When two seemingly related murder cases happen in Linden, New Jersey, 15 years apart, residents of the town are left reflecting on the past while trying to solve the horrors at present.

Quick pacing, lots of characters, and a somewhat predictable ending. This was not the best thriller I have ever read, but it also certainly wasn't the worst. (See review on Goodreads with spoiler tag for more details).

I read this one quickly during a road trip. I love Alex Finlay! I loved this book as well. I read every last fear when it came out and was hooked, and honestly liked this one even more! Agent Keller was portrayed as this awesome female lead and I loved that. I loved the bond that Keller and Atticus formed when investigating this new case. I really was not expecting the twist and when I did you can easily see what you missed. I give this book a 4/5 and can’t wait to read more by Finlay in the future.

Alex Finlay does it again! A compelling mystery with an amazing female lead that I hope to read more of in the future.

I had such high expectations for The Night Shift after all the rave reviews from fellow bookstagrammers. Unfortunately, I'm in the minority on this one and didn't love it. The book started out with a bang, but it didn't keep the excitement going. I also didn't love how the chapters seemed to just stop. I kept waiting for the Law and Order "dun-dun" music to drop at the end of each chapter. I did, however, find myself more invested in the book towards the end, but maybe it was a bit too late.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was so good! I loved the nostalgia of Blockbuster video being the setting for the first murder and all the “Final Girl” vibes. I guessed pretty early on who the killer was, but I loved all the little twists and layers of details that got revealed as the story went on! Such a solid thriller and a really captivating read!

Do Justice today. I really enjoyed this read! Multiple POVs, good twists, well written! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for n honest review. 4 Stars

Based off the premise I was not expecting to enjoy this novel. However, it pulled me in right from the start. A well-written and intriguing read. Definitely recommend.

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.