Book Review: Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

Rating: 3.75⭐

When true crime writer and podcaster Harley Granger arrives in the small town of Little Valley, New York, just days before Christmas, bookstore owner Madeline Martin is compelled to revisit a traumatic event from her past. It has been over a decade since Madeline survived a vicious attack that left her seriously injured. On the same night, her close friend Stephanie was murdered and two other girls, also friends of Madeline and Stephanie, disappeared. Madeline’s then-boyfriend Evan Handy was convicted of the crime and was sentenced to life in prison. Madeline survived, though her memories of the events of that night remain cloudy. She has made life for herself in her hometown, keeps busy with the bookstore and takes care of her ailing father who was once the Sheriff of the town, but is wary of romantic relationships. Evan Handy maintains that he is innocent, and Harley Granger is in town to find out as much as can about the old case as well as the most recent disappearance of a young woman – one of three women who have disappeared after Evan was convicted. 

Does this mean Evan was innocent? If so, who was responsible for the events from all those years ago? Are the most recent disappearances connected to the old case?

Told from multiple perspectives, Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger is an engaging read. The author seamlessly weaves past and present events into a gripping narrative that had me engaged from the very first page. The author depicts Madeline’s trauma and how it casts a shadow in her present life with much sensitivity. The ending did feel a tad rushed and was not entirely unpredictable, but I enjoyed this novella and thought that the plot was well structured, consistently paced and overall, well executed. This was my first time reading Lisa Unger and look forward to exploring more of the author’s work. 

Many thanks to Penzler Publishers and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novella. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Christmas Presents was published on October 24, 2023.