Can I say right book at the right time? Book Review

The Night Shift
Alex Finlay

Wow, this was such a fun ride! I was in from the start. 1999 and Blockbuster was nostalgic for me. Of course I was not a survivor of a brutal slaying, but the rest. A time without cell phones and cameras on every corner. Back when the police had a lot less to work with to try and solve a murder. Just a note, that is the first crime and the majority of the book takes place 15 years later, but with similar murders, you are constantly looking at the previous case. I liked that instead of flipping back and forth from the present to the past, there were selected flashbacks at times to fill in gaps. I also like while the plot is basically trying to solve the murders, it doesn’t feel like a crime procedural.

It doesn’t read like a twisty thriller, but there were a few times that I was like whoa, I did not see that coming. I was constantly trying to pick up clues to find out if the cases were connected and how and while one of my theories did kinda pan out, it was one of many and it was only partially correct.

It was a slow start for me as it took me a few chapters to connect with the three telling the story, but after I connected, I did not want to put it down. The only downside for me was the portrayal of females was at times degrading and the FBI agent is two weeks from her due date carrying twins and was more badass than I think possible or safe.

If you are looking to get immersed in a mystery, you should definitely pick this one up. I can’t wait for his next book.

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 Finlay as one of the new leading voices in the world of thrillers.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review an advanced readers copy of this book. This in no way affects my review, all opinions are my own.

I loved this book! This story is about two mass murders committed 15 years apart in a small town. The 1999 murder at the Blockbuster really felt like I was being pulled back in time and the time jumps to the present day made the book fast-paced and addicting. I loved the characters and learning how they were all connected through the case.

There was some great twists in this one, along with some more predictable reveals. Even though some of it could be guessed, it was a really fun read that I wasn't able to put down until the end. The beginning was a little slow, but only for a couple of chapters until I was really invested. I think Finlay's writing style is gripping and easy to follow, so I'll definitely be looking out for more of his thrillers.

Two crimes committed more than a decade apart bear a striking resemblance to one another. As the FBI and local law enforcement try to solve the case, those who survived will have to decide whether they can live with their secrets or share them to spare the next possible victim. Author Alex Finlay sets up a mostly believable scenario that leaves loose ends in his second book The Night Shift.

Ella Monroe spends her days as a therapist and her nights as an escort. It’s hard cobbling a living wage in New York City, and even though she has a fiancé she can’t get close to him. He doesn’t know what it means to live as the sole survivor of a horrific crime.

On New Year’s Eve in 1999, Ella was on the night shift at the Blockbuster Video store when three other employees and the teenage manager were murdered. Now, 15 years later, Ella still doesn’t understand why she was spared. She just knows she’s doing the best she can to get through each day.

When news breaks of a mass murder at an ice cream store, then, Ella understands why her old teacher and guidance counselor, Mr. Steadman, calls her. The circumstances of the ice cream store murder are eerily similar to what happened to Ella. Four girls were on the night shift. Three were murdered; only one was spared. Mr. Steadman wants Ella to talk to her to see if she can offer any information to help the case.

FBI agent Sara Keller is called in to the case. The local cops made a quick arrest after the Blockbuster murders, bringing in troubled teen Vince Whitaker for the crime, but they couldn’t make the charges stick. Not long after, Vince disappeared. Now that another murder has taken place, the cops believe Vince may be back and killing again.

Keller knows the theory makes sense on paper, but something doesn’t sit right with her. Atticus Singh, a young detective on the force, agrees. He’s spent years studying the Blockbuster murders and thinks the cops either missed something the first time or overlooked it on purpose. As Keller brings him on board, she appreciates his intellect and his physical prowess. She’s eight-and-a-half months pregnant with twins, and moving fast is definitely not in the job description these days.

The one person who believes that Vince is innocent is his younger brother, Chris. After Vince left, Chris was adopted by foster parents who restored his faith in adults. Even so, he misses his big brother with a ferocity that led him to a career as a public defender. For every young kid he can steer away from trouble, he thinks of Vince and wishes his brother would return so he can help him too.

As law enforcement and the families of the victims from both murders navigate the worst, Keller, Ella, and Chris each work on the cases with their own interests and their own hunches leading them. They’re forced to trust their instincts, despite evidence to the contrary, and also confront long-held assumptions with new information.

Author Alex Finlay’s second novel starts with a compelling scene and continues to build the tension throughout the entire book. More astute readers might be able to guess the murderer’s identity early on, but how Finlay leads his readers to the big reveal provides an enjoyable ride. The novel finds its place comfortably within the mystery/thriller genre with several red herrings and instances of clever misdirection.

In making Agent Keller pregnant and so close to the end of her term, Finlay challenges the status quo of how federal agents behave in fiction. While one or two instances might push the boundaries of disbelief, for the most part Keller handles her pregnancy in a realistic fashion and even uses it to her advantage when the case requires innovative thinking.

The big reveal toward the end of the book seems a little over the top, and the inevitable fight scene that ensues might induce an eyeroll or two. Readers wanting a mostly enjoyable book in the genre will want to check this out. I recommend readers Borrow The Night Shift.

🤩𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐃 𝐁𝐎𝐘 𝐇𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘🤩

And it’s so good y’all. I devoured it last night, IN ONE SITTING👏🏻🤯

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐅𝐓: published today🎉

Thanks @netgalley for a copy of this one. I LOVED it!!

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: thriller
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞: serial killer
𝐏𝐮𝐛. 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: TODAY 3/1/22
𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 5 stars⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 4.25

𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

We see two timelines, 15 years apart, where a mass murder takes place. The first in a blockbuster, the second at an ice cream shop. When the surviving teenage victim at the ice cream shop asks to talk to the one survivor of the horrendous mass stabbing at the blockbuster. Turns out, the murderer whispered the same words to both of them “Goodnight, pretty girl”. Are they connect? Who is involved? As the story progresses we get to know the FBI agent leading the case and it reads a bit like a police procedural at the end- but it’s so good👏🏻🔎

𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

This book felt grimy but in the best way. Like a grungy 90’s revival. I DEVOURED it. Sorry House of Sky and Breath, I’ll pick you up again tonight haha this book reminded me a bit of Riley Sager’s writing except I was seriously shocked at who the killer was/how everything played out. I didn’t see ANY of it coming!!

This is a very good book. It keeps you turning the pages until the very end. It has all the thrills you want and will give you a few tears also.

Very well written and makes you feel the horrors. The bodies just keep piling up. In 1999 there was a massacre at the Blockbuster Video store. The teen employees and their manager were slaughtered. One survivor. Then fast forward 15 years and it happens again at the local ice cream store. All the teens are murdered and one lone survivor. Who did these awful murders? Was it the same person. And why.

This book is told from three people's POVs. The pregnant police woman, Keller. The therapist Ella. The lawyer Chris. How are they all tied to these murders? Two are up close and personal. One has to figure it all out and save the day. Or be killed...

It goes back and forth at times between 1999 and 15 years later. Tells you what you need to know about each crime scene. Figuring out who did these horrible murders is not easy. If you do, you are doing great. I didn't this time. There were two things that made me take a star away from this book. One being the dramatic take down of the killer. The extensive fight. The things used inside just didn't seem feasible to me. It would have been better if it would have been just an intense fight. Weapons used were a tad over the top for me. But did make me cringe a lot. The other.. Unless I missed something who was the person doing the live feed videos? I can't remember reading who. I do know who it wasn't though.

This book is a bit brutal in places. But that works great. It makes you feel the horrible things that are happening. I was very pleased with this book and it's the second book I have read by this author and I look forward to more. It's very well written and definitely keeps you on the edge. Keeps you wanting to know who and why. Is it the same person that has been missing so long. In both cases??

Thank you #NetGalley, #AlexFinlay, #stmartinspress for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

4/5 stars and I do highly recommend it. It's great. If you love a good murder thriller this is the one for you. I enjoyed it!

Friends, I’m on such a high after reading some truly awesome ARCs in February. And cmon, who doesn’t wax nostalgic for the good ole days of Blockbuster?

Things I loved:
• Takes place in NJ!
• Dual timelines with copycat murders 15 years apart oOoOo
• Some great twists that really took me by surprise!
• Short chapters, always a win

I took away a star for 2 reasons:
• The ending felt a bit rushed; I wanted more finality to the story
• I understand wanting to have a badass female protagonist (which Agent Keller certainly is!), but the fact that she’s 8.5 months pregnant took me out of the story. I’m all for suspending disbelief to enjoy a story, but her pregnancy seemingly had no bearing on how she did her job, dangerous situations she consciously walked into, etc. that I’m not sure she even needed to be pregnant (or that far along)?

Overall, this was a great, fast-paced thriller that I definitely recommend!!

This is an absolutely fantastic, suck-you-in thriller. I absolutely tore through this book. I really enjoyed Every Last Fear, the author’s debut, but this book is even better.

The story involves two mass murders of teenagers, 15 years apart. Could the same person be guilty of both crimes? The story is told in several points of view - which I'm learning that I love - and there are so many overlaps between the two timelines that totally keep you guessing. There is nonstop action and tons of twists and red herrings. I *did not* guess the killer (well, it was maybe a fleeting thought?) which I absolutely love in a thriller. Also, so many bonus points for bringing back FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller from the first book (I really hope the author makes this a series!) and, like the first book, there were some bada$$ lady characters going on here. On a totally personal note, I love that one of the characters was a public defender (not a spoiler!) and that the profession was accurately/compassionately portrayed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, St. Martin's Press, and of course the author for access to this title in exchange for my honest review.

The Night Shift is a prequel to Alex Finlay’s stunning 2021 release Every Last Fear. In this volume, we meet Special Agent Sarah Keller while she is still a crime scene agent, before her transfer to the financial crimes unit where she has her amazing adventure with Matt Pine.

It’s a night of celebration – and fear. New Year’s Eve 1999, they say, might just be the start of the apocalypse. Will planes fall from the skies? Will all our machines fail us? That’s not really on the minds of the four teenage girls working the night shift at a New Jersey Blockbuster Video. They’re just anxious for ten o’clock to arrive so they can head out to their own parties. Only that’s not what happens when closing time rolls around. That moment brings a man, a knife, and a blood bath which leaves only one survivor.

Fifteen years later, Ella Monroe receives a late-night call. There’s a teenage girl – Jesse – in need of counseling expertise that only Ella can offer. Jesse is the sole survivor of an attack at an ice cream parlor where all the workers were killed by a man wielding a knife. As the lone survivor of the last such attack in New Jersey, Ella can extend Jesse advice and comfort that she alone is uniquely suited to give.

Special Agent Sarah Keller is weeks away from maternity leave when she receives the early morning call to aid in the investigation of a slaughter at an ice cream shop. Typically the FBI wouldn’t be involved, but the event bears an eerie similarity to a crime that occurred at a Blockbuster Video fifteen years earlier and the Bureau has an outstanding warrant for the suspect related to those murders. Sarah heads out to Linden, NJ to offer what help she can to the local police.

Which isn’t much. The lead detective isn’t interested in Sarah’s assistance and gives her the assignment of pursuing the unlikely possibility that the original suspect, Vince Whitaker, is once more in the area and killing again. He also foists newbie investigator Atticus Singh on her. Sarah and Atticus doggedly head out to retrace the steps of the initial inquiry, but Sarah has no intention of simply pursuing Vince – she plans to take a thorough look at what happened all those years ago and probe into whether the police actually did their jobs or simply found a scapegoat in a teenager from a bad home.

Chris Ford was once Chris Whitaker, an abused boy whose only defender, his older brother Vince, was accused of a heinous crime and disappeared shortly thereafter. The only good thing to come out of Vince’s problems with law enforcement was that the maltreatment that both boys were experiencing was revealed and Chris was placed with a set of foster parents, kind and generous people who eventually adopted him. Chris became a public defender so he could help people like his brother, poor folks wrongly accused. He has always believed Vince was innocent – based on the most probable timeline of the crime, his brother had been at home cooking them dinner when the murders occurred. When Chris learns of the attack at the ice cream shop, he is shaken to his core. He’s been following a travel vlogger whom he’s convinced is Vince. A vlogger who just happens to be back in the New Jersey area after years spent abroad. Is his brother back? Does the carnage at the ice creamery mean he was the Blockbuster murderer and is now killing again?

This is a classic whodunit with mildly flawed good guys, nuanced villains, and one horrible baddie. One of the problems in reviewing mysteries is that the heart of the story lies in the author’s ability to manipulate each puzzle piece to make us desperate to get to the next piece, and in order for each of us to have the same experience, one of us can’t tell the others what the pieces are. So I am not going to reveal much here. I will say this is a fast-paced character-driven story that takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride through the intricacies of crime-solving. The author does a terrific job of looking at the events from almost every aspect – the victims, their friends and family, the family and friends of the suspect, the people investigating – we don’t get villain viewpoint but we do see how that person’s actions affect everyone around them. This allows us as readers to see the crime holistically and realize just how each small action/choice made by each individual leads to the near-inevitable climax – and how one small change could have led to better results for all.

Finlay does an equally terrific job of creating compelling characters. Each one is beautifully drawn, intricate, and rich in detail. The internally vulnerable, outwardly tough Jesse; the meticulous, cautious, caring Sarah; the damaged but resilient and feisty Ella; sweet, innocent Atticus, – I could list everyone because even the most secondary of characters receives sufficient detail for us to know who they are and why they behave the way they do.

These resonant characterizations had me deeply invested in what happened to almost everyone I encountered. Sarah, of course, as the main protagonist, draws the bulk of our empathy. She is a level-headed, no-nonsense individual without an ego. She is happy to take a back seat to the lead investigator but she also is still thorough in doing her job. It is her eye for detail that ultimately solves the crimes.

Ella is clearly still damaged from what happened fifteen years ago. She hasn’t let that keep her from living a full, productive life, but she has let it keep her from building any new, meaningful relationships. I liked that the horrific events at the ice cream shop make her re-examine her survivors’ guilt and take steps forward in living more fully.

Jesse is young, brash, hotheaded, and stubborn – all traits that enable her to thrive in the midst of the chaos of her young life. I liked how she was bolder and more take charge than the original victims, something which also helped in the resolution of the crime.

The book does have some flaws. Sarah’s pregnancy is actually rather laughable – a woman eight months pregnant with twins isn’t going to be charging around solving crimes or running anywhere. It’s obvious one of our secondary characters is being prepped like a lamb for the slaughter – they’re just far too lovable. The big secret which instigated the Blockbuster murder would probably have come out sooner – I think the parents would have been the sort to hassle that poor girl till she talked. There were also others involved who probably would have spoken out.

Those quibbles aside The Night Shift is an excellent mystery that I think will appeal to fans of that genre.

What a fantastic thrill ride! First time reading Alex Finlay and won't be my last!
Remember the anxiety around Y2K? Imagine being a sole survivor of a shooting in a Blockbuster that night!
Fast forward and we meet Ella, said survivor, who is now a counselor. We also have a repeat crime this time in an ice cream shop. Since the initial suspect got away, the FBI is involved and what ensues is a well written mystery thriller. Thankful for this ARC! Great read!

WOW!!! That’s the only word I have to describe this book. Just wow. Alex Finlay absolutely nailed it with this retro-feel thriller.

I loved the flashback to 1999/Y2K and Blockbuster. I grew up in the 90s so I was totally in based on the description. But this book really had everything I love in a book. Two connected murders, nostalgia, brilliant twists and turns, and main characters you wanted to root for.
The Night Shift follows three characters – Ella, the Blockbuster massacre survivor (aka the Final Girl); Chris, the brother of the accused murderer of the Blockbuster employees; and Agent Sarah Keller, the FBI agent brought in to look for connections between the Blockbuster murders and the ice cream shop murders. I was completely invested in EVERY. SINGLE. MAIN. CHARACTER. That almost never happens!

Ella has turned her past into something meaningful by becoming a psychologist. She puts on a strong front, but you can see the ramifications of her trauma in her personal life and the destructive behavior that goes along with it. When Jessie, the lone survivor of the ice cream shop murders, needs to talk to someone about what happened, Ella is more than qualified. Ella is a messy character, but she is absolutely relatable and it’s easy to connect with her.

Chris has also turned his past around. Growing up in an abusive home is bad enough, but then the older brother he looks up to becomes the prime suspect in the murder of 4 people and attempted murder of another. Chris becomes a public defender – defending those who can’t afford a defense. It’s how he is able to cope with his brother being accused of a murder that Chris is sure he didn’t commit.

Last but not least… Agent Sarah Keller. She is the most badass character in this book. She’s 8 months pregnant, but still out on the beat trying to solve a cold case and find potential connections between the two crimes committed. Along with a temporary appointed partner (Atticus Singh) from the local police department, she finds that the digging she is doing is not appreciated by many involved in the old case… perhaps those who don’t want the truth to come out or perhaps those that find the past too painful to rehash. She finds herself in dangerous situations, but is willing to do what needs to be done in order to bring justice.

I was so invested in these characters and this story that I flew through this book in a couple days. I can’t even tell you how much I loved it. It’s not often that a book surprises me, but this one had some great twists and turns I didn’t see coming. It was a bit reminiscent of Final Girls by Riley Sager, which is another great read if you’re wondering.

If you like thrillers or detective novels, then this one is for you! It just came out today so go pick up a copy!

Rating: 5/5 (YES – it was THAT good!)

Alex Finlay is fast becoming one of my favorite authors. This is the second book that I have read by this author and just like the first one he pulls you in and never lets you go until the end. If you think that you know what is going to happen by the end you could be wrong. I really enjoy reading his stories and I cannot wait to see what he is going to bring us next. I received an ARC from NetGallery but the review is my own opinions.

Looking for a new thriller? Check out Alex Finlay's new book "The Night Shift". It's coming out March 1, 2022. It's definitely worth the hype! Don't miss it!

"The Night Shift" begins on "New Years Eve 1999". For those old enough to remember, there were rumors of the end of times called Y2K. That alone is enough to know this is going to be a very intriguing book. But it gets even better...

Steve, Mandy, Katie, Ella and Candy are working the late night shift. They are all employee's of a trendy "Blockbuster Video" store. Suddenly, they are brutally attacked and only one of them survives. The survivor eventually becomes a therapist and is called upon (15-years later) to help solve another horrific murder spree with the exact same "M.O.".

This is a bone chilling tale. I love the nostalgic "Blockbuster" set-up. I devoured half the book before I looked to see the time. It's that good!!! Was it perfect? Sadly no. There are a few tiny holes in the story, but it did not stop me from fully enjoying this novel. It's a strong 4.5 star book.
Big Score for Alex Finlay!!! 🏆

Thank you so very much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for allowing me to review this e-book. I can't wait to buy my personal copy to add to my library!

I always love and hate to review thriller books cause I always believe they are best enjoyed going in blind. I went into the Night Shift only knowing it death with a series of killings tied to a Blockbuster (any book that features this automatically gets points in my book) and an ice cream shop. While I expected this book was going to be more of a slasher thriller I was pleasantly surprised to find it was much more of a (not) true crime thriller.

The Night Shift follows three characters POV: Agent Keller (an agent on the case), Ella (who was there the night of the Blockbuster killing and survived), and Chris (who also has ties to the original killings. I found all three characters POV engaging and loved seeing how they all intersected as the book went on. Finlay made me care so deeply for each of these characters who were strong and funny and who you would want to root for.

There are also a few important other characters without POVs like Atticus and Jess who I both loved but like I said going in bling is always the best way to experience a thriller.

While I did guess the killer early into the book, there were other twists that made me stop and pause cause they were so amazing and not in an unbelievable way.

Overall I also just loved the vibes, characters, and writing of the book and could not recommend more (For me this was a 4.5/5 book..

Thanks to Minotaur and Netgalley for my ARC.

Introducing my favorite thriller of the year!!! (So far). I hadn’t heard of Alex Finlay before reading this, but I will most definitely be checking out his backlist. We start on New Years Eve 1999, when 4 teenage girls are violently attacked when ending their workday at Blockbuster. Only one girl survives the attack, but she doesn’t remember what happened. Fifteen years later, in the same town, three teenage girls are ending their workday at an ice cream shop when a similar violent attack occurs. Only one girl survives… but it appears that this surviver might know more than she’s letting on.

Because this is a thriller, I don’t want to say more about the plot other than if you enjoy this genre, I would highly recommend this book! This has multiple POVs, which mostly end on cliffhangers so you keep turning the page. The twist at the end was deserved, meaning if you pay attention to details given early in the story, you might be able to guess the attacker(s). I especially appreciate when a thriller’s twist is not out of left field so, for me, this added to my high rating.

I also loved all the New Jersey references! The story takes place in Linden, NJ, which is definitely a random location, especially considering that it doesn’t appear Finlay has a connection to the area. However, I used to work in criminal law near Linden, and Finlay more or less got a lot of the lawyering details correct. I hadn’t realized the book was set somewhere I knew, and that’s always a fun surprise to discover while reading.

THE NIGHT SHIFT is definitely worth your time and is available to purchase today! Thank you to Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @stmartinspress @minotaur_books @netgalley for my review copy!

New Years Eve 1999, employees at a Blockbuster are attacked and only one survivor escapes. 15 years later, another massacre at a local ice cream store has a similar MO and one survivor. Now it’s up to the survivors and authorities to find the main suspect.

I thought it was a little slow in parts and it took awhile to all come together, but overall I enjoyed it. It’s not going to be one that sticks with me though. I’ve heard great things about this author’s previous book, so I’d definitely like to pick it up.

This book gripped me start to end. A mass murder occurs on New Year's Eve of 1999 at a Blockbuster Video leaving just one survivor. Ella has tried to put that night behind her avoiding any thought of the killer still on the loose. Now 15 years later, another similar event occurs at the local ice cream shop. Again...only one survivor is left.

This is definitely a mystery more than thriller. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The writing flows well despite jumping from one character to the next. They all interconnect in the end in a really clever way. While I did guess the culprit by around 60% of the book, there were definite twists and turns I did not see coming. I gasped out loud several times by these surprises. I could not put this one down and finished it in a day. I had to see how it all came together. Alex Finlay is a new author for me but I will be sure to look for more from this master storyteller in the future.

The Night Shift is a real thriller. There are lots of twists to the story that had me guessing how this story would end. I enjoy Alex Finlay’s writing style. The chapters are short and fast-paced. I found it hard to put this book down. I highly recommend this book.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay is a well-crafted, perfectly plotted entertaining entry in the mystery/thriller genre. The story revolves around one family involved in two mass murder cases 15 years apart.

There is a lot going on, with multiple narrators and several storylines. Despite the many balls being juggled, the storyline is cohesive and tightly plotted. The characters have depth and agency and I loved getting to know the characters.

The Night Shift is an action-packed, satisfying mystery where all of the mysteries are resolved, feel organic, and are unexpected. I listened to the audiobook, which was well narrated by multiple skilled narrators and kept me riveted.

Thank you St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

I'm usually more of a cozy mystery reader rather than a thriller fan, but when this book was offered, I just couldn't resist. And, OMGoodness! I'm so glad I took a chance. With its twists and turns, fast-pace, interesting characters, secrets, danger, and so much more, I literally couldn't put this book down. It's definitely going on my to-be-read-again shelf.


Many thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

4.5 stars

This thriller that was equal character and plot driven involves two mirroring tragedies, 15 years apart. Both were gruesome, both left a single survivor, and both killers uttered the phrase "Goodnight, pretty girl." Following three perspectives from three different aspects of the case: the lone survivor from the original case who bonds with the new survivor, the district attorney who's brother was the original suspect who went on the run, and a FBI agent who is insistent on solving both cases. Throughout the story, we meet a cast of characters from parents of the victims to local law enforcement. It's like an episode of Law & Order!

This was really great! I could not put this down. Despite guessing the killer from the very beginning, there were enough twists and surprising revelations about characters that still kept it thrilling and interesting. It was fascinating to slowly start to see how people from seemingly different components of these two cases end up being connected. Sometimes in a mystery the characters can be a little lackluster to drive the plot home—or vice versa—but I felt the compelling characters helped to enhance the plot in a really masterful way. For a sophomore novel, I was blown away. And don't take my correct guessing of the killer as something to go on—I questioned myself about a million times throughout my read.

It's hard to review such a great mystery thriller without getting into spoiler territory, but this was such a wild ride.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.