Secret Santa

By: Andrew Shaffer

Narrated by: Andi Arndt

The Office meets Stephen King, dressed up in holiday tinsel, in this fun, festive, and frightening horror-comedy set during the horror publishing boom of the ’80s, by New York Times best-selling satirist Andrew Shaffer.

Out of work for months, Lussi Meyer is desperate to work anywhere in publishing. Prestigious Blackwood-Patterson isn’t the perfect fit, but a bizarre set of circumstances leads to her hire and a firm mandate: Lussi must find the next horror superstar to compete with Stephen King, Anne Rice, and Peter Straub. It’s the ’80s, after all, and horror is the hottest genre.

But as soon as she arrives, Lussi finds herself the target of her coworkers’ mean-spirited pranks. The hazing reaches its peak during the company’s annual Secret Santa gift exchange, when Lussi receives a demonic-looking object that she recognizes but doesn’t understand. Suddenly, her coworkers begin falling victim to a series of horrific accidents akin to a George Romero movie, and Lussi suspects that her gift is involved. With the help of her former author, the flamboyant Fabien Nightingale, Lussi must track down her anonymous Secret Santa and figure out the true meaning of the cursed object in her possession before it destroys the company - and her soul.

©2020 Andrew Shaffer (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Funny and keeps you guessing

I loved the narration. the story was funny. It took several unexpected turns. I especially liked the ending

Just OK

This book was just ok. There were parts that I thought were really good but then in other parts I wasn’t very interested. Some interesting twists. I bought this on the site wide sale so I didn’t pay a lot so I feel like it was worth what I paid but I probably wouldn’t recommend buying it at full price or using a credit on it.

Ok book

The first of the books was great then it kinda dribbled out towards the end of the book. Not a bad book thou.

A fast and fun horror story

I honestly did not know what to expect from Secret Santa. I simply chose it because I wanted a short, holiday-themed horror novel. Secret Santa filled that niche craving. It is fun, even humorous at times, and over before you know it. This is a book that could have used a little more development involving the villains of the novel: I have some unanswered questions. Ultimately though, I think the lore of the novel was left a little vague on purpose. You know enough to understand what is going on. While this was not a five-star book for me, I still enjoyed it for what it was. I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

I adored this story!

I can’t recommend this enough. Comedy horror is my jam and this was so so good. loved Lucy!! I loved all the characters and the writing style and the prologue, and the middle, and the epilogue and the…

It was ok but not great

At the beginning of the story it was pretty engaging and entertaining especially since it takes place on the Christmas season, but on half of the book it starts to become a drag and kinda of repetitive.

it was ok

loved it it was a very good book it was a good horror book especially 1arond this time a year

Good idea, okay execution

The story starts with promise and then very slowly works its way to a rushed ending. There is some mystery, folk horror, and dark humor. Overall, the writing is okay - not bad but also not great. If you don’t mind a slow story with an interesting folk horror concept, then go for it.

A cute story.

I didn't find this very funny, maybe because I'm not in publishing, nor was it very scary. May be more scary to a YA reader.