Mysterious Press
Christmas Presents
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Madeline Martin has built a life for herself as the young owner of a thriving business, The Next Chapter Bookshop, despite her tragic childhood and now needing to care for her infirm father. 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. She's the only surviving victim of Evan Handy, the man who was convicted of murdering her best friend Steph, and is suspected in the disappearance of two sisters, also good friends of Madeline's, who have been missing for nearly a decade. It's an investigation that has obsessed her father Sheriff James Martin right up until his stroke took his faculties.
Harley Granger has a gift for seeing things that others miss. He wasn't much of a novelist, but his work as a true crime author and podcaster has earned him fame and wealth--and some serious criticism for his various unethical practices. Still, visiting Little Valley to be closer to his dying father has caused him to look into a case that many people think is closed--and some want reopened. And he has a lot of questions about the night Stephanie Cramer was killed, Ainsley and Sam Wallace disappeared, and Madeline Martin was left for dead, bleeding out on a riverbank.
Since Evan Handy went to jail, three other young women have gone missing, most recently a young college dropout named Lolly. Five young women missing in the same area in a decade. Are they connected? Was Evan Handy innocent after all? Or was there some else there that night? Someone who is still satisfying his dark appetites?
As Christmas approaches and a blizzard bears down, Madeline and her childhood friend Badger return to a past they both hoped was dead--to find the missing Lolly and to answer questions that have haunted them both, discovering that the truth is more terrible and much closer to home than they think.
Coupling a picturesque, cozy setting with a deeply unsettling suspenseful plot, Christmas Presents is a chilling seasonal novella that can be enjoyed all year long.
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Book Details
ISBN:
9781613164518
EAN:
9781613164518
Binding:
Hardcover
Pages:
224
Authors:
Lisa Unger
Publisher:
Mysterious Press
Absolutely loved this! Wasn’t shocked to figure out “who” it was, but not disappointed by any means! Perfect thriller that was just what I was looking for during holiday season! Also thought I’d be disappointed by a “novella”, but this was a great read and not very short really! Read it by the coziness of the Christmas tree and lights for full effect 🎅
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Listened to this on Audible today though I also have a copy of the hard cover. At a 1.7 speed, it took me only about 3 1/2 hours. It’s a great read, especially if you want something that ties the holidays in with a good murder mystery. I love Lisa Unger books, she never disappoints.
A person’s life can be changed in the blink of an eye. Sometimes good but most of the time, not. Bad things happen to good people sometimes never knowing the reason why. In the case of Madeleine, bad things happened to her and put her life in limbo for ten long years from the fragmented memories in her past.Delicious twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end.
Great twists. Did not guess the killer. Loved the podcast included in the end. Great characters. A little confusing at first from jumping back and forth in time
Lisa Unger’s Christmas Presents is a great read for the holiday season. The novella is a thrilling mystery with a picturesque, cozy setting that is great the holidays.Madeline Martin, the young owner of a thriving bookstore, has built herself a life despite her tragic past. Everything seems fine until Harley Granger, a failed novelist turned true crime podcaster, enters her shop and starts digging up her painful past. Madeline is the only surviving victim of Evan Handy, who was convicted for the murder of her best friend. Granger, meanwhile, is interested in the case since three other young women have gone missing since Handy went to jail, including Lolly. Madeline and her childhood friend Badger team up to trace Lolly’s whereabouts and uncover the truth that was closer to home than they thought.Christmas PresentsLisa Unger has executed an intriguing plot that keeps the readers hooked from start to finish. Her contrasting tones between the cozy and picturesque setting of the story and the dark, unsettling murder mystery provides an excellent balance. Unger does an excellent job of building tension, leaving shocking revelations throughout the story to keep the readers engaged.The book’s characters are realistically crafted, with their sketches etched with strong emotions and backstories that provide depth. Madeline’s character is meticulously detailed, with her tragic and painful past. Her personality is mild and gentle, but her perseverance and determination to uncover the truth are commendable. Unger does an excellent job of creating rich and genuine characters that captivate the reader.However, the book falls a tad bit short when it comes to the ending. The book ends too conveniently, and the lack of a more profound conclusion makes it seem incomplete, especially after a well-crafted plot and beautifully etched characters.Christmas Presents is a great holiday mystery read that captures the essence of the season while providing a tense thriller to keep readers engaged. The book’s picturesque setting and its well-crafted characters make it enjoyable, and the book’s genre provides the perfect atmosphere for the season. Although the book has its flaws, it is perfect for those who want to enjoy a light read during the holidays.
