Christmas Presents - Lisa Unger
Publication Date: October 24, 2023
She read
Madeline lives a quiet life as the proprietor of a bookstore in her home town while taking care of her retired sheriff father who has had a stroke and maintaining a close relationship with Badger, her childhood best friend and his brother, Chet. She is haunted by the memory of being a survivor of an attack 10 years ago by a monster who killed her best friend and may also be responsible for the disappearance of two other friends. He has been locked away all this time but, as the anniversary of the attack and disappearances approaches, a writer has come to town to investigate these incidents for his true crime podcast. To add to Madeline’s discomfort, another local girl suddenly goes missing.
Don’t let the title or the bookstore locale mislead you…no cozy mystery or rom com this. That is not a criticism as I couldn’t put this dark thriller down. It is engrossing and very fast paced. A novella rather than a full length novel, it can easily be a one day read. I think, though, it may leave many readers yearning for more. Quite atmospheric, I could feel those icy, slushy conditions as the days lead up the Christmas. Told in alternating POVs and timelines, there are no real surprises; despite some violence, it is a very entertaining read.
Regarding the title…you will just have to read the book to discover its significance.
Thanks to #netgalley and #penzlerpublishers #mysteriouspress for the arc.
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