I have read one other book by Alex Finley, and I quite enjoyed it, so I was looking forward to reading this one. While I found the mystery intriguing, I couldn't fully immerse myself in the story. We're following like 4 or 5 different sets of parents during Parents Weekend at a prestigious university after their children go missing.
I enjoyed the parts with the kids and following Special Agent Keller as she investigates. I had difficulty following when we got to the parents' POVs. The POV's switched up very frequently, and I had a hard time staying focused on what was going on.
That being said I did love Agent Keller's parts, and we did get more of her towards the end. I would read another book with her as the MC.

I really enjoy Alex Finlay's thrillers! They are quick reads that pack a punch. I really enjoyed that Agent Keller was back and ready to solve a mystery. I enjoyed the audiobook version as well. Highly recommend!!

*Thank you partners @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted e-galley and audiobook in exchange for an honest review.*

I chose this book because I read ”What Have We Done” by Alex Finlay and loved it. I gave it a five star review.

This was an engaging psychological thriller. The Parents were charismatic with more interesting backstories than the students. I will look for more books by Alex and recommend her to my friends.

I received this galley from Net Galley.

Thank you Netgalley for this audio edition of Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay.

Finlay is hit and miss for me, and unfortunately this was a miss. It had a decent start, but it didn't take long before I started losing interest. There were too many little storylines going on, and none of them were very strong, so I quit caring about all of it. Unfortunately, this wasn't for me.

Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the ARC copy of this one that is out AS OF TODAY!!!

Absolutely loved the short chapters on this one. It made it fly by. While I was able to predict what would happen, I still enjoyed this one for the most part. I do think that the ending felt a little bit rushed when we got to the big "reveal" piece.

I liked the campus trope for this along with the missing persons.

My biggest complaint with this one was the amount of characters. However, I do think that the way it was written helped tremendously with that aspect.

If you are needing a quick popcorn like thriller with super short chapters I would say to pick this up!

If you love a book about academia, missing persons, family drama this is the book for you. This book is told from 4/5 family POV's and alternates every other chapter. they are easy to follow and very nice smooth transitions between them. The Roosevelts, Maldonados, Goffmans, Akanas and Kellers all have their own POV in this story. This book jumped from the first page and hasn't stopped till the end of the book. This book is fast paced, action packed, keep you on the edge of your seat. Everyone is sus in this book till the very last page.

This story is incredibly fast-paced and complex, at least from the investigator’s perspective. While it’s clear to the reader early on who is behind the children’s disappearance, that’s only because we’re given access to both the students’ and the parents’ points of view. This broader perspective allows us to piece together the full picture, making the experience all the more gripping.

Interestingly, knowing the culprit from the beginning doesn’t lessen the suspense; it heightens it. The unpredictability lies not in the "who" but in the "how" and "why." You’re left wondering who will survive and whether the motivations behind the disappearances can ever be justified.

The story is well-crafted, with multiple layers that gradually unfold while maintaining a breakneck pace and constant tension. If you're a fan of the author’s other works, especially those featuring Sarah Keller—this book is must-read. That said, it also works well as a standalone for newcomers.

For readers who enjoy fast-paced, suspenseful mystery thrillers, this author (and this book) should be high on your to-read list.

One thing I love about summer? There’s always a new Alex Finlay thriller out. I had such a fun time reading this book. Did I have to suspend some belief? Of course. Did this take away from how much fun this book was? No way! I thought this was the perfect afternoon thriller read. Like all of Finlay’s books, the plot moved fast with very short chapters that kept the reader hooked. I thought it was paced quite well, and I enjoyed the main character that the reader spent the most time with was FBI agent Keller. I found her to be such an anchor for this story, one who helped put all the pieces together. Read this one if you like a college setting, some questionable parents, and teenagers doing bad things. This was a fun ride, and I will continue to read all Finlay books that I can get my grubby little hands on.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

When five college freshmen vanish during Parents Weekend, their families are left to unravel a mystery that exposes long-buried secrets and dangerous truths.

Dark academia thrillers are my favorite genre, so I had high hopes for Parents Weekend—and while it didn’t fully deliver for me, there was still plenty to enjoy. Finlay’s signature fast pace and short, punchy chapters kept me turning pages late into the night, and I loved that each family came with secrets of their own, adding layers of suspicion throughout. The multiple POVs, usually a strength for Finlay, felt a bit overwhelming here—I struggled to keep track of which parents matched which student, which made it harder to connect emotionally.

That said, the return of FBI Agent Sarah Keller was a highlight—her chapters stood out as the most compelling, and I would’ve gladly read an entire book from her perspective. While I guessed whodunnit early on, the unraveling of how everything played out still kept me hooked. This may not be my favorite Finlay, but it’s a gripping, entertaining read that I’d still recommend for thriller fans.

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

3:5 stars rounded up.

A weekend for celebration becomes something far more sinister

It is Parents' Weekend at Santa Clara University, a small private Jesuit university in the heart of Silicon Valley. A group of four students, linked by the capstone project which they have been assigned to complete together, are supposed to meet up with their parents for dinner at a local restaurant, but while the parents (two couples, two single mothers) arrive none of their children show up. Its tempting to write this off as typical irresponsible behavior, but when the students remain missing the parents aren't convinced that it isn't something....more. One of the mothers is a high ranking State Department official who not only has a bounty on her own head courtesy of a disgruntled foreign regime, she also lived through this same son's kidnapping years earlier. The father of one of the other students is a judge who recently gained notoriety (and a raft of hostile adversaries) when he presided over the trial of a popular celebrity, There are secrets in the other families as well, plus some disturbing campus gossip that paints several of the missing students in an unflattering light. A fifth member of the cohort who has no close family also turns out to be missing; added to the recent disappearance of another of the university's students, a young woman friendly with the students who have dropped off the radar who later turned up dead in what appears to have been an accidental drowning, and tensions mount. An FBI agent just recently transferred to the local office gets called in to work with campus police and other local law enforcement. As the hours pass, it becomes more and more clear that The Five (as they have been tagged) are in danger...but why, and from whom?
Parents Weekend is a fast paced thriller featuring FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller, a protagonist featured in previous novels by author Alex Finlay, in addition to a raft of new characters. The narrative bounces around between multiple characters' points of view, and the plot integrates college partying, family secrets (infidelity, the loss of a child, hostile divorces) and trust issues as the plot unfolds...the large number of characters may have contributed to an overall lack of development for most (with Keller and her husband being two exceptions). This is a quick read, with short chapters that keep the suspense building and allow for some twists and turns. Did I figure out where things were likely headed early on? Yes...I am an avid reader of thrillers, so that happens fairly frequently, but if you're looking for a solid (3.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 4) quick read with a fast-moving plot this will do the trick. Fans of Harlen Coben, Lisa Unger and Peter Swanson should give this a try as well. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to Finlay's latest thriller in exchange for my honest review.

I wasn't a big fan of this one. It felt like there were too many characters, mixed with a foggy dual timeline, it just made me feel a bit confused and disconnected from the book. I did really enjoy seeing Agent Sarah Keller again - who has been involved in other books of Alex's as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Alex Finlay, and St. Martin’s Press: Minotaur Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a perfect fine thriller but not a standout for me personally. I was hooked in the story the entire time, and I enjoyed how fast-paced it was. Having so many different characters and POVS definitely made the story move quickly. However, because there were so many characters/POVs, it felt really surface-level the entire time through. I didn’t connect with any characters in particular, and at times, I even felt confused between similar storylines of a couple of the parents. I think my favorite character was Keller, and I enjoyed seeing her solve the case. Even though this story is centered around the students missing, it’s really told more through their parents and their involvement, so I would have liked to see more flashbacks from the students’ perspectives into what happened. Once the climax was revealed, I didn’t feel as invested because I just simply didn’t know the characters enough to be fully invested. It was a fine read for a thrill but forgettable to me unfortunately.

A college during Parents Weekend is a great location for a thriller. I really like how the author tells the story from all the different perspectives. The pieces start to fit together and I keep trying to solve it before it gets to the end. I loved the mix of characters and really loved that Sarah Keller was the FBI Agent involved. The story kept me turning pages so that I could get to the end. The book had a satisfying ending. It's a perfect escape kind of story. I look forward more books from this author. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay  is a psychological thriller about  college students who don't make it to the dinner on the Parents Weekend.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martins Press and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

 

My Synopsis:    (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
It's Parents Weekend, and everyone at Campisi Hall is a little tense, be it the parents, their kids, or the administration of the school.  It doesn't help that one of the students, Natasha has been missing.

The Families of Campisi Hall include:

The Roosevelts -  Hank and Cynthia who are divorced.  Hank will not be attending Parents Weekend.  Cynthia is in politics and must travel wither her security team. Their son Blane is okay with that.

The Maldonados -David and Nina have a rather shaky marriage, as David, a plastic surgeon, is a bit of a womanizer.  Their daughter Stella is a bit of a party girl.

The Goffmans -  Alice is in administration at the school, and that's the only reason that she can afford to have her son Felix attend.  His father passed away.

The Akanas - Ken and Amy also have marriage issues, but generally because Ken is a judge, and it seems to consume his time.  Libby is trying to be happy.

The Wongs - Andrew will not be attending his son's party, as they are estranged.  Mark's mother is deceased, so he's sort of on his own, just the way he likes it.  He is best friends with Blane.

So, the families gather around the table at the restaurant, and none of their kids show up.  Everyone just assumes the college students are out having their own fun, but as the hours go by, panic starts to build.  Campus police form search parties, and reporters swarm in.  Rumors start.

That's when FBI Agent Sarah Keller is called.  She is just going to start a temporary assignment in California.  Her husband Bob's father is ill, and they thought it would be best if they were closer to him.  They also want their twins (Heather & Michael) to get to know their grandfather..

 

My Opinions:
This was quite good.  I like that FBI Agent Sarah  Keller is again a character in this book.  These books are not in a series, so you don't have to read them in order, but she's a great addition to any book.

Anyway, the book is about five families with rather different dynamics, but all with the best interests of their child in mind, as they all start college. So, when the teens all go missing, you could really feel the angst among the parents.   Now, they are all harboring secrets, and almost any of them could be the real target behind the missing teens.

The story was told in multiple time-lines and through different perspectives, and the story progressed quite fast.

I admit that I actually struggled with keeping the families straight (so I made notes).  This was probably my only real problem with the book.  Too many characters.  Well, that, and although everything got wrapped up at the end, it felt rushed.

However, as always, Finlay delivered a great plot, excellent writing, and a twist or two.

Parents Weekend at a small private college in Northern California is nothing to celebrate for 6 families: one set of parents arrive to discover their daughter is missing and 5 other students disappear on their way to dinner, initially shrugged off as kids being kids, but when they still haven't checked in hours later and their phones have gone off-grid, the parents start to worry. Campus police start to investigate, but they also call in reinforcements from the FBI. Newly arrived on a "compassionate transfer", Special Agent Sarah Keller is initially assigned to the case. Chapters alternate from the perspective of each family, mostly the parents and Keller, and Finlay expertly doles out tidbits of information to keep the reader engrossed and wondering what will happen next. I did figure out some of what was going on before the reveal, but not everything. The parents were pretty much stereotypes of what you'd expect of couples able to send their child to a pricey private college. Keller and her husband were the most interesting pair and seemed better "fleshed out", perhaps because Keller is a recurring character from earlier books by Finlay. Overall, this was a solid mystery with a relatively fast-paced plot and at least one twist I didn't see coming!

This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and I like this one. There is a full cast of characters. In the beginning, I was a little confused, but the author does an amazing job of repeating who everyone is without it being annoying. Unfortunately when I read this one, I was in a reading slump, but I believe this one you could definitely binge. If you like lots of characters, multiple points of view, a college campus setting and lots of family drama, you may want to check this one out!

If you are looking for a fast paced thriller that is mixed with messy family drama, this is the book for you. I flew through this book, as I do with all of Alex Finlay's work. I love the short chapters and multiple POV's it really helps keep the story flowing and makes it a quick enjoyable read.

It's Parents Weekend at SCU and parent's from all different areas and backgrounds are coming to see their college freshman. There was already a missing college girl before the weekend started so tension was high on campus already. Then, a group of students doesn't show up to the parent's dinner leading to a wild search for the missing students while uncovering family secrets and student drama.

This one kept me on the edge of my seat and had me racing through this book. I stayed up way too late on the few nights I was reading this one just to get one more chapter in. I love Alex Finlay's writing style and how everything unfolds right in front of your eyes so perfectly. Definitely check this one out!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for this gifted copy to review!

Alex Finlay has done it again. I love Special Agent Keller and what she brings to each novel. She is a great character that is strong and perfect to build a story around. The jumps between characters helps to swirl the mystery and bring the twists and turns together. Overall this was a great book that kept me wanting more. Absolutely recommend to those who love mystery, thrillers, or other Finlay books.

This story was woven together flawlessly! Five students from five very different situations and backgrounds go missing - following a recent fellow students death - for no apparent reason and with no trace. The way this author shows us the story from each student/family’s perspective and brings it all together is smooth and satisfying. The story itself had me guessing and unable to stop thinking about it even when I had to put it down.

A group of naughty college kids and a bunch of parents with secrets? Say no more! College thrillers are one of my favorites and I really enjoyed this one! Special Agent Keller is back in this book and still as awesome as before! I loved the multiple POVs which lead to multiple theories. This book is totally bingeable with its short chapters and popcorn thrillers feel!

This is another solid thriller from Alex Finlay. I love that it takes place over a weekend—such an encapsulated time frame—because that and the short chapters and fast pace really add to the feeling of urgency. I always love a thriller that involves a group of friends, and I loved getting the backstory of their drama piece by piece. I loved the different points of view and dysfunctional characters, and I loved seeing Agent Keller again! This was a quick, easy, fun to read thriller, which is my favorite kind of