The Night Shift by Alex Finlay is a gripping thriller that weaves past and present crimes together with relentless suspense. The story follows the investigation into a brutal attack at an ice cream shop that mirrors a similar massacre at a Blockbuster Video from 15 years prior. The novel's multiple points of view—including an FBI agent, a survivor, and a public defender—add layers to the mystery, keeping readers on edge as secrets unravel. Finlay’s pacing is tight, and his characters are well-drawn, with compelling backstories that enhance the plot. Though some twists may feel familiar to seasoned thriller readers, the engaging writing and well-executed reveals make this a standout page-turner.

What to listen to while reading...
Night Shift by Lucy Daucus
Hurt by Johnny Cash
Writer in the Dark by Lorde
Back to the Old House by The Smiths
Trauma by MF
Family Line by Conan Gray

Plenty of twists and turn here and a satisfying conclusion. My only issue was the style of the narration changes from chapter to chapter. I generally like this in a book but it felt more chaotic here. Otherwise a solid suspense book with several surprises.

This was my first Alex Finlay book and it won’t be the last! This book was engaging from the beginning and full of twists (only some I saw coming). Once I started I couldn’t stop until I knew what was going on. I just wish we had spent more time in 1999 - as a ‘90s kid I’m here for the nostalgia.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

Two murder scenes, 15 years apart, yet the same. Both attacks leave three young women dead and one survivor. When we meet the first survivor, it's obvious she is a "survivor" in name only. As she steps outside her memories of the attack to help the second survivor, she'll work with the FBI and local police to stop the killing.

If you've not read any Alex Finlay, you are missing out on some of the best "thriller" mysteries.

Another great book by this Author! Cliffhangers, short chapters, easy to read! I could picture every scene this was well written.

I loved this book. I love Alex Finlay's writing. I loved the premise and execution. I was hooked from page one and was constantly on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend this one!

4.5 rounded up !

I haven't read a thriller in MONTHS, and this was such an easy read to get me back into it. The audio for this was great, with multiple narrators for the multiple pov.

I loved the concept of this. The nostalgia of blockbuster. The dual timeline. Multiple povs that weave together seamlessly. Two murders years apart that they're trying to solve and see if they're connected.

This book had me guessing for a bit, but I did end up guessing who the killer may be, just not in the ways that are revealed, which I really liked. The reason I didn't give it a 5 star is because I wasn't completely shocked, but I still thoroughly enjoyed the execution and felt there were no plot holes. This was such an easy binge !

This book is so captivating and intriguing—it’s a fiction story that really pulls you in. Alex Finlay absolutely nailed it with this one. If you’re into that ’90s vibe and crime stories, this book is a must-read. Highly recommend diving into it!

This probably has to be my favourite Alex Finlay book. There were so many twists, I couldn't keep up. I loved that the story was told from multiple POV. The book was layered and complex. I loved that all the twists were interwoven. Great thriller!

I usually really enjoy Finlay’s work. This one…nope. Couldn’t get into it, thought the storyline was weak. I really tried with this one.

This was a pretty decent thriller. I love the throw back to the 90s, I can picture exciting so clearly.

This moved at a great pace and kept me interested. Definitely will be reading more Alex Finlay books!

I wanted to enjoy this one. I thought the story was ok but didn't keep my attention enough. I would give 3 stars

I heard some not so great things about the authors first book, but I wanted to give this one a try because the plot/setting sounded like it would make for a fun thriller! And while I did have a good time, it was not the five star read I hoped it would be, but nonetheless it was an entertaining thriller. Both timelines kept my interest, though I definitely wanted more 1999! I would probably try the author again.

I've always appreciated any book by Alex Finlay - I've enjoyed all of his thrillers and this one is no different. I loved the short chapters, the multiple POVs and even though this was super chaotic, Finlay crushed the story and how to keep you on the edge of your seat. I kept thinking the story would turn out one way, but I was completely fooled and I could not put this book down until I finished it! I can't wait to read more of Finlay's work in the future.

As someone who grew up going into blockbusters late at night, and currently working a nigh shift myself, this one kept me on edge! A twisty thriller that keeps you engaged from beginning to end! A town is rocked by a late night murder that resembles the same type of murder and victims just 15 years prior! Is this a copy cat?

Four teens at work are attacked, and only one survives. Then it happens again fifteen years later. Now, the survivor of the first attack, the brother of the accused, and an FBI agent all cross paths while dealing with the crimes and trying to figure out who was responsible.

This was a twisty, interesting read. I enjoyed it.

I was really looking forward to this book a lot .but unfortunately it wasn't a 5 star read for me. The story contains most of the police work and behind scene actions. But there were a few good plot twists that I did not see coming.

Overall not a bad reading nor excellent.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy!
Alex Finlay has a unique way of writing a plot with multiple characters that feels both cinematic as well as nail-biting, that any thriller he comes out with, is a must-read for a voracious thriller reader such as myself. My only issue with this book was that the ending didn’t answer substantial questions that I was looking forward to finding out. It felt like the book was written quickly. However I enjoyed the Blockbuster nostalgia and I’m obviously going to read his next thriller.

Alex Finlay's first book was great so I was so excited to read this one. I loved it even more! I love dual timelines and this one did not disappoint. I also love when a thriller has a copycat storyline. I was definitely surprised by the ending, although I was starting to suspect before it was actually revealed. Because of the ending that we got, I was a little disappointed over what happened to some of the other characters and frustrated with others. Overall, this is definitely by favorite of the two books so far.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review. I enjoyed the time I spent reading this book as I have with the author’s previous works.