Happy Pub Day to this incredible book!! I finished this one in about 8 hours because I couldn’t put it down! Do yourself a favor and put it on your TBR now.

On New Years Eve 1999 (otherwise known as Y2K) someone came into the Blockbuster at closing time and killed all but one of the workers there. Fifteen years later, something very similar happens in the same town in an ice cream shop. The FBI is called in to work with the local detectives to make connections with the 1999 case. Special Agent Keller joins with young detective Atticus to research and re-interview old witnesses from that case. What they uncover is quite disturbing. Meanwhile, 1999 survivor, Ella, is called in to help counsel the present survivor, Jesse. While getting to know Jesse, Ella discovers secrets about the case that could uncover the killer.

This was one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a long time. I was on the edge of my seat, constantly guessing who did it and how everything would come together in the end. This book was so well written and very entertaining! I loved Special Agent Keller. She was so tough and determined, despite being 8 months pregnant. I also really liked Ella and Chris. That prologue had me hooked! A mass murder in Blockbuster?!? I have to admit, i predicted the murderer really early on, but that didn’t change how great the books was. The ending of the book was so good and a little sad. I definitely want to read more books by this author!

New Year’s Eve 1999, a horrendous and bloody attack occurs at a Blockbuster video. There is only one survivor, Ella. 15 years later a similar incident occurs at an ice cream shop. Again there is only survivor, Jesse. Ella, now a therapist, is asked to speak with Jesse and instantly forms a bond with the fellow survivor.
Is this the same killer re-emerging or is it a copycat? Despite being 8 months pregnant with twins, that is the question that Special Agent Sarah Keller aims help the local cops answer.
Alex Finlay really knocked this one out of the park. The Night Shift features complex/sympathetic characters and an excellent story that kept me turning pages late into the night.
Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Night Shift.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R371DVGGE8LOK3/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Twisty, fast paced and impossible to put down, Alex Finlays new novel is a thriller you won't want to miss!

Oh my goodness, THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! I read this so fast because it really was impossible to put down. Short, intense chapters draw you in, and the twists and secrets keep you guessing!

Though I did guess the big twists, the story still and had tons of things I didn't see coming! This book was gripping, and set fun to get lost in. So many characters were hiding so many secrets and I loved all of the doffernts POVs and storylines. If you love suspenseful, fast paced thrillers, add this one too your TBR immediately!

Thank you St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was published today (3/1) and I definitely recommend it. This review will be posted to Amazon today, and on my blogs soon!

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC!


Content Warning: death, murder, violence, sexual assault (off-page, of a minor), child abuse, domestic abuse.


New Year's Eve, 1999. Four high-school girls are working the night shift at a Blockbuster in Linden, New Jersey. Before the night is over, three of them are dead, leaving one of the girls as the sole survivor. Fifteen years later, Ella Monroe has become a therapist, hoping to help others who have suffered like she has. When tragedy strikes again, this time at a local ice cream store, everyone has one question: is it related to the murders in 1999? This event brings three characters together on a collision course: Ella, who is determined to help the only girl who didn't die, forcing her to confront her past; Chris Whitaker, the little brother of the teenage boy who everyone believes murdered the girls at Blockbuster, and who is now a public defender; and Agent Sarah Keller, who works for the FBI and is ready to finally close the case once and for all.

I've been back in the mystery mood this month, returning to the genre that has essentially been my favorite for the last few years. I'm also a huge fan of stories set in the 90s', and although I'm usually not the biggest fan of dual timelines (as usually one is far more interesting than the other), I thought that The Night Shift seemed like a great fit for my reading tastes.

Seemingly inspired by the Austin Yogurt Shop murders that took place in 1991, leaving four young girls brutally murdered, this book starts off with an interesting look into the night of the murders through the eyes of the Blockbuster's manager. Although the writing style was sparse -- and in third-person present-tense, my least favorite way to read a story -- I find that common in thrillers these days, so I wasn't too concerned. As the story progressed, however, and we came to the characters fifteen years later, I found myself a little put off by the run-of-the-mill, slightly cheesy storytelling.

None of the three main characters are particularly likable or interesting. Ella is (perhaps obviously) the one that captured my attention the most, seeing as she is the only survivor of the massacre that killed her friends and manager, but even she comes off slightly dull and underdeveloped. Agent Keller is pleasant, good-natured with a tough side, but I found her chapters teetered on the side of boring. The worst, for me, was Chris. He has good motivation and an interesting background, but he is not only boring, but sanctimonious. The efforts to make him relatable -- especially when it comes to his relationship with his "perfect" fiancée, Clare -- actually made me like him less.

The story itself is fine. Nothing remarkable, but not the worst thing I've ever read, either. It's pretty straightforward, though, and I did predict who the killer was within the first handful of chapters (but that might simply be because I read so many mysteries and thrillers!). The ending was a touch underwhelming, and there's some parts with the culprit that actually almost made me laugh because it seemed so preposterous and like the sort of thing you'd watch in a B-horror movie.

I think this book could've benefitted from more scenes in the 90s'. For me, those were the best parts of the book, though sadly there were very few. I liked the unique idea here, but unfortunately the execution wasn't up to par.

Not for me, but I think many people will enjoy this story!

First of all, the nostalgia was perfection. Maybe it's because I am still slightly running off a high of the Super Bowl 2022 halftime show, but I am all about the nostalgia lately. Who doesn't remember New Year's Eve night 1999? I remember watching the ball drop on my parent's TV, wondering if the computers were all going to spontaneously combust, then feeling slightly let down that nothing exciting happened. I digress. While this one has the nostalgia factor, it is a pretty gruesome story of two murders, 15 years apart, that have some strong resemblances.

Told from multiple character point of views and short chapters, I flew through this book. The Night Shift is told from the perspective of the Blockbuster slaying survivor, the badass FBI agent (who, by the way, is 8 months pregnant with twins - who run the world?! GIRLS!) and the brother of the original suspect. Each character has tricks up their sleeves and added to the fun factor with this one. There were quite a few side characters and storylines that got confusing at times and, in my opinion, could have done without, but it wasn't enough to throw me off the main plot line.

As far as thrillers go, this one kept me entertained. I did guess "whodunnit" pretty early on. I question if this is because of the author's writing or just the fact that I've read so many thrillers that I have seen all the killer tropes. Despite that, I still really enjoyed it and there were a couple twists I didn't see coming. I have a few unanswered questions, but overall, I enjoyed The Night Shift.

Although thrillers aren’t my go-to books, I like a change of pace now and then. After having read and reviewed Alex Finlay’s previous thriller, Every Last Fear, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to request an advance reader copy of The Night Shift.

Finlay has again narrated another page-turner through multiple points of view. The prologue opens at Linden, New Jersey’s Blockbuster, during break time, New Year’s Eve, 1999, with the world anticipating Y2K disaster. Those of us old enough to recall that unfounded fear also remember when midnight and the new millennium arrived, life went on as usual. What the group of Blockbuster employees does not anticipate is a workplace disaster. While the world doesn’t end, lives do. Only one of the video store employees, Ella, survives the night shift. An arrest is made, but the suspect soon released on a technicality. He vanishes, leaving behind a younger brother determined to find him.

Chapter 1 opens 15 years later, Ella now a therapist. A strangely similar multiple murder soon occurs at a Linden ice cream shop, Dairy Creamery, with another sole female survivor, Jesse.
As the story continues, readers meet an assortment of other characters, including the original suspect’s brother Chris, now a public defender; Atticus, a local detective; and Sarah Keller, an FBI agent. Jesse, the second survivor, will talk only to Ella.

As Finlay repeatedly shifts between points of view, he creates a fast-paced story with short chapters often ending in cliffhangers guaranteed to make readers think, “Just another chapter”—a thought they may repeat at the end of the next chapter, again and again.

I would not have missed most of the F-bombs, and I found FBI agent Keller’s advanced pregnancy with twins incredulous given her actions, but despite these issues, Alex Finlay again kept me up past the wee hours of the morning, unable to stop reading until the puzzle pieces gradually fit together.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader copy. Iwill be watching for Alex Finlay’s next thriller.

It’s New Year’s Eve 1999. Four teenagers and their young manager are brutally attacked at a Blockbuster Video store and only one, Ella, survives. Fast-forward fifteen years later and there is an attack at an ice cream shop that is eerily similar to the one Ella experienced. Now a professional therapist, she is called upon to help interview the lone survivor from the ice cream shop.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay is a superb thriller. There are so many good characters that are well-defined, with interesting and varied backstories. The plot is convoluted and twisty, with lots of surprises, and it is very fast-paced. Anyone who remembers renting videos from the local Blockbuster will also appreciate the author’s descriptions.

The Night Shift is definitely one of those books that is almost impossible to put down and I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend Alex Findlay’s latest book to any reader who enjoys a suspenseful and well-written thriller. It is outstanding!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

For those who like mysteries that skew more true crime than psychological thriller, this is the book for you!

Read this book if you like:

Long Bright River

Survive the Night

The nostalgia of going to Blockbuster Video

This book takes us back to a monumental night in the world- New Year’s Eve in 1999. In Linden, New Jersey, three Blockbuster employees are murdered on the job. Flash forward fifteen years and a very similar murder takes place in the same town at an ice cream parlor. In comes an incredible FBI agent, the lone survivor of the original attack, and a public defender with a link to the case, all trying to figure out if these two cases are related.

What I really enjoyed about The Night Shift was that it felt like a mystery you could actually try to solve along the way- the ending was unexpected and shocking, but Alex Finlay dropped in clues along the way that made it exciting to follow along.

I feel like this book is a teeny bit falsely advertised because the 1999/Blockbuster nostalgia is really only mentioned in the first chapter- the book predominantly takes place in the current day and felt extremely modern. There’s even a plot element about travel vlogging! All I’m saying is you could substitute in any location and it wouldn’t change the book at all- I just wanted a little more 1999s culture!

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress for the #gifted copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

The Night Shift is Alex Finlay’s second novel, billed as a thriller, that explores two murderous rampages in the same town 15 years apart. I first want to clarify that I found this book to be much more of a crime novel than thriller. While there are mysteries at the center of the plot, The Night Shift lacked the pacing of a thriller and featured two narrators – a FBI agent and a public defender – that were on the procedural side of things.

I enjoy Alex Finlay’s writing. I find it easy to read, even with multiple narrators and many characters. So far, his books have been super quick reads for me. As with Finlay’s debut novel, Every Last Fear, The Night Shift includes themes of family. I think this sets his books apart from many thrillers that are solely focused on secrets, murders, and/or crime.

The way in which The Night Shift was marketed led me to believe that I would be immersed in ’90s nostalgia. But I ended up disappointed. Unless you really miss Blockbuster and those “Be Kind, Rewind” signs, you will not feel any nostalgia. The 1999 timeline is minimally featured.

My biggest issue with The Night Shift is the portrayal of female characters. I try not to be too hard on male authors writing female characters, but I do believe that authors should stick to what they know or do very thorough research. If you are a male author that really wants to write a female character, you should at least have a female editor. The inauthenticity of female characters in The Night Shift was difficult to overlook. Ask any woman who has been pregnant, let alone with twins, if they could barge into a standoff at 8 1/2 months pregnant and you will get an adamant “no.” A woman two weeks from her due date with twins is probably going to be on bed rest if she is lucky enough to carry to full term. I understand that the FBI agent character was supposed to be admirable and heroic… but then why did she need to be super preggo? Beyond this, there were a few other instances that bordered on cringy.

Overall, I enjoyed The Night Shift but was not fully captivated by the plot. I feel like it fell short of my expectations after reading Every Last Fear. I do recommend it, but I would suggest going into the book knowing it is more of a crime novel and prior to reading Every Last Fear.

The Night Shift ~ Alex Finlay

🙏🏼 Thank you to @minotaur_books @netgalley and @alexfinlayauthor for the eARC copy. Out TODAY - March 1, 2022!

READ IF:
* Your Saturday nights were spent at a Blockbuster.
* Your town has a local ice cream spot that has the best scoops.
* You know that Nirvana is not just a band from the 90s, but a state of pure bliss.

SYNOPSIS: New Years Eve, 1999: Four teenagers are attacked at a Linden, New Jersey Blockbuster while working the night shift. Only one survivor. The boyfriend of one of the victims is arrested but once released, he flees and is never seen from again. The case is left open-ended but the families and lone survivor are never the same.

Fifteen years later, a hauntingly similar crime takes place at the Dairy Creamery in the same NJ town. Almost immediately old wounds are torn open and unlikely paths cross. We meet Ella, the lone survivor from the Blockbuster attacks, now tasked with counseling the survivor from the Creamery. Chris Ford is a man of the people serving as the public defender, but also works hard to hide his connection to his fugitive brother. And then there is Sarah Keller - FBI agent - working to make connections between the two attacks so the right person is caught and years of trauma can finally be put to rest.

SYNOPSIS: This book was such an addictive page-turner! Didn’t know much prior to reading except that the cover was cool and a Blockbuster was involved - so from page one, I was totally intrigued and sucked in. This is crime fiction at its best…fast-paced, compelling, and full of surprises. I continued to be enthralled as the chapters shifted point of views, revealing one twist after the next - none of which I was even remotely close to predicting.

Usually these thrillers present totally detestable characters that are hard to enjoy or relate to - but I thoroughly enjoyed this cast, especially Keller and her young protege Atticus and the charming Chris Ford. Pepper in some 90s references and New Jersey landmarks and I was a happy camper. Read this in two days - I couldn’t put it down. What else has Alex Finlay written? I’m about to find out!

This is absolutely my first 5 star thriller of the year!

It. Blew. My. Mind.

I read a ton of mysteries, and I'm not easily fooled by misdirections or red herrings, but I didn't predict any of the outcomes in this book.

I was on the edge of my seat for the entire second half and spend Sunday afternoon reading straight through. The ending had my heart racing, and the epilogue caused me to tear up. Aside from all of that, the narrative included thorough examples of the different ways people cope with trauma.

If you're a thriller reader, make sure you grab this one!

4.5🌟
Two murders, 15 years apart. Wow what a web to unravel and the author did a fabulous job. One by one the pieces fall in place and the mysteries are revealed.
Clever, many layers to the story. The beginning is slow paced but it doesn’t take long and you find yourself flipping the pages. Lots of twists and turns. Great novel.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! From a police procedural, a court case, a slasher-film esque opening, a great mystery, and some awesome twists, this book had it all!

The novel opens on NYE 1999. An iconic night if you were old enough to remember it! Stevie and four teenage girls are in charge of closing up the local Blockbuster video store, but when two of them disappear-per usual-for their longer than normal break, Stevie goes to investigate. The night ends with all but Ella murdered and all leads turn to Vince Whittaker who is promptly arrested. But when Whittaker is released shortly thereafter on a technicality, he takes the opportunity to disappear.

Flash forward fifteen years and a group of teens are slain at the local ice cream shop. Similar to the Blockbuster murders, there is only one survivor. Ella, now working as a therapist, is called in in case she can connect with the survivor, Jesse. When Jesse admits that the killer whispered something in her ear just before leaving her dead, Ella is convinced the two mass murders are more than just similar, and are most likely connected.

The novel alternates between various narrators so we get a glimpse into the current investigation, more details from Ella and the investigators about the Blockbuster murders, the workup of Jesse's criminal trial, and so much more. The novel is fast paced and exciting. Some of the twists definitely surprised me and even the ones that did feel slightly predictable were still thrilling.

The opening scene brought me back to high school - and even 1999! - when I myself was working in a local video store. I could envision a clerk restocking the shelves, another rewinding videos, and another cleaning the popcorn machine. I had sharp images coming to mind thinking about handing customers their movies around the security features installed to catch people stealing movies. I could see the employees sneaking into the back room, having butts in the back parking lot near the dumpsters. Maybe this personal connection and experience (which fortunately ended at just working at a video store!) helped engage me even more to the story, but I was HOOKED from page one and read nearly 75% of it in one sitting! I enjoyed Finlay's prior novel but definitely preferred this one and absolutely recommend!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

I really loved how this book started out on the eve of Y2K. There's a whole generation of people who have no idea the fear that we felt that night, waiting for the end of the world. And then for something even worse to happen...

15 years later we've got an incredible class of characters. Ella; the only survivor from "that night", Chris; the little brother of the suspected killer, Jesse; the survivor of the new crime and a victim of rumors, Atticus; the kind and sweet detective who you just want to hug because he's such a good guy, and Sarah Kellar; the pregnant, badass FBI agent that we met in Ever Last Fear.
All throughout we get these interesting clips of a YouTube channel travel blogger, and when we find out the significance of this it makes it even more interesting. There are so many twists and turns and intertwining stories which make for an incredible thriller!

Check out my interview with Alex at https://anchor.fm/whatangelareads/episodes/Episode-8---Alex-Finlay-The-Night-Shift-e1f224p

“All these years, he was a monster in plain sight”

And once again, Alex Finlay does not disappoint. This was one addictive, nostalgic, whodunnit read!

• A Clever Plot
• Multiple POVs
• Loads of Twists & Turns
• In depth characters
• Fast Paced

Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

Two murders, 15 years apart & those ever memorable few last words: “ GoodNight, Pretty Girl”. Just had me hooked! Yes, this did have a couple coincidences, however you just don’t care. The story pulls you right in. Bringing you back to those blockbuster nights. The Night Shift is a story about the legacy of trauma and how the broken can come out the other side.

This was one riveting read. In my opinion if you enjoyed Every Last Fear - this one’s better !! Check it out. I will be needing a physical copy now.

Out TODAY !!

When I wasn't reading this book, I wanted to be. I was primed to be into this one- I'm of the age where I can very easily visualize a 1999 Blockbuster setting, and I think starting with that really visceral setting started this off in a way that just absolutely grabbed me. With a variety of fascinating perspectives in this story, and a plot that kept moving rapidly, this was one of the best thrillers I've read in a hot minute.

Alex Finlay hits another home run for me! I loved Every Last Fear so went into The Night Shift with a lot of trepidation because my expectations were so high. Fear not though, Alex met and exceeded my expectations with this one.

The Night Shift kept me hooked from the first page right through to the end. I could not put it down.

In 1999, on New Years' Eve, the night crew at Blockbuster is brutally attacked. Leaving one lone survivor. Authorities were sure they found the person responsible but he mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen again. Flash forward 15 years and the crew closing a local ice cream shop in the same small town faces an eerily similar attack, again, leaving just one lone survivor. Has the original killer come out of hiding or is there a copy cat at work?

This is fast paced, leaves you wanting more after every chapter and drops so many twists and turns!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. This title is available March 1st 2022.

Officially added to my new "favorite author list!" NOW, this is what I call an A+ crime thriller! It checks all the boxes and then some. LOVED THIS BOOK!! 🎬🍿 💖📕

Explosive. Electrifying. Compelling Characters!

Alex Finlay's THE NIGHT SHIFT has it ALL! Tops his fabulous debut, Every Last Fear (optioned for film and tv). This one is a total KNOCK-OUT and on another HIGHER level. I could not put it down, and lots of jaw-dropping OMG'S going on. The author exceeded all my expectations and more. Highly IMPRESSIVE. Thriller fans, this is a MUST-READ!

SETTING:
Linden, NJ

DUAL TIMELINES:
1999: New Year's Eve: (YTK) A Blockbuster Video store mass murder at store closing. The manager and three teenage employees are murdered. A fourth employee, Ella survives.

2015: Fifteen years later. Linden Ice Cream Shop. Four girls were murdered. One survived, Jessica (Jesse). Same town. Both midnight shifts.

A copycat or is the killer still alive? If so, why wait 15 yrs and leave a survivor both times?

One thing in common. The predator whispers in each of the girl's ears: "Good night, pretty girl." Everyone has DARK SECRETS in this book! Is the killer still hiding in plain sight?

ELLA, the survivor of The Blockbuster murders, is now a therapist. She has lots of issues and leads a secret life due to her past traumas. Ella likes to go out and night, drink and hook up. Her boyfriend has had enough and she cannot blame him.

She is called by the local high school principal to meet with the survivor Jesse who only wants to speak with her after the ICE CREAM Murder. She knows a lot about the Blockbuster case since she was there. However, Jesse seems to know a lot too. One smart cookie.

Special agent, SARAH KELLER, FBI is on the case and 8 and half months pregnant. Her husband Bob worries about her but is highly supportive. LOVE HER. She is a badass superwoman. Bob is so cool!

CHRIS, an attorney. And man, does he have a dysfunctional background. His father, Rusty is a horrible, evil man. A drunk and abusive. Poor Chis and his older brother Vince had a tough life. Their mom left years ago, or so Rusty says after he beat her constantly. Vince took a lot of the beatings for Chris, but he got his share.

Chris later was adopted through the foster system and has changed his name. No one knows his real identity except his adoptive parents.

VINCE, his older brother was arrested for the murder back in 1999 because he had dated one of the girls. He was released on a technicality. Later they found a weapon in a locker but he had vanished and was never seen again. Was it planted?

Now Chris is a public defender. His last name is FORD. No one knows Vince was his brother. He gets assigned to the Ice Cream case. However, does someone know about him being Vince's brother and what would everyone say?

Told from alternating POV:
Chris
Keller
Ella

Chris wonders if his brother Vince is still alive. Everyone will think he has come out of hiding. He is sure his brother is not guilty. This travel blogger is strange and Chris wonders if it could be Vince?

Is there a dirty cop? The first case was not handled as it should have been. Jesse seems to know a lot about the Blockbuster murders. Soon she is arrested.

Who is the real murderer, and is it the same person for both murders fifteen years apart? How are they connected?

The suspense is nerve-wracking and the author never slows down. There are twists and turns with every page, keeping you glued to the pages. There is never a dull moment. Full of flawed and broken characters who are strong, tenacious, and driven. Some are pure evil monsters.

FAVORITE CHARACTERS:
FBI SARAH KELLER. She is a badass and I adore her relationship with her hubby Bob, which is in awe of her and her talent. Who could do all this and be pregnant? My hero. Reminiscent of Lisa Gardner's Detective DD Warren. I could not stop thinking about how much this reminds me of her books. If you have followed my blog for 8 yrs you know I am a huge fan of hers and her female protagonist.

ONE THING THAT THREW ME: In Finlay's debut, EVERY LAST FEAR, Sarah Keller and Bob already had their twins. In this book, she is pregnant (8 1/2 mos) with the twins. I have not noticed other reviewers talking about this; however, after I finished reading THE NIGHT SHIFT, I went back to the audiobook of EVERY LAST FEAR and relistened just to make sure. Yep, the twins were already born in that book. Guess maybe the author re-winded a few years since this one was set in 1999/2015. Not sure when the debut was set.

CHRIS: I enjoyed how we learned about Chris and Vince's heartbreaking and poor childhood backstory, how it shaped him today. However, he is tormented about his mom leaving them with this horrible man, Rusty Whitaker (a monster). In this regard, Chris is reminiscent of a younger Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch character. I sympathized with him.

There is also one part in the book where I was reminded of Diane Chamberlain's The Last House on the Street and Heather Gudenkauf's The Overnight Guest. If you have read both you will know.

ELLA is a bit of an enigma. Later you learn more about her which is also jaw-dropping and their family. Her family is rich but dysfunctional.

JESSE is also a super character - smart and mysterious. Her family is also strange too and grew up in foster homes after the death of her parents.

ATTICUS: Loved him! The African American local Detective on the case with Keller.

THE BURNING QUESTION: How do all these characters' backgrounds fit together and the two cases fifteen years apart? When all is revealed, you will be highly satisfied and well worth the loss of sleep.

NOSTALGIA:
What I loved about THE NIGHT SHIFT:
So a throwback to 1999 is always a blast. I moved to Atlanta in 1994, for a job relocation in media, when my two sons were off to NC colleges. My condo was located directly across from Blockbuster Video. So yes, spent quite a bit of time there. Also, another blast from the past that I picked up (I do not miss much).

Also, Alex mentions Zima! Too funny. The job where I relocated in media was to be the director for my client (Coors Brewing) for the launch of the ZIMA national rollout! My two sons and all their college friends would come to Atlanta for the weekend and of course since my life revolved around Zima at the time, there was always plenty in the refrigerator.

Not many may remember this product. It was launched nationally in the US as Zima Clearmalt in 1993 after being test-marketed two years earlier. Coors Brewing spent $50 million marketing Zima in its first year. In the late 2000s, the beverage was marketed in additional flavors: citrus, tangerine, and pineapple citrus. I had moved on by then as publisher for a web-based commercial real estate investments company. In 2008, MillerCoors announced that it had discontinued production of Zima in the U.S. In 2017 and 2018 it came back for a limited time.

I have been telling everyone about this book. You must read this book. I suspect THE NIGHT SHIFT will be in my top 5 thrillers for 2022. A MOVIE OR TV SERIES PLEASE!

What a talented writer! It has a mix of legal, legal, crime, serial killer, small-town rural, psychological, literary (loved all the literary references), cop procedural, true-crime, suspense, domestic, mystery, action, and thriller all in one.

COMPS: If you love Michael Connelly, Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, Michael Robotham, Linwood Barclay, Harlan Coben, Paul Cleave, and David Baldacci (all my favorites), you must read this one. Alex has a winning style and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Please, more FBI SARAH KELLER!

A special thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress #Minotaur Books for a gifted ARC. I also purchased the hardcover, and the audiobook, narrated by Brittany Pressley (favorite), Cady McClain, Devon Hales, and Gary Tiedemann by Macmillan Audio.

OUT TODAY. Do not miss this one!

Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars +++
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Pub Date: March 1, 2022

Alex Finlay is a master at writing a thrilling read. I was unsure how the book would end (and I typically guess early on!) and I struggled to know which characters I could trust. I was hooked from page one and seriously struggled to put the book down.

New Years Eve 1999 - everyone in Linden, NJ is worried about Y2K, until 4 teens are killed at a Blockbuster Video, with one survivor. The suspect fled and hasn’t been seen since. 15 years later, in the same town, 3 teenage girls are killed at an ice cream parlor, with one survivor. The 2 survivors, the brother of the suspect and an FBI agent are on the hunt for the truth. Are these two massacres related? And will anyone else get hurt in the process?

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copies!

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin’s Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
On New Year's Eve 1999, four teenagers are attacked at a Blockbuster Video in New Jersey.  Only one survives.  Ella has never really been the same.  She became a therapist, hoping to help others, but she hasn't really helped herself yet.

The alleged perpetrator, Vince Whittaker, although identified, was never caught.   Vince's younger brother Chris has become a public defender.  He has not seen his brother since the video store massacre, but he thinks he knows where he is.

Fifteen years later, four teenagers are attacked at a Dairy Creamery in New Jersey.  Only one survives.  Jesse is already a troubled teen, and her life just got worse. 

Ella comes to Jesse's aid hoping that the fact that she can relate to Jesse's circumstances will prove helpful.

FBI agent Sarah Keller is 8 months pregnant, and is assigned the task of looking into the similarities between the two events.  She is partnered with Atticus Singh.


My Opinions:   
Well, this definitely lived up to the hype.  I loved it.

It was told in two timelines, but 1999 was generally told in flashbacks, and everything was perfectly clear.

I loved the characters, and how the author brought them all together.  I loved the relationship between Sarah and her husband (although I was a little concerned for those babies).  Atticus was charming.  Those in the center of the mystery were deep enough, and I ended up caring for "most" of them.

The plot was good, and although some of the twists were inevitable,  the method that they were delivered was good.  However, the ending did have a surprise or two.

Overall, it was a fast and entertaining read, with enough action to keep me turning those pages.  I highly recommend this one!