“The Night Shift” by Alex Finlay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 3/1/22

I loved this book!! It kept me interested the entire time. I loved the dual timeline and how the mystery of 1999 tied into current day! This was also a multiple POV, which was really interesting.

Tragedy struck Linden, New Jersey on New Years Even 1999. When the unimaginable can happen the last thing people expected was the Blockbuster Slaughter. Four teenage girls and their boss were working the night shift when a brutal killing took place leaving three dead and one survivor. 15 years later a similar crime happened at the ice cream store. Multiple dead and one survivor.
Ella the 1999 survivor is called to help speak with the survivor because she can relate to the victim.
FBI Agent Keller is called in to attempt to solve the crime of the century. She is even more determined to figure out what really happened in 1999. The suspect that was arrested and release escaped never to be seen again. Did he actually do it or was this a true mystery?
Chris the brother of the 1999 suspect has always believed his brother was innocent, but hasn’t been able to prove it. Will these new murdered bring up new evidence.
Other than the night shift slayings the main connection is what the murdered whispers in the survivors ear “Goodnight Pretty Girl.”

This was a great fast paced read with short chapters, lovable characters and an ending that had more twists than my brain could handle!! I enjoyed the parallel cases and brief dual timeline perspective. Can’t wait to read more by Alex Finlay in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ebook arc copy in exchange for an honest review!!

I was really expecting (and hoping) this would have some really great nostalgic, late 90s/early 2000's vibes but it literally could have been set at any time. Most of the story didn't even take place in this time period. Everything felt very bland and formulaic to me and just like every other thriller I've ever read.

This is the best mystery/thriller I've read in a long time! I kept gong back and forth between who could be the killer but I wasn't able to figure it fully out till the end when it was obvious. I loved the different perspectives and how the flashbacks were handled. The author did a great job at making certain characters just unbelievably despicable! The ending came together great as well! It's similar to a slasher film but in no way cheesy or outlandish like those can be sometimes. I recommend to any mystery/ suspense reader!

The year is 1999. Four teenage girls working the night shift at a New Jersey Blockbuster are brutally attacked. Only one survives. The police quickly zero in on a suspect who is released for lack of evidence then vanishes without a trace.

Fast forward 15 years. Same New Jersey town, another night shift at an ice cream shop, four more girls brutally attacked. Only one survives.

The victims both recall the chilling words the attacker whispered to them. So are these cases linked? Is the Blockbuster killer back? Or does New Jersey have a copy cat on their hands?

This book did not disappoint! I got strong Riley Sager vibes from it, and that is a positive in my opinion. It didn’t feel like any of the same stories- just the same chilling feelings!

This story is very character driven, using multiple POV’s. I would have liked to see a little bit more of the 1999 timeline, but not having that definitely made some of the twists later in the story reveal themselves like bombs I never saw coming.

I think the tension could have been a little higher also. I predicted who the attacker was pretty early on, however with the twists and turns it was still quite compelling.

The one thing that I did find bothering a me was the almost 9 month pregnant (WITH TWINS) FBI agent chasing down murder suspects guns blazing. I really had to suspend my disbelief there.

The ending left a few loose ends, but overall I really enjoyed this exciting story.

*Thank you to St Martins Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

This one started out in a Blockbuster in 1999 and made me feel so nostalgic during the flashbacks. Fifteen years later another attack occurs leading to the murder of multiple teenage girls at an ice cream shop. Both times, only one survives. This story follows the lives of three people that’s lives overlap. One is an FBI agent trying to solve the cases, the second is a survivor of the initial crime and the last is the brother of the primary suspect.

The character development was so well done in this story. I loved the short chapters that often ended with you biting your nails desperate to find out what happens. The point of view alternates and you can’t put the book down until you figure out what’s happening.

I am definitely interested in whatever @alexfinlay writes next!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC!

Wow! What a ride!!! In the beginning I wasn't too sure it was for me. With three different POVS the story felt a little disjointed but it didn't take too long for things to smooth out. And then at about the midpoint we have a huge surprise twist!! From then on the pace really picked up until at the end I couldn't read fast enough. It's been awhile since a book has left me feeling out of breath like The Night Shift did. While this is a thriller it is first and foremost a mystery. Two mass shootings 15 years apart each with a lone survivor. How are they connected...are they connected? The local police and the FBI race to find the answers. I do confess to guessing who the bad guy is but that didn't interfere with my enjoymen at all. It's been awhile since I've gotten so engrossed in a book. Thank you for this Alex Finlay!
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

**4.5-stars rounded up**

On December 31, 1999, a mass murder occurred at a Blockbuster Video store in Linden, New Jersey. The vicious closing time attack left three teenage girls and their manager dead; one girl survived. The alleged perpetrator, after being initially interrogated, is freed on a technicality. It's at that point that he flees, never to be seen or heard from again.

Fifteen years later, in Linden, girls closing up an ice cream shop are brutally attacked. Again, there is one survivor. Both final girls recall the attacker whispering something to them before he flees: good night, pretty girl. Could the Blockbuster attacker be back, or is there a copycat killer on the prowl?

The Night Shift follows multiple perspectives as both the events of the past and present are explored; including possible connections. The evolution of this story was absolutely spellbinding. Finlay drew me in from the very start of this book and it never let up. I read this entire thing in a day and half, while reading other books. It's safe to say, I quickly became obsessed with this.

Initially, I felt like there may be too many perspectives followed, but as it progressed, it became obvious why Finlay chose to write it that way. He really pulled it off. It ended up weaving together perfectly.

Reflecting back on my time reading Finlay's previous work, Every Last Fear, I had the exact same comment on that one. There were a ton of perspectives there as well, and even though I ended up feeling like they were all necessary, I feel even stronger about the way The Night Shift was done. For me, Finlay's writing has grown and I'm loving that upward trajectory.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see a recurring character from ELF, FBI Agent Sarah Keller. I enjoyed her perspective a lot before and even more so in this one. I felt like I got to know her better here and I became quite attached. I love her strength of spirit and she is so darn smart. She's definitely a character you can get behind.

This story kept me guessing. I think I started to figure it out really at the same time as the people investigating it. I had some inklings, but truth be told, I suspected everyone at one point or another. It felt like such a natural progression of reveals. I was living for it, whilst at the edge of my seat.

Overall, I had a blast with this. It got wild. It was engaging for me the entire way through. Additionally, it read like a movie. I could picture every scene as it was playing out. I would definitely recommend it. I pretty much feel on the same level for this one as I did for No Exit by Taylor Adams. Take from that what you will...

Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I think it is safe to say at this point, I will pick up anything Alex Finlay writes!!

📼 I really enjoyed Every Last Fear by this author, so I was excited to read his sophomore novel. It did not disappoint!

📼 This book is told from multiple POVs. The POVs were quite different (victim/therapist, FBI agent, lawyer) so they weren’t easily confused. I don’t think this book would have been as good and complex as it was without the different perspectives.

📼 The characters (primary and secondary) were genuine and had very interesting and complex individual backstories, which benefited the narrative greatly.

📼 The story was fast-paced and extremely engaging. I read it very quickly because I didn’t want to put it down! There were some clever gotcha moments I didn’t anticipate, and I always appreciate a solid surprise in a thriller!

📼 I did suspect who the killer might be early on, but there were enough red herrings that I second-guessed myself often. Ultimately, my guess was correct, but since I didn’t know how the connection was made to the killer until the end of the story, my enjoyment of the book did not falter at all.

📼 I also really enjoyed the nostalgia of the Blockbuster Video store (except for the murder part of course). I found myself remembering MANY trips to Blockbuster in my earlier days and how excited or disappointed I’d feel if I found, or didn’t find, a copy of the movie I wanted to rent. But I digress…

📼 If you liked Every Last Fear by this author, you will like this book also. If you enjoy the final girl trope, crime dramas, or complex thrillers, this book is for you!

📼 Alex Finlay’s books are now an auto-read for me!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress and @Minotaur_books for providing an eARC for me to review, which I have done honestly and voluntarily

Absolutely loved this nail biting thriller full of millennium nostalgia!

It’s NYE 1999 when four girls are brutally attacked while working the Night Shift at Blockbuster, only one survives. A suspect is identified with evidence and charged, but a technicality sets the man free and he instantly disappears, never to be heard or seen again. Fast forward decades later when history repeats itself in the local ice cream shop. Told from the voices of each of the lone survivors, the brother of the original suspect and the FBI agent desperate to solve both cases we embark on a series of questions; are the cases truly related, was the original investigation compromised, and where has the original suspect disappeared to?

Be sure to give yourself time once you sit down to read this because it is a page turner. It kept me guessing with some surprise twists and a bit of a whodunnit. I did figure out where the end was leading to which is why I can’t give a full 5 stars but, the final scene is very reminiscent of Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs and left me spooked!

Night Shift by Alex Finlay takes place On New Years Eve 1999. Four mischievous girls with their manager are getting ready to close when someone comes in the back door and attacks them all. Ella is the only girl who survives and her only memory is a man whispering to her.
Flash forward fifteen years and tragedy has struck again, this time four girls were attacked in an ice cream shop and again only one has survived. In an effort to get the newest survivor to talk, they reach out to the survivor from the original scene, Ella who now works as a psychologist.
The main suspect in the Blockbuster murders was a small time marijuana dealer named Vince who disappeared after he was released on bail. His younger brother Chris has never believed in his guilt and became a public defender to help people like his brother. He has become increasingly disillusioned with the system .The one bright spot in his day is a blog he follows of a wandering traveler who never identifies himself but he is convinced is the brother he misses and believes to be innocent.
Arpeggio, the local sheriff calls in the FBI to assist with the latest murders and the case is assigned to Agent Sarah Keller who is eight months pregnant with twins but still on the job.
Despite the sheriff trying to keep information from her she won’t be deterred from seeking answers and speaking to witnesses. Sarah is referred to a young investigator named Atticus Singh who has always taken interest in the Blockbuster case and can help her spot similarities between the latest murders though Arpeggio is insistent the cases are not connected. Sarah and her new partner refuse to back down and they spot clues that others may have missed and put them in a killers crosshairs.
This is the second novel by this author and he will be a must read author based on this one. This grabs you from the beginning and although there are things that strain my credibility Ie- a pregnant FBI agent who is due any day out in the field , I loved the pacing and I did not guess who the “ bad guy” was. This will be released tomorrow so don’t miss it! Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the e copy of a book sure to be in the best sellers list!

BOOK REVIEW ‘THE NIGHT SHIFT’
…
★★★★★

WOW, wow, WOW! This was my first Alex Finlay book and definitely won’t be my one and only. I LOVE a great time lapse mystery that is now repeating itself in present day. I could’ve finished this in one setting, but it took me two LOL. I couldn’t stop turning the page!! I am a sucker for an old school high school “slasher” storyline and plot. Right from the first chapter, I was HOOKED. I loved the way it was written, the strong female characters, the sub characters - just about everything LOL.

Also, I dream of the nights when my Dad used to take me to Blockbuster on a Friday night. Talk about 90’s nostalgia - ugh the finer days. SOME network needs to adapt this to the screen! It’ll make an amazing series. MUST read!

It’s December 31st, 1999, chaos is predicted with the start of Y2K. At a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls are working the night shift when they are brutally attacked. Only one survives. The main suspect is identified but disappears and is never seen again. Fifteen years later, in the same town, the same crime occurs at an ice cream shop. Three lives will cross: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre, the brother of the suspect, and the FBI agent determined to solve both cases.

The first half of the book is very slow, but it’s necessary due to their being multiple characters and backstories to learn. The story picks up a lot in the second half and you’re hit with all the shocking twists! I loved reading about how all of the characters and their stories were connected. The culprit wasn’t completely obvious to me and I really enjoyed how it kept me on my toes and always guessing! I went to Blockbuster all the time as I kid so the nostalgia from that was fun. Thank you so much to Minotaur Books, Alex Finlay, and NetGalley for my E-ARC!

The first two lines of the intro to the book says it all: an expectation of tragedy on New Year's Eve 1999. Y2K was a real fear in the computerized world of the day....could it deal with the the numbers of the year 2000?? But that was the least concern of four teenaged girls as they worked their shift at Blockbuster, and couldn't wait for closing time. Unbeknownst to them....only one would survive. Fifteen years later in the same town, three girls are attacked at the Dairy Creamery....only one would survive. Ella, survivor from 1999, is now a counselor and is called in to talk to Jesse, the survivor, who has said she will only talk to Ella. This begins a story that we learn from the perspective of main characters of each book chapter: Ella, Jesse, Keller (the very pregnant FBI investigator for the case), and Chris (brother to the escaped suspect of 1999 andnow a lawyer). This book kept me on my toes and unexpected twists had me reminding myslef of miniscule clues read earlier in the story. That is what a mystery/thrilerl is all about!! All the little pieces fit together nicely into an ending that is both unexpected and yet makes you wonder why you didn't see that coming?? I loved this book because of all those things that made me absolutely not want to put it down. The characters are so real that it is easy to become invested in their struggles to find answers, and to have heartstrings tugged for those that have been victims in so many ways. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minatour Bookss for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheNightShift

This is the first book by Alex Finlay that I have read, and I really enjoyed it! I liked the two timelines and the similar crimes and was very intrigued by the different characters. There were a few twists and turns that I definitely didn't expect, and I liked that the heroine was not your every day crime thriller character. Although the feats that she achieved at 81/2 months pregnant seemed to be a bit of a stretch, it definitely added tension and suspense to many scenes, and gave me a "you go girl" feeling every time she stepped up and demonstrated bravery. Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

The Night Shift is my favorite kind of thriller. With just the right amount of characters, a perfectly crafted plot, and enough twists and turns to keep me guessing without total whiplash, I flew through Alex Finlay’s new release.

What connects a triple murder at a Blockbuster video and a similar crime at an ice cream shop fifteen years later? That’s for you to find out when you grab a copy of Night Shift!

Thanks for the opportunity to post and review! Attached is a link to my 2/28/22 Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/Cah8EO9LJmd/

If you were a 90s kid with an after-school job, this will take you straight to the worst-case scenario of that pre-smartphone world where we lived and worked without a care in the world. The Night Shift is a dual-era novel with two eerily similar murders. Y2K marked the end of a millennium and the tragic end to the lives of three teens working at the local Blockbuster. Only one survived the brutal attack with no memory of the assailant. 

Fifteen years later: same town, same story. Teens are attacked at a local ice cream store and the murderer leaves one survivor. 

Past and present storylines merge. Survivor becomes mentor. The brother of the initial (and missing) suspect gets involved. And the investigation is led by a very pregnant detective set on cracking the case. 

I loved this book and finished it in a single day. Hang on to your popcorn, kids. This one's going to take you for a ride.

This read was a pretty mixed bag for me. In terms of the positives, I can definitely say that THE NIGHT SHIFT kept me reading, with it's snappy pacing and engaging plot. I liked seeing our three protagonists, Ella, Chris, and Agent Keller slowly start to piece together a cold case lined up with a very hot one, and how their storylines eventually intersected in a pretty satisfying way. I also really liked Agent Keller's storyline, as I thought that her investigation was the most interesting angle wise, and I liked her as a character. She had some serious Marge Gunderson from FARGO vibes: pregnancy, doting and loving husband, and a true skill for her job. I really liked her chapters. But a lot of the rest was kind of lackluster. On one hand, Ella and Chris were pretty two dimensional, with Ella being a very cookie cutter version of a traumatized woman (she's a caring therapist but her own life is a mess), and Chris having his own story of missing his brother Vince who may have been the murderer in the original Blockbuster murders, but who disappeared before he could be really examined. Throw in the fact that the solution to the mystery itself was pretty obvious from the get go. While I did find myself interested and engaged, it ultimately wasn't terribly surprising while trying to be surprising.

THE NIGHT SHIFT is pretty standard thriller mystery fare. Entertaining, but not reinventing any wheels.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Holy Toledo! Alex Finlay has hit this one out of the park! You will need oxygen after reading this book because it will leave you breathless. It is New Year's Eve 1999 and there is a massacre at a local Blockbuster, but one teenage girl survives. Fast forward 15 years later and there is an similarly eerie attack again at a local ice cream shop. Once again one teenage girl survives the attack. The current survivor specifically asks to see and speak to the survivor from the previous massacre. The characters in this book are haunted by their past and their present, and Alex Finlay does a great job of tying it all together for you in a bloody bow! You will go on a winding road through the past and present trying to pinpoint exactly what happened right up to the shocking conclusion of the book. This thriller will ensnare you into the plot and hold a tight grip onto your consciousness until the haunting conclusion with twists you will never see coming! Kudos to Alex Finlay for what I believe will be another best seller!

History repeats itself in this thriller. Teens working in a video store are killed late just as they are closing. In flashbacks we get background on the victims and how their lives intersected. Fifteen years later it appears the killer is back. Or are they. A great can’t put down thriller. It keeps you till the end. Includes survivor's guilt, and all the teen angst you can handle.