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Parents Weekend
Not yet published
Expected 6 May 25From the bestselling author of If Something Happens to Me, comes one of the year’s most anticipated thrillers.
In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids—five residents of Campisi Hall—never show up at dinner.
At first, everyone thinks that they’re just being college students, irresponsibly forgetting about the gathering or skipping out to go to a party. But as the hours click by and another night falls with not so much as a text from the students, panic ensues. Soon, the campus police call in reinforcements. Search parties are formed. Reporters swarm the small enclave. Rumors swirl and questions arise.
Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—The Five, as the podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths call them—come from five very different families. What led them out on that fateful night? Could it be the sins of their mothers and fathers come to cause them peril or a threat to the friend group from within?
Told through multiple points of view in past and present—and marking the return of FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift—Parents Weekend explores the weight of expectation, family dysfunction, and those exhilarating first days we all remember in the dorms when our friends become our family.
In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids—five residents of Campisi Hall—never show up at dinner.
At first, everyone thinks that they’re just being college students, irresponsibly forgetting about the gathering or skipping out to go to a party. But as the hours click by and another night falls with not so much as a text from the students, panic ensues. Soon, the campus police call in reinforcements. Search parties are formed. Reporters swarm the small enclave. Rumors swirl and questions arise.
Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—The Five, as the podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths call them—come from five very different families. What led them out on that fateful night? Could it be the sins of their mothers and fathers come to cause them peril or a threat to the friend group from within?
Told through multiple points of view in past and present—and marking the return of FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from Every Last Fear and The Night Shift—Parents Weekend explores the weight of expectation, family dysfunction, and those exhilarating first days we all remember in the dorms when our friends become our family.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 6, 2025
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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November 13, 2024
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No, just no. This was just terrible. It was big on style but short on substance. This is what I would call a popcorn thriller, but not in a good way. I did not enjoy it. It got bogged down with too many characters and not enough information. The ending felt rushed, and a lot of the plot felt unfinished. The book was only 235 pages on my tablet, and it showed. There were no reasons given for how these actions and crimes played out.
Finlay has had a few misses for me recently. I loved The Night Shift and we see the same character, FBI agent Keller, in this one, so I thought I'd give this one a chance. He failed miserably. There were too many plot holes, and I didn't like any of the characters. I did like the short, punchy chapters via different points of view—that's my favourite format—but it meant not getting fully fleshed-out, well-rounded characters.
The writing was very basic and amateurish and there was no plot twist. I usually complain about it when the details are too many but Finlay doesn't give me enough. My mind is boggled at all the four and five-star reviews of this one. I was left feeling very disappointed and Finlay is selling out in my opinion. He’s cranking books out without any thought behind them. I am done with him now, I have given him plenty of chances after enjoying The Night Shift.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The Book Review Crew Blog
No, just no. This was just terrible. It was big on style but short on substance. This is what I would call a popcorn thriller, but not in a good way. I did not enjoy it. It got bogged down with too many characters and not enough information. The ending felt rushed, and a lot of the plot felt unfinished. The book was only 235 pages on my tablet, and it showed. There were no reasons given for how these actions and crimes played out.
Finlay has had a few misses for me recently. I loved The Night Shift and we see the same character, FBI agent Keller, in this one, so I thought I'd give this one a chance. He failed miserably. There were too many plot holes, and I didn't like any of the characters. I did like the short, punchy chapters via different points of view—that's my favourite format—but it meant not getting fully fleshed-out, well-rounded characters.
The writing was very basic and amateurish and there was no plot twist. I usually complain about it when the details are too many but Finlay doesn't give me enough. My mind is boggled at all the four and five-star reviews of this one. I was left feeling very disappointed and Finlay is selling out in my opinion. He’s cranking books out without any thought behind them. I am done with him now, I have given him plenty of chances after enjoying The Night Shift.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
November 4, 2024
I absolutely adore Alex Finlay’s fast-paced, action-packed, and unputdownable writing style! Here are my top highlights of this book:
First off, I’m thrilled to see Every Last Fear’s Agent Sarah Keller back! She’s moved from New York to care for her father-in-law, now living with her loving husband Bob and their adorable twins.
The pacing is fantastic, with short, gripping chapters that make it hard not to keep turning pages. The mystery begins with five young adults disappearing during Parents’ Weekend—a case made even more intriguing when one parent is with the State Department, another a Superior Court judge, and the disappearance follows the recent, tragic death of Natasha Belov.
This family has plenty of secrets, from infidelity to betrayal and tragic losses, which hint at deeper connections to the disappearance.
What didn’t work as well for me: the high predictability of the mystery and the perpetrator, and an ending that left me a bit disappointed. While Agent Keller’s high-stakes race against time, sharp instincts, and her revealing of hidden family secrets were engaging, I wanted a twistier, more layered mystery. This one reminded me of a slower episode of a popular crime series—enjoyable yet predictable, with clues that felt easy to piece together from the start.
I also had some difficulty tracking the large cast of characters, needing to flip back a few times to keep the families straight. Here’s a quick recap of the key families:
The Roosevelts (Divorced parents: mother works in the State Department, father is a teacher and former writer, son Blaine was abducted as a child),
The Maldonados (David, a doctor with marital issues, and Nina, his fuming wife, have a daughter Stella with a rebellious streak),
The Goffmans (Alice, a divorced school administrator, is raising her bullied, introverted son Felix alone),
The Akanas (Ken, a Superior Court judge known for convicting a movie star, and Amy, his grieving wife, mourn the loss of their youngest son while raising their model daughter, Libby),
Mark Wong (Best friend of Blaine, with a troubled family background).
Keeping all these characters straight was a bit challenging, and finding out the resolution felt easier than remembering all the names!
Overall, it’s a lighter mystery for my taste, but I have high hopes for more complex and twisty cases featuring Agent Keller in the future. I’m rounding up my rating to 4 stars for the pacing, thrills, and, of course, the unstoppable Agent Keller! I’m excited to read more of Finlay’s work—hopefully with even more juicy twists!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for sharing this page-turner’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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First off, I’m thrilled to see Every Last Fear’s Agent Sarah Keller back! She’s moved from New York to care for her father-in-law, now living with her loving husband Bob and their adorable twins.
The pacing is fantastic, with short, gripping chapters that make it hard not to keep turning pages. The mystery begins with five young adults disappearing during Parents’ Weekend—a case made even more intriguing when one parent is with the State Department, another a Superior Court judge, and the disappearance follows the recent, tragic death of Natasha Belov.
This family has plenty of secrets, from infidelity to betrayal and tragic losses, which hint at deeper connections to the disappearance.
What didn’t work as well for me: the high predictability of the mystery and the perpetrator, and an ending that left me a bit disappointed. While Agent Keller’s high-stakes race against time, sharp instincts, and her revealing of hidden family secrets were engaging, I wanted a twistier, more layered mystery. This one reminded me of a slower episode of a popular crime series—enjoyable yet predictable, with clues that felt easy to piece together from the start.
I also had some difficulty tracking the large cast of characters, needing to flip back a few times to keep the families straight. Here’s a quick recap of the key families:
The Roosevelts (Divorced parents: mother works in the State Department, father is a teacher and former writer, son Blaine was abducted as a child),
The Maldonados (David, a doctor with marital issues, and Nina, his fuming wife, have a daughter Stella with a rebellious streak),
The Goffmans (Alice, a divorced school administrator, is raising her bullied, introverted son Felix alone),
The Akanas (Ken, a Superior Court judge known for convicting a movie star, and Amy, his grieving wife, mourn the loss of their youngest son while raising their model daughter, Libby),
Mark Wong (Best friend of Blaine, with a troubled family background).
Keeping all these characters straight was a bit challenging, and finding out the resolution felt easier than remembering all the names!
Overall, it’s a lighter mystery for my taste, but I have high hopes for more complex and twisty cases featuring Agent Keller in the future. I’m rounding up my rating to 4 stars for the pacing, thrills, and, of course, the unstoppable Agent Keller! I’m excited to read more of Finlay’s work—hopefully with even more juicy twists!
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for sharing this page-turner’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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November 14, 2024
Sometimes You Just Can’t Wait!
My favorite books by Alex Finlay, (Every Last Fear and The Night Shift) featured whip smart FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller, so when I saw that she was back for “Parents Weekend”, I just had to read this right away!
The podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths call them-The Five.-all Freshman students who failed to show up for dinner and drinks with their parents for Santa Clara University’s Parents Weekend.
Blane (Roosevelt), Stella (Maldonado), Felix (Goffman), Libby (Akana) and Mark (Wong).
Normally, Campus Police would not be overly concerned immediately, assuming the students were involved in a hazing or sidetracked by a party-but earlier in the week, after not taking an anonymous call about another missing student seriously, she was found dead, and they can’t afford to risk another tragedy.
After a prologue featuring THE FIVE, the story opens on FRIDAY-the night of the dinner and the chapters alternate between each of the students PARENTS, giving us background on why THEY could be the reason that the students are missing-with additional chapters from the Kellers (Agent Keller, husband Bob and their now 9 year old twins).
I was engaged immediately and as always, I enjoyed Agent Keller’s chapters and her sleuthing skills. But, the chapters featuring the students felt YA and were not quite as compelling.
Because of the LARGE cast of characters, it takes awhile to set things up. And, perhaps for the same reason-I never got to know them well enough to become emotionally invested in the outcome.
The mystery itself wasn’t as strong or as complex as some of Agent Kellers earlier cases, so this was probably my least favorite of HER stories, but it was still entertaining and well worth adding to your TBR. It would work fine as a standalone too, as Sarah Kellers earlier cases were not spoiled in this installment!
3.5 ⭐️ rounded ⬆️
Did it score higher for buddy readers DeAnn and Mary Beth? Be sure to watch for their reviews!
This title will be released on May 6, 2025.
Thank You to Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
My favorite books by Alex Finlay, (Every Last Fear and The Night Shift) featured whip smart FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller, so when I saw that she was back for “Parents Weekend”, I just had to read this right away!
The podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths call them-The Five.-all Freshman students who failed to show up for dinner and drinks with their parents for Santa Clara University’s Parents Weekend.
Blane (Roosevelt), Stella (Maldonado), Felix (Goffman), Libby (Akana) and Mark (Wong).
Normally, Campus Police would not be overly concerned immediately, assuming the students were involved in a hazing or sidetracked by a party-but earlier in the week, after not taking an anonymous call about another missing student seriously, she was found dead, and they can’t afford to risk another tragedy.
After a prologue featuring THE FIVE, the story opens on FRIDAY-the night of the dinner and the chapters alternate between each of the students PARENTS, giving us background on why THEY could be the reason that the students are missing-with additional chapters from the Kellers (Agent Keller, husband Bob and their now 9 year old twins).
I was engaged immediately and as always, I enjoyed Agent Keller’s chapters and her sleuthing skills. But, the chapters featuring the students felt YA and were not quite as compelling.
Because of the LARGE cast of characters, it takes awhile to set things up. And, perhaps for the same reason-I never got to know them well enough to become emotionally invested in the outcome.
The mystery itself wasn’t as strong or as complex as some of Agent Kellers earlier cases, so this was probably my least favorite of HER stories, but it was still entertaining and well worth adding to your TBR. It would work fine as a standalone too, as Sarah Kellers earlier cases were not spoiled in this installment!
3.5 ⭐️ rounded ⬆️
Did it score higher for buddy readers DeAnn and Mary Beth? Be sure to watch for their reviews!
This title will be released on May 6, 2025.
Thank You to Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
November 16, 2024
3.5 stars!
In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids—five residents of Campisi Hall—never show up at dinner.
At first, everyone thinks that they’re just being college students, irresponsibly forgetting about the gathering or skipping out to go to a party. But as the hours click by and another night falls with not so much as a text from the students, panic ensues. Soon, the campus police call in reinforcements. Search parties are formed. Reporters swarm the small enclave. Rumors swirl and questions arise.
Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—The Five, as the podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths call them—come from five very different families. What led them out on that fateful night? Could it be the sins of their mothers and fathers come to cause them peril or a threat to the friend group from within?
I was glad that FBI Agent Sarah Feller was back in this one.
There were way too many characters but I was able to keep track of all of them. I didn't have a strong connection to the characters so I didn't really care what happened to them. So I really wasn't on the edge of my seat are feel the suspense.
I loved the first half but I thought that the second half was too slow. This one is every parent's nightmare. Five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for parents weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids, five residents of Campisi Hall never show up at dinner. What happened to them?
The story was told through multiple points of view in past and present. I was on the edge of my seat at the end there was lots of action which I loved. I loved the short chapters. This was not a predictable read for me. I was not able to solve the mystery. I did enjoy the the conclusion. There were some twist and turns too.
This was a buddy read with Jayme and DeAnn! Check out their reviews.
I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, for the copy of this book an exchange for an honest review.
In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids—five residents of Campisi Hall—never show up at dinner.
At first, everyone thinks that they’re just being college students, irresponsibly forgetting about the gathering or skipping out to go to a party. But as the hours click by and another night falls with not so much as a text from the students, panic ensues. Soon, the campus police call in reinforcements. Search parties are formed. Reporters swarm the small enclave. Rumors swirl and questions arise.
Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—The Five, as the podcasters, bloggers, and TikTok sleuths call them—come from five very different families. What led them out on that fateful night? Could it be the sins of their mothers and fathers come to cause them peril or a threat to the friend group from within?
I was glad that FBI Agent Sarah Feller was back in this one.
There were way too many characters but I was able to keep track of all of them. I didn't have a strong connection to the characters so I didn't really care what happened to them. So I really wasn't on the edge of my seat are feel the suspense.
I loved the first half but I thought that the second half was too slow. This one is every parent's nightmare. Five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for parents weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids, five residents of Campisi Hall never show up at dinner. What happened to them?
The story was told through multiple points of view in past and present. I was on the edge of my seat at the end there was lots of action which I loved. I loved the short chapters. This was not a predictable read for me. I was not able to solve the mystery. I did enjoy the the conclusion. There were some twist and turns too.
This was a buddy read with Jayme and DeAnn! Check out their reviews.
I want to thank Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, for the copy of this book an exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2024
Another winner! 5 students go missing and 1 is found dead. How is it all connected? A FBI agent races to figure that out and save the missing students.
Each chapter is action packed. The book takes place during parents weekend, so we learn all about the parents lives too and they are MESSY. A lot is going on and it makes you wonder what is the real reason they are missing and how it all ties together.
At first I thought I might not enjoy this, because there are a lot of characters involved and I thought it would be hard to connect to it or follow. But it all tied together well & at the beginning of each chapter it named who the chapter was about.
The ending was really good. This is a fast paced read.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Each chapter is action packed. The book takes place during parents weekend, so we learn all about the parents lives too and they are MESSY. A lot is going on and it makes you wonder what is the real reason they are missing and how it all ties together.
At first I thought I might not enjoy this, because there are a lot of characters involved and I thought it would be hard to connect to it or follow. But it all tied together well & at the beginning of each chapter it named who the chapter was about.
The ending was really good. This is a fast paced read.
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2024
A solid beach book. An easy read, so a good novel to pick up for a plane trip, or for relaxing on a sandy beach. It has plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing. At no point did I want to dnf. But upon finishing it, I felt let down by (1) the too-quick ending of those responsible for the crimes; (2) the lack of details about how the crimes were carried out; (3) the improbable final twist; and (4) most important, the absence of in-depth characterization.
The prologue tells us that five college friends are in danger from an unknown source—whether from one person or more is not clear. Then the story switches to their families, who are coming to visit for a “Parents Weekend” at their university. Each of these families has considerable problems—two marriages are disintegrating, two marriages have already ended, and one is a disgraced widower.
The only brightness on the scene, is the return of FBI agent Sarah Keller and her husband, Bob:
”There are two kinds of people in this world: those who arrive at the gate two hours early and constantly check to confirm they haven’t lost their boarding pass—the Sarah Kellers—and those who pride themselves on making it just under the wire—the Bob Kellers.”
The chapters were short vignettes about each of the different families, switching quickly from one to the other without really exploring any person in depth. This allowed the reader to read quickly and form hypotheses about who had abducted their children, and why they were abducted, without providing definitive answers. Plenty of misleading clues.
Sarah is assigned the case by her new California boss. She conducts a systematic investigation that eventually leads in the correct direction, after a convoluted fact-finding process.
After finishing it, I felt that among the twists and turns there were a few holes in the narrative, plot twists that seemed designed to bamboozle readers. (I can’t mention the worst without getting into spoiler territory, but suffice to say that Sarah put it together in her mind after the excitement, but there was no proof that this was what actually occurred.)
Still, for the most part it was an easy read, and kept me turning pages. It was plot-based and I prefer character-based narratives, so readers who prefer twisty plots will likely give it a higher rating than my three stars.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an electronic copy of this book via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for other books by Alex Finlay:
Every Last Fear
The Night Shift
What Have We Done
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The prologue tells us that five college friends are in danger from an unknown source—whether from one person or more is not clear. Then the story switches to their families, who are coming to visit for a “Parents Weekend” at their university. Each of these families has considerable problems—two marriages are disintegrating, two marriages have already ended, and one is a disgraced widower.
The only brightness on the scene, is the return of FBI agent Sarah Keller and her husband, Bob:
”There are two kinds of people in this world: those who arrive at the gate two hours early and constantly check to confirm they haven’t lost their boarding pass—the Sarah Kellers—and those who pride themselves on making it just under the wire—the Bob Kellers.”
The chapters were short vignettes about each of the different families, switching quickly from one to the other without really exploring any person in depth. This allowed the reader to read quickly and form hypotheses about who had abducted their children, and why they were abducted, without providing definitive answers. Plenty of misleading clues.
Sarah is assigned the case by her new California boss. She conducts a systematic investigation that eventually leads in the correct direction, after a convoluted fact-finding process.
After finishing it, I felt that among the twists and turns there were a few holes in the narrative, plot twists that seemed designed to bamboozle readers. (I can’t mention the worst without getting into spoiler territory, but suffice to say that Sarah put it together in her mind after the excitement, but there was no proof that this was what actually occurred.)
Still, for the most part it was an easy read, and kept me turning pages. It was plot-based and I prefer character-based narratives, so readers who prefer twisty plots will likely give it a higher rating than my three stars.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an electronic copy of this book via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My reviews for other books by Alex Finlay:
Every Last Fear
The Night Shift
What Have We Done
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 13, 2024
‘From the bestselling author of If Something Happens to Me, comes one of the year’s most anticipated thrillers.
In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids—five residents of Campisi Hall—never show up at dinner.’
Parents Weekend is told from several different perspectives. And while there’s a deluge of infidelity and a handful of characters who end up dead-dead, this read like a YA thriller. Especially with the smurf masks, the herd of college students along with their parents who act like a buncha dummies and a Scooby Doo van.
I think my 17 yo daughter might enjoy this book. Not sure. But it was just a tad on the juvenile side for my tastes and I found character depth sorely lacking.
Still a Finlay fan though.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this arc in exchange for review.
Pub Date 5.6.2025.
In the glow of their children’s exciting first year of college at a small private school in Northern California, five families plan on a night of dinner and cocktails for the opening festivities of Parents Weekend. As the parents stay out way past their bedtimes, their kids—five residents of Campisi Hall—never show up at dinner.’
Parents Weekend is told from several different perspectives. And while there’s a deluge of infidelity and a handful of characters who end up dead-dead, this read like a YA thriller. Especially with the smurf masks, the herd of college students along with their parents who act like a buncha dummies and a Scooby Doo van.
I think my 17 yo daughter might enjoy this book. Not sure. But it was just a tad on the juvenile side for my tastes and I found character depth sorely lacking.
Still a Finlay fan though.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this arc in exchange for review.
Pub Date 5.6.2025.
November 3, 2024
"𝐇𝐞'𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐲, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐛𝐨𝐲𝐬."
Seeing an upcoming release from Alex Finlay available to request always makes my day better, but I was completely shocked and surprised to see a familiar character from EVERY LAST FEAR and THE NIGHT SHIFT! That's right, Agent Sarah Keller is back! She’s taken a temporary assignment in California so her husband can help care for his ailing father.
Sending a child off to college is often bittersweet, but for five families attending parents' weekend at a small, exclusive private college in northern California, it will become the stuff of nightmares. Five very different families arrive on campus to spend time with their child, who each reside in Campisi Hall and were brought together over a Capstone project. But when none of the kids show up for a planned dinner, the parents are annoyed but chalk the absence up to typical irresponsible college student behavior. But when hours pass and calls and texts go unanswered, the parents call in reinforcements.
It took me a minute to keep the families straight, but each one is hiding a secret, from the high powered woman who travels with an entourage because of her job to the Superior Court judge with a troubled past. There are SO many moving parts, and my attention was all over the place. I had no idea why the kids were missing, and I had no idea who was behind it and what their motive was. I appreciated the fact that this was a thrilled grounded in reality as I'm growing weary of thrillers touting their "shocking, unbelievable twists." This one made complete sense, and that's exactly what I needed!
Told in alternating points of view with varying timelines, PARENTS' WEEKEND will grip you from the opening pages, and if you're a parent, it will be a stark reminder that no matter how close you think your relationship is, you will never really know your child as well as you think. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur Books for this early copy. At the time this review was written, this book was expected to publish May 6, 2025.
Seeing an upcoming release from Alex Finlay available to request always makes my day better, but I was completely shocked and surprised to see a familiar character from EVERY LAST FEAR and THE NIGHT SHIFT! That's right, Agent Sarah Keller is back! She’s taken a temporary assignment in California so her husband can help care for his ailing father.
Sending a child off to college is often bittersweet, but for five families attending parents' weekend at a small, exclusive private college in northern California, it will become the stuff of nightmares. Five very different families arrive on campus to spend time with their child, who each reside in Campisi Hall and were brought together over a Capstone project. But when none of the kids show up for a planned dinner, the parents are annoyed but chalk the absence up to typical irresponsible college student behavior. But when hours pass and calls and texts go unanswered, the parents call in reinforcements.
It took me a minute to keep the families straight, but each one is hiding a secret, from the high powered woman who travels with an entourage because of her job to the Superior Court judge with a troubled past. There are SO many moving parts, and my attention was all over the place. I had no idea why the kids were missing, and I had no idea who was behind it and what their motive was. I appreciated the fact that this was a thrilled grounded in reality as I'm growing weary of thrillers touting their "shocking, unbelievable twists." This one made complete sense, and that's exactly what I needed!
Told in alternating points of view with varying timelines, PARENTS' WEEKEND will grip you from the opening pages, and if you're a parent, it will be a stark reminder that no matter how close you think your relationship is, you will never really know your child as well as you think. Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur Books for this early copy. At the time this review was written, this book was expected to publish May 6, 2025.
Want to read
November 7, 2024ARC received! Thank you, Minotaur Books!!!
I always look forward to Alex Finlay's latest releases and this definitely sounds like a good one!
I always look forward to Alex Finlay's latest releases and this definitely sounds like a good one!
November 2, 2024
This was a book that just draws you right in
.abd first honestly I thought there would be too many characters to keep straight but it is perfectly written that you get to know and understand each and everyone of them. I loved everything about this book.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.
.abd first honestly I thought there would be too many characters to keep straight but it is perfectly written that you get to know and understand each and everyone of them. I loved everything about this book.
Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an early release of this book.
November 3, 2024
Alex Finlay is one of my favorite authors and I devoured this book over the course of a few hours. It centers on a group of families who gather for dinner at a college parents’ weekend, but none of the kids show up. What is initially chalked up to irresponsible teenager behavior soon escalates into the sense that something is very wrong. The story is told in short chapters, alternating POVs between the families, the kids, and the FBI agent, Keller (to whom we were introduced in previous books!).
I thought the author did a great job at differentiating the various families so it was easy for me to know who was who without having to remind myself at each new chapter. This is impressive in itself but especially so in short chapters. Some characters were more likable than others but all of them were believable. The mystery in the book was pretty good, though I didn’t necessarily feel shocked about any of the twists. Finlay tends to kill off people that I didn’t expect, so there was tension the whole way through about who may or may not make it to the end of the book. I thought the end of the story tied things up nicely, though it did leave me thinking (as all of his books do) how sad it is that things that seem like small decisions at the time end up having disastrous consequences. I hope that the introduction of a couple great characters means that we might see some more reoccurring characters in future books.
Overall, this is another winner from Finlay that made me neglect everything else in my house (including sleep) until I could finish it. Would recommend to those who enjoy mysteries. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the author did a great job at differentiating the various families so it was easy for me to know who was who without having to remind myself at each new chapter. This is impressive in itself but especially so in short chapters. Some characters were more likable than others but all of them were believable. The mystery in the book was pretty good, though I didn’t necessarily feel shocked about any of the twists. Finlay tends to kill off people that I didn’t expect, so there was tension the whole way through about who may or may not make it to the end of the book. I thought the end of the story tied things up nicely, though it did leave me thinking (as all of his books do) how sad it is that things that seem like small decisions at the time end up having disastrous consequences. I hope that the introduction of a couple great characters means that we might see some more reoccurring characters in future books.
Overall, this is another winner from Finlay that made me neglect everything else in my house (including sleep) until I could finish it. Would recommend to those who enjoy mysteries. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2024
“Parents Weekend” is my favourite Alex Finlay book to date!!
The plot follows 5 teens who go missing on the evening of Parents Weekend. The mysterious disappearance rings alarm bells as it is closely following the tragic accidental death announcement of another student.
The chapters are split in POV between the parents, the students and a FBI agent on the case. The split POV was definitely my favourite aspect of this book, getting to see the behind the scenes of each dysfunctional family, the secrets they are hiding, the drama, the betrayals the affairs.
I also enjoyed seeing how the parents dramas bled into their children’s school lives. The effect it had on their personalities, confidences and behaviours. From a psychological perspective I think the author nailed the personalities of the students and I loved seeing the growth and changes to the dynamics in the families, particularly a three year follow up in the epilogue.
I loved the first chapter nailing the high stakes danger from the first page and then following it with fast paced short spaced chapters throughout. The pacing and the timeline was done perfectly.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to Alex Finlay, St Martin’s Press & Minotaur books for the EARC!
Publish date; May 6th 2025
The plot follows 5 teens who go missing on the evening of Parents Weekend. The mysterious disappearance rings alarm bells as it is closely following the tragic accidental death announcement of another student.
The chapters are split in POV between the parents, the students and a FBI agent on the case. The split POV was definitely my favourite aspect of this book, getting to see the behind the scenes of each dysfunctional family, the secrets they are hiding, the drama, the betrayals the affairs.
I also enjoyed seeing how the parents dramas bled into their children’s school lives. The effect it had on their personalities, confidences and behaviours. From a psychological perspective I think the author nailed the personalities of the students and I loved seeing the growth and changes to the dynamics in the families, particularly a three year follow up in the epilogue.
I loved the first chapter nailing the high stakes danger from the first page and then following it with fast paced short spaced chapters throughout. The pacing and the timeline was done perfectly.
I can’t wait to read more from this author!
Thank you to Alex Finlay, St Martin’s Press & Minotaur books for the EARC!
Publish date; May 6th 2025
November 16, 2024
Parents Weekend
By: Alex Finlay
Pub Date:
Publisher: Minotaur Books
This novel is riveting and as a parent, my heart was pounding. You should be able to send your children off to college and know they are safe. Life does not always go as planned.
A small private school in Northern California is rocked when parents come for Parents Weekend and five families are changed forever.
The Five-Libby, Blane, mark, Felix and Stella are missing and no one seems to know where they are. You have to pay attention as there are multiple points of view as panic sets in.
Will the parents find their children? Are they kidnapped? I don’t want to spoil any of this but that ENDING had me SHOCKED!
By: Alex Finlay
Pub Date:
Publisher: Minotaur Books
This novel is riveting and as a parent, my heart was pounding. You should be able to send your children off to college and know they are safe. Life does not always go as planned.
A small private school in Northern California is rocked when parents come for Parents Weekend and five families are changed forever.
The Five-Libby, Blane, mark, Felix and Stella are missing and no one seems to know where they are. You have to pay attention as there are multiple points of view as panic sets in.
Will the parents find their children? Are they kidnapped? I don’t want to spoil any of this but that ENDING had me SHOCKED!
November 1, 2024
Super quick, super fun read, but...Am I a jerk for wanting a more twisty ending? I came out of this thinking "Sure, that makes sense." And that just feels a bit anticlimactic to me.
November 9, 2024
Alex Finlay has been a hit or miss author for me, but Parent’s Weekend marked the return of Special Agent Sarah Keller and re-cemented Finlay as a favorite thriller writer.
My only real complaint is that there were so many characters with different point of views that it was difficult to remember who was who. If I hadn’t of read the entire thing in one sitting, I think I would have been incredibly confused trying to keep everyone straight.
Overall, this was a fast faced and entertaining read. I wouldn’t exactly call it twisty, but its “reveals” were well done despite being semi-predictable.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My only real complaint is that there were so many characters with different point of views that it was difficult to remember who was who. If I hadn’t of read the entire thing in one sitting, I think I would have been incredibly confused trying to keep everyone straight.
Overall, this was a fast faced and entertaining read. I wouldn’t exactly call it twisty, but its “reveals” were well done despite being semi-predictable.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2024
What I Liked:
Agent Keller, who’s appeared in some of Alex Finlay’s other books is the best part of this story. Confident and empathetic, she’s an easy character to root for. I hope we get to see her and her lovely family again in future books.
Short chapters make it easy to get pulled into the mystery and become immersed in the story.
The setup of the mystery occurring on a parents weekend was a clever one. 5 students going missing at the same time is rare, and the reason why kept me flipping the pages.
What I Disliked:
Too many characters. We never spent much time with one family, or set of characters to really be pulled into their inner lives and care about what was happening to them.
Final Thoughts:
A fun ride, perfect for those who enjoy popcorn thrillers with lots of twists and turns. Alex Finlay is always a must read for me.
*Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.*
Agent Keller, who’s appeared in some of Alex Finlay’s other books is the best part of this story. Confident and empathetic, she’s an easy character to root for. I hope we get to see her and her lovely family again in future books.
Short chapters make it easy to get pulled into the mystery and become immersed in the story.
The setup of the mystery occurring on a parents weekend was a clever one. 5 students going missing at the same time is rare, and the reason why kept me flipping the pages.
What I Disliked:
Too many characters. We never spent much time with one family, or set of characters to really be pulled into their inner lives and care about what was happening to them.
Final Thoughts:
A fun ride, perfect for those who enjoy popcorn thrillers with lots of twists and turns. Alex Finlay is always a must read for me.
*Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.*
November 4, 2024
Thank you so much NetGalley & St martin's Press for giving me access to this ebook in exchange for my honest opinion!
Parents Weekend is the new (and very anticipated!) Alex Finlay's book for 2025!
Five families gather for Parents Weekend at a college in Northern California, excited to celebrate their children’s first year. However, their five kids never show up, leading the parents to assume they’re off partying. As time passes with no contact, fear grows, and the campus police bring in additional support. Soon, the whole town is consumed by search parties, reporters, and rumors, with many asking if something from the parents' pasts or within the group has put The Five in danger.
I had a blast with this one! I loved the short chapters, the themes (college/disappearances/family drama) and reading again about the FBI Agent Sarah Keller!
I understood the twist quite early so it's not a 5 star reads but I recommend this one to anyone who love a good police TV show episode! It reads the same, Fast and so good!
Parents Weekend is the new (and very anticipated!) Alex Finlay's book for 2025!
Five families gather for Parents Weekend at a college in Northern California, excited to celebrate their children’s first year. However, their five kids never show up, leading the parents to assume they’re off partying. As time passes with no contact, fear grows, and the campus police bring in additional support. Soon, the whole town is consumed by search parties, reporters, and rumors, with many asking if something from the parents' pasts or within the group has put The Five in danger.
I had a blast with this one! I loved the short chapters, the themes (college/disappearances/family drama) and reading again about the FBI Agent Sarah Keller!
I understood the twist quite early so it's not a 5 star reads but I recommend this one to anyone who love a good police TV show episode! It reads the same, Fast and so good!
November 10, 2024
Another solid read by Alex Finlay - this time bringing back the character of Agent Keller to solve the disappearance of 5 college students during parents weekend.
The beginning was hard to follow for a bit as so many characters were introduced and it felt a bit jarring. However, over time I was able to get a grasp on who everyone was and orient myself.
Definitely numerous false starts and tbh I felt like the bad guy was a little bit it of the blue in someways - not mentioned much and then bam 💥
No matter what, it kept me engaged and I while I didn’t read it at a blistering pace, I definitely felt Keller and her fam were the best part
The beginning was hard to follow for a bit as so many characters were introduced and it felt a bit jarring. However, over time I was able to get a grasp on who everyone was and orient myself.
Definitely numerous false starts and tbh I felt like the bad guy was a little bit it of the blue in someways - not mentioned much and then bam 💥
No matter what, it kept me engaged and I while I didn’t read it at a blistering pace, I definitely felt Keller and her fam were the best part
November 2, 2024
I loved this book from beginning to end! I was not surprised because Alex Finlay never disappoints! There’s even crossover characters from another book of his which was so fun.
When five college students go missing during parents weekend, FBI Agent Keller gets involved to bring them back to their families. While everyone speculates where they have gone, we get glimpses into each families life to see of their potential involvement. Lots of characters in this one, so pay attention. But it was such a good story that i finished it in a day!
When five college students go missing during parents weekend, FBI Agent Keller gets involved to bring them back to their families. While everyone speculates where they have gone, we get glimpses into each families life to see of their potential involvement. Lots of characters in this one, so pay attention. But it was such a good story that i finished it in a day!
November 6, 2024
My second Alex Finley book but not my last. This one keeps going from the first page until the last. There is a huge cast of characters which felt confusing at first but was ultimately pretty easy to keep track of. Many red herrings, back story subplots, and twists that kept this story going strong. My only issue is that I figured out who was behind the disappearance of the students early on and didn't feel any surprise on that front. It was still an engaging and fun read though.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
November 14, 2024
Rating: 4 stars
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and I'm happy I got to read it. I enjoyed Finlay's other book Night Shift and so I knew I'd probably like this one as well.
I have a love/hate relationship when books switch POVs because on one hand, it makes me more engaged since I want to know what secrets are to be revealed but on the other, I am extremely impatient. I still enjoyed the different POVs and how the stories intertwined with each other. I did guess the ending a little bit before it was revealed but it was still a great read. I still need to read more of Finlay's books but so far the two I have read have been really good.
I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and I'm happy I got to read it. I enjoyed Finlay's other book Night Shift and so I knew I'd probably like this one as well.
I have a love/hate relationship when books switch POVs because on one hand, it makes me more engaged since I want to know what secrets are to be revealed but on the other, I am extremely impatient. I still enjoyed the different POVs and how the stories intertwined with each other. I did guess the ending a little bit before it was revealed but it was still a great read. I still need to read more of Finlay's books but so far the two I have read have been really good.
November 11, 2024
As a parent of recent college students and a fan of Alex Finlay’s previous novels, I eagerly expected to be enthralled by his latest endeavor. However, it was not to be! The college students turned out to be a distinctly uninteresting group who find themselves in unexpected situations and the parents run the gamut from an important government official with an entourage of bodyguards to a single parent of a scholarship student. This reader found the plot rather insipid and actually struggled to finish the book. I expected much more from Alex Finlay and I thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.
November 12, 2024
This is a mostly-hit hit-or-miss author for me, so I was glad to get a copy of his latest from NetGalley. Usually some good popcorn thriller stuff happening. Not so much this time.
Five college kids don’t show up for dinner with their parents. It’s a fast read, just super boring. Like, who cares about any of these parents or these kids? Not me. And the resolution is just, like… that’s it? Ok then.
Look, it’s an easy read and I guess it’s not awful, but it’s not that good either. I wanted to round it up to a 3, but I can’t. It’s so basic, so boring, so formulaic. There isn’t anything here. Miss this one.
Five college kids don’t show up for dinner with their parents. It’s a fast read, just super boring. Like, who cares about any of these parents or these kids? Not me. And the resolution is just, like… that’s it? Ok then.
Look, it’s an easy read and I guess it’s not awful, but it’s not that good either. I wanted to round it up to a 3, but I can’t. It’s so basic, so boring, so formulaic. There isn’t anything here. Miss this one.
November 9, 2024
This book had such a good concept and would’ve been soooooo good if the author didn’t insist on making random comments about “woke” culture and soooooo many callbacks to his old books. It really took away from the story and I wanted to like it so bad!!! Thank you netgalley for the early copy :) 🩷
Want to read
October 31, 2024One of my favorite authors!! I can't WAIT to read this one!!
May 2025 - so far away!
ARC REC'D!! THANK YOU!!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 2025 - so far away!
ARC REC'D!! THANK YOU!!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
November 7, 2024
I have read every one of this authors books and I thoroughly enjoy the plot twists, multiple points of view and character building. This was one of my favorites by him. Fast paced and left you wanting more of those characters and sympathizing with the under dog.
November 9, 2024
I love when a good thriller hits! Parents Weekend follows the kidnapping of 5 college kids during, you guessed it, parents weekend 😉 We get multiple POVs from each of the families and of course they all of their own dirty laundry that could be the reason for this kidnapping.
The pace of this one was perfect - kept me on my toes and interested throughout. The ending didn’t feel rushed and perfectly tied up all the loose ends. Safe to say Alex Finlay is another thriller author for me 👏🏼
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this eARC!
The pace of this one was perfect - kept me on my toes and interested throughout. The ending didn’t feel rushed and perfectly tied up all the loose ends. Safe to say Alex Finlay is another thriller author for me 👏🏼
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for this eARC!
November 14, 2024
I’ve read all of Alex Finlay’s books, and let me tell you, the man knows how to deliver a fast-paced plot that keeps you hooked without feeling overdone. The secret? Quick, bite-sized chapters and a rotating cast of characters. He loves multiple POVs, and it works — mostly.
Parents Weekend synopsis: 5 rich college kids go missing during Parents Weekend, their parents are messy, and somehow, an FBI agent gets thrown into the mix. The plot moves fast and keeps you on your toes. I loved the short chapters because they made it easy to take breaks and dive back in without feeling lost. But with the breakneck speed and so many characters, the character development takes a bit of a hit. Honestly, I’d love to see Finlay tackle a 400-500 page thriller where he could really flesh out the characters while still delivering that tight plot.
Now, let’s talk about Special Agent Sarah Keller. This is the third time we’re following her, and I’ve gotta say, it feels a little tired. I don’t love detective series, and Keller isn’t quite as badass as Finlay seems to think she is. Time to move on, please. That said, I do appreciate that this book isn’t marketed as part of a series — it stands alone just fine, which is a relief.
Finlay’s writing still feels a bit juvenile at times (does he have to say “or whatever” so much?), and the 80s references could use a refresh. But honestly, it adds to his charm. He tells a good story, and he does it well. Plus, he’s the only author whose Acknowledgments page actually makes me laugh.
In the end, I really like Finlay. I’ll keep reading his books no matter the size or quality because he’s a thriller writer, and thrill he does. Big thank you to NetGalley for early access!!
Parents Weekend synopsis: 5 rich college kids go missing during Parents Weekend, their parents are messy, and somehow, an FBI agent gets thrown into the mix. The plot moves fast and keeps you on your toes. I loved the short chapters because they made it easy to take breaks and dive back in without feeling lost. But with the breakneck speed and so many characters, the character development takes a bit of a hit. Honestly, I’d love to see Finlay tackle a 400-500 page thriller where he could really flesh out the characters while still delivering that tight plot.
Now, let’s talk about Special Agent Sarah Keller. This is the third time we’re following her, and I’ve gotta say, it feels a little tired. I don’t love detective series, and Keller isn’t quite as badass as Finlay seems to think she is. Time to move on, please. That said, I do appreciate that this book isn’t marketed as part of a series — it stands alone just fine, which is a relief.
Finlay’s writing still feels a bit juvenile at times (does he have to say “or whatever” so much?), and the 80s references could use a refresh. But honestly, it adds to his charm. He tells a good story, and he does it well. Plus, he’s the only author whose Acknowledgments page actually makes me laugh.
In the end, I really like Finlay. I’ll keep reading his books no matter the size or quality because he’s a thriller writer, and thrill he does. Big thank you to NetGalley for early access!!
November 4, 2024
Title: Parents' Weekend
Author: Alex Finlay
Format: Kindle, ARC
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Expected Publication Date: May 6, 2025
My Rating: 3.5
Pages 320
I flew through this book and finished it in 24 hours, so not a difficult read. Which is how I like my mystery thrillers - easy to consume and fast-paced. This book is about a bunch of parents coming together on their kid's college campus for their parent's weekend, and the kids go missing. What ensues are some twists and turns (one that I did not anticipate).
What did I enjoy about this book?
FBI Agent Sarah Keller is awesome. I loved her relationship with her husband and family, how resourceful she is, and that she is clearly willing to step outside of the box to solve a case. Her care for others shines in this book as she saves multiple lives. The culmination is also complex. There are a lot of loose ends that Finlay had to wrap up and I think that was done well.
What did I not enjoy as much?
Some of the parents are just horrible. This isn't surprising, but no wonder some of their kids hate them or don't have a good relationship. Other than that, some of the plot points I saw coming from a mile away - this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book overall, but something to keep in mind.
I enjoyed this book way more than the last one I read by Finlay, so this encourages me to continue picking up books by this author.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Minotaur Books for a chance to read an ARC of this book.
Author: Alex Finlay
Format: Kindle, ARC
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Expected Publication Date: May 6, 2025
My Rating: 3.5
Pages 320
I flew through this book and finished it in 24 hours, so not a difficult read. Which is how I like my mystery thrillers - easy to consume and fast-paced. This book is about a bunch of parents coming together on their kid's college campus for their parent's weekend, and the kids go missing. What ensues are some twists and turns (one that I did not anticipate).
What did I enjoy about this book?
FBI Agent Sarah Keller is awesome. I loved her relationship with her husband and family, how resourceful she is, and that she is clearly willing to step outside of the box to solve a case. Her care for others shines in this book as she saves multiple lives. The culmination is also complex. There are a lot of loose ends that Finlay had to wrap up and I think that was done well.
What did I not enjoy as much?
Some of the parents are just horrible. This isn't surprising, but no wonder some of their kids hate them or don't have a good relationship. Other than that, some of the plot points I saw coming from a mile away - this didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book overall, but something to keep in mind.
I enjoyed this book way more than the last one I read by Finlay, so this encourages me to continue picking up books by this author.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Minotaur Books for a chance to read an ARC of this book.
October 31, 2024
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Parents Weekend releases May 6, 2024
3.5
It’s Parents Weekend at Santa Clara University, yet none of their kids showed up to the group dinner on Friday night.
With the campus on edge after the news of a student death that very same day, the parents of Blane, Stella, Libby, and Felix are left in a state of concernment, wondering why their kids all went off-the-grid at the same time.
Does this have anything to do with the fact that two of them are the kids of a high-profile judge and the assistant Secretary of State? Or is this just typical student behaviour surrounding parties and fraternity pledges?
Parents Weekend sees the return of FBI Special Agent, Sarah Keller. In Finlay’s The Night Shift, Sarah was eight months pregnant and living in NYC. Now, having just moved to California to her husband’s hometown with their nine-year-old twins, she has been assigned to the case of the missing university students.
Short chapters and multiple perspectives made for an engaging read. The lives of these parents were more drama-filled than their kids, and I was fully living for their mess the same way I would be tuning in to an episode of reality TV.
While I found the ending to be predictable, I appreciated that there was a decent amount of time to catch up with the characters instead of the story abruptly ending once the case was solved.
cw: mentions of kidnapping, suicide + attempted suicide, infidelity, child sex offender, panic attacks
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Parents Weekend releases May 6, 2024
3.5
It’s Parents Weekend at Santa Clara University, yet none of their kids showed up to the group dinner on Friday night.
With the campus on edge after the news of a student death that very same day, the parents of Blane, Stella, Libby, and Felix are left in a state of concernment, wondering why their kids all went off-the-grid at the same time.
Does this have anything to do with the fact that two of them are the kids of a high-profile judge and the assistant Secretary of State? Or is this just typical student behaviour surrounding parties and fraternity pledges?
Parents Weekend sees the return of FBI Special Agent, Sarah Keller. In Finlay’s The Night Shift, Sarah was eight months pregnant and living in NYC. Now, having just moved to California to her husband’s hometown with their nine-year-old twins, she has been assigned to the case of the missing university students.
Short chapters and multiple perspectives made for an engaging read. The lives of these parents were more drama-filled than their kids, and I was fully living for their mess the same way I would be tuning in to an episode of reality TV.
While I found the ending to be predictable, I appreciated that there was a decent amount of time to catch up with the characters instead of the story abruptly ending once the case was solved.
cw: mentions of kidnapping, suicide + attempted suicide, infidelity, child sex offender, panic attacks
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