There’s something undeniably magical about giving a book at Christmas. A wrapped story is more than paper and ink, it’s an invitation. A doorway. A promise of cold nights, cosy lighting, and long stretches of quiet where the imagination is allowed to run truly wild.

And if you’re here, you’re probably searching for the perfect book to give to the creature-feature fan, the folklore-obsessive, the horror lover, or simply the reader in your life who enjoys stories a little off the beaten path.

My novels all sit at the crossroads of thriller, horror, myth and wild nature, blending cryptozoology with real-world conservation themes, the uncanny with the grounded, the monstrous with the deeply human. But each book scratches a slightly different itch…

So here’s my Christmas gift guide, pairing each book with the type of person who will enjoy unwrapping it most.

 Shadow Beast — For the New Horror Explorer

Perfect for:

Someone dipping a toe into horror or cryptozoologyA reader who loves a slow build and creeping dreadFans of folklore, rewilding, or deep-woods atmosphere

Why it’s the ideal gift:
Shadow Beast is the best entry point into my world. It begins with unsettling glimpses, unanswered questions, whispers in the dark… before escalating into a full-blown nightmare. It’s intentionally atmospheric – the kind of book you can read by a fireplace while the wind rattles outside… if you dare!

If the person you’re gifting loves the idea of mystery, night forests, and the “what if?” of British big-cat legends, this is the perfect starting place.

 The Daughters of the Darkness — For the Reader Who Wants Something Darker

Perfect for:

Fans of true horrorReaders who enjoy expanding mythologiesSomeone who wants the stakes (and fear) dialled up

Why it’s the ideal gift:
This is the sequel to Shadow Beast, but it stands tall on its own terms. The tension is sharper, the threat more immediate, the world bigger and more dangerous. If someone you know is a fan of darker, more intense horror, or perhaps has an interest in historical man-eaters, then slide this under their tree.

Daughters is also a great pick for the person who loves folklore that mutates, legends with teeth, and stories that delve deeper into the shadowed corners of the natural world.

 Phantom Beast — For the Reader Who Loves Creature Thrillers with Depth

Perfect for:

Anyone who loves cryptids, wildlife thrillers, or remote-landscape horrorReaders who enjoy stories that sit between realism and mythFans of atmospheric, ecology-rooted creature features

Why it’s the ideal gift:
Although Phantom Beast is the third book in the wider Beast universe, it works just like a Reacher or Jack Ryan novel — a complete, self-contained story that can be read entirely on its own.

This book leans into the atmospheric landscapes of Wyoming, folklore-tinged tension and a creeping sense of the uncanny. It also introduces key characters (including Nina Lee) who appear in Rogue, but you don’t need to have read anything beforehand to enjoy it.

If you’re gifting someone who loves:

western-style adventures like Yellowstone, but with a twistcreature mysteriessurvival stakesor the “speculative but could-it-exist?” type of thriller

…then Phantom Beast is an excellent pick. It’s rich, eerie, and adventurous — perfect for a winter’s night escape into the unknown.

 Rogue — For the Cryptid Enthusiast, Bigfoot Believer, and Creature-Feature Diehard

Perfect for:

Fans of Bigfoot lore and cryptozoologyReaders obsessed with Bigfoot, lake monsters, or animal-myth loreAnyone who loves nature-driven horrorReaders who love mysterious wilderness creaturesAnyone obsessed with speculative biology and animal myths

Why it’s the ideal gift:
Rogue is your dedicated Bigfoot-horror novel — the most direct dive into a classic North American cryptid myth. It champions everything people love about Sasquatch stories: the isolation, the danger, the uneasy feeling that something colossal is watching from the treeline.

If you know someone who spends too much time on Bigfoot Reddit threads, watches every creature documentary they can find, or always roots for the animal in horror movies — this is the one.

Although it links to the wider Beast universe (with Nina now leading the way), Rogue is still completely approachable as a standalone, and makes a perfect first step for readers who want to jump straight into a pure cryptid nightmare without needing any prior series knowledge.

If you know someone who devours documentaries, listens to Bigfoot podcasts, or would happily spend Christmas lost in a forest surrounded by legends — Rogue will hit all the right nerves. “safe but exciting” choice — a solid pick that appeals broadly without losing the creature-thriller edge.

Quick Guide — Who Gets What?For someone new to cryptid horror? → Shadow BeastFor a horror lover who wants the intensity turned up? → The Daughters of the DarknessFor the wildlife nerd or folklore fan? → Phantom BeastFor a real creature-feature and conspiracy theory fan? → RogueFor someone who loves anything weird, eerie, or atmospheric at Christmas? → Truly, any of them. Wrap It Well, Gift It Right

If you really want to make the gift feel special, here are some ideas:

Pair the book with a cosy blanket and label it “For atmospheric winter reading.”Add a notecard referencing the creature or theme of the book.Include a bookmark, maybe something rustic, wild, or forest-themed.Slip the book into a stocking with hot chocolate sachets or spiced tea.Or, in the case of Rogue, maybe something from the Dr Squatch range! (not gifted or affiliated, just an idea!)

Books make personal gifts, but creature-thrillers at Christmas? They’re unforgettable.

If you want to browse all titles in one place:
 Luke Phillips Author Page on Amazon