The Gift (by Freida McFadden)

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Written By Natalie

Freida McFadden’s The Gift, a short and quick read that clocks in at just an hour, served as a great introduction to my holiday reading in the thriller genre.

The Gift follows the story of Stella Hansen, a struggling waitress, as she attempts to purchase a meaningful first Christmas gift for her husband. However, she encounters a mysterious pawn shop owner who offers her an extraordinary deal that seems too good to be true. This seemingly advantageous offer hints at a dark and potentially dangerous price that Stella must pay for her gift. The short story explores themes of love, sacrifice, and the consequences of making desperate choices. 

What makes The Gift stand out is how relentlessly dark it gets for a story that’s literally wrapped in Christmas paper. Most holiday-themed thrillers cautiously introduce a hint of danger or family dysfunction and then resolve everything with a heartwarming conclusion. Freida, however, takes a different approach. She fully embraces the bleakness, resentment, and betrayal that can lurk even within the “perfect” festive season.

I borrowed The Gift from my local library using Hoopla. Alyson Krawchuk’s narration is great.

I’m working my way through all of Freida McFadden’s books. My previous reviews are linked below.

 

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Natalie
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Spare (Prince Harry)