you in the mood for the festive season without giving too much of a festive feel. A must for thriller readers!
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Thank you to the publisher for the early copy of this one! I loved it!!

🤍Book review 🤍

Christmas Presents
by Lisa Unger



Christmas Presents is a dark and suspenseful novella perfect for thriller fans. The story follows true crime podcaster Harley Granger as he digs into a cold case involving Madeline Martin, the only survivor of a serial killer. As Harley tries to uncover the truth, Madeline is forced to confront her traumatic past.
The book is fast-paced, with a chilling atmosphere that contrasts with the cosy, snowy Christmas setting. I enjoyed the suspense and twists throughout, and the shorter length kept the story focused and engaging. While I felt the characters, especially Harley and Madeline, could have been explored more deeply, the plot was gripping and kept me hooked until the end.
The combination of true crime, a mysterious cold case, and the holiday backdrop made for an exciting and eerie read. Overall, it’s a great, quick thriller perfect for the holiday season!
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy , opinions are my own