Great fun, quick read that kept your interest although a few outlandish plot lines that for some reason made it fun. Interesting settings and interesting characters.

I loved this book! This was great. The title really drew me in but the story kept me. The story is exciting and will have you second guessing everything.

I’ve read all of Alex Finlay’s books, and let me tell you, the man knows how to deliver a fast-paced plot that keeps you hooked without feeling overdone. The secret? Quick, bite-sized chapters and a rotating cast of characters. He loves multiple POVs, and it works — mostly.

Parents Weekend synopsis: 5 rich college kids go missing during Parents Weekend, their parents are messy, and somehow, an FBI agent gets thrown into the mix. The plot moves fast and keeps you on your toes. I loved the short chapters because they made it easy to take breaks and dive back in without feeling lost. But with the breakneck speed and so many characters, the character development takes a bit of a hit. Honestly, I’d love to see Finlay tackle a 400-500 page thriller where he could really flesh out the characters while still delivering that tight plot.

Now, let’s talk about Special Agent Sarah Keller. This is the third time we’re following her, and I’ve gotta say, it feels a little tired. I don’t love detective series, and Keller isn’t quite as badass as Finlay seems to think she is. Time to move on, please. That said, I do appreciate that this book isn’t marketed as part of a series — it stands alone just fine, which is a relief.

Finlay’s writing still feels a bit juvenile at times (does he have to say “or whatever” so much?), and the 80s references could use a refresh. But honestly, it adds to his charm. He tells a good story, and he does it well. Plus, he’s the only author whose Acknowledgments page actually makes me laugh.

In the end, I really like Finlay. I’ll keep reading his books no matter the size or quality because he’s a thriller writer, and thrill he does.

Rating: 4 stars

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and I'm happy I got to read it. I enjoyed Finlay's other book Night Shift and so I knew I'd probably like this one as well.

I have a love/hate relationship when books switch POVs because on one hand, it makes me more engaged since I want to know what secrets are to be revealed but on the other, I am extremely impatient. I still enjoyed the different POVs and how the stories intertwined with each other. I did guess the ending a little bit before it was revealed but it was still a great read. I still need to read more of Finlay's books but so far the two I have read have been really good.

Wow!!! Finished this book in two days!! It was so good. Loved the short chapters and the multiple POVs it was a page turner that kept me on the edge of my chair and never saw the end coming!!! I also loved that Keller was in this book too! Highly recommend for all thriller lovers!

Alex Finlay's Parents Weekend is a thrilling read that masterfully combines suspense with emotional depth. Set against the backdrop of a college parents' weekend gone awry, the story weaves together multiple points of view and cleverly uses flashbacks to reveal layers of mystery and betrayal. Finlay’s writing is fast-paced, keeping readers engaged with unexpected twists and turns.

5 students go missing and one is dead. We meet Agent Sarah Keller from his previous book as they figures out where these students are before it's too late. Another fast paced, page tuner by Finley. I like his writing style, he makes you want to read more as chapters are short and the story is captivating. There were a lot of different characters in this which at times for me got confusing and the ending felt a bit rushed but I still rather enjoyed the book. It isn't my favourite of his but if you want something thats fast paced this would be a good pick

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy for a honest review.

This was just an ok story. I thought the characters and the plot were well developed. Overall it was good read to get you out of a reading hole.

Absolutely phenomenal! I have no words.
This was an amazing read, one of the best this year for me. It was written so well the story jumps out. The chapters shifting families was a creative touch that worked well to bring it all together. My heart was pounding through the whole book and I read this all night. I was sad to reach the End of this one as I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to these characters.
The way their lives grew and changed through the whole book was amazing. Serious depth and suspense in this one

I decided to give Alex Finlay another shot and I just feel meh. Their books are evidently incredibly popular and well received it just isn't really my thing. I found Parents Weekend predictable and the characters were awful.

Not for me again.

OOOOOkkkkayyyyyy, this book gave me chills! It kept me up way past my bedtime. It kept me hanging on the edge of my seat. I could not get over the ending!!! It was such a fantastic book! Alex Finlay, you know how to write a wonderful story!

Alex Finlay does it again!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I could not put this one down. It was a nail biter and kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire ride.

This had all of my favorite (guilty) pleasure in a book
- messy characters with messy lives
- drama & secrets
- missing people
- multiple POVs

My only thing is, there are soooo many POVs and characters to remember that for a while I couldn't remember who was who. But, once the story really got going I was able to keep track of everyone easier.

This one doesn't come out until next year but I recommend adding this to your TBR!

What I Liked:

Agent Keller, who’s appeared in some of Alex Finlay’s other books is the best part of this story. Confident and empathetic, she’s an easy character to root for. I hope we get to see her and her lovely family again in future books.

Short chapters make it easy to get pulled into the mystery and become immersed in the story.

The setup of the mystery occurring on a parents weekend was a clever one. 5 students going missing at the same time is rare, and the reason why kept me flipping the pages.


What I Disliked:

Too many characters. We never spent much time with one family, or set of characters to really be pulled into their inner lives and care about what was happening to them.


Final Thoughts:

A fun ride, perfect for those who enjoy popcorn thrillers with lots of twists and turns. Alex Finlay is always a must read for me.

*Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.*

Loved this twisty thriller. Just when I thought I had it figured out, it threw me for a loop. I loved the throwback characters and mention of previous plot lines. This was a great, quick read.

As always Alex Finlay delivers an entertaining, well thought out and fast paced mystery. FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift is back, and I hope we will continue to see more of her in future books.

Five set of parents are gathered to meet their children at their university's parent weekend. However, the kids do not show up. Irritation about their irresponsibility soon changes to concern and panic when the parents are hit with the realization that the students are actually missing, not just out partying.
We follow the families as their secrets are unravelling, and the school shows its cynical undercurrent.

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ARC

I enjoyed the journey of reading this book (spoilers coming), but it didn’t have the same satisfaction as most thrillers do with the resolution at the end. It was just very, very sad. I get that that’s reality sometimes, but when I pick up a book in this category, “bummed” isn’t something I want to feel hours after finishing it. I like this author’s writing and will look for more of his work in the future, but I can’t recommend this one.

I was really excited to read this one. I've read three of Finlay's other books, rated them all at 4/5 stars. This one is a sad 2 star book. Not interesting premise, certainly not an exciting conclusion. So many characters, so few of whom you root for. A skippable book.

Alex Finlay is my go to author for a quick, can’t put down thriller! His newest definitely fit that bill; I finished in 24 hours! It’s Parents Weekend at Santa Clara University, but things go awry when four students don’t show up for dinner with their parents on the first night...
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Special Agent Sarah Keller is back (LOVE her, she’s in a couple of his other books) and she’s teamed up with Jay McCray, head of campus security to try to find these kids. I really enjoyed his character too and thought they made a great team.
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Unfortunately, I felt that the story fell short on plot. I was missing the twists that Alex usually delivers on. I think more time could have been spent on the students and their relationships, because when the ending was revealed I almost didn’t care. 🫣
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Keller’s police work was the best part of the book; I hope we get more of her in the future! While short on depth, I do think this would be a great beach read. A million thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read early!

Keeping track of four families (spouses and children) is the trick to enjoying “Parents Weekend.” There’s the divorced Roosevelts (son Blane), the Maldonados (daughter Stella), Alice Goffman and her son Felix, the Akanas (daughter Libby), plus the Belovs, whose daughter Natasha was just found drowned in a beach cave. Another student, Mark, did not have any parents attending the weekend. All of them are at a private, expensive Northern California college for their first Parents Weekend. The other important family is the Kellers, who are relocating nearby. Sarah Keller, previously in two earlier Finlay novels, is an FBI agent.

A critical part of the family weekend is the parent/student dinner and when none of the kids show up, it becomes more and more obvious that 5 teenagers have vanished. Sarah Keller is brand new to the local FBI office, so she gets the call to investigate. Finlay creates a thriller with a main character, Keller, who is smart, realistic, intelligent, and dogged. She loves her job and she loves her family. The plot is all about family relationships when a crisis occurs. I hope to see more of Sarah in future novels! 5 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO The only eye colors were Alice’s and Felix’s dark blue ones.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO Although Santa Clara University has a beautiful setting.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

Wow! This is an incredible book with lots of twists and turns; you won't figure it out before the end. Nothing is predictable about this book. When you read the description, just know that this book will deliver. I give it 4 stars because, yes, it is a little over. the top.Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the complimentary digital ARC. This review was not coerced in any way and is my own opinion.