Sometimes plans take an abrupt turn in life. It happened to proud parents when they booked a trip from different parts of the US to be with their freshman kids at Santa Clara University. They went from feeling excited to agitated and nervous when they learned that five friends – their sons and daughters -- were now missing.

They could have just been on a camping trip away from their moms and dads but the high-powered, wealthy parents suspected differently. An FBI agent from DC was involved tracking down all sorts of clues.

The chapters were short and easy to follow with tons of family drama and current concerns over social media.

I really enjoyed Alex Finlay’s last book, “If Something Happens To Me” which kept me on my toes. This one was at a slower pace. I wasn't as engaged. I think this would be more entertaining for younger readers who love mysteries and college settings.

My thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 6, 2025.

4.2 stars - Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing an ARC of 'Parents Weekend'. I was really looking forward to reading this, especially since I've heard great things about Alex Finlay!

When I started, I was immediately struck by the sheer number of characters and families introduced in the first few chapters. With five different families, each with complex backgrounds—many involving cheating, unethical behavior, or scandal—it became a lot to keep track of. I found myself having to jot down notes just to remember who was who! For the first half of the book, I referred to my "cheat sheet" constantly, which made the reading experience feel more like a task than a leisure activity.

That said, the story itself was incredibly captivating and engaging. It had a bit of a Lucinda Berry vibe, touching on themes of trauma, mental health, and tragedy. Once the influx of new characters slowed down (around 70% through), I was fully immersed in the plot and couldn't put the book down. The twists were exciting, and I couldn’t wait to see how everything would unfold.

Overall, it was a gripping read with lots of twists, though I do feel it could have benefited from fewer characters. Still, a great book!

I’m gonna be honest, I struggled to get into this book. I mean it had its moments, but it truly didn’t captivate me. I didn’t think any of the characters were really relatable and that made me really not care about their fate. I did finish it, but I would give it three stars. I have loved other books by this author. Thank you NetGalley, Alex Finlay, and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Parents Weekend is a fast paced twisty campus thriller that keeps you turning pages. The multiple POVs, short chapters and Finlay’s writing makes it an easy binge.
However I was a bit underwhelmed and with so many characters, it was hard to keep them all straight.
While entertaining, it lacks the impact of his best work. A solid read for mystery fans but not a standout

Thank you St. Martins Press for an advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review!
Release date: 05/06/2025!

Excellent fast paced mystery! Five sets of parents gather at a California college to celebrate their kids. Unknowingly these five sets of parents have planned a dinner that their children will not be showing up to, due to no fault of their own. At first the parents just chalk it up to typical college antics and aren’t worried. Soon they realize their worst fears are coming true as the situation ends up being much more dire than they thought. I loved to see agent Kellers return from Findlay’s previous novels with her twins and husband who is a saint. This novel grabs you from start to finish, not to be missed.

Parents Weekend is definitely a popcorn thriller—short, quick chapters keep the story moving, making it a super fast read (I finished it in three sittings). The entire book takes place over three days, so the pacing is nonstop, which worked well for keeping me engaged.

Like most of Alex Finlay’s books, this one has a large cast and multiple POVs, but I didn’t find it hard to follow since each chapter is clearly labeled with the family it focuses on. That said, I know some readers might struggle with keeping track of everyone.

Finlay and I have a complicated relationship—I keep saying I’m done reading his books, but then he brings back FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller, and I just can’t quit. She’s back in Parents Weekend, and as usual, she’s fantastic. I love her and her husband, Bob, and it was a treat to meet her father-in-law and sister-in-law in this one. Honestly, sometimes I wish the book would just focus on Sarah’s investigation and cut out all the other POVs. That said, I did enjoy Annie and McCray, who work at the school's police department (both part of the “local counsel,” as Sarah would say).

While I loved Sarah’s sections, the book overall felt too short. The ending was rushed—even though the crime was technically solved, it all wrapped up a little too abruptly. There were a lot of moving pieces and red herrings, which kept things entertaining, but also meant that some details (like how and why certain crimes happened) felt vague or underdeveloped.

If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining thriller that’s more about plot than deep character development, this is a solid choice. It would make a great beach read or something to pick up at the airport. If you prefer more complexity or a slow-burn mystery, this one might not be for you. 3.5 stars rounded down

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The perfect after work read. I looked forward to picking this up each evening. There’s a large list of characters but it was still easy to follow. The perfect amount of action and story building. It’s twisty in a casual way without shock value. I would love to see a follow up book with more from Agent Keller. This book is a great vacation or weekend read.

Thank you to the publisher, Net Galley, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reading Parents Weekend is like binge watching a fast paced, suspense filled movie! This fast paced book with short chapters keeps you reading, on the edge of your seat, to figure out what happens next.
Parents Weekend takes place at a small private college in Northern California. It follows five first year students and their families on Parents Weekend. Panic ensues when the five students of Campisi Hall don’t show up for the weekend’s opening dinner and hours pass with no word of them, The campus police call in reinforcements and what follows is a tale told from many points of view both past and present. The authorities explore how the five became friends and whether their own stories or their families past could be related to their disappearance.
I enjoyed the fast paced suspense of Parents Weekend. My only small criticism was wanting more development towards the end of the story. I would definitely recommend this book! Reading Parents Weekend has encouraged me to read Alex Finlay’s previous books.

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It took a bit to get into this one. There are a lot of people to keep straight initially, but once sorted, things move along at a good pace. The short chapters make this a quick read but make sure you’re paying attention!
It wasn’t my favourite by Alex Finlay but I enjoyed it.
(2.5/5 rounded up)
Thank You to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Alex Finlay for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is a popcorn thriller. Lots of big, flashy action scenes and dramatic moments, not a huge amount of depth. Honestly, I think this suffers from too many characters to delve into any of them deeply. The chapters from the students’ points of view seem YA in the writing and the switching between points of view can feel disjointed at times. I enjoyed reading this in the same way I would enjoy watching an episode of Criminal Minds, it was good if you don’t think about it too hard.

I want to start off by thanking NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

The book had potential, but unfortunately, it didn't quite hit the mark. At times, the story felt confusing, with certain parts not making much sense. The ending, in particular, felt rushed, leaving many questions unanswered. The author spent too much time focusing on the parents' issues, which overshadowed the actual plot and took away from the core of the story. Additionally, there were numerous unnecessary storylines introduced that were never fully developed or resolved, which made the narrative feel disjointed. With more editing and a tighter focus on the main plot, this book could have been much stronger.

Wow... what a rollercoaster this was! I had no idea what was going on, but in a good way.
I wanted answers, and then when I got them I wanted more book. Very good book, with such captivating writing. I couldn't put it down and was so sad when it was over.

DNF at 50%

I was hopeful this would be a hit when I saw it featured the return of Agent Sarah Keller, but her presence alone couldn't keep me reading. There were too many characters, none of whom I could connect to, and the pace was sluggish.

So glad to see the return of Agent Keller! This was a non-stop action thriller and I loved it and was HOOKED from the first page! I loved how every character had a mysterious backstory and could have been the culprit AND it kept me guessing until the very end. I have been a Finlay stan since the beginning and I'm very pleased that he has returned to what he does best. I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to see what he has coming up next!

Alex Finlay’s books are hit or miss for me and I did not enjoy this one because there were too many points of view.

I was beyond excited to receive an ARC of Parents Weekend! I’ve devoured all of Alex Finlay’s books on release day, so getting an early copy was a thrill. The premise immediately hooked me—five freshmen, their parents visiting a stunning California campus, and then… things go horribly wrong.

As a college sophomore parent myself, I loved how easily I could slip into the story. The parents? Awful in all the best ways. And as secrets start unraveling and a student goes missing, the tension ratchets up. When the kids don’t show up to dinner, the real nightmare begins.

This was a fast-paced, wildly entertaining read full of twists and terrible people hiding even worse secrets. Finlay masterfully keeps the suspense high while delivering a satisfying conclusion. If you love dark, thrilling mysteries, Parents Weekend is a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A disappointment from his previous books for sure. Way too many families to follow with so little depth and explanation. Basically a snooze fest.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for my eARC.

Parents Weekend is another solid addition to Alex Finlay’s fast-paced, non-stop, action-packed novels as the parents come together to be with their college students. There are lots of characters with separate swirls for each family involving crime, infidelity, abuse, and politics. Tension fills the book as the swirls blend together for the dramatic story.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

If Alex Finlay wrote the phone book, I’d read it!! All the stars for his latest book! I love how we have Agent Keller and her husband Bob again in this one. They’re my favorite characters. I found myself laughing out loud several times. I love Finlay’s writing. He draws you in and you either love or loathe the characters. I thought I had it figured out halfway through but of course, I was wrong. Can’t wait to read his next book!

Alex Finlay is a master of suspense and this entry in his catalog continues his streak. There were some points that I found a bit predictable, but I read so many thrillers that I have to write that off as a me thing.