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The Night Shift
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2022)It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls working the night shift are attacked. Only one survives. Police quickly identify a suspect who flees and is never seen again.
Fifteen years later, in the same town, four teenage employees working late at an ice cream store are attacked, and again only one makes it out alive.
Both surviving victims recall the killer speaking only a few final words... “Goodnight, pretty girl.”
In the aftermath, three lives intersect: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive her tragedy; the brother of the original suspect, who’s convinced the police have it wrong; and the FBI agent, who’s determined to solve both cases. On a collision course toward the truth, all three lives will forever be changed, and not everyone will make it out alive.
Twisty, poignant, and redemptive, The Night Shift is a story about the legacy of trauma and how the broken can come out on the other side, and it solidifies Alex Finlay as one of the new leading voices in the world of thrillers.
Fifteen years later, in the same town, four teenage employees working late at an ice cream store are attacked, and again only one makes it out alive.
Both surviving victims recall the killer speaking only a few final words... “Goodnight, pretty girl.”
In the aftermath, three lives intersect: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre who’s forced to relive her tragedy; the brother of the original suspect, who’s convinced the police have it wrong; and the FBI agent, who’s determined to solve both cases. On a collision course toward the truth, all three lives will forever be changed, and not everyone will make it out alive.
Twisty, poignant, and redemptive, The Night Shift is a story about the legacy of trauma and how the broken can come out on the other side, and it solidifies Alex Finlay as one of the new leading voices in the world of thrillers.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2022
About the author
Alex Finlay
13 books4,046 followersAlex Finlay is the bestselling author of several acclaimed novels, including the 2021 breakout EVERY LAST FEAR, the 2022 GoodReads Choice nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller, THE NIGHT SHIFT, the 2023 LibraryReads Hall of Fame recipient, WHAT HAVE WE DONE, and his latest 2024 release, USA Today bestseller, IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME. His novels regularly appear on best-of-the-year lists and have been translated into twenty-four languages and are sold around the world. Alex's books are optioned for film and television, and EVERY LAST FEAR is in development for a major series. Alex lives in Washington, DC and Virginia, where he is at work on his next novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 8,877 reviews
January 5, 2023
Happy pub day to this unputdownable addiction! 🥳🎉🥂🎈
Oh my! May I have your attention please? I think after devouring one of the best thing I’ve read lately, I can honestly say: I want to create a fan club of Alex Finlay. I want to print and sell embroidered T-shirts with his book covers! I have to discuss his books on book forums and chant for his works!
I enjoyed Every Last Fear as a debut and I was so curious what he would write after that great book. Could he write something even better than his debut? And he actually did. I wrote a five star review for Every Last Fear so to be fair I have to write seven stars review for Night Shift. Can I write it? Well, if the author exceeded my expectations with his great performance, I think it’s worth to try!
Night Shift has everything for geeky mystery/ serial killer story fans like me. It has deeply layered, complex, honest, absolutely well-developed characterization. Writing style with short and intense chapters ending with cliffhangers hook you up, forcing you to devour pages a little faster than you planned and eventually you find yourself cancel everything in your life to give full attention to this riveting, addictive mystery.
There are so many twists that we mostly don’t see them coming and they hit us hard. I honestly guessed the culprit easily but there are so many surprising and juicy revelations about the characters and their connections to the murder cases which pull the rug out from under you!
FBI Agent Keller was my favorite character as bold, witty, badass inspector reminds you of a sweet combination of Fargo’s Frances McDormand -X Files’ Dana Scully- Mare of Easttown’s Kate Winslet! ( coolest fiction character I’d like to hang out and share bottles of Chardonnay)
And heart wrenching, emotional, fear ending is absolutely the best possible way to finalize this impactful and remarkable story!
Let’s take a look at the plot:
The story opens up 1999’s New Year’s Eve: thankfully no planes crushed, the elevator didn’t plunge to earth or the world market didn’t collapse as it was expected! But another local tragedy hit Linden, New Jersey: the four teenager girls working at Blockbuster Video store, were brutally attacked! Three of them are killed and only one of them survived.
After fifteen years later another brutal attack occur at the same town. This time the killer hunts the victims at ice cream store and only a young girl named Jessica Duvall survived from the massacre. But she rejects to talk with the officers. She needs someone who truly understands the tragic situation she’s been endured. That’s how Ella who is the lone survivor of the Blockbuster video store murders finds herself to talk with the victim.
Ella is a therapist whose brain is foggy with drugs, suffering from self destruction, sabotaging her own relationship with her fiancée, having random one night stands. She’s still stuck at the day the murders have been occurred. Her connection with Jesse push her to dig more to find out more clues about two murders. Could they be connected? Could both murders have been committed by the same person?
Ella is not the only one to connect the dots to solve whose behind the great scheme. FBI Agent badass Keller who is expecting twins team up with young officer Atticus investigate the past and present crimes’ connection and Chris: baby brother of Vince Whitaker who was presumed to be responsible for killings at Blockbuster video store, working as public defender, chasing a V-logger because there are so many similarities between the guy and his brother who has run away after being accused of killing the girls!
Could Vince Whitaker be innocent? Could somebody put the blame on him to resume his/ her deadly massacres?
Keller-Ella-Jesse and Nick’s paths are intercepted. Their connection and determination to find out the truth will also open so many can of warms. Nothing as it seems and as the revelations come out none of them’s life will be the same!
I truly deeply highly recommend this mind blowing page- turner! And as probable founder of fan club, I’m looking forward to read Alex Finlay’s future works
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Oh my! May I have your attention please? I think after devouring one of the best thing I’ve read lately, I can honestly say: I want to create a fan club of Alex Finlay. I want to print and sell embroidered T-shirts with his book covers! I have to discuss his books on book forums and chant for his works!
I enjoyed Every Last Fear as a debut and I was so curious what he would write after that great book. Could he write something even better than his debut? And he actually did. I wrote a five star review for Every Last Fear so to be fair I have to write seven stars review for Night Shift. Can I write it? Well, if the author exceeded my expectations with his great performance, I think it’s worth to try!
Night Shift has everything for geeky mystery/ serial killer story fans like me. It has deeply layered, complex, honest, absolutely well-developed characterization. Writing style with short and intense chapters ending with cliffhangers hook you up, forcing you to devour pages a little faster than you planned and eventually you find yourself cancel everything in your life to give full attention to this riveting, addictive mystery.
There are so many twists that we mostly don’t see them coming and they hit us hard. I honestly guessed the culprit easily but there are so many surprising and juicy revelations about the characters and their connections to the murder cases which pull the rug out from under you!
FBI Agent Keller was my favorite character as bold, witty, badass inspector reminds you of a sweet combination of Fargo’s Frances McDormand -X Files’ Dana Scully- Mare of Easttown’s Kate Winslet! ( coolest fiction character I’d like to hang out and share bottles of Chardonnay)
And heart wrenching, emotional, fear ending is absolutely the best possible way to finalize this impactful and remarkable story!
Let’s take a look at the plot:
The story opens up 1999’s New Year’s Eve: thankfully no planes crushed, the elevator didn’t plunge to earth or the world market didn’t collapse as it was expected! But another local tragedy hit Linden, New Jersey: the four teenager girls working at Blockbuster Video store, were brutally attacked! Three of them are killed and only one of them survived.
After fifteen years later another brutal attack occur at the same town. This time the killer hunts the victims at ice cream store and only a young girl named Jessica Duvall survived from the massacre. But she rejects to talk with the officers. She needs someone who truly understands the tragic situation she’s been endured. That’s how Ella who is the lone survivor of the Blockbuster video store murders finds herself to talk with the victim.
Ella is a therapist whose brain is foggy with drugs, suffering from self destruction, sabotaging her own relationship with her fiancée, having random one night stands. She’s still stuck at the day the murders have been occurred. Her connection with Jesse push her to dig more to find out more clues about two murders. Could they be connected? Could both murders have been committed by the same person?
Ella is not the only one to connect the dots to solve whose behind the great scheme. FBI Agent badass Keller who is expecting twins team up with young officer Atticus investigate the past and present crimes’ connection and Chris: baby brother of Vince Whitaker who was presumed to be responsible for killings at Blockbuster video store, working as public defender, chasing a V-logger because there are so many similarities between the guy and his brother who has run away after being accused of killing the girls!
Could Vince Whitaker be innocent? Could somebody put the blame on him to resume his/ her deadly massacres?
Keller-Ella-Jesse and Nick’s paths are intercepted. Their connection and determination to find out the truth will also open so many can of warms. Nothing as it seems and as the revelations come out none of them’s life will be the same!
I truly deeply highly recommend this mind blowing page- turner! And as probable founder of fan club, I’m looking forward to read Alex Finlay’s future works
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
August 5, 2024
Sometimes I feel a bit jaded with thrillers. They're a dime a dozen and most hardly even cause me to blink, let alone thrill me. But then something like The Night Shift comes along and I remember again how much fun this genre can be.
It's New Year's Eve 1999, and the teenagers who work at a Blockbuster in Linden, New Jersey, are excited to close up and welcome in Y2K. But before the night is over, all but one are dead, and the remaining survivor has never forgotten the horror of what happened. Fifteen years later, an eerily similar attack happens in an ice cream shop in town, again with only one survivor. Will the investigation this time finally lead to the truth of what happened all those years ago?
This story drew me in immediately. The taut pacing and short chapters works wonderfully to keep me turning the pages. The narrative is compact, without extra fillers or psychological ruminations that slow down a lot of other thrillers. It feels like every chapter in here was necessary, and it creates this satisfying experience where I'm always making progress with every chapter I read.
The narrative switches between a few different points of view, and each feels equally compelling. For such an action-driven story, I thought Finlay created some interesting and likable characters. They really pop off the pages and keep me invested in the story. In particular, Agent Sarah Keller from Alex Finlay's previous book makes another appearance, and she's such a badass that I can't help but love her.
Regarding the reveals, there are some fun ones in here. Did they totally surprise me though? Eh, not really. I've read enough of this genre that very few books manage to completely catch me off guard. But there was enough of the unforeseen to keep me entertained. And honestly, this was worth the read even without being completely surprised.
As a self-proclaimed thriller-cynic, I'm as amazed as you that I'm now two for two with Alex Finlay. He is definitely on my must-read list, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Every Last Fear
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
It's New Year's Eve 1999, and the teenagers who work at a Blockbuster in Linden, New Jersey, are excited to close up and welcome in Y2K. But before the night is over, all but one are dead, and the remaining survivor has never forgotten the horror of what happened. Fifteen years later, an eerily similar attack happens in an ice cream shop in town, again with only one survivor. Will the investigation this time finally lead to the truth of what happened all those years ago?
This story drew me in immediately. The taut pacing and short chapters works wonderfully to keep me turning the pages. The narrative is compact, without extra fillers or psychological ruminations that slow down a lot of other thrillers. It feels like every chapter in here was necessary, and it creates this satisfying experience where I'm always making progress with every chapter I read.
The narrative switches between a few different points of view, and each feels equally compelling. For such an action-driven story, I thought Finlay created some interesting and likable characters. They really pop off the pages and keep me invested in the story. In particular, Agent Sarah Keller from Alex Finlay's previous book makes another appearance, and she's such a badass that I can't help but love her.
Regarding the reveals, there are some fun ones in here. Did they totally surprise me though? Eh, not really. I've read enough of this genre that very few books manage to completely catch me off guard. But there was enough of the unforeseen to keep me entertained. And honestly, this was worth the read even without being completely surprised.
As a self-proclaimed thriller-cynic, I'm as amazed as you that I'm now two for two with Alex Finlay. He is definitely on my must-read list, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Every Last Fear
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Shelved as 'will-not-finish'
May 13, 2022Normalize spoiling yourself for thrillers the millisecond you feel even a hint of boredom….DNF @ 21%
November 12, 2024
**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!!
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!!
January 15, 2023
The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
Two timelines, two sets of young people slaughtered, fifteen years apart. Are the two crimes connected? Could the killer be the same person?. FBI agent Sarah Keller is called in to assist the investigation although she's relegated to the sidelines, her questions to the local police not always appreciated. Not to be deterred, Sarah and her temporary partner Atticus Singh, follow every lead they can, seeing signs where no one else is looking. There is a lot going on in this story, with two crime scenes, so much time having passed since the first crime, so many victims, and parents of the first set of victims clamming up whenever Sarah and Atticus try to interview them. Don't they want their children's murderer to be found?
Almost from the beginning, I suspected the identity of the killer, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. So many people have secrets and are holding things back that watching Sarah and Atticus try to ferret out the false leads from the helpful information was fun. There is also a young public defender who has a tie to the first case and he wants to track down the suspected killer of the first victims for his own personal reasons.
Sarah is 8-8 1/2 months pregnant during this story and it's her actions that brought it down a bit for me. Three distinct times she puts herself in danger, her soon to be born twin babies leading the way, headlong into situations that could end their lives. Sarah has only a few weeks to go before she can toss the babies off to her domestically inclined husband and get back to spending most of her time fighting crime. It's not just that she couldn't put the babies first during this short time in her life, it's also that she is able to perform incredible feats, while 8 1/2 months pregnant, that took away from some of my enjoyment of the story. I really wish the babies could have been kept out of the story, all I could do is decide not to care about them since Sarah didn't seem to care about them either.
Pub March 1st 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Two timelines, two sets of young people slaughtered, fifteen years apart. Are the two crimes connected? Could the killer be the same person?. FBI agent Sarah Keller is called in to assist the investigation although she's relegated to the sidelines, her questions to the local police not always appreciated. Not to be deterred, Sarah and her temporary partner Atticus Singh, follow every lead they can, seeing signs where no one else is looking. There is a lot going on in this story, with two crime scenes, so much time having passed since the first crime, so many victims, and parents of the first set of victims clamming up whenever Sarah and Atticus try to interview them. Don't they want their children's murderer to be found?
Almost from the beginning, I suspected the identity of the killer, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. So many people have secrets and are holding things back that watching Sarah and Atticus try to ferret out the false leads from the helpful information was fun. There is also a young public defender who has a tie to the first case and he wants to track down the suspected killer of the first victims for his own personal reasons.
Sarah is 8-8 1/2 months pregnant during this story and it's her actions that brought it down a bit for me. Three distinct times she puts herself in danger, her soon to be born twin babies leading the way, headlong into situations that could end their lives. Sarah has only a few weeks to go before she can toss the babies off to her domestically inclined husband and get back to spending most of her time fighting crime. It's not just that she couldn't put the babies first during this short time in her life, it's also that she is able to perform incredible feats, while 8 1/2 months pregnant, that took away from some of my enjoyment of the story. I really wish the babies could have been kept out of the story, all I could do is decide not to care about them since Sarah didn't seem to care about them either.
Pub March 1st 2022
Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
November 15, 2021
A Riveting Read!
The Night Shift is a compulsively readable thriller about the night crew of a Blockbuster being murdered on New Year’s Eve in 1999. Fast forward 15 years and the closing crew of a local ice cream shop is offed the same way. Is it a copy cat or has the original thriller come out of hiding?
The novel opens on the eve of Y2K--there’s tension in the air from the fear of what will happen when the world meets the 21st century. This scene brought me back to the time when movie rental stores existed, and it made me nostalgic until the employees were brutally murdered. My nostalgia quickly ended there.
The Night Shift is told from multiple POVs: Ella, the lone survivor from the Blockbuster murders, Sarah Keller, FBI agent, and Chris, an assistant prosecutor, who holds a connection to the suspected murderer. In addition to this trio, there are many characters to keep track of--the victim’s families, the school principal, some cops, and Jesse, the lone survivor of the ice cream murders. At times, I was a little confused regarding who was who, but these scenes involved minor players.
Chris and Ella’s stories were the most intriguing. Agent Keller, who features in Every Last Fear, was the stable link between the other two characters.
Each chapter ends with a little tidbit or cliffhanger that made me want more, but sadly the perspective would switch to another character, and I would get annoyed! This aspect of the novel irked me, but not enough to fully impact my enjoyment level.
This is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller. I guessed the killer very early on (it seemed rather obvious), but this didn’t bother me. There were some surprises along the way of the dots being connected. I had a few issues with the plot and some of the characters, but I chose to ignore them! Overall, The Night Shift is a gripping thriller that kept me turning the pages.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Night Shift is a compulsively readable thriller about the night crew of a Blockbuster being murdered on New Year’s Eve in 1999. Fast forward 15 years and the closing crew of a local ice cream shop is offed the same way. Is it a copy cat or has the original thriller come out of hiding?
The novel opens on the eve of Y2K--there’s tension in the air from the fear of what will happen when the world meets the 21st century. This scene brought me back to the time when movie rental stores existed, and it made me nostalgic until the employees were brutally murdered. My nostalgia quickly ended there.
The Night Shift is told from multiple POVs: Ella, the lone survivor from the Blockbuster murders, Sarah Keller, FBI agent, and Chris, an assistant prosecutor, who holds a connection to the suspected murderer. In addition to this trio, there are many characters to keep track of--the victim’s families, the school principal, some cops, and Jesse, the lone survivor of the ice cream murders. At times, I was a little confused regarding who was who, but these scenes involved minor players.
Chris and Ella’s stories were the most intriguing. Agent Keller, who features in Every Last Fear, was the stable link between the other two characters.
Each chapter ends with a little tidbit or cliffhanger that made me want more, but sadly the perspective would switch to another character, and I would get annoyed! This aspect of the novel irked me, but not enough to fully impact my enjoyment level.
This is a fast-paced, suspenseful thriller. I guessed the killer very early on (it seemed rather obvious), but this didn’t bother me. There were some surprises along the way of the dots being connected. I had a few issues with the plot and some of the characters, but I chose to ignore them! Overall, The Night Shift is a gripping thriller that kept me turning the pages.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2022
The Night Shift is a totally fine thriller with short bingeable chapters that you can read in day if you’re so inclined. There’s a mass murder of teen girls in 1999, then lather, rinse, repeat, another one 15 years later. The compelling question of course is if the two incidents are related.
The thing that really bothers me though is the hook author Finlay used that the publisher is somewhat falsely exploiting. From the blurb: “It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey…”
If you know me and my reading tastes at all, you’ll get that this sounded like a trifecta for my seasonal, nostalgic, pop culture-loving heart. New Year’s Eve! The ‘90s! Blockbuster Video! Yeah, but really not so much. All those things are there, yet the majority of the story takes place in the latter timeline. Even worse, the short dips back into the previous one failed to deliver the Y2K-era vibes that were promised.
Saying the publisher tried to put lipstick on a pig would be way too harsh, because The Night Shift can still be an enjoyable read if your expectations are managed. There’s a badass pregnant FBI agent on the case who reminded me of a cross between Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs and Frances McDormand in Fargo. There are red herrings aplenty that made the ending a surprise for me. Plus I also must mention that my tepid take on the book is fairly uncommon - the majority of my reviewer friends have loved it.
If you want to read a suspenseful novel, you could do a lot worse. But if you want to remember what it was like to make it a Blockbuster night, keep browsing the library shelves for a real gem just like you did at your local video store back in the ‘90s. Who knows, maybe someone just dropped the most popular new release in the return slot.
My thanks to the author and Minotaur Books for the review copy. The Night Shift is now available.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
The thing that really bothers me though is the hook author Finlay used that the publisher is somewhat falsely exploiting. From the blurb: “It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Y2K is expected to end in chaos: planes falling from the sky, elevators plunging to earth, world markets collapsing. A digital apocalypse. None of that happens. But at a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey…”
If you know me and my reading tastes at all, you’ll get that this sounded like a trifecta for my seasonal, nostalgic, pop culture-loving heart. New Year’s Eve! The ‘90s! Blockbuster Video! Yeah, but really not so much. All those things are there, yet the majority of the story takes place in the latter timeline. Even worse, the short dips back into the previous one failed to deliver the Y2K-era vibes that were promised.
Saying the publisher tried to put lipstick on a pig would be way too harsh, because The Night Shift can still be an enjoyable read if your expectations are managed. There’s a badass pregnant FBI agent on the case who reminded me of a cross between Jodie Foster in Silence of the Lambs and Frances McDormand in Fargo. There are red herrings aplenty that made the ending a surprise for me. Plus I also must mention that my tepid take on the book is fairly uncommon - the majority of my reviewer friends have loved it.
If you want to read a suspenseful novel, you could do a lot worse. But if you want to remember what it was like to make it a Blockbuster night, keep browsing the library shelves for a real gem just like you did at your local video store back in the ‘90s. Who knows, maybe someone just dropped the most popular new release in the return slot.
My thanks to the author and Minotaur Books for the review copy. The Night Shift is now available.
Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/
November 29, 2022
"The sheep spends its life worried about the wolf, only to be eaten by the farmer."
Whooo it's been a hot minute since I've finished an entire book in one sitting... Errr, listen. With a cast of four narrators, some better than others, this made for an engaging audiobook experience, and the 90's nostalgic moments were much obliged. This is actually my first book from the author, and I can see why he's getting hyped among a sea of mediocre thrillers. The chapters are short, the POV is ever changing, and the plot moves at a break neck pace alternating between past and present, which combined made for a truly thrilling experience.
We start with a multiple homicide at the Blockbuster one evening, where three female employees and one male employee are brutally killed, while one is left alive with no clue as to who the perpetrator is. Flash forward to present day, and another similar murder has happened at an ice cream shop where, you guessed it, multiple girls are killed and one is left alive. Along the way, we get the view points of the remaining survivor from the 90's killing, an FBI agent working the current case, and a lawyer who has ties to the previous case and his own agenda for investigating further into the ice cream case. Clearly all of these timelines will merge, and when they do secrets are unleashed that cannot be covered up again.
I really appreciated Chris (lawyer) and Ella (survivor)'s POV the most, as I struggled on and off with Keller (FBI agent)'s voice and overall character. Keller is 8.5 months pregnant with twins, and it truly felt like someone who has no idea what pregnancy entails wrote this character. 🤣 Many women don't even make it that far in a multiples pregnancy, but to be running around like she is without so much as being winded or slowed down? It felt completely unrealistic, maybe because I myself am pregnant at the moment. The narrator on the audiobook for this character was also very abrupt and harsh in tone and pronunciations, so maybe that contributed as well.
I absolutely loved how we feel like we're on this journey to solving both mysteries, and how each perspective gives us different clues into the story. The ending goes off the rails a bit, and while parts of it irked me and felt they lacked explanation or closure, I respect what the author has done to not feel as if they're handing over a perfectly neat ending. Overall, if you're looking for a fun, fast paced mystery to keep you busy, this is it.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
Whooo it's been a hot minute since I've finished an entire book in one sitting... Errr, listen. With a cast of four narrators, some better than others, this made for an engaging audiobook experience, and the 90's nostalgic moments were much obliged. This is actually my first book from the author, and I can see why he's getting hyped among a sea of mediocre thrillers. The chapters are short, the POV is ever changing, and the plot moves at a break neck pace alternating between past and present, which combined made for a truly thrilling experience.
We start with a multiple homicide at the Blockbuster one evening, where three female employees and one male employee are brutally killed, while one is left alive with no clue as to who the perpetrator is. Flash forward to present day, and another similar murder has happened at an ice cream shop where, you guessed it, multiple girls are killed and one is left alive. Along the way, we get the view points of the remaining survivor from the 90's killing, an FBI agent working the current case, and a lawyer who has ties to the previous case and his own agenda for investigating further into the ice cream case. Clearly all of these timelines will merge, and when they do secrets are unleashed that cannot be covered up again.
I really appreciated Chris (lawyer) and Ella (survivor)'s POV the most, as I struggled on and off with Keller (FBI agent)'s voice and overall character. Keller is 8.5 months pregnant with twins, and it truly felt like someone who has no idea what pregnancy entails wrote this character. 🤣 Many women don't even make it that far in a multiples pregnancy, but to be running around like she is without so much as being winded or slowed down? It felt completely unrealistic, maybe because I myself am pregnant at the moment. The narrator on the audiobook for this character was also very abrupt and harsh in tone and pronunciations, so maybe that contributed as well.
I absolutely loved how we feel like we're on this journey to solving both mysteries, and how each perspective gives us different clues into the story. The ending goes off the rails a bit, and while parts of it irked me and felt they lacked explanation or closure, I respect what the author has done to not feel as if they're handing over a perfectly neat ending. Overall, if you're looking for a fun, fast paced mystery to keep you busy, this is it.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
April 9, 2022
Goodnight Pretty Girl!
New Years Eve 1999
Y2K was an usual friday night at the Block Buster Video Store in Linden, New Jersey. Steve the manager closed that night at 10 PM. He usually closed at 2 AM. The night shift included 4 mischievous teenage girls. They were Juniors and Seniors in high school. Ella was the new girl on the shift. The last thing Steve heard were screams. Four teenage girls are attacked. Only one survives who was Ella!
Then 15 years later at the Dairy Creamery which is an ice cream shop in Linden, New Jersey, four girls were attacked again and only one survives.
I loved Every Last Fear, by this author and this one is just as good!
While I was reading it, I had so many questions. I felt like I was a detective trying to find out who the killer was. I kept following all of the clues. I felt like I was working on a puzzle and putting together the pieces.
I loved the fact that Sarah Keller and her husband who were in Every Last Fear were in this one too.
The chapters were short and I love short chapters. I also loved the writing style. The characters were done very well. There are some likable characters and some unlikable characters too.
This one also was one of those final girl thrillers.
The plot was very intense and I could not put it down.
This was an addictive thriller.
I want to thank Netgalley, Minotaur Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
New Years Eve 1999
Y2K was an usual friday night at the Block Buster Video Store in Linden, New Jersey. Steve the manager closed that night at 10 PM. He usually closed at 2 AM. The night shift included 4 mischievous teenage girls. They were Juniors and Seniors in high school. Ella was the new girl on the shift. The last thing Steve heard were screams. Four teenage girls are attacked. Only one survives who was Ella!
Then 15 years later at the Dairy Creamery which is an ice cream shop in Linden, New Jersey, four girls were attacked again and only one survives.
I loved Every Last Fear, by this author and this one is just as good!
While I was reading it, I had so many questions. I felt like I was a detective trying to find out who the killer was. I kept following all of the clues. I felt like I was working on a puzzle and putting together the pieces.
I loved the fact that Sarah Keller and her husband who were in Every Last Fear were in this one too.
The chapters were short and I love short chapters. I also loved the writing style. The characters were done very well. There are some likable characters and some unlikable characters too.
This one also was one of those final girl thrillers.
The plot was very intense and I could not put it down.
This was an addictive thriller.
I want to thank Netgalley, Minotaur Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 25, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur, and Alex Finlay for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 3.1!**
It's Friday Night. 1999. You're 18. And you have absolutely no idea what TikTok, Tesla, or Twitter are. You're desperate for SOMEthing to do other than roam the mall, loiter at the nearest bowling alley, or jump around in your Moon Boots for the thousandth time.
A commercial comes on, with its all-too-familiar phrase:
Make it a Blockbuster Night.
...and suddenly, there is NO PLACE you'd rather be.
Alex Finlay manages to take this charge from Make it a Blockbuster Night to Make it a Blockbuster Book...and there was NO BOOK I'd rather read!
Our story opens in the last true golden age: the Age of VHS. Four teens in the small town of Linden, NJ are closing up their Blockbuster store for the night when an attacker strikes. One teen survives, but the perp manages to evade police and disappear entirely. A blip on the crime radar UNTIL a similar attack occurs at an ice cream shop, fifteen years later. 4 victims, one survivor. Has the killer come out of hiding for round two?
It certainly seems that way...as both times, the killer utters "Goodnight pretty girl."
Everyone's favorite FBI Agent Sarah Keller (first featured in Finlay's debut, Every Last Fear) is on the case, and "Final Girls" Ella and Jesse have input and insight as well. There is a wide range of possible suspects here, and as things progress, we meet siblings of the survivors, friends, colleagues, detectives, and family members. Does the killer have a THIRD target in mind? Could all of these loose ends be neatly tied together by story's end? Do either of these Final Girls know more than they are letting on...and just exactly WHO was lingering in the Blockbuster parking lot, all those years ago?
After the absolutely top-notch thriller that is Every Last Fear from then-debut author Alex Finlay and a run of less than 5 star reads lately, my expectations for this book were about as high as they could be for any author AND any thriller I have picked up in recent memory...and saving this one for a much needed pick-me-up was WELL worth it!
Finlay's trademarks are all here:
*short, punchy, in-your-face chapters. My personal favorite in thrillers, for the obvious reason of compelling you to read more and more. It's easy to say, "Just one more chapter" when it only takes a few minutes to read it! Well played, Finlay. 😉
*character development that brings you up to speed with the life, motivations, and hopes of his characters in no time flat! If you're going to alternate POVs AND be economical in chapter length, every word counts. Finlay's books don't hold much in the way of filler, because frankly? There isn't any time for it! However, I never feel shortchanged when it comes to his characters. They are always easy to visualize and intriguing from start to finish!
*Red herrings and twists. I LOVE his jaw-dropping and eye-popping moments, and there were certainly a few in this one! Sometimes it's fun to really play sleuth and see how quickly you can determine the killer, and other times it's fun to sit back and sort of watch everything unfold before you. The beauty of Finlay's books is that you can take either path and have FUN. Plenty of room for armchair detectives, but if you'd rather just let yourself be surprised (basically how I went into this one) there's plenty of room to do that too. His stories FEEL very plausible and real, and even if there were minor plot holes pointed out to me, I doubt I'd notice them or care! Always a sign of entertaining and well-thought out writing.
I think perhaps my biggest criticism of this one, ironically, was Agent Keller's portrayal: she is supposedly 9 MONTHS PREGNANT (and nearly full term) with twins...and not only is she still working her normal beat without MISSING a beat, there is actually a point in the book where she feels some pain in her stomach and thinks "Eh" and essentially ignores it. I mean, the fact that she's moving around at all is pretty incredible, but I have to imagine most first time moms would hardly be nonchalant about pains like that...since they could potentially signal a problem or...you know...LABOR! 🤦♀️
The best thing about Finlay's writing, however? It pulses with a suspenseful heartbeat all its own, not letting up from page one until it left me baffled, breathless, and begging for more! Finlay is an absolute must-read author for me, and if you enjoyed his last, love the 90s and are in search of a character-driven, page-flipping thriller?
...The Night Shift will tick every one of those boxes, because ANY night you're reading a Finlay book is its own Blockbuster Night! 🎬🍿
4.5 stars
Nominated for Best Mystery/Thriller in the Goodreads Choice Awards!
It's Friday Night. 1999. You're 18. And you have absolutely no idea what TikTok, Tesla, or Twitter are. You're desperate for SOMEthing to do other than roam the mall, loiter at the nearest bowling alley, or jump around in your Moon Boots for the thousandth time.
A commercial comes on, with its all-too-familiar phrase:
Make it a Blockbuster Night.
...and suddenly, there is NO PLACE you'd rather be.
Alex Finlay manages to take this charge from Make it a Blockbuster Night to Make it a Blockbuster Book...and there was NO BOOK I'd rather read!
Our story opens in the last true golden age: the Age of VHS. Four teens in the small town of Linden, NJ are closing up their Blockbuster store for the night when an attacker strikes. One teen survives, but the perp manages to evade police and disappear entirely. A blip on the crime radar UNTIL a similar attack occurs at an ice cream shop, fifteen years later. 4 victims, one survivor. Has the killer come out of hiding for round two?
It certainly seems that way...as both times, the killer utters "Goodnight pretty girl."
Everyone's favorite FBI Agent Sarah Keller (first featured in Finlay's debut, Every Last Fear) is on the case, and "Final Girls" Ella and Jesse have input and insight as well. There is a wide range of possible suspects here, and as things progress, we meet siblings of the survivors, friends, colleagues, detectives, and family members. Does the killer have a THIRD target in mind? Could all of these loose ends be neatly tied together by story's end? Do either of these Final Girls know more than they are letting on...and just exactly WHO was lingering in the Blockbuster parking lot, all those years ago?
After the absolutely top-notch thriller that is Every Last Fear from then-debut author Alex Finlay and a run of less than 5 star reads lately, my expectations for this book were about as high as they could be for any author AND any thriller I have picked up in recent memory...and saving this one for a much needed pick-me-up was WELL worth it!
Finlay's trademarks are all here:
*short, punchy, in-your-face chapters. My personal favorite in thrillers, for the obvious reason of compelling you to read more and more. It's easy to say, "Just one more chapter" when it only takes a few minutes to read it! Well played, Finlay. 😉
*character development that brings you up to speed with the life, motivations, and hopes of his characters in no time flat! If you're going to alternate POVs AND be economical in chapter length, every word counts. Finlay's books don't hold much in the way of filler, because frankly? There isn't any time for it! However, I never feel shortchanged when it comes to his characters. They are always easy to visualize and intriguing from start to finish!
*Red herrings and twists. I LOVE his jaw-dropping and eye-popping moments, and there were certainly a few in this one! Sometimes it's fun to really play sleuth and see how quickly you can determine the killer, and other times it's fun to sit back and sort of watch everything unfold before you. The beauty of Finlay's books is that you can take either path and have FUN. Plenty of room for armchair detectives, but if you'd rather just let yourself be surprised (basically how I went into this one) there's plenty of room to do that too. His stories FEEL very plausible and real, and even if there were minor plot holes pointed out to me, I doubt I'd notice them or care! Always a sign of entertaining and well-thought out writing.
I think perhaps my biggest criticism of this one, ironically, was Agent Keller's portrayal: she is supposedly 9 MONTHS PREGNANT (and nearly full term) with twins...and not only is she still working her normal beat without MISSING a beat, there is actually a point in the book where she feels some pain in her stomach and thinks "Eh" and essentially ignores it. I mean, the fact that she's moving around at all is pretty incredible, but I have to imagine most first time moms would hardly be nonchalant about pains like that...since they could potentially signal a problem or...you know...LABOR! 🤦♀️
The best thing about Finlay's writing, however? It pulses with a suspenseful heartbeat all its own, not letting up from page one until it left me baffled, breathless, and begging for more! Finlay is an absolute must-read author for me, and if you enjoyed his last, love the 90s and are in search of a character-driven, page-flipping thriller?
...The Night Shift will tick every one of those boxes, because ANY night you're reading a Finlay book is its own Blockbuster Night! 🎬🍿
4.5 stars
Nominated for Best Mystery/Thriller in the Goodreads Choice Awards!
November 18, 2022
Alex Finlay tries to tell the stories of two different murders, one during 1999 (when the world was worrying about Y2K) and the second one fifteen years later in New Jersey. In both cases, four people were murdered, with one surviving victim. The murderer told a similar sentence to the surviving victims in both cases. The plot of this book will be interesting to many readers.
We can say that the time period author chose was also great. I felt I was revisiting Woodsboro (credits - Wes Craven) in multiple parts of this book. The chapters are small and crisp, and the writing was good in the initial half of this novel. Multiple POV also makes this book intriguing. Even though there are no extraordinary twists and surprises, the story the author is trying to discuss is entertaining to a certain extend
What I learned from this book
1) Why is it said that narcotics is a dirty business?
The author explains why catching people involved in the narcotics business is difficult. He tries to tell how it affects people and why we are not able to prevent it.
"He's so tired of the drug war, which is really just a war on broken people, many who've suffered childhood trauma. Locking them up does nothing. Plenty of people in the system want to help. But his clients are like an army from a zombie movie. Help one, and a hundred more appear."
2) Is nostalgia a seductive liar?
This is a tricky question to ask. But we must admit that the above George Ball's line is true to a certain extent. Some say nostalgia is delusional; some say nostalgia is like a drug, while others love nostalgia.
If you were a kid during the 90s, you would get some nostalgia from certain parts of this book. The term blockbuster video itself is more than enough to bring nostalgia to the 90s kids. If you had read the book, That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea by Marc Randolph; you would know about the blockbuster turning down the $50 million offer for Netflix. I still wonder why didn't they buy it. (Maybe it is easy for us to say that here in the future compared to predicting it in the late 90s) Now the people in Bend, Oregon, are only the lucky ones who can still relive those memories in real life.
We can say that the author successfully brought nostalgia to readers' minds by placing crucial events in this novel in the hallmarks of that era.
“And Steve remained convinced that she was the one who put Friday the 13th inside the box for 101 Dalmatians. Those parents had given him an earful.”
3) How will changing schools affect children's future?
This is a topic that needs in-depth analysis. In this novel, we can see a person who has already changed three high schools.
I am a person who studied in eight schools. I clearly know the troubles associated with changing schools. Both my parents are Doctors. Their journey through Med School, different Hospitals, Residencies, promotions to better Hospitals in different parts of the country were also my journey through different schools along with them. It was challenging for me to adjust to newer schools, teachers, friends, syllabus, teaching patterns, food, and weather. I think these experiences made me a stronger human being, and today I am confident that I will be able to survive in any corner of the world despite all the hardships. But I can't say this won't be the case with all children. The author is trying to mention the problems associated with recurrent school transfers to the children in a subtle yet effective manner in this novel.
“It is unusual to change schools during senior year, Isn’t it?”
My favourite three lines from this book
“It makes sense. A trauma survivor wanting to help other trauma survivors”
“A good boss deletes annoyed messages before sending them.”
“All these years, he was a monster in plain sight.”
What could have been better?
How can an author show that a male character is enthusiastic about his work?
It is by showing the intelligent decisions he makes during his work.
How can an author show that a female character is enthusiastic about her work?
The answer should normally be the same as the previous one. But for a few authors like Alex Finlay, the answer differs from the first. They might be taciturn about their sexist feelings. But it might become conspicuous in the ways they decide to show the zealous nature of the female characters in their novels by showing them sacrificing their physical attributes as a woman to a certain extent to show that they are passionate about their work (like one other author trying to project an enthusiastic working female as a pregnant woman trying to complete her work in the office even when her water broke).
In this novel, we can see a similar character who is an agent and eight months pregnant (that too with twins). She is assigned a case on the field and searching for serial killers. The author's portrayal of the agent's behavior makes it more ridiculous. She is not at all bothered about the fetus, even when she feels that there are no intrauterine movements. When she was going on the field, any injury to her was directly putting three lives at stake, and she and her seniors have the temerity to narcissistically not even consider it. This is the method that the author adopted to show that she was enthusiastic about her work. According to my conscience, it is one of the worst flagrant acts of turpitude that an author can commit.
It seems that the author should learn how to end a novel. Some readers will feel that the ending of this novel was a little too open-ended for their liking.
Rating
2.5 /5 It is not easy to forgive the mistakes committed by the author. Still, I can't deny the fact that he put a lot of hard work into this novel to give us a somewhat entertaining read.
If you are someone who is ok with the above two negatives, you can definitely try this novel.
October 19, 2022
the characters are what sell this story. not necessary them as individuals, but how they are all connected. or seemingly connected. the way that the information is revealed and you see how the different arcs intersect or intertwine definitely makes the story worth reading.
i also like how the characters have various professions, so the reader is exposed to every angle the case. the fbi agent sheds light on the criminal investigation, the lawyer show the legal side of things, and the therapist allows the reader to delve into the psychological components. i thought it provided a good balance of everything.
i will say that i was disappointed with the epilogue and hope that it goes through some revision before publication because, honestly, its such an unsatisfying and uninformative status update on the characters. this huge “finale” happens at the end, where multiple characters are involved, and the epilogue just does not provide the necessary closure for some of them. so fingers crossed it gets expanded or changed.
but overall, this is for sure a mystery/thriller to look forward to early next year, especially if you enjoy connected cold and current cases, the ‘final girl’ trope, and great characters.
a big thanks to st. martins press/minotaur books for the ARC!
↠ 4 stars
i also like how the characters have various professions, so the reader is exposed to every angle the case. the fbi agent sheds light on the criminal investigation, the lawyer show the legal side of things, and the therapist allows the reader to delve into the psychological components. i thought it provided a good balance of everything.
i will say that i was disappointed with the epilogue and hope that it goes through some revision before publication because, honestly, its such an unsatisfying and uninformative status update on the characters. this huge “finale” happens at the end, where multiple characters are involved, and the epilogue just does not provide the necessary closure for some of them. so fingers crossed it gets expanded or changed.
but overall, this is for sure a mystery/thriller to look forward to early next year, especially if you enjoy connected cold and current cases, the ‘final girl’ trope, and great characters.
a big thanks to st. martins press/minotaur books for the ARC!
↠ 4 stars
March 14, 2022
***NOW AVAILABLE***
I think I feel a bit differently about this book than some other reviews that I’ve read. For me I felt as though the first half of the book was much more slowly paced than his last novel. In Every Last Fear, the beginning started with a bang and just kept building. For me, this one was a bit of a slower start.
Mr. Finlay’s strengths are many; I love the time and place where this novel was set. The beginning brings a sense of deja vu for anyone old enough to remember the fear of Y2K and how the world was going to literally shut down, computers wouldn’t know how to update, etc etc. It really was quite a fierce buildup TO AN ABSOLUTELY NON-EVENT!!!!
The author is very clever at bringing in twists at a consistent pace while saving the most surprises for later in the book. His writing is excellent and there was no problem with the two timelines, I thought they were clearly defined and easy to separate.
I loved that he chose some really intelligent, hard working and industrious women to advance the plot and be involved in the investigation. HIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS VERY GOOD!!
BRIEF HIGHLIGHT OF THE PLOT: In 1999, New Year’s Eve, there is a murder in Linden, New Jersey, a town not used to a lot of violence. Four teenagers were brutally attacked at the local Blockbuster Video, only one survived.
Now about 15 years later, there is another tragic murder. Same town, this time at the Dairy Creamery. Teenagers are brutally murdered with again a lone survivor. This one also took place during THE NIGHT SHIFT!!
Because the crimes are very similar, both involved teenagers in the same town, there seems there must be a connection right? Why this town? Why always teenagers? Why now, 15 years later??
The novel is told from two perspectives. FBI agent Keller and public defender Chris. They will investigate the possible connection and of course, try to find out WHO THE KILLER, OR KILLERS ARE!!!!!!
Vince Whittaker was arrested for the Blockbuster murder but set free on bail, never to be seen again!!
In the present Jesse Duvall is the survivor of the ice cream parlor massacre. She won’t talk to the police. She requests someone that has gone through a similar experience. She wants to speak to Ella, a therapist now, who was the survivor of the Blockbuster attack.
The second half of the book was more enjoyable and exciting for me. I felt that the pace picked up, I got to know the characters better and things started to come together.
In this novel there are some unanswered questions and coincidences that were a little hard to believe. I also had a hard time picturing Agent Keller, 8 ½ months pregnant with twins doing some of the things that she did!!
All in all this was a great thriller, well written that I can definitely recommend and I look forward to Mr. Finlay’s next novel!!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was a pleasure to read and review this title.
I think I feel a bit differently about this book than some other reviews that I’ve read. For me I felt as though the first half of the book was much more slowly paced than his last novel. In Every Last Fear, the beginning started with a bang and just kept building. For me, this one was a bit of a slower start.
Mr. Finlay’s strengths are many; I love the time and place where this novel was set. The beginning brings a sense of deja vu for anyone old enough to remember the fear of Y2K and how the world was going to literally shut down, computers wouldn’t know how to update, etc etc. It really was quite a fierce buildup TO AN ABSOLUTELY NON-EVENT!!!!
The author is very clever at bringing in twists at a consistent pace while saving the most surprises for later in the book. His writing is excellent and there was no problem with the two timelines, I thought they were clearly defined and easy to separate.
I loved that he chose some really intelligent, hard working and industrious women to advance the plot and be involved in the investigation. HIS CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS VERY GOOD!!
BRIEF HIGHLIGHT OF THE PLOT: In 1999, New Year’s Eve, there is a murder in Linden, New Jersey, a town not used to a lot of violence. Four teenagers were brutally attacked at the local Blockbuster Video, only one survived.
Now about 15 years later, there is another tragic murder. Same town, this time at the Dairy Creamery. Teenagers are brutally murdered with again a lone survivor. This one also took place during THE NIGHT SHIFT!!
Because the crimes are very similar, both involved teenagers in the same town, there seems there must be a connection right? Why this town? Why always teenagers? Why now, 15 years later??
The novel is told from two perspectives. FBI agent Keller and public defender Chris. They will investigate the possible connection and of course, try to find out WHO THE KILLER, OR KILLERS ARE!!!!!!
Vince Whittaker was arrested for the Blockbuster murder but set free on bail, never to be seen again!!
In the present Jesse Duvall is the survivor of the ice cream parlor massacre. She won’t talk to the police. She requests someone that has gone through a similar experience. She wants to speak to Ella, a therapist now, who was the survivor of the Blockbuster attack.
The second half of the book was more enjoyable and exciting for me. I felt that the pace picked up, I got to know the characters better and things started to come together.
In this novel there are some unanswered questions and coincidences that were a little hard to believe. I also had a hard time picturing Agent Keller, 8 ½ months pregnant with twins doing some of the things that she did!!
All in all this was a great thriller, well written that I can definitely recommend and I look forward to Mr. Finlay’s next novel!!
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was a pleasure to read and review this title.
March 1, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Remember the nerves and uncertainty in the air on the eve of Y2K?
That’s exactly where this book starts off, on December 31st, 1999 at a Blockbuster Video Store (oh, how I love the nostalgia). Four teenage girls are working with their young manager, and all but one of the workers are brutally murdered. A suspect is quickly arrested and released...never to be seen again.
15 years later, some teenage girls are working at an ice cream parlor in the same neighborhood. There is only one survivor.
Are the two crimes connected? Is the original suspect from 1999 back from wherever he went?
Told from the perspectives of Ella, the lone survivor of the Blockbuster murders, FBI Agent Keller, and Public Defender Chris, I immediately became immersed in the story, waiting to see how everything would intersect.
For the most part, The Night Shift is a gripping thriller with interesting characters, an intriguing and dark plot that sprinkles “a-ha” moments throughout, and enough tension to push through to the ending.
It’s not perfect, though. I found the way the characters received pertinent information to be a bit coincidental. One source of knowledge was pretty unbelievable, and I’m not sure how this particular individual would uncover so much information that has eluded the FBI, police, reporters, and the like. Additionally, the epilogue was way too HALLMARK-esque for my liking. 🙄
Author Alex Finlay has a surefire talent with his words. This is the second novel of his that I have read and truly enjoyed. While I didn’t quite love it as much as his previous offering, Every Last Fear, it’s still a worthy addition to my “read” shelf. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/1/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Remember the nerves and uncertainty in the air on the eve of Y2K?
That’s exactly where this book starts off, on December 31st, 1999 at a Blockbuster Video Store (oh, how I love the nostalgia). Four teenage girls are working with their young manager, and all but one of the workers are brutally murdered. A suspect is quickly arrested and released...never to be seen again.
15 years later, some teenage girls are working at an ice cream parlor in the same neighborhood. There is only one survivor.
Are the two crimes connected? Is the original suspect from 1999 back from wherever he went?
Told from the perspectives of Ella, the lone survivor of the Blockbuster murders, FBI Agent Keller, and Public Defender Chris, I immediately became immersed in the story, waiting to see how everything would intersect.
For the most part, The Night Shift is a gripping thriller with interesting characters, an intriguing and dark plot that sprinkles “a-ha” moments throughout, and enough tension to push through to the ending.
It’s not perfect, though. I found the way the characters received pertinent information to be a bit coincidental. One source of knowledge was pretty unbelievable, and I’m not sure how this particular individual would uncover so much information that has eluded the FBI, police, reporters, and the like. Additionally, the epilogue was way too HALLMARK-esque for my liking. 🙄
Author Alex Finlay has a surefire talent with his words. This is the second novel of his that I have read and truly enjoyed. While I didn’t quite love it as much as his previous offering, Every Last Fear, it’s still a worthy addition to my “read” shelf. I look forward to seeing what he comes up with next.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 3/1/22.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
February 28, 2022
Hello, I am Melissa and I'm an outlier.
I really liked Finlay's (aka Anthony Franze) first book, Every Last Fear. It was fast paced and I was kept interested throughout. This one, although intriguing in places, just didn't captivate me.
It's the story of some murders that took place on New Year's Eve, 1999 at a Blockbuster. Four people are killed and one girl survives. Flash forward fifteen years later and in the same town, a similar incident occurs and three are killed and one girl survives. The survivor from the Blockbuster incident, Ella, is now a therapist and is called in to talk to Jess, the latest survivor. Are the two crimes related? What happened to the man who was arrested for the earlier crime, was released, and then disappeared?
The premise for this book is good, but I just got bored and lost a few times with the number of victims and situations. There were also some incidents where the reader is kept deliberately in the dark--the characters know more about what went on and it isn't revealed, especially when it comes to Ella and the night of the Blockbuster murders.
Plus, in the end, there are some loose threads left unanswered and I always hate it when that happens:
Overall this isn't a terrible book, but when I'm left with so many questions it's not as good as it could have been. My logical brain isn't willing to suspend enough disbelief and allow so many unanswered questions and jumps in logic. It was still decently fast paced and other reviewers seem to really love it, so take my review with a grain of salt.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I really liked Finlay's (aka Anthony Franze) first book, Every Last Fear. It was fast paced and I was kept interested throughout. This one, although intriguing in places, just didn't captivate me.
It's the story of some murders that took place on New Year's Eve, 1999 at a Blockbuster. Four people are killed and one girl survives. Flash forward fifteen years later and in the same town, a similar incident occurs and three are killed and one girl survives. The survivor from the Blockbuster incident, Ella, is now a therapist and is called in to talk to Jess, the latest survivor. Are the two crimes related? What happened to the man who was arrested for the earlier crime, was released, and then disappeared?
The premise for this book is good, but I just got bored and lost a few times with the number of victims and situations. There were also some incidents where the reader is kept deliberately in the dark--the characters know more about what went on and it isn't revealed, especially when it comes to Ella and the night of the Blockbuster murders.
Plus, in the end, there are some loose threads left unanswered and I always hate it when that happens:
Overall this isn't a terrible book, but when I'm left with so many questions it's not as good as it could have been. My logical brain isn't willing to suspend enough disbelief and allow so many unanswered questions and jumps in logic. It was still decently fast paced and other reviewers seem to really love it, so take my review with a grain of salt.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
March 1, 2022
On New Year’s Eve, 1999-the whole World was afraid that computers would be unable to transition to a new century, causing planes to fall from the sky, elevators to plunge to the ground and the Stock Market to collapse-and Everyone was partying like it could be the last time…
But, it’s just a typical night at the Blockbuster video store in Linden, NJ for the 4 teenaged girls and their manager who were working the NIGHT SHIFT. Rewinding the videos returned, selling microwave popcorn, and gossiping in the break room, eager to close at 10 PM so they could celebrate with friends.
None have them could have guessed that they might not survive the night for reasons other than Y2K.
None could have guessed that they would soon be BRUTALLY attacked.
There was just one survivor-Ella.
Fifteen years later, four more teenaged girls are VICIOUSLY attacked in Linden, NJ, just before closing time at the Dairy Creamery Ice cream shop.
Again, there is just one survivor-Jesse.
And now, in the aftermath of this crime, Ella, now a therapist will be called to try to help Jesse make sense of what has happened.
Vince Whitaker, the boyfriend of one of the girls from the Blockbuster Video had been swiftly arrested, following that tragic night, but when he was released on bail, he disappeared and has never been seen again. Could he be back?
His younger brother, Chris, now a Public Defender who has always maintained his brother’s innocence doesn’t think so. But, local police are able to call in the FBI because of this possibility, and Sarah Keller, (from Every Last Fear) arrives to assist.
Each will try to figure out IF these two crimes are linked.
Alex Finlay’s writing HOOKS me instantly! I was immediately drawn in by the nostalgia and the well developed characters.
Although I guessed one piece of this puzzle pretty early, I couldn’t put together how it would all come together in the end. I think his books are written this way-giving you a chance to solve the crime-as in both books the crimes felt plausible to me. That isn’t to say that there won’t be surprises-there definitely are-but there isn’t going to be that crazy twist that comes out of left field.
And, I personally LOVE stories written like this! ❤️
If you enjoyed his last-I don’t think you will be disappointed by this one. I am already looking forward to seeing what he pens next.
4.5 ⭐️ rounded down
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!!
But, it’s just a typical night at the Blockbuster video store in Linden, NJ for the 4 teenaged girls and their manager who were working the NIGHT SHIFT. Rewinding the videos returned, selling microwave popcorn, and gossiping in the break room, eager to close at 10 PM so they could celebrate with friends.
None have them could have guessed that they might not survive the night for reasons other than Y2K.
None could have guessed that they would soon be BRUTALLY attacked.
There was just one survivor-Ella.
Fifteen years later, four more teenaged girls are VICIOUSLY attacked in Linden, NJ, just before closing time at the Dairy Creamery Ice cream shop.
Again, there is just one survivor-Jesse.
And now, in the aftermath of this crime, Ella, now a therapist will be called to try to help Jesse make sense of what has happened.
Vince Whitaker, the boyfriend of one of the girls from the Blockbuster Video had been swiftly arrested, following that tragic night, but when he was released on bail, he disappeared and has never been seen again. Could he be back?
His younger brother, Chris, now a Public Defender who has always maintained his brother’s innocence doesn’t think so. But, local police are able to call in the FBI because of this possibility, and Sarah Keller, (from Every Last Fear) arrives to assist.
Each will try to figure out IF these two crimes are linked.
Alex Finlay’s writing HOOKS me instantly! I was immediately drawn in by the nostalgia and the well developed characters.
Although I guessed one piece of this puzzle pretty early, I couldn’t put together how it would all come together in the end. I think his books are written this way-giving you a chance to solve the crime-as in both books the crimes felt plausible to me. That isn’t to say that there won’t be surprises-there definitely are-but there isn’t going to be that crazy twist that comes out of left field.
And, I personally LOVE stories written like this! ❤️
If you enjoyed his last-I don’t think you will be disappointed by this one. I am already looking forward to seeing what he pens next.
4.5 ⭐️ rounded down
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!!
April 3, 2022
My first by the author. I wasn't disappointed either. The pacing was just right, Finlay doesn't add dull details or frivolous filler. I also liked the little cliffhanger endings at the end of many of the chapters.
He knows how to tell a story! I would call it a steady pace that gains speed towards the end. I was definitely invested and engaged. He used multiple POV's and techniques to keep me guessing. The characters were great too. I really enjoyed Special Agent Keller( also known as Agent Bada**) and Agent Atticus Singh.
Other things I loved - short, snappy chapters, the youtube excerpts, scattered clues and flashbacks, final girl vibes, and sense of caring and having the backs of those you care about. Oh, and I can't forget the twins and their ever special names. Heart <3
I do have one burning question that was left hanging, but I'll leave it for another day. Maybe even another book featuring Agent Bada**).
Library loan / read April 2022
He knows how to tell a story! I would call it a steady pace that gains speed towards the end. I was definitely invested and engaged. He used multiple POV's and techniques to keep me guessing. The characters were great too. I really enjoyed Special Agent Keller( also known as Agent Bada**) and Agent Atticus Singh.
Other things I loved - short, snappy chapters, the youtube excerpts, scattered clues and flashbacks, final girl vibes, and sense of caring and having the backs of those you care about. Oh, and I can't forget the twins and their ever special names. Heart <3
I do have one burning question that was left hanging, but I'll leave it for another day. Maybe even another book featuring Agent Bada**).
Library loan / read April 2022
March 3, 2022
4.5 stars rounded up.
Remember the panic about Y2K?? Remember Blockbuster? What’s the connection? It’s New Year’s Eve 1999 in Linden, New Jersey and a killer brutally slays the night shift staff with just one survivor. The authorities believe they have the perpetrator but he disappears before any charges are made. Fast forward to 2015, same town, the night shift staff at an ice cream store are slain, again with one survivor. Is the Blockbuster killer back, there’s one chilling fact that seems to suggest so. The novel unfolds from three perspectives, FBI agent Sarah Keller (from Every Last Fear), lawyer Chris Ford and therapist Ella.
Just like the previous novel this one reels me in from the start and keeps me hooked from beginning to end. I love the way it’s written as most chapters end with an enticing, tantalising cliff hanger some of which are doozies they’re so unexpected and this keeps you reading on. It’s fast paced, though thankfully you do get some opportunities to catch your breath and it’s just my kind of thriller. In fact, it’s a very definition of a good thriller with plenty of action, thrill and spills especially in the second half with good suspenseful plot twists and turns, some being real jaw droppers.
The characterisation is very good, Sarah Keller is very likeable and gutsy even more so being heavily pregnant, her sidekick in this is Atticus Singh and he is extremely likeable. Ella and Chris have suffered trauma and their changing moods and a sense of foreboding hanging over them is well conveyed. One character from 2015 sure keeps you on your toes giving you pause for thought as you try to sift through fact from fiction.
The ending is very dramatic perhaps in part a bit of a stretch but it’s certainly riveting and heartbreaking. As for the epilogue I ponder over if we need it but then I guess so as the author is trying to show how you can pick your life up from horror and make something good out of it. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Head of Zeus, Aries for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Remember the panic about Y2K?? Remember Blockbuster? What’s the connection? It’s New Year’s Eve 1999 in Linden, New Jersey and a killer brutally slays the night shift staff with just one survivor. The authorities believe they have the perpetrator but he disappears before any charges are made. Fast forward to 2015, same town, the night shift staff at an ice cream store are slain, again with one survivor. Is the Blockbuster killer back, there’s one chilling fact that seems to suggest so. The novel unfolds from three perspectives, FBI agent Sarah Keller (from Every Last Fear), lawyer Chris Ford and therapist Ella.
Just like the previous novel this one reels me in from the start and keeps me hooked from beginning to end. I love the way it’s written as most chapters end with an enticing, tantalising cliff hanger some of which are doozies they’re so unexpected and this keeps you reading on. It’s fast paced, though thankfully you do get some opportunities to catch your breath and it’s just my kind of thriller. In fact, it’s a very definition of a good thriller with plenty of action, thrill and spills especially in the second half with good suspenseful plot twists and turns, some being real jaw droppers.
The characterisation is very good, Sarah Keller is very likeable and gutsy even more so being heavily pregnant, her sidekick in this is Atticus Singh and he is extremely likeable. Ella and Chris have suffered trauma and their changing moods and a sense of foreboding hanging over them is well conveyed. One character from 2015 sure keeps you on your toes giving you pause for thought as you try to sift through fact from fiction.
The ending is very dramatic perhaps in part a bit of a stretch but it’s certainly riveting and heartbreaking. As for the epilogue I ponder over if we need it but then I guess so as the author is trying to show how you can pick your life up from horror and make something good out of it. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Head of Zeus, Aries for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 3, 2023
The last day of the year with a solid thriller mystery.
I guessed who the killer was early on but the POVs made the story realllllyyyy interesting. This made me miss my thriller era again....maybe she'll make a comeback this year!
4 STARS
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
I guessed who the killer was early on but the POVs made the story realllllyyyy interesting. This made me miss my thriller era again....maybe she'll make a comeback this year!
4 STARS
Twitter | Bookstagram | Youtube |
March 19, 2022
It was a thriller alright! But I was hoping for more Blockbuster nostalgia.
Present-day is 2015 when the killing of three at an ice cream parlor left one survivor. Was this related to the 1999 New Year's Eve massacre at a Blockbuster store?
When I read Finlays' Every Last Fear I made a comment about how the author spent too much time and got too detailed about FBI agent Sarah Keller. Now I know! She's back and is expecting twins any day now. A little off the rails to be chasing a mass killer, but it's fiction so I guess that works.
I didn't guess the killer correctly, I just know it wasn't who I'm supposed to think is the killer. 😉 Another brow-raising reveal along the way was a nice touch that I didn't see coming. I think most mystery-thriller readers will enjoy this novel. Finlay might not be an author for me, the other book was also 3 stars. This book was good, especially with multiple narrators but I didn't love it.
Present-day is 2015 when the killing of three at an ice cream parlor left one survivor. Was this related to the 1999 New Year's Eve massacre at a Blockbuster store?
When I read Finlays' Every Last Fear I made a comment about how the author spent too much time and got too detailed about FBI agent Sarah Keller. Now I know! She's back and is expecting twins any day now. A little off the rails to be chasing a mass killer, but it's fiction so I guess that works.
I didn't guess the killer correctly, I just know it wasn't who I'm supposed to think is the killer. 😉 Another brow-raising reveal along the way was a nice touch that I didn't see coming. I think most mystery-thriller readers will enjoy this novel. Finlay might not be an author for me, the other book was also 3 stars. This book was good, especially with multiple narrators but I didn't love it.
March 16, 2022
Writing: 5/5 | Plot: 4/5 | Ending: 4/5
This is 4.5 stars rounded down... explanation below.
THE PLOT
NYE 1999: 3 girls are brutally murdered, 1 girl (Ella) survives, the accused escapes—never to be seen again. 15 years later: Ella is still recovering from the traumatic events of that fateful night at Blockbuster when a similar crime happens at the local Dairy Creamer; all the victims went to the same high school as Ella. Is the killer back? Ella, the accused's brother Chris, and a very pregnant FBI special agent Sarah Keller embark on a journey toward the truth.
MY OPINION
BrooooOOOOOOO. I LOVED it. This is the first book since The Silent Patient that lived up to the hype (for ME). Wow. The writing: on point. Funny, sharp, topical. The plot: intriguing, suspenseful, well-paced. The ending: satisfying except for one dangling thread... the reason why I can't confidently stamp this 5 stars. What REALLY happened between Jesse and her former teacher? Unless I missed something, it was left very he said / she said.
I didn't even realize Sarah Keller was the same agent from Every Last Fear, so thank you NZLisaM for pointing that out. This I guess is the "prequel" of her character in Every Last Fear, where she has twins and is bound to the desk investigating financial crimes. She is a bad ass! But not your typical "chip on her shoulder" cop oozing insecurities of trying to be "one of the guys." Nah, she just is who she is... while being 8 months pregnant with twins no less.
I genuinely liked all the characters. There's a solid balance of character study/inner thoughts and police procedural/thriller. You get to know the characters, and empathize with all their backstories. Finlay gives them all a distinct voice with a lil attitude. Love it. I really enjoyed the whole Mr. Nirvana plot line... I like that the outcome was realistic, but I wished there had been more exploration of getting the answer you didn't want. Not a big complaint though.
All this to say READ IT. If you saw my earlier updates, I made a "Clue" style guess (Mr. Steadman in the Blockbuster and Dairy Creamer with the knife). I won't reveal if I was right or not, you gotta find out yourself. A fantastic book overall and I look forward to his next one.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: sharp writing, wonderful and intriguing plot, decent ending, great character development
Cons: one thicc ass unanswered question. maybe I missed it—if I did, pls message me!!
This is 4.5 stars rounded down... explanation below.
THE PLOT
NYE 1999: 3 girls are brutally murdered, 1 girl (Ella) survives, the accused escapes—never to be seen again. 15 years later: Ella is still recovering from the traumatic events of that fateful night at Blockbuster when a similar crime happens at the local Dairy Creamer; all the victims went to the same high school as Ella. Is the killer back? Ella, the accused's brother Chris, and a very pregnant FBI special agent Sarah Keller embark on a journey toward the truth.
MY OPINION
BrooooOOOOOOO. I LOVED it. This is the first book since The Silent Patient that lived up to the hype (for ME). Wow. The writing: on point. Funny, sharp, topical. The plot: intriguing, suspenseful, well-paced. The ending: satisfying except for one dangling thread... the reason why I can't confidently stamp this 5 stars. What REALLY happened between Jesse and her former teacher? Unless I missed something, it was left very he said / she said.
I didn't even realize Sarah Keller was the same agent from Every Last Fear, so thank you NZLisaM for pointing that out. This I guess is the "prequel" of her character in Every Last Fear, where she has twins and is bound to the desk investigating financial crimes. She is a bad ass! But not your typical "chip on her shoulder" cop oozing insecurities of trying to be "one of the guys." Nah, she just is who she is... while being 8 months pregnant with twins no less.
I genuinely liked all the characters. There's a solid balance of character study/inner thoughts and police procedural/thriller. You get to know the characters, and empathize with all their backstories. Finlay gives them all a distinct voice with a lil attitude. Love it. I really enjoyed the whole Mr. Nirvana plot line... I like that the outcome was realistic, but I wished there had been more exploration of getting the answer you didn't want. Not a big complaint though.
All this to say READ IT. If you saw my earlier updates, I made a "Clue" style guess (Mr. Steadman in the Blockbuster and Dairy Creamer with the knife). I won't reveal if I was right or not, you gotta find out yourself. A fantastic book overall and I look forward to his next one.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: sharp writing, wonderful and intriguing plot, decent ending, great character development
Cons: one thicc ass unanswered question. maybe I missed it—if I did, pls message me!!
January 6, 2022
It’s New Year’s Eve. 1999. While most of the world is out partying or hiding from Y2K. Five teens are working the night shift at the local blockbuster. Only one will survive the night.
Fifteen years later an eerily similar massacre just occurred at the local ice cream shop. Once again, only one teen survived.
Do you believe in coincidences?💁🏻♀️ Me neither!
This was a fantastic, twisty thriller that kept me guessing throughout. Including lots of wild moments I never could have imagined.
My second read by this author and looking forward to seeing what he has in store for us next.
A buddy read with Susanne.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
Fifteen years later an eerily similar massacre just occurred at the local ice cream shop. Once again, only one teen survived.
Do you believe in coincidences?💁🏻♀️ Me neither!
This was a fantastic, twisty thriller that kept me guessing throughout. Including lots of wild moments I never could have imagined.
My second read by this author and looking forward to seeing what he has in store for us next.
A buddy read with Susanne.
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
March 18, 2022
Alex Finlay has gone from strength to strength with this one. True to the style of his last effort, Every Last Fear, he starts with an emotionally engaging tragedy - in this one the New Year’s Eve 1999 murder of 4 young employees at a small-town Blockbuster Video store that left one survivor. Jump ahead 15 years, and history nearly mirrors itself with the murder of 4 more teenage employees at the Dairy Creamery that leaves one survivor. Is the fugitive suspect that fled 15 years ago responsible for the new murders, or is this a copycat? That’s the question and it was a page-turning pleasure getting to those answers!
Something else I liked? Finlay’s characters. He manages to make likable and unlikable characters equally compelling. I adored Atticus Singh, the young, eager agent that shadows Special Agent Sarah Keller, who’s returned from the first book - now 8 ½ months pregnant with twins. The chapters alternate between her, public defender Chris Ford, and the two female survivors of the murders, counselor Ella Monroe from the Blockbuster case, and precocious teen, Jessie Duvall, from the Dairy Creamery case. The latter three are all wounded people, each carrying scars both literal and figurative from their pasts, but each fascinating in their own way. Keller is amazing once again, and can we all just acknowledge the awesomeness that is her husband, Bob? I love that guy.
A tight, compelling story with short suspense-filled chapters - it’s an excellent follow-up to his last book, and the bonus: no dreaded villain confessional - THANK YOU! No, seriously. Thank you. That almost took his last book down a notch for me, but it’s blissfully absent this time around.
This brings me to my one tiny quibble: What’s up with the “-ad” names for guys in this book? There’s Brad, Thad and Chad at various points in the story, and none of them are particularly likable. It’s not a big deal, but it did stand out! Minor issue. Go read this book! It’s worth it.
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5) ❤️
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Alex Finlay for this ARC. All opinions are given honestly and freely. This is now available.
Something else I liked? Finlay’s characters. He manages to make likable and unlikable characters equally compelling. I adored Atticus Singh, the young, eager agent that shadows Special Agent Sarah Keller, who’s returned from the first book - now 8 ½ months pregnant with twins. The chapters alternate between her, public defender Chris Ford, and the two female survivors of the murders, counselor Ella Monroe from the Blockbuster case, and precocious teen, Jessie Duvall, from the Dairy Creamery case. The latter three are all wounded people, each carrying scars both literal and figurative from their pasts, but each fascinating in their own way. Keller is amazing once again, and can we all just acknowledge the awesomeness that is her husband, Bob? I love that guy.
A tight, compelling story with short suspense-filled chapters - it’s an excellent follow-up to his last book, and the bonus: no dreaded villain confessional - THANK YOU! No, seriously. Thank you. That almost took his last book down a notch for me, but it’s blissfully absent this time around.
This brings me to my one tiny quibble: What’s up with the “-ad” names for guys in this book? There’s Brad, Thad and Chad at various points in the story, and none of them are particularly likable. It’s not a big deal, but it did stand out! Minor issue. Go read this book! It’s worth it.
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5) ❤️
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Alex Finlay for this ARC. All opinions are given honestly and freely. This is now available.
May 15, 2022
A nightly killing spree that was to be repeated 15 years later with the same chilling message whispered into the ear of both victims "Goodnight, pretty girl"
With a cast of intriguing, well developed and likeable characters even the dislikeable ones. A sinister plot that offered so much suspense and with a writing style that offered a perfect blend of fast pacing and well-turned phrasing. We have the ‘Night Shift’ murders. An excellent well-rounded crime thriller, that is sure to appeal to most readers of this genre.
The Plot
Four teenagers are attacked on the eve of the Y2K ‘big event’ that didn’t happen. However, for three of the teenagers that worked at the Blockbuster store in Linden, New Jersey, they never got to experience the new millennia. Following the deadly killing spree, the Police were quick to apprehend a suspect, Vince Whitaker, the boyfriend of one of the victims, who manages to flee and is never seen again. A set-up? The perpetrator or the Victim?
Ella, the sole survivor of the Blockbuster massacre, now a therapist is brought in to help with the investigation and builds a relationship with the now sole survivor of the Dairy Creamer massacre. Trying to connect the events and solve the new and cold case is 8-month pregnant Sarah Keller, an FBI agent. Because with the murder of another four teenagers fifteen years after her horrifying ordeal, there must be some connection. Right?
The book narrates between the characters of Ella, Sam, and Keller, as we follow the dual timeline connecting the past with the present, and in doing that we find the answer. No spoilers.
Review and Comments
I really liked the writing style, the evenly paced storytelling, and characterisation. Most of the characters played a convincing part with the plot threads tied nicely to their character traits.
However, I was more invested in Ella than the other two narrators and didn’t feel the connection between all the characters was as strong as it could be. Plus, I had worked out the killer earlier than I wanted.
The plot was thrilling and gripped most of the time, but then it didn’t quite come together in the end with a lot of unanswered questions. Although it is fiction, I do like books that tie up all the threads between the storylines and the characters.
I liked this as a solid well-rounded book that had a great plot, good characterisation with excellent pacing. Recommended, despite some issues which did not tarnish my overall enjoyment in reading this book and with a lovely reminder
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about".
With a cast of intriguing, well developed and likeable characters even the dislikeable ones. A sinister plot that offered so much suspense and with a writing style that offered a perfect blend of fast pacing and well-turned phrasing. We have the ‘Night Shift’ murders. An excellent well-rounded crime thriller, that is sure to appeal to most readers of this genre.
The Plot
Four teenagers are attacked on the eve of the Y2K ‘big event’ that didn’t happen. However, for three of the teenagers that worked at the Blockbuster store in Linden, New Jersey, they never got to experience the new millennia. Following the deadly killing spree, the Police were quick to apprehend a suspect, Vince Whitaker, the boyfriend of one of the victims, who manages to flee and is never seen again. A set-up? The perpetrator or the Victim?
Ella, the sole survivor of the Blockbuster massacre, now a therapist is brought in to help with the investigation and builds a relationship with the now sole survivor of the Dairy Creamer massacre. Trying to connect the events and solve the new and cold case is 8-month pregnant Sarah Keller, an FBI agent. Because with the murder of another four teenagers fifteen years after her horrifying ordeal, there must be some connection. Right?
The book narrates between the characters of Ella, Sam, and Keller, as we follow the dual timeline connecting the past with the present, and in doing that we find the answer. No spoilers.
Review and Comments
I really liked the writing style, the evenly paced storytelling, and characterisation. Most of the characters played a convincing part with the plot threads tied nicely to their character traits.
However, I was more invested in Ella than the other two narrators and didn’t feel the connection between all the characters was as strong as it could be. Plus, I had worked out the killer earlier than I wanted.
The plot was thrilling and gripped most of the time, but then it didn’t quite come together in the end with a lot of unanswered questions. Although it is fiction, I do like books that tie up all the threads between the storylines and the characters.
I liked this as a solid well-rounded book that had a great plot, good characterisation with excellent pacing. Recommended, despite some issues which did not tarnish my overall enjoyment in reading this book and with a lovely reminder
"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about".
March 2, 2022
A strong 4-star rating for the second Finlay novel I read! I consider myself really lucky to have received an ARC, because it was a terrific thriller.
I loved the cover and, luckily, the story didn't disappoint. Three equally interesting POV, a clever plot, some twists and turns and a couple of endearing characters managed to keep me engaged all along. I thought the pacing was great and, even if I guessed the culprit early on, I don't think it was too obvious (and I still had a lot of fun reading). I guess a lot of readers are going to be surprised by this smart twist (and I envy you!).
If you liked Every Last Fear, do not hesitate to read this one!
Pub Date: 01 Mar 2022
Many thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the ARC!
I loved the cover and, luckily, the story didn't disappoint. Three equally interesting POV, a clever plot, some twists and turns and a couple of endearing characters managed to keep me engaged all along. I thought the pacing was great and, even if I guessed the culprit early on, I don't think it was too obvious (and I still had a lot of fun reading). I guess a lot of readers are going to be surprised by this smart twist (and I envy you!).
If you liked Every Last Fear, do not hesitate to read this one!
Pub Date: 01 Mar 2022
Many thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the ARC!
March 10, 2022
Two crimes, fifteen years apart.
NYE, 1999, with fears of Y2K looming, there’s a gruesome murder of 4 teenage employees at a Blockbuster Video store, along with the manager. There is one lone survivor. A suspect is identified, but he is released and never seen again.
15 years later, another mass killing, this time at an ice cream parlor. Four teens are dead, and once again there is a lone survivor.
In both murders, the killer whispers: “Goodnight, pretty girl.” Hardly a coincidence.
The story is told from 3 POV: Public defender Chris, the brother of the original suspect, Ella, the survivor of the Blockbuster tragedy who is now a therapist, and Sarah Keller, the FBI agent who is investigating the cases.
How these characters intersect with one another makes for a fast-paced story, one where the pages practically turned themselves. The short chapters helped build momentum and the story line hooked me immediately. The murders happen off the page, so sensitive readers need not worry.
Be aware this is one where it’s best to not question things too deeply and just go along for the wild ride. I got a little lost a few times, but the author expertly wove the different threads together in a compelling way. Even if you guess the culprit, as my reading buddy Marialyce did, there are still surprises in store. There were coincidences to accept, a few threads were left unanswered and the ending was OTT. Yet, we both thoroughly enjoyed it!
I’m not sure why the author chose to make agent Keller 8 ½ months pregnant – with twins. Nurse Jan turned a skeptical eye, not buying it. While it’s possible to carry twins to 40 weeks, it’s rare, and the mother-to-be can barely walk across the room, let alone perform the badass feats Sarah Keller did. But she’s such a likable character, along with her Husband of the Year, Bob, that I overlooked it
Anyone who follows my reviews knows I have a low tolerance for implausibility, so the fact that I enjoyed this one is a compliment to the author. It was a fun ride and I was entertained from the first page to the last. I had both the e-book and the audio, and ended up preferring the audio. The narration was perfect and I raced through it in 24 hrs. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
NYE, 1999, with fears of Y2K looming, there’s a gruesome murder of 4 teenage employees at a Blockbuster Video store, along with the manager. There is one lone survivor. A suspect is identified, but he is released and never seen again.
15 years later, another mass killing, this time at an ice cream parlor. Four teens are dead, and once again there is a lone survivor.
In both murders, the killer whispers: “Goodnight, pretty girl.” Hardly a coincidence.
The story is told from 3 POV: Public defender Chris, the brother of the original suspect, Ella, the survivor of the Blockbuster tragedy who is now a therapist, and Sarah Keller, the FBI agent who is investigating the cases.
How these characters intersect with one another makes for a fast-paced story, one where the pages practically turned themselves. The short chapters helped build momentum and the story line hooked me immediately. The murders happen off the page, so sensitive readers need not worry.
Be aware this is one where it’s best to not question things too deeply and just go along for the wild ride. I got a little lost a few times, but the author expertly wove the different threads together in a compelling way. Even if you guess the culprit, as my reading buddy Marialyce did, there are still surprises in store. There were coincidences to accept, a few threads were left unanswered and the ending was OTT. Yet, we both thoroughly enjoyed it!
I’m not sure why the author chose to make agent Keller 8 ½ months pregnant – with twins. Nurse Jan turned a skeptical eye, not buying it. While it’s possible to carry twins to 40 weeks, it’s rare, and the mother-to-be can barely walk across the room, let alone perform the badass feats Sarah Keller did. But she’s such a likable character, along with her Husband of the Year, Bob, that I overlooked it
Anyone who follows my reviews knows I have a low tolerance for implausibility, so the fact that I enjoyed this one is a compliment to the author. It was a fun ride and I was entertained from the first page to the last. I had both the e-book and the audio, and ended up preferring the audio. The narration was perfect and I raced through it in 24 hrs. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!
March 29, 2022
Goodnight Pretty Girl!!!It was New Years Eve 1999 everyone should be having a great time as we go into y2000 but at the video store in Linden New Jersey something awful happened at Blockbuster video.
Steve the manager closed at the usual time of 12pm the night shift staff consisted of juniors & seniors four teenage girls who were mischeviousare attacked only one left alive Ella.
Fifteen years later another attack on a ice creamery in Linden New Jersey four people are murdered one left alive.
Is there a connection between the two murders?
Now Ella a councillor interviews Jessie Duvall with the help of FBI agent Sarah Keller investigate the case Jessie was in foster care , but why was she spared?
This was a twisty thriller that had me turning the pages it was fast paced with short sharp chapters loved the characters was well written this is my first read by this author & wont be my last have his other novel waiting on kindle 4stunning stars ⭐️
Steve the manager closed at the usual time of 12pm the night shift staff consisted of juniors & seniors four teenage girls who were mischeviousare attacked only one left alive Ella.
Fifteen years later another attack on a ice creamery in Linden New Jersey four people are murdered one left alive.
Is there a connection between the two murders?
Now Ella a councillor interviews Jessie Duvall with the help of FBI agent Sarah Keller investigate the case Jessie was in foster care , but why was she spared?
This was a twisty thriller that had me turning the pages it was fast paced with short sharp chapters loved the characters was well written this is my first read by this author & wont be my last have his other novel waiting on kindle 4stunning stars ⭐️
August 25, 2024
The Night Shift is yet another suspenseful and action packed thrill ride by the never disappointing Alex Finlay.
The last hour of the audiobook had so many surprising and unexpected reveals my jaw was dropped the whole time. I especially enjoyed all the different directions the storyline takes.
From start to finish the whole plot is filled with intrigue and an ever present (electric) sense of foreboding. The ending flawlessly ties together all unanswered questions in a perfect bow.
Narrators Brittany Pressley, Cady McClain, Devon Hales and Gary Tiedermann provided a stellar performance. The mixture of these talented voices brought this thrilling novel to life in my imagination with vivid clarity. I honestly do not think I would have appreciated this as a read nearly as much. Phenomenal job.
The last hour of the audiobook had so many surprising and unexpected reveals my jaw was dropped the whole time. I especially enjoyed all the different directions the storyline takes.
From start to finish the whole plot is filled with intrigue and an ever present (electric) sense of foreboding. The ending flawlessly ties together all unanswered questions in a perfect bow.
Narrators Brittany Pressley, Cady McClain, Devon Hales and Gary Tiedermann provided a stellar performance. The mixture of these talented voices brought this thrilling novel to life in my imagination with vivid clarity. I honestly do not think I would have appreciated this as a read nearly as much. Phenomenal job.
March 25, 2022
omg was this a WHOPING 1 star.
I can't think of one thing about this book I liked.
The writing? Atrocious. The characters? Insufferable. The plot? Messy.
Let's talk about repetition for a second. This author doles it out in SPADES.
The main character is an FBI agent working on mass murder cases. She happens to be 8 and a half months pregnant with twins........I'm sorry, but in WHAT world is this reality? I don't see this happening. How is FBI letting her go out in the field with serial killers? Also, why is she wanting to do that? I'm confued.
But the thing that gets me is that the author mentions that she's pregnant on every single damn page. Does he think we forgot? Or is it a fetish of his? I'm genuinely disturbed. I GET IT! She's pregnant. Does she have no other characteristics? And you know full well that the only reason she's pregnant is to try and force us to feel empathy for her and think she's a badass cause she's still working. But you know that she is going to put herself in insanely dangerous situations without back up and get herself into a whole heap of trouble just because she's narcissitic AF!
There's literally one point where she doesn't feel the twins moving for a long time and she's like "Oh, are they good? I mean, probably not but oh well" and just goes about her business with these murderers. She legit BARELY cares. You can tell this was written by a man is what I'm saying.
Okay, I'm going to stop ranting now. But, seriously, save yourselves and don't read this book.
I can't think of one thing about this book I liked.
The writing? Atrocious. The characters? Insufferable. The plot? Messy.
Let's talk about repetition for a second. This author doles it out in SPADES.
The main character is an FBI agent working on mass murder cases. She happens to be 8 and a half months pregnant with twins........I'm sorry, but in WHAT world is this reality? I don't see this happening. How is FBI letting her go out in the field with serial killers? Also, why is she wanting to do that? I'm confued.
But the thing that gets me is that the author mentions that she's pregnant on every single damn page. Does he think we forgot? Or is it a fetish of his? I'm genuinely disturbed. I GET IT! She's pregnant. Does she have no other characteristics? And you know full well that the only reason she's pregnant is to try and force us to feel empathy for her and think she's a badass cause she's still working. But you know that she is going to put herself in insanely dangerous situations without back up and get herself into a whole heap of trouble just because she's narcissitic AF!
There's literally one point where she doesn't feel the twins moving for a long time and she's like "Oh, are they good? I mean, probably not but oh well" and just goes about her business with these murderers. She legit BARELY cares. You can tell this was written by a man is what I'm saying.
Okay, I'm going to stop ranting now. But, seriously, save yourselves and don't read this book.
March 1, 2022
HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!
Be kind, rewind!
New Year’s Eve 1999, Linden, New Jersey - four teenage girls working the night shift are brutally attacked at a Blockbuster Video. There is only one survivor.
The suspect is released due to a technicality and never heard from again.
15 years later, Linden, New Jersey - four teenage girls working the night shift at an ice cream shop are brutally attacked. Again, there is only one survivor.
Both survivors heard their attacker say, “Goodnight, pretty girl.”
Could the original Blockbuster killer be at it again, or is it just a copy cat?
When the Blockbuster survivor meets up with the original suspect’s brother and the ice cream shop survivor, they vow to find the truth.
With Agent Keller’s help from the FBI, they are sure to solve the case!
Make way for agent badass!
Every Last Fear was not a stand out thriller for me last year. However, I did enjoy Finlay’s writing style and Agent Keller’s character, so I decided to read his next book which continues her story. Once again, I very much enjoyed the fast-paced writing and Agent Keller. My own nostalgia for a simpler time during the late ‘90s was peaked in these references.
While I found myself intrigued by the mystery and oftentimes furiously flipping the pages, I was confused by several plot holes and the unethical behavior of the characters. Agent Keller is one bad ass agent, but would a woman in her ninth month of pregnancy with twins really put herself if the line of danger and take extremely dangerous risks? I found this book to be a bit over the top, but fun nonetheless. It is a very quick read with several twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.
4/5 stars
Review is also featured in the March 2022 Library Reads publication. https://libraryreads.org
Expected publication date 3/1/22
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of The Night Shift by Alex Finlay in exchange for an honest review.
Be kind, rewind!
New Year’s Eve 1999, Linden, New Jersey - four teenage girls working the night shift are brutally attacked at a Blockbuster Video. There is only one survivor.
The suspect is released due to a technicality and never heard from again.
15 years later, Linden, New Jersey - four teenage girls working the night shift at an ice cream shop are brutally attacked. Again, there is only one survivor.
Both survivors heard their attacker say, “Goodnight, pretty girl.”
Could the original Blockbuster killer be at it again, or is it just a copy cat?
When the Blockbuster survivor meets up with the original suspect’s brother and the ice cream shop survivor, they vow to find the truth.
With Agent Keller’s help from the FBI, they are sure to solve the case!
Make way for agent badass!
Every Last Fear was not a stand out thriller for me last year. However, I did enjoy Finlay’s writing style and Agent Keller’s character, so I decided to read his next book which continues her story. Once again, I very much enjoyed the fast-paced writing and Agent Keller. My own nostalgia for a simpler time during the late ‘90s was peaked in these references.
While I found myself intrigued by the mystery and oftentimes furiously flipping the pages, I was confused by several plot holes and the unethical behavior of the characters. Agent Keller is one bad ass agent, but would a woman in her ninth month of pregnancy with twins really put herself if the line of danger and take extremely dangerous risks? I found this book to be a bit over the top, but fun nonetheless. It is a very quick read with several twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end.
4/5 stars
Review is also featured in the March 2022 Library Reads publication. https://libraryreads.org
Expected publication date 3/1/22
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of The Night Shift by Alex Finlay in exchange for an honest review.
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