Christmas Presents – Book Review

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?

Coupling a picturesque, cosy setting with a deeply unsettling and suspenseful plot, Christmas Presents is a chilling seasonal tale that can be enjoyed all year long.

True Crime podcaster, Harley Granger is doing a podcast about a cold case that the small bookshop owner Madeline Martin want to forget. Many years ago, Evan Hardy killed Madeline’s friend and left Madeline to die. Now Evan Hardy is in prison and he is also suspected for two missing girls’ disappearances as well. But even though Hardy has been in prison, girls have gone reportedly missing, the latest, a girl named Lolly had gone missing. Although Evan is guilty, Granger believed that someone else might be also involved in these abductions.

This was a fast paced thriller, set during the Christmas time, so perfect to read during the Christmas. The story is told in the POVs of Madeline, Lolly and Harley. Madeline recounts her traumatic experience while at the same time dealing with that experience currently. The fact that Madeline is getting present in every Christmas i a mystery as well. There weren’t much twists and turns in my opinion, as I kind of predicted the ending but it was engaging and thrilling and a page turner. The writing was also great as well. I have read Lisa Unger’s books before so even though this was a good thriller, this was not her best either. However, I did enjoy the book and gave a rating of four stars.