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The 3rd Gift: A Christmas Mystery Thriller with a Jaw-Dropping Twist
Behind every Gift Lies a Secret. Behind ever Secret, a Lie.
When Josh and Maria accept an invitation to an eccentric new neighbor's holiday party, they expect champagne and small talk… not a twisted pact that will test their already fractured marriage.
Drawn into a game they don’t yet understand, the couple is lured to a remote mountain cabin by 3 cryptic gifts and a life-changing opportunity.
The catch? They come at an inconceivable price.
Cut off by a blizzard on Christmas Eve, each minute draws them closer to an unthinkable showdown.
Because this holiday was never about giving…
…But vengeance wrapped in a bow.
❄️ A Holiday Thriller to Chill You to the Bone! ❄️
❆❆❆❆❆ "That twist destroyed me in the best possible way!"
❆❆❆❆❆ "I just found my new holiday obsession!"
❆❆❆❆❆ "The ultimate Christmas locked-room Thriller!"
"If you're looking for a mystery with the intoxicating suspense of The Hunting Wives, the emotional rawness of It Ends With Us, but the claustrophobic intensity of The Shining or Hush... then THE 3RD GIFT is your next obsession!" —Billie Jean Wiley, Killer Thrillers Facebook Group
~ ALL PROCEEDS FROM SALES THROUGH DEC 25TH ARE BEING DONATED TO THE SALVATION ARMY'S CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM ~
Click BUY NOW to see what's really under the tree!
When Josh and Maria accept an invitation to an eccentric new neighbor's holiday party, they expect champagne and small talk… not a twisted pact that will test their already fractured marriage.
Drawn into a game they don’t yet understand, the couple is lured to a remote mountain cabin by 3 cryptic gifts and a life-changing opportunity.
The catch? They come at an inconceivable price.
Cut off by a blizzard on Christmas Eve, each minute draws them closer to an unthinkable showdown.
Because this holiday was never about giving…
…But vengeance wrapped in a bow.
❄️ A Holiday Thriller to Chill You to the Bone! ❄️
❆❆❆❆❆ "That twist destroyed me in the best possible way!"
❆❆❆❆❆ "I just found my new holiday obsession!"
❆❆❆❆❆ "The ultimate Christmas locked-room Thriller!"
"If you're looking for a mystery with the intoxicating suspense of The Hunting Wives, the emotional rawness of It Ends With Us, but the claustrophobic intensity of The Shining or Hush... then THE 3RD GIFT is your next obsession!" —Billie Jean Wiley, Killer Thrillers Facebook Group
~ ALL PROCEEDS FROM SALES THROUGH DEC 25TH ARE BEING DONATED TO THE SALVATION ARMY'S CHILDREN'S LITERACY PROGRAM ~
Click BUY NOW to see what's really under the tree!
- GenresPsychological Thriller
254 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 25, 2025
95 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Mock
6 books325 followersA.G. MOCK is an award-winning writer whose multi-decade career spans both the UK and the US. He currently lives in rural South Carolina with his incredibly patient wife, two peculiarly challenging but adorable rescue dogs, and a harmless ghost who likes to make himself known with a distinctive scent of tobacco and warm leather. His wife and dogs he treasures wildly; the ghost he can take or leave.
The 'Little Woods' is Book One in the New Apocrypha series and is his debut novel.
'Disciple' is Book Two in the New Apocrypha series and now available everywhere!
The 'Little Woods' is Book One in the New Apocrypha series and is his debut novel.
'Disciple' is Book Two in the New Apocrypha series and now available everywhere!
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 12, 2025
So well written. It had me racing through and nearly having a meltdown when my Kindle stopped working with two chapters to go! Finished it on my phone as couldn't wait to see how it ended. Highly recommend!
December 12, 2025
This was hands down the worst holiday book I’ve ever read. Predictable, weird, drug on - all with a splash of Christmas cheer. Call me Scrooge. Or Grinch. Whatever you want to call me. Awful. Terrible. No good writing.
December 16, 2025
This book should come with a warning: Do not start reading this late at night or you will stay up until it's done! It's the definition of "just 1 more chapter" (or 15). You won't need coffee or energy drinks to make it to the end of this beast of a book! You will lose track of time.
Josh and Maria have had a rough patch in their marriage and do what any sensible couple does in their situation - move to a new area to start fresh. As soon as they arrive, they receive an invitation to one of their neighbor's Christmas party. The party oozes wealth and privilege. Over champagne and shrimp (or prawns) from the Shetlands (obviously), small talk quickly escalates into a game that will change their lives forever. Their fractured marriage is barely held together by a tiny thread and as they spiral into the game, it quickly becomes apparent that the choices made have severe and lasting consequences.
As usual, the writing is sharp and the tension abounds. I'm sure my kindle has indentations from gripping it so tightly. I've got my chiropractor appointment scheduled later to treat my whiplash and to reset my jaw from the floor.
Don't miss out on this one!
Josh and Maria have had a rough patch in their marriage and do what any sensible couple does in their situation - move to a new area to start fresh. As soon as they arrive, they receive an invitation to one of their neighbor's Christmas party. The party oozes wealth and privilege. Over champagne and shrimp (or prawns) from the Shetlands (obviously), small talk quickly escalates into a game that will change their lives forever. Their fractured marriage is barely held together by a tiny thread and as they spiral into the game, it quickly becomes apparent that the choices made have severe and lasting consequences.
As usual, the writing is sharp and the tension abounds. I'm sure my kindle has indentations from gripping it so tightly. I've got my chiropractor appointment scheduled later to treat my whiplash and to reset my jaw from the floor.
Don't miss out on this one!
December 20, 2025
If you're looking for a thriller as intoxicating as The Hunting Wives, emotionally raw as It Ends With Us, and as claustrophobically intense as The Shining or Hush... then THE 3RD GIFT is your next obsession!
A.G. Mock has done it again! The character development is flawless; the storyline and plot are ferocious and unforgiving. With short explosive 31 chapters you will stay up way past your bedtime saying, "just one more chapter!" until before you know it you've reached the
"how the heck did I miss that!" mind-blowing twists happening in your head.
As the 3 gifts are delivered-Will Ria and Josh be able to save their troubled marriage? Or will "till death do us part" have the final say?
A.G. Mock has done it again! The character development is flawless; the storyline and plot are ferocious and unforgiving. With short explosive 31 chapters you will stay up way past your bedtime saying, "just one more chapter!" until before you know it you've reached the
"how the heck did I miss that!" mind-blowing twists happening in your head.
As the 3 gifts are delivered-Will Ria and Josh be able to save their troubled marriage? Or will "till death do us part" have the final say?
January 9, 2026
An absolute shocker and everything I wanted it to be
December 7, 2025
Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The 3rd Gift by A.G. Mock
Finished this in one sitting because, well… self-control is apparently not my strong suit. Don’t ask me to put it down — I don’t negotiate with tension.
It started slow. Like, yawn slow. I was checking my nails, thinking maybe this is one of those “let’s trick you with fake calm” openings.
Then. Boom. Within a heartbeat it flipped the script. From mildly annoying to holy crap, my moral compass is having a breakdown. Revenge, heartbreak, rejection, emotions so raw you want to run screaming… but also peek because you know disaster is delicious.
The moral wrestling? Chef’s kiss. The book asked me: “What would you do if life handed you a snow-covered domestic nightmare with a knife-sharp twist?”
And honestly, I didn’t have an answer. I was clutching my blanket, quietly panicking.
The ending? I didn’t see it coming — which is rare because usually my brain beats books to the punchline. So points for that.
Why only 3 stars?
• It was easy, satisfying, and bingeable.
• But personally, I wasn’t blown away. My mind goes dark faster than this plot, apparently.
That said, anyone who likes slow-burn danger, husband-wife chaos, secluded cabin vibes, snow, and the kind of Christmas you hope is fictional… you’ll eat this up.
So yeah. Chill, slightly terrifying, and morally questionable — like all the best holiday reads you shouldn’t admit you enjoyed.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
The 3rd Gift by A.G. Mock
Finished this in one sitting because, well… self-control is apparently not my strong suit. Don’t ask me to put it down — I don’t negotiate with tension.
It started slow. Like, yawn slow. I was checking my nails, thinking maybe this is one of those “let’s trick you with fake calm” openings.
Then. Boom. Within a heartbeat it flipped the script. From mildly annoying to holy crap, my moral compass is having a breakdown. Revenge, heartbreak, rejection, emotions so raw you want to run screaming… but also peek because you know disaster is delicious.
The moral wrestling? Chef’s kiss. The book asked me: “What would you do if life handed you a snow-covered domestic nightmare with a knife-sharp twist?”
And honestly, I didn’t have an answer. I was clutching my blanket, quietly panicking.
The ending? I didn’t see it coming — which is rare because usually my brain beats books to the punchline. So points for that.
Why only 3 stars?
• It was easy, satisfying, and bingeable.
• But personally, I wasn’t blown away. My mind goes dark faster than this plot, apparently.
That said, anyone who likes slow-burn danger, husband-wife chaos, secluded cabin vibes, snow, and the kind of Christmas you hope is fictional… you’ll eat this up.
So yeah. Chill, slightly terrifying, and morally questionable — like all the best holiday reads you shouldn’t admit you enjoyed.
December 2, 2025
I don’t even know how to rate this book because five stars feels like a slap in the face to the literary rollercoaster I just experienced. The 3rd Gift is an absolute fever dream of Christmas horror, domestic thriller brilliance, and gleeful, high-stakes villainy wrapped in a blood-soaked bow. It’s twisted, jaw-dropping, and diabolically fun in a way that should honestly be illegal or at least require a warning label.
It begins with a mysterious deal: three gifts in exchange for a life-changing reward. What unfolds is a descent into manipulation, psychological warfare, and a masterclass in character unraveling. I was hooked from the first chapter and completely unprepared for what followed.
By the end, I was stunned. Laughing one moment, horrified the next. AG Mock builds tension with surgical precision, delivering one of the most compelling, layered villains I’ve read in years.
This isn’t just a thriller. It’s a wicked cocktail of family dysfunction, creepy experimental tech, and high-stakes games you cannot win. The twists never stop, and the payoff is pitch-perfect.
AG Mock, you magnificent madman. You’ve earned a permanent spot in my author hall of fame. This is my top read of 2025 and the best holiday horror-thriller I’ve ever read.
It begins with a mysterious deal: three gifts in exchange for a life-changing reward. What unfolds is a descent into manipulation, psychological warfare, and a masterclass in character unraveling. I was hooked from the first chapter and completely unprepared for what followed.
By the end, I was stunned. Laughing one moment, horrified the next. AG Mock builds tension with surgical precision, delivering one of the most compelling, layered villains I’ve read in years.
This isn’t just a thriller. It’s a wicked cocktail of family dysfunction, creepy experimental tech, and high-stakes games you cannot win. The twists never stop, and the payoff is pitch-perfect.
AG Mock, you magnificent madman. You’ve earned a permanent spot in my author hall of fame. This is my top read of 2025 and the best holiday horror-thriller I’ve ever read.
December 15, 2025
Wow! This book had me shook. I flew threw the last 40% of the book.
A couple in a new town attempting to start over and "fix" their marriage after an incident (what its called for a good chunk of the book). Maria and Josh find themselves in a neighborhood above them and attending a Christmas party that has to be closer to how celebrities celebrate versus everyday people. After Josh befriends one of the couples at this party, they introduce him to a pact of somesort involving 3 gifts. The gifts sound amazing and life changing, but the cost of them will also alter Josh and Maria's lives.
While the story itself would have been interesting, the added detail of Maria being basically blind due to diabetes made the story even more intriguing.
I completely suggest everyone read this story this month!
A couple in a new town attempting to start over and "fix" their marriage after an incident (what its called for a good chunk of the book). Maria and Josh find themselves in a neighborhood above them and attending a Christmas party that has to be closer to how celebrities celebrate versus everyday people. After Josh befriends one of the couples at this party, they introduce him to a pact of somesort involving 3 gifts. The gifts sound amazing and life changing, but the cost of them will also alter Josh and Maria's lives.
While the story itself would have been interesting, the added detail of Maria being basically blind due to diabetes made the story even more intriguing.
I completely suggest everyone read this story this month!
December 17, 2025
What a ride!
I couldn’t put this one down! My sister and I have been keeping up with A. G. Mock, making this our fifth book by him. It’s definitely on par for suspense, gore, and big twists! There’s a lot of authors out there, too many for me to even choose a handful of favorites for each genre, but when it comes to horror/psychological thrillers, this man can give King a run for his money and takes the number one spot. At one point I had an inkling at the relation of one of the minor characters but was only partially correct. (Again, lots of horror/psychological movies, shows and books so I usually know how to think which makes it extremely pleasing when I’m blindsided by a twist…or four!)
I couldn’t put this one down! My sister and I have been keeping up with A. G. Mock, making this our fifth book by him. It’s definitely on par for suspense, gore, and big twists! There’s a lot of authors out there, too many for me to even choose a handful of favorites for each genre, but when it comes to horror/psychological thrillers, this man can give King a run for his money and takes the number one spot. At one point I had an inkling at the relation of one of the minor characters but was only partially correct. (Again, lots of horror/psychological movies, shows and books so I usually know how to think which makes it extremely pleasing when I’m blindsided by a twist…or four!)
December 17, 2025
This wasn’t very Christmasy apart from a brief mention and the dates of when things happened and it could have been written for any time in winter.
Definitely different from the usual psychological thrillers I read. It reminded me of The Girl in 6E and The Mindf*ck series. I found the beginning very weird, the middle kind of slow but the ending was so shocking! It’s entertaining but very far-fetched by the end.
It’s the first book I’ve read by this author but I may read another in the future.
Definitely different from the usual psychological thrillers I read. It reminded me of The Girl in 6E and The Mindf*ck series. I found the beginning very weird, the middle kind of slow but the ending was so shocking! It’s entertaining but very far-fetched by the end.
It’s the first book I’ve read by this author but I may read another in the future.
December 28, 2025
I absolutely loved and enjoyed reading this book. There is so many twists and turns. It definitely grabbed my attention and I had the hardest time putting the book down. I just had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. The storyline is fantastic and we'll written. I didnt see that plot twist coming. This is one of those books that stays with you even after you finish reading the book. I highly recommend this book.
November 26, 2025
“The 3rd Gift” by A. G. Mock is an absolute ride from start to finish. Mock does it again—another dark masterpiece. I couldn’t put this book down; it's intense, gripping, and packed with lies, deception, and tension that never lets up. And of course, the one trigger I have shows up in this story, but it was so compelling that I pushed through and survived it. A dark, twisty, unforgettable read!
December 3, 2025
I always enjoy AG Mock’s books and this one definitely did not disappoint! It grabs you from the beginning and
does not let go until the end! There were so many jaw dropping moments; well the book was one jaw dropping moment after the other. A solid 5 stars for me! If I could give it more, I would! This is a book not to be missed!
does not let go until the end! There were so many jaw dropping moments; well the book was one jaw dropping moment after the other. A solid 5 stars for me! If I could give it more, I would! This is a book not to be missed!
November 30, 2025
A Simple Divorce Won’t Suffice Here
Christmas has been reimagined.
A married couple has spiraled into a relationship with many twisted, by regular standards, morals. Who raised these two? A prequel perhaps? Anyway, you will be gobsmacked as the ending unfolds.
Christmas has been reimagined.
A married couple has spiraled into a relationship with many twisted, by regular standards, morals. Who raised these two? A prequel perhaps? Anyway, you will be gobsmacked as the ending unfolds.
December 4, 2025
This…was…not…what…I…expected!
The 3rd Gift is such a unique and exciting story. Not your typical fractured-marriage read at all.
“One must die?” I was sold instantly. Total page turner. Y’all need to read this one.
The 3rd Gift is such a unique and exciting story. Not your typical fractured-marriage read at all.
“One must die?” I was sold instantly. Total page turner. Y’all need to read this one.
December 11, 2025
After reading Now is the time of Monsters I had to immediately become a bit obsessed & read all of his work.
I just finished this, in 2 sittings & it was as good as I’d hoped.
Bit of spice ✔️
Bit of violence ✔️
Bit of bloody gore ✔️
Cracker of a twist ✔️
I really recommend resdig this. Whether it be Christmas or not.
I just finished this, in 2 sittings & it was as good as I’d hoped.
Bit of spice ✔️
Bit of violence ✔️
Bit of bloody gore ✔️
Cracker of a twist ✔️
I really recommend resdig this. Whether it be Christmas or not.
December 19, 2025
I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. Keeps you going until the end. Didn’t see the ending part coming. I highly recommend it. Not to mention it is pretty cool the author donated 100% of the profit to The Salvation Army’ Children literacy program.
December 11, 2025
I am so bummed this one just didn’t do it for me. Too unrealistic and felt thrown together the last half of the book.
December 12, 2025
This was an amazing thriller Christmas story! The twists and turns will keep you turning the pages!
December 13, 2025
What a thrilling story. I couldn't stop reading. Nothing is like it seems. Very well written. All is revealed in the end. No questions left unanswered.
December 17, 2025
Fantastic read
It was amazing. It started off a little slow then the turning point came and I had no choice but to stay up late to finish it!
It was amazing. It started off a little slow then the turning point came and I had no choice but to stay up late to finish it!
December 18, 2025
2.5 stars
Content warning:
Be prepared, some scenes were gross.
Content warning:
Be prepared, some scenes were gross.
December 22, 2025
Truly an awful book. Poorly written.
December 24, 2025
That entire story was wildly unexpected. There were a few repetitive sections which is why I'm rating it 4 stars instead of 5, but overall I really enjoyed this thriller. The ending was *awesome*.
January 19, 2026
sooo good
Omg this was excellent! One shocker after another! I totally recommend this. Can’t wait to read other books by this author
Omg this was excellent! One shocker after another! I totally recommend this. Can’t wait to read other books by this author
January 23, 2026
Omg
I don't know where to start unbelievable
This was beyond I never saw that ending coming WOW
What a twist
I don't know where to start unbelievable
This was beyond I never saw that ending coming WOW
What a twist
December 28, 2025
fight, flight or sight?
Ri must decide as she is blind: fight or flight? This is what she must decide as her life is on the line from someone close to her-follow along as she goes from seeing shapes and colors to being plunged into darkness as the lights go out as she’s being hunted! What would you do if all of a sudden you couldn’t see anything and someone was coming for you? Would you stay and try to fight or would you run??
Ri must decide as she is blind: fight or flight? This is what she must decide as her life is on the line from someone close to her-follow along as she goes from seeing shapes and colors to being plunged into darkness as the lights go out as she’s being hunted! What would you do if all of a sudden you couldn’t see anything and someone was coming for you? Would you stay and try to fight or would you run??
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews