After a missing student is found dead, five Santa Clara University freshmen disappear without a trace. Are the two events connected or is it all a horrible coincidence? The parents of the missing students happen to be on campus for Parents Weekend, and a search is launched. Secrets and lies abound; buckle up for a wild ride.

-Mystery-thriller
-Idyllic college setting
-Large cast of characters

Parents Weekend was a quick and easy read! It kept me guessing and I enjoyed the perspective shifts from one character/family to another. The build-up to the ending wasn’t done as smoothly as I’d have liked- it felt a bit like jumping from the bottom to the top of the roller coaster without the anticipation-building of the uphill ride.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

I’ve enjoyed Finley‘s previous work, but this one didn’t hit the mark for me. I like multiple POV‘s, but this story focused too much on the parents and not enough on the college kids. The choppy story felt more like a family drama than a thriller. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Parents Weekend was an enjoyable read, but some parts fell flat for me. It was part mystery, part thriller, but getting the story through so many viewpoints kept me from feeling very connected to any one character.
Recommended for purchase by the Scottsboro Public Library.

The story revolves around a group of parents visiting their college-aged children for the weekend, only for one of them to mysteriously disappear. As the investigation unfolds, secrets begin to surface, revealing that the lives of these seemingly ordinary families are much more complicated than they first appear. The book excels in creating a sense of tension and unease as the characters’ pasts come to light, and the reader is left guessing who can be trusted and who is hiding something.

What stands out in Parents Weekend is Finlay’s knack for building strong, multi-dimensional characters. Each parent and their child brings a unique perspective to the story, and their interactions feel real and relatable. Whether it’s the overprotective parent, the estranged relationship, or the seemingly perfect family, the dynamics are explored in a way that adds depth to the mystery. The family drama that unfolds adds a personal touch to the suspense, making the stakes feel higher than just finding a missing person.

The pacing is sharp, with short, punchy chapters that keep the momentum going. Finlay does a great job of dropping subtle hints without giving away too much, making the twists and turns feel earned rather than forced. The mystery itself is engaging, though not overly complex, which allows the focus to remain on the characters and their motivations. That being said, the resolution, while satisfying, may feel a bit predictable to seasoned mystery readers, but the journey there is enjoyable nonetheless.

One of the highlights of the book is how Finlay incorporates themes of family, trust, and the hidden lives that people lead. There’s an underlying exploration of how well we really know those closest to us and the lengths we’ll go to protect the ones we love. These deeper themes give the story substance beyond just being a typical thriller, making it a thought-provoking read as well.

Parents Weekend had an intriguing premise, and I was hooked by the mystery surrounding the disappearance of five college students. The shifting perspectives between the parents and the kids added depth, making me care about the characters' different backgrounds and struggles. However, the pacing felt a bit uneven at times, especially with some chapters dragging before things picked up. While the twists weren’t mind-blowing, I enjoyed the suspense and the emotional layers around family dynamics and secrets. It was an engaging read, but I wasn’t as captivated by the ending as I’d hoped. Still, a solid mystery that left me curious about more from this author!
**rounded up from 3.5 stars**

I unfortunately am going to DNF this one- the synopsis sounded fun but it was just that and nothing more. I couldn't get into all the characters and the kind of boring plot. Just not for me!!

This one didn’t quite work for me. The plot felt a bit flat, and I found it fairly predictable that the students were taken because of the girl who died. The setup also felt a little too coincidental—what are the odds that all of them would end up in the same group for this particular parents' weekend? While it wasn’t my cup of tea, I can see how others might enjoy the mystery and suspense. It just didn’t fully grab me the way I’d hoped.

Love this author! Parents’ Weekend by Alex Finlay is a sharp, fast-paced thriller that cleverly blends espionage with suburban parenting. Former spy Ethan just wants a normal weekend at his son’s elite boarding school—until an old enemy turns it into a deadly game. With razor-sharp dialogue, unexpected twists, and a perfect mix of action and humor, Finlay keeps the tension high while delivering plenty of laughs. A must-read for fans of thrillers with a witty edge.
Thank you!!

Ahhhh! This was sooo good! At first it was confusing with all the different POVs but then it got much easier and I couldn’t put this book down! Loved it!!

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Thriller/Suspense
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: May 6, 2025

✨️Parents Weekend on Campus gone wrong?✨️

🌴 Parents Weekend on Campus
🍻 Multiple POV + Timelines
💰 Dysfunctional Families
🚓 FBI Agent
📱 Social Media Involved

Overall, Parent's Weekend was just... okay. It's pacing was very slow and the POVs were a little confusing/muddled. There were several twists, one was upsetting and the big one is totally understandable. If you love Alex Finlay, spoiled rich kids getting themselves in trouble and FBI involvement in your thrillers, it's worth reading.

Thank you so much, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy!

⚠️ : Multiple uses of JC as curse word, Infidelity, suicidal ideation/self harm, mentions of SA

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 stars all around!

This was such a fun, captivating read. The real time investigation made me feel like I was right beside Agent Keller finding out everything as she did. Twist and turns kept me surprised and suspicious of pretty much everyone. Alex Finlay produces another hit!

This book was a classic whodunnit with multiple POVs. It did keep me at the edge of my seat most of the time but sometimes it seemed we were missing some pieces. The multiple POVs I normally like but there were just a few too many. It wasn’t’ predictable so it was a good overall story.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins press for a copy of this ARC.

I feel like this one started out a bit hard to stay engaged but then before I knew it I couldn't stop reading.

Unfortunately this one was a miss for me. It was overall a slow read and not as thrilling as I’ve come to expect from this author.

Have loved all of Alex Finlay’s books and parents weekend was no different. From the first chapter I was so invested. Loved and hated the characters, loved the setting. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This was everything I expected from an Alex Finlay novel. It just did not quit. I found the beginning hard to follow but the fact I finished it in one sitting should say enough about how much I enjoyed it. I loved seeing Agent Keller again and continuing to follow her story. The final twist was not all that surprising but didn’t feel over done or disappointing at all. I always enjoy his ability to weave multiple POVs without being confusing. Would absolutely recommend if you enjoy Alex Finlay.

Another fast paced thriller from Alex Findlay.
5 missing college students and families full of secrets that could be the key to finding them.
The chapters are short and the story is addictive. Finished this in one night.
Liked the subtle hints to every last fear (authors previous book)
Would recommend to anyone and everyone looking for a quick read with a completely unpredictable ending!

Alex Finlay’s books always hook me right away and they’re always such quick reads!

Parents Weekend was definitely a bit on the slower end this time around, but was still very tense.

This one had multiple POV’s which I found confusing at first, but eventually put all of the families together.

There were a lot of subplots in this one which I enjoyed and I didn’t guess the ending. I also liked that Keller was back!

I adore Alex Finlay and this was a captivating, one-day read. A group of college kids disappear right on parents weekend. The whole book is based on solving this mystery. All the families have their own issues. It was a very easy read, but nothing to make you think much about afterwards.

This is a fast-paced, suspenseful novel that is easy to read. It's entertaining and would be a great beach read. However, in my opinion, the characters lacked depth, series of events were not clear, and the ending seemed abrupt.