The Night Shift had a fun and interesting premise - And some throwbacks to my teenage years of renting movies at Blockbuster. My praise ends there. Unfortunately, the writing was very one-dimensional - the characters felt like they were cut and pasted from an episode of CSI and had no depth, their dialogue was stunted and unnatural and the relationships between the characters felt forced. If you don't have characters that are interesting and dynamic, the plot suffers. Skip this one!

Well the secret is out, Alex Finlay is a helluva writer! Last year I read “Every Last Fear” which I loved and have been anticipating his follow up and not only was I not disappointed, he has surpassed himself! His latest novel “The Night Shift” is about two murders in a small town 15 years apart. I really enjoyed the throwback to 1999 Blockbuster setting, I am old, ha! Alex takes the final girl thing, and really makes it way more interesting and surprising than anyone has before in my opinion. This isn’t cookie cutter. Also, make sure you stay with this one, I know last time it was non-stop action from the get go, this time there is a slow burn, but then the pace really picks up! Also this time around I really felt the characters were more fleshed out. Is that a horror phrase or red herring? Well, read the book and find out! You will not be disappointed! Thanks for reading! Thanks to Alex Finlay, St. Martin’s Press, and of course NetGalley!

A fun premise as we all remember Blockbuster's and, at least for me, those are some happy memories.

I was ready for a thrill ride and unfortunately, I didn't get it. The mystery was good but I was missing the thriller. The story had several slow spots for me that made me talk myself into continuing to pick it up to start reading again.

I also don't think I'm a big fan of people withholding vital information within the story. It's super frustrating.

The overall storyline is good and I'm probably holding an unpopular opinion on this one.

I really tried to get into this book but I wasn't successful. I feel like the characters lacked depth and personality, almost as if they were caricatures of stereotypes in detective thrillers. The dialogue was a struggle and didn't feel like it was realistic in any way. Also, even as a mother myself, who usually loves books about pregnant folks, I was so tired of hearing about her pregnancy. I think what bothered me about it was that there is absolutely no way a person at the end of a twins pregnancy would be allowed to be out in the field solving a murder and even if we can get past that, there is no way that they would be running all over the place and on their feet for 12 hours a day chasing bad guys. And there's a reason for that. I can't imagine wanting to be out there, putting the babies in harm's way. I know how that sounds...I do...and I struggled with having those thoughts, but there is just no way.

Even if we can get over the pregnancy focus, the rest didn't seem real enough or interesting enough for me. This book just isn't for me.

The Night Shift was everything you want in a thriller- suspense, romantic connections, and flashbacks to the past. I read this so quickly because I needed to know how it ended. I worked at Dairy Queen in high school so putting myself in the characters’ shoes added to the scariness and suspense for me. This is a perfect book for a trip to the beach or the pool this summer!

Thank you to Alex Finlay, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think Finlay’s books just aren’t for me. Hated the first one and it’s vile racism towards the Mexican community. This one was just sooo hard to get into. Made it 73 pages in and the writing was just awful. I’m glad so many others enjoy his works, just not for me.

I was looking forward to this one, but it really let me down. So much of the dialogue felt forced and unnatural. The writing was serviceable, but not extraordinary. Despite the multiple POVs, I never ended up feeling connected to any of the characters. The premise was interesting, but overall it seemed like a by the numbers thriller that failed to live up to the glimmers of potential it had.

Fast paced, thrilling, and wholly addictive! I couldn’t put this one down. It was a RIDE! I enjoyed the 90’s vibe and the video store setting. It brought back so many memories! The characters were complex and I enjoyed the back story. Intricately pieced together with fantastic writing- this is a thriller you don’t want to miss! 4.5 ⭐️

Every Last Fear was a wonderful read, so like many others, this book was on my most anticipated list. I love it when anticipated books deliver and don’t disappoint!! Reasons to read this book - short chapters, serial killer + police procedural story, altering timelines that reveal the plot like a piece of puzzle, and fast paced with twists and turns that will keep you intrigued. This book will definitely leave you wanting more from these characters!!

Thank you Minotaur for the reader’s copy!

Book Review 📚 The Night Shift by @alexfinlayauthor and published by @minotaur_books.

I loved EVERY LAST FEAR by Alex Finlay so as soon as I saw that he authored THE NIGHT SHIFT, I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of this. Also, look at that gorgeous cover.

Finlay has once again created a gripping story with a made-for-tv feel that’ll have you flipping pages late into the night to finish this wild ride. I loved the short chapters and the fact that we got to witness this story unfold from multiple perspectives; in doing so, Finlay is able to whip you up into a frenzy of action and will not release you from his grip until the stunning final conclusion.

This one is not to be missed. If your looking for a new book to start this weekend, this is the one. Get ready to curl up under a blanket, devour some popcorn, and be utterly irritated with any distractions from this break-neck and highly-entertaining story.

See the synopsis below: ⬇️

It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in New Jersey, four teenagers working late at the store are attacked. Only one inexplicably survives. Police quickly identify a suspect, the boyfriend of one of the victims, who flees and is never seen again.

Fifteen years later, more teenage employees are attacked at an ice cream store in the same town, and again only one makes it out alive.

In the aftermath of the latest crime, three lives intersect: the lone survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive the horrors of her tragedy; the brother of the fugitive accused, who’s convinced the police have the wrong suspect; and FBI agent Sarah Keller who must delve into the secrets of both nights―stirring up memories of teen love and lies―to uncover the truth about murders on the night shift.

Twisty, poignant, and redemptive, The Night Shift is a story about the legacy of trauma and how the broken can come out on the other side, and it solidifies Finlay as one of the new leading voices in the world of thrillers.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 Stars

This was my first book of the authors so was not sure what to expect. All good. Enjoyable mystery with relatable characters. Not sure if the ends were all tied up believably but I am just going with it.

Fun and fast read. Loved the blast from the past with the Blockbuster and Y2K references. My first Alex Finlay book but not my last.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the copy for an honest review.

This is my second book by Finlay, following Every Last Fear, which I absolutely loved. This sophomore release was also very fast paced and made it hard to put it down. I liked all of the perspectives included and how they all came together throughout the book. My one criticism would be that I was expecting a bit of 90's throwback included, as promised in the previews. Very little takes place in this time frame, and when it is set there, there is no nostalgic feel whatsoever. Thank you Macmillan for an advanced copy of The Night Shift in exchange for an honest review.

Unpopular opinion! I'm now 0/2 with Alex Finlay books. Have you read an author multiple times and think, this author is just not for me? This guy right here. I had some issues with Every Last Fear but heard about the 90s vibes in this one and wanted to give him another shot. I figured out the big twist 5% in and it was just a let down for me. Super underwhelming and I do like some sense of realistic elements in my thrillers!

Told in alternating timelines we see both crimes as the local police and the FBI work both cases. There were a few other parts that just didn't seem at all realistic. (The FBI agent almost 9months pregnant, running around and in danger in the field.

After the initial pages, I found myself not connecting with the story or characters, so I decided to pass on this book. Did not finish

If I know one thing about myself, it’s that I love short but intense chapters! And this book definitely has that! If you want a book that makes you stop what your doing in life and have to move on to the next chapter because it leaves you on a cliffhanger? That’s this book!

Overall this book was well written and I look forward to the authors next Novel!

I gave this book 💥💥💥💥

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the ARC.

(4.50*)

It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is so close you could smell it. And smell the fear. The fear that the new century will bring planes crashing from the sky, alien apocalypses, and everything to come plummeting down…

But none of that happens.

Instead, a Blockbuster in New Jersey is the target this New Year’s Eve. Manager Stevie and four teenage girls (Mandy, Candy, Katie, and Ella) are working the night shift at their store when they are attacked. Only one girl survives.

Fifteen years later, in the same town, another four teenage employees are working late when they are attacked. This time at an ice cream parlor, but the same scenario… Only one girl makes it out alive… again.

Is this all a coincidence? Do we have a copycat killer at hand? Or are both late night killings actually linked?

I actually really enjoyed this book. It is such a fast-paced read. There are so many areas of the book that I found myself very invested into. Tons of little details and teasers/cliffhangers given at the end of the chapters, which made it even more intriguing. It was super unputdownable.

The story is told from multiple perspectives. Ella, who is the lone survivor of the 1999 Blockbuster murders. Sarah Keller, the pregnant FBI agent assigned to the ice cream parlor case. And Chris, a prosecutor who is connected to the lead suspect in the murder cases. Having there be multiple POVs in this book, really helps grasp the details of the story and the characters better, as well as, builds suspense.

Overall, The Night Shift was well-written. There wasn’t too little or too much information or character development, which made it flow very nicely. It is my first book by Alex Finlay, like I own Every Last Fear but just haven’t picked it up off my shelf yet, but definitely will be now after getting a taste of his writing style.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars. It's New Years Eve, 1999. While the entire world is worked up about Y2K, four teen girls are closing up the Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey. By the end of the night, three of them will be murdered in a vicious attack. And fifteen years later, an eerily similar crime will be committed at an ice cream shop in the same town: three female teenage victims, one survivor. The Night Shift takes place at the intersection of three lives affected by these crimes: an FBI agent investigating both cases; the brother of the original Blockbuster murders suspect who is now a public defender; and the "final girl" from the Blockbuster murders, now a therapist who is called in to speak with the ice cream shop survivor.

With short, propulsive chapters, multiple perspectives, a cast of characters to root for, and two compelling murder investigations, The Night Shift is a solid thriller, and I devoured it. The pacing is perfect, with chapters that end on cliffhangers and the integration of YouTube clips to keep readers interested and engaged. I didn't see the ending coming, despite or maybe because of Alex Finlay's cleverly-immersed clues.

There were a few loose ends I would've liked to see tied up, a few police procedural elements had me raising my eyebrows, and I wanted more '90s nostalgia. But overall, The Night Shift is a compulsively readable, exciting thriller with lots of heart. It was my first book by Finlay, and I'll definitely be reading more of his work.

This is the first thriller I've read in such a long time and it was amazing. It was a wild ride with plenty of twists and turns and had me saying well I didn't see that coming! I love the short chapters and that we follow three points of views. It's definitely a fast paced read. If you like the Women's Murder club books by James Patterson then you very well might like this one! Definitely recommend picking this up!

*ARC kindly provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I decided to request this title because I wanted to dip my toes into the mystery-thriller genre and see what I would find in a story like this one since I enjoy watching either tv shows or movies that are placed in this category. I must say that I wasn’t let down by it, even if I had my doubts because this is a new-to-me author, and I didn’t know how I would like the writing.

To sum it up a bit, The Night Shift is a thriller that focuses on the night crew of a Blockbuster being murdered on New Year’s Eve in 1999. Fast forward 15 years and the ice cream shop closing crew has the same fate. The question is, is it a copycat or has the original killer come back to hunt?

I have to say that what I mostly enjoyed by this book was the multiple POVs starting chapters, even though at first it was a little difficult to find myself between the characters. The multiple chapters are divided between: Ella, survivor from the Blockbuster murders, Sarah Keller, FBI agent, and Chris, assistant prosecutor who has a connection with the suspected murderer. Apart from that, I liked that the chapters were short and they almost always ended in a cliffhanger in order to keep the reader’s attention.

This time around I didn’t guess the killer but only because I had no idea of who to focus my attention to since I found myself drawn to the backstory of the secondary characters mentioned.

So, if you find yourself on the look for a thriller, this might be the one for you!