Title: “Christmas Presents”

Author: Lisa Unger

Genre: Mystery/Suspense

Publication Date: October 24, 2023

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Podcasts and true crime are both extremely popular in the zeitgeist of our era, and Lisa Unger has combined the two with her new novella, “Christmas Presents.” Centered on a young woman in a small town who survived a brutal crime that claimed the life of her best friend, and led to the disappearance of two others, Unger’s latest story weaves together Madeline’s desire to move forward with her life with the questions being asked by famed podcaster Harley Granger about whether the truth of that night has actually been revealed.

Set during the holiday season, “Christmas Presents” exudes the charm of life outside the hustle and bustle of a large city, while also exploring what can happen when outsiders upset the sometimes delicate balance of small town life. The tale is told in both the present day and flashbacks at the time when Madeline’s life started going sideways after meeting the new guy in town. Is he truly guilty of the crimes he has been convicted of? Is it possible he managed to kill one girl, come close to killing another, and abduct two more teenagers who have never been found on his own? Has Madeline’s desire to move on clouded her judgment and memories of the night everything went wrong? The supporting characters are interesting, but I thought they could have been more fully developed to ensure readers care about what happens to them as things unfolded. 

The story is fast-paced, and reaches a satisfying conclusion. I do think that the aforementioned character development, as well as a deeper dive into the motivations of Harley Granger, Madeline and Badger’s past, and more about the initial investigation undertaken by Sheriff Martin would have helped to round out the story, and move it from a novella to a full-length novel.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penzler Publishers, and Mysterious Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.