This story was engaging and easily bingeable. It reminded me a lot of all of Riley Sager's books. The nostalgia of the 90s was enjoyable for me as well. I loved going "back in time" to Blockbusters. However, it also is predictable and gets a little over-the-top towards the ends. If you are used to these kinds of thrillers, though, that shouldn't bother you. I didn't bother me. I found this book to be a great beach read for the summertime. The perfect summer book to read in one sitting. The writing isn't anything incredible, nor is the plot development, but it is a treat and is exactly what you are expecting when you open it up. If you like Riley Sager or Megan Miranda, give this book a try.

Thank you so much NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.


On New Year's Eve in 1999 everyone is worried about the impending doom of Y2K, but for the workers in one Blockbuster in Linden, New Jersey it’s just a typical night shift. Until it isn’t.


Alex Finlay congratulations on writing a fast-paced, tangled web of a thriller that I could not put down. Only stopping to work and sleep I devoured this book in two days. It read like the perfect binge-worthy true-crime inspired Netflix hit. I quite literally felt like I might as well be watching a movie as I raced to finish the book.

The pacing of this book was so utterly perfect. I’ve found that some crime novels tend to get bogged down in the process of examining the case. In The Night Shift, the shifting perspectives as well as the addition of flashbacks, and excerpts from youtube videos, keep the pace enjoyable and the story flows really well.

There are five different perspectives, including small video clips described in this book. Two are outside the main characters of The Night Shift. One of them, Steve, is only available for one chapter - the prologue. I think that Finlay does such a great job at defining a character and setting up an atmosphere in such a short amount of time that I truly cared about Steve for the fleeting moment we spend with him. Another, Katie, appears just once in the penultimate chapter. I know people often complain about the addition of a new narrator so late in a story, but this really really worked for me. The addition of Katie’s POV helps to show how the story is concluding, rather than simply telling. The video clips and the hope Chris has about his anonymous youtube obsession were terrific additions to the book, and left me just as hopeful as he raced to get his answers.

I have to admit I am an absolute sucker for the trope of a ‘final girl’, so I was instantly drawn to this book, but wow did it deliver more than just a new take on a campy horror concept. The Night Shift was deep and heavy with emotion and the psychological/physical damage that comes from such violent crimes. There are two characters outside of the three narrators I wish to talk about but can’t without spoilers. I will say their journey throughout the book almost had me crying when I reached the end.

Ultimately I’ll rate this a 4.5 rounded up. I thought this would be a 5-star read, and honestly the only thing stopping it from being so are a couple small qualms I have with the ending. The epilogue jumps forward an entire year, from the thrilling, yet terrifying end of the book, and it doesn’t provide too much closure.

Without giving away too much, the name of the book comes into play in a way that is supposed to seem significant but personally fell flat. Characters who’s whole characterization is built on their drive for their future, don’t get any closure or explanation. Perhaps the two most impactful deaths aren’t really delved into. I enjoyed every second of this book, and won’t hesitate to recommend it, but ultimately the ending fell just a little short of what I was hoping for.

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the ground because The Night Shift was OMG good. I absolutely adored Alex Finlay's last book Every Last Fear, yet I was hesitant to read this one because I didn't want to be let down. The synopsis of this book further heightened my expectations, because it sounded original and thrilling. I am pleased to say there were NO eye rolls reading this book, and I couldn't put it down (when my children allowed me uninterrupted reading time).

All of these characters were damaged, sketchy and irresponsible, but I couldn't get enough of them. I loved the short chapters, which made me binge it even faster, especially when the chapters ended with me NEEDING to know what happened next. I kept saying "one more chapter". I had NO idea what was coming for me at any point reading this book, maybe that makes me naive, but I didn't see it and I honestly couldn't really have guessed anyone was guilty other than who the suggested suspect was. So many dark twists I didn't see coming which made me love this one even more.

One HUGE hangup I have with this book is Agent Keller being pregnant with twins and chasing down violent criminals. As someone who was pregnant with twins, I can promise you that would have been absolutely impossible to do. Yet I loved her, she was an incredible character.

Unpopular Opinion: I loved Every Last Fear so I really thought it was a no-brainer that I would love The Night Shift. I started off enjoying it. I loved all of the references to the 90s; however, I thought the story was somewhat lackluster. I didn’t feel any interest in the characters after the first half of the book. The epilogue was too “hallmarky” for my taste. I’m disappointed I couldn’t get into this one. I think the concept of the story was creative, but unfortunately it didn’t quite gel for me. Don’t let my humble opinion deter you from reading this book, it is one of the most highly-anticipated thrillers of 2022 and has a lot of buzz surrounding it. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I personally didn’t enjoy this as much as Every Last Fear. The story wasn’t as interesting and didn’t’ enjoy it as much. Still an Alex Findlay fan and will continue to read books by this author!!

The Night Shift is about two almost identical crimes, committed fifteen years apart. The first occurred on New Year's Eve 1999 where the store manager and 3 female employees were killed. There was one survivor, Ella, who is now a therapist. Vince, Ella's boyfriend was suspected of the crime, but he disappeared when he was let out on bail. Fifteen years after that horrific night another attack takes place at a local ice cream shop. Again there is only one survivor after the attack, a teenager named Jessica. The local high school principal calls Ella to try and connect to the surviving victim as she has a perspective no one else would understand. At this point, FBI Agent Sarah Keller is called in to see if the suspected killer from the Y2K crime has reappeared. Before long, Jessica is arrested and the local pubic defender's office is called in. One of the members of the team is Chris, the brother of Vince, who was adopted and took on a new name. Hang onto your hat as the twists keep coming. Has the original killer returned to recreate his crime? Is it a copycat? Or has the killer been hiding in plain sight all this time?

Ella, Sarah and Chris are all great characters. They all want justice, but what does that look like. Ella is a flawed character. She had issues with her mother before the murders, but after it happened, her mother just wanted her to get over it. She participates in some questionable activities, but when Jessica needs her, she does what she can to help her. I love Sarah Keller. She is 8 1/2 months pregnant with twins and is such a badass. Chris also has a lot of baggage. He was a product of an abusive home, abandoned by his mother and still looking for his brother who he is sure is innocent. Jessica is a smart, sassy, courageous, chance taking teenager, who is in foster care and dealing with bullying as well as baggage from her past. As this case is explored, clues followed, questions asked and secrets revealed, we begin to get an inkling into what really happened. There were some minor twists along the way, then a huge reveal that shocked me. I loved this story as much as the first Alex Finlay story I read. I am eagerly waiting to see what he has in store for us in his next book.

I really enjoy Finlay's writing style - short, addicting chapters that keep you turning pages quickly without a lot of unnecessary fluff! Some things were not a huge surprise but how were go there was so I definitely didn't figure everything out! I'm glad for a solid read and will definitely continue to read Finlay's books.

The story starts off on New Year's Eve 1999 when a group of teens is attacked inside of a blockbuster video store all but one is murdered. Fast-forward to current day and we are following three different points of view. The one survivor from the blockbuster massacre, a very pregnant FBI agent, and a public defender who is the younger brother of the accused Blockbuster massacre. We follow the three as they uncover secrets and discover what really happened all those years ago and how that crime might be connected with a recent killing at an ice cream store in the same town.


This book started off slow for me and I wasn't sure it would be for me as I wasn't really interested in the view point of the FBI agent or the public defender. I found Ella's plot line to be very interesting and found myself eager to get back to her chapters. At about half way through the book I started to become very invested in the characters and the plot and needed to find out how the book would end. I really enjoyed when the different characters began to interact with each other and they started to working together to solve the crimes. Overall I would recommend this book and found myself unable to put it down.

Alex Finlay blends a true crime mystery from the 90's with a modern day murder in The Night Shift. His character in the young witness is rather fantastic in her own right being incredibly smart and making you truly wonder how much of what she reveals is the actual truth, and how much she has manipulated. While she seems a side character, her role is actually the piece of the puzzle that moves the story forward and connects the past to the present. This is an excellent book for lovers of true crime, murder mystery's, and anyone who loves to try to piece together a puzzle.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay is a fast-paced thriller about two different mass murder cases. 15 years ago there was one survivor from a murder spree at a Blockbuster. Fast forward to the present day when another murder spree occurs nearby and also leaves just one survivor. A team of experts convenes to determine if this is the work of the same person, especially since the suspect from the original case disappeared once released from his prison hold. Lots of action keeps this plot moving right along. Read and enjoy!

🍨 It’s New Year’s Eve 1999, the world is in a state of uncertainty at the brink of Y2K, and a Blockbuster in New Jersey is the scene of a mass murder. Fifteen year later, a similar incident happens at the local ice cream shop, and again only one target makes it out alive. Both surviving victims report the killer saying “Goodnight, pretty girl.”

🍿 In the story that follows, three lives intersect: the survivor of the 1999 Blockbuster murder, forced to relive her experience; the brother of the original suspect, who is convinced the police had the wrong guy; and an FBI agent who is committed to solving both cases.

📖 This book was everything I ever wanted in a thriller:

🎥 90s nostalgia

👀 Face paced thriller with multiple POV

🌀 So many twists and turns leaving me questioning what happened

☘️ I’m only halfway through March and I can already say this may be my favorite read this month. The short chapters and quick pace kept it moving and I breezed through it in a day. Thank you to @alexfinlayauthor @minotaur_books and @netgalley for the early digital copy of The Night Shift. I absolutely loved it and had to get a physical copy to keep on my shelf.

Okay, so I know that I am one of the few people who feels this way but—I was pretty disappointed with this book!

I had high hopes for this book, and the premise sounded so promising. The beginning first quarter really had my attention, but it was all downhill after that and I felt it was pretty boring! It took me a lot longer to read then normal, and it just dragged on. I just felt that the characters were boring and lacked any sort of connection to any of them.

Also, it seemed to lack any sort of shock and whoa factor for me. I needed more twists and turns, and a lot more character development from this one. It lacked the nostalgic, creepy, slasher effect.

It was not a horrible read, but I just struggled getting into it and connecting with the characters, so it was just OKAY, but I did not love it and was hoping for so much more.

Although it did not work for me, I know so many of you loved this one! I think most people who enjoy thrillers/suspense books will enjoy this one, I just was not one of them.

Thanks to @NetyGalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I haven't read anything from this author before, but I absolutely loved their writing style. This was a great first read for the month, and the cover looks sooo good.

Loved this book!!! So many unexpected twists and turns, this book had me guessing til the very end.

The night crew of a local Blockbuster is murdered with just one survivor - then 15 years later in similar fashion, a local ice cream store crew is murdered leaving only one remaining survivor. You'll find yourself suspecting every last character, as people act differently to the deaths, the revelations, and the investigation. Everyone has something to hide...

This story is told from multiple perspectives, shifting from Ella the original Blockbuster survivor, to Sarah, the FBI agent assigned to the case, to Chris, a lawyer assigned to the ice cream case. I loved that the perspective was constantly changing to give you insights the other characters may not have known, or perspectives to understand the same story from all possible sides. I did find it difficult to keep track of who was who for quite a while, as the two murder stories had many similarities and characters.

This novel is suspenseful and exciting to uncover. I finished this novel quickly and I am looking forward to picking up another of Alex Finlay's novels. Fast paced, short chapters, you'll be turning the pages quickly!

Murder mystery and investigations. I really enjoyed the multiple point of views. I think the author did a really good job on showing each characters emotions. The ending was tied up with an eventful brawl with what I believe is justice. As the book progresses, it built suspense especially through the FBI agents narration. I knew almost from the beginning who the murderer was and why he killed the victims. It was an easy and fast read.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. It was a good one!

I was especially excited to get an ARC of this book, as I really enjoyed Finlay's Every Last Fear. The Night Shift features two small-town murders years apart, where teenagers are murdered at local businesses after hours. The survivors from both crimes find themselves linked together, as well as an FBI agent, and the brother of the original suspect. The original suspect has never been seen again since he made bail, and fear is gripping the town once again.

This is a great book full of complex characters, secrets from the past, and lots of twists and turns. I could not put it down, and finished it quickly. The ending was a complete shocker to me that worked so well.

New Years Eve 1999 at a Blockbuster video store, four teenagers working at the store are attacked, only one survives. Fast forward fifteen years later, and four teenages are working at an ice cream shop and again, only one makes it out alive.

In the aftermath of the ice cream shop attack, the lone survivors of both attacks and the brother of the original suspect intertwine. The brother is convinced his brother is innocent of the crimes.

I’m definitely an Alex Finlay fan after this book! I enjoyed the Y2K theme, the dual timelines, and the pace of this book! I didn’t feel like the book slowed down at all.

I really enjoyed this thriller! It had a lot of moving parts, one that didn’t really work for me (YouTube character) but most that were surprising and interesting! I guessed some plot points but was excited to find that there were many twists that I didn’t see coming as well. I would like to read more of the authors backlog now!

I wish I could give this 4.5 stars. A very quick-paced read for thriller lovers.

The book follows two different murder cases, one past and one present - but are they connected? There are multiple points of view and the author expertly connects all the characters in a web that keeps you on your toes.

My only negative feedback is that I guessed the guilty person pretty early on. But there were so many other twists, it doesn’t spoil the book.

First, thank you to Minotaur Books, NetGalley and the author for this review copy! Second, THANK you to Alex Finlay for writing such an AWESOME story! Holy cannoli, this is the second book I’ve read of his and it kept me on the edge of my seat!

I graduated high school in 2000 so, I feel like I had a well rounded childhood and adolescence experience. What I mean by that is things like growing up with all the cool 1980-1990’s music, toys, accessories and finally, Blockbuster video. What a time we had, right? These 2000 and above kiddos just don’t have a clue how badass of a experience we grew up with. And if you are from 2000’s then it’s ok..we still love ya! 😉😉

This story centers around two sets of murders, one in 1999 at a Blockbuster and the second 15 years later at an ice cream shop. Same set of circumstances surrounding the murders. Is it a copycat, is it the same person or what? The suspense was incredible, perfectly rounded when needed and just easy to keep up with.

I loved this read and highly recommend it! Five stars all the way!