My first thought after reading "The Night Shift" was - I must read other books by this author. I have been in a reading slump, and none of the books is helping me out. Thanks to netgalley and Minotaur books, "The Night Shift" came at the right time.

An engaging plot, the cliffhanger at the end of each chapter, superbly sketched characters and short chapters make it an unputdownable thriller. It is twisty and dark at times.

A poignant thriller with multiple POVs and two-fifteen years apart timelines is convincing enough to put any thriller lover on edge. Having read so many thrillers and guessed the perpetrator earlier, I still found the ending impressive.

Although I loved the badass female characters in the book, I was a little put off by the eight and half months pregnant with twins FBI Agent Keller who did some extraordinary action stunts. Thus, four stars.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and finished reading it in one sitting. I am so looking forward to what Alex writes next!

I love a fast paced thriller that keeps me guessing and turning pages from beginning to end, and this one really fit the bill. The narrative in this book rotates among multiple POVs and two different timelines, events leading up to New Years 1999 and the present day. The alternating POVs and timelines keep the plot rolling forward and make it hard to take a break and put the book down. I loved the nostalgia of the 1999 timeline, really what is more 1999 than a Blockbuster? The chapters are very short, which I always enjoy, and the action is nonstop. The body count is high in this one. There were quite a few characters in play, which can sometimes be challenging to follow, but not in this case. They were well drawn and enough differentiated from one another that it was easy to remember each character's relation to the story line. When I was at about 75%, I told my husband how much I was enjoying this book and that I honestly had no idea whodunnit. If you're a seasoned reader of thrillers, it gets hard to re-capture that feeling of surprise. You've seen all the twists and it gets easier to see it coming. Well, I was surprised and I loved it. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you, Netgalley and St Martin's Press for providing me with this eARC.

FBI SA Sarah Keller and her husband. I know, I know, I should be focusing on what actually happened in the Blockbuster Store on New Year's Eve 1999- when four people were killed and only Ella survived- and again now in an ice cream shop, where three die and Jesse lives. So many similarities between the crimes! Vince was arrested in 2000 but his wily public defender got him released before trial and he disappeared. His brother Chris, who was taken into the foster system, has been searching for him ever since. He's now a public defender himself. There are so many layers to this that even though I was pretty sure I knew who the killer was very early on (and no spoilers), I kept reading because Finlay not only laid a seed of doubt, he created a very complex novel. Jesse will only talk to Ella, who is now a therapist. Turns out Ella is more than she seems and Jesse has her own, well, interesting back story. Keller finds herself paired with Atticus, a young local detective, and together they discover that threads of the current crime do reach back to 1999 but not in the way you might expect. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a pow of a read and a page turner.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Loved the characters and the overall mystery. I couldn't put this book down. It has many twists and turns that will keep you guessing. I like the multiple points of views from the different characters. I also loved the cliffhangers provided. Overall very entertaining. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Happy Book Birthday to one of the better thrillers I’ve read in a while. New Years Eve 1999, Y2K fears and people are terrified the worlds computers are going to go off the grid and planes will crash, banks will lose billions and general chaos will be unleashed.

None of that of course happened, but in this small New Jersey town in the stock room of that staple of home entertainment, Blockbuster Video, a brutal triple murder takes place. A fourth victim survives, but the alleged killer escapes….Fifteen years later-BUM BUM BUM-another set of killings, this time in the same towns ice cream shop, and the killings look scarily familiar. Has the killer returned and if so why? Writer Alex Finlay has written a genuine thrill ride that will have you guessing right until the end. Packed with plenty of twists, it was the exact kind of escapist read I needed this past weekend, and would make a fun movie. Were there certain things I questioned? Sure, but that seems like par for the course with these kind of books and anything that came up was minimal in comparison. I would hardly call myself a thriller aficionado, but personally thought this a lot of fun.

You’ll find my review in the minority, which I’m happy to say is a great thing for the author. And I’m sorry to have to admit it, but I kinda struggled with this book.

Though references to the 90s quickly caught my attention in the prologue, the story didn’t really interest me until at least halfway through.

I nearly always struggle with slow-paced novels and though I wanted to declare this a thriller, it didn’t feel that way. It was characters being introduced through their own chapters. Somewhat interesting, but not in the thriller category.

I enjoyed that it bounced between the Blockbuster era of 1999 and approximately 15 years later. And I especially liked references to the things applicable to 1999 such as Y2K, since it brought back memories. It was an interesting start but didn’t grip me and make me want to turn pages.

All that being said, I found the characters cast perfectly. They were all unique and carried their own baggage into the plot, which definitely picked up and started moving in the last of the book. Finlay let several of the characters even toss a red herring out occasionally which added to the fun.

To be honest, the book cover and title immediately won me over (yes, I judge a book by the title and cover), and the story was enjoyable but not one of my favorites.

Final Thoughts
Absolutely give this book a try. As we all know a book will work for some and not others. I look forward to more by Alex Finlay since his writing style is quite enjoyable.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy and the ability to freely express my opinion.

“The Night Shift” by Alex Finlay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 3/1/22

I loved this book!! It kept me interested the entire time. I loved the dual timeline and how the mystery of 1999 tied into current day! This was also a multiple POV, which was really interesting.

Tragedy struck Linden, New Jersey on New Years Even 1999. When the unimaginable can happen the last thing people expected was the Blockbuster Slaughter. Four teenage girls and their boss were working the night shift when a brutal killing took place leaving three dead and one survivor. 15 years later a similar crime happened at the ice cream store. Multiple dead and one survivor.
Ella the 1999 survivor is called to help speak with the survivor because she can relate to the victim.
FBI Agent Keller is called in to attempt to solve the crime of the century. She is even more determined to figure out what really happened in 1999. The suspect that was arrested and release escaped never to be seen again. Did he actually do it or was this a true mystery?
Chris the brother of the 1999 suspect has always believed his brother was innocent, but hasn’t been able to prove it. Will these new murdered bring up new evidence.
Other than the night shift slayings the main connection is what the murdered whispers in the survivors ear “Goodnight Pretty Girl.”

This was a great fast paced read with short chapters, lovable characters and an ending that had more twists than my brain could handle!! I enjoyed the parallel cases and brief dual timeline perspective. Can’t wait to read more by Alex Finlay in the future.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ebook arc copy in exchange for an honest review!!

I was really expecting (and hoping) this would have some really great nostalgic, late 90s/early 2000's vibes but it literally could have been set at any time. Most of the story didn't even take place in this time period. Everything felt very bland and formulaic to me and just like every other thriller I've ever read.

This is the best mystery/thriller I've read in a long time! I kept gong back and forth between who could be the killer but I wasn't able to figure it fully out till the end when it was obvious. I loved the different perspectives and how the flashbacks were handled. The author did a great job at making certain characters just unbelievably despicable! The ending came together great as well! It's similar to a slasher film but in no way cheesy or outlandish like those can be sometimes. I recommend to any mystery/ suspense reader!

The year is 1999. Four teenage girls working the night shift at a New Jersey Blockbuster are brutally attacked. Only one survives. The police quickly zero in on a suspect who is released for lack of evidence then vanishes without a trace.

Fast forward 15 years. Same New Jersey town, another night shift at an ice cream shop, four more girls brutally attacked. Only one survives.

The victims both recall the chilling words the attacker whispered to them. So are these cases linked? Is the Blockbuster killer back? Or does New Jersey have a copy cat on their hands?

This book did not disappoint! I got strong Riley Sager vibes from it, and that is a positive in my opinion. It didn’t feel like any of the same stories- just the same chilling feelings!

This story is very character driven, using multiple POV’s. I would have liked to see a little bit more of the 1999 timeline, but not having that definitely made some of the twists later in the story reveal themselves like bombs I never saw coming.

I think the tension could have been a little higher also. I predicted who the attacker was pretty early on, however with the twists and turns it was still quite compelling.

The one thing that I did find bothering a me was the almost 9 month pregnant (WITH TWINS) FBI agent chasing down murder suspects guns blazing. I really had to suspend my disbelief there.

The ending left a few loose ends, but overall I really enjoyed this exciting story.

*Thank you to St Martins Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

This one started out in a Blockbuster in 1999 and made me feel so nostalgic during the flashbacks. Fifteen years later another attack occurs leading to the murder of multiple teenage girls at an ice cream shop. Both times, only one survives. This story follows the lives of three people that’s lives overlap. One is an FBI agent trying to solve the cases, the second is a survivor of the initial crime and the last is the brother of the primary suspect.

The character development was so well done in this story. I loved the short chapters that often ended with you biting your nails desperate to find out what happens. The point of view alternates and you can’t put the book down until you figure out what’s happening.

I am definitely interested in whatever @alexfinlay writes next!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC!

Wow! What a ride!!! In the beginning I wasn't too sure it was for me. With three different POVS the story felt a little disjointed but it didn't take too long for things to smooth out. And then at about the midpoint we have a huge surprise twist!! From then on the pace really picked up until at the end I couldn't read fast enough. It's been awhile since a book has left me feeling out of breath like The Night Shift did. While this is a thriller it is first and foremost a mystery. Two mass shootings 15 years apart each with a lone survivor. How are they connected...are they connected? The local police and the FBI race to find the answers. I do confess to guessing who the bad guy is but that didn't interfere with my enjoymen at all. It's been awhile since I've gotten so engrossed in a book. Thank you for this Alex Finlay!
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

**4.5-stars rounded up**

On December 31, 1999, a mass murder occurred at a Blockbuster Video store in Linden, New Jersey. The vicious closing time attack left three teenage girls and their manager dead; one girl survived. The alleged perpetrator, after being initially interrogated, is freed on a technicality. It's at that point that he flees, never to be seen or heard from again.

Fifteen years later, in Linden, girls closing up an ice cream shop are brutally attacked. Again, there is one survivor. Both final girls recall the attacker whispering something to them before he flees: good night, pretty girl. Could the Blockbuster attacker be back, or is there a copycat killer on the prowl?

The Night Shift follows multiple perspectives as both the events of the past and present are explored; including possible connections. The evolution of this story was absolutely spellbinding. Finlay drew me in from the very start of this book and it never let up. I read this entire thing in a day and half, while reading other books. It's safe to say, I quickly became obsessed with this.

Initially, I felt like there may be too many perspectives followed, but as it progressed, it became obvious why Finlay chose to write it that way. He really pulled it off. It ended up weaving together perfectly.

Reflecting back on my time reading Finlay's previous work, Every Last Fear, I had the exact same comment on that one. There were a ton of perspectives there as well, and even though I ended up feeling like they were all necessary, I feel even stronger about the way The Night Shift was done. For me, Finlay's writing has grown and I'm loving that upward trajectory.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see a recurring character from ELF, FBI Agent Sarah Keller. I enjoyed her perspective a lot before and even more so in this one. I felt like I got to know her better here and I became quite attached. I love her strength of spirit and she is so darn smart. She's definitely a character you can get behind.

This story kept me guessing. I think I started to figure it out really at the same time as the people investigating it. I had some inklings, but truth be told, I suspected everyone at one point or another. It felt like such a natural progression of reveals. I was living for it, whilst at the edge of my seat.

Overall, I had a blast with this. It got wild. It was engaging for me the entire way through. Additionally, it read like a movie. I could picture every scene as it was playing out. I would definitely recommend it. I pretty much feel on the same level for this one as I did for No Exit by Taylor Adams. Take from that what you will...

Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I think it is safe to say at this point, I will pick up anything Alex Finlay writes!!

📼 I really enjoyed Every Last Fear by this author, so I was excited to read his sophomore novel. It did not disappoint!

📼 This book is told from multiple POVs. The POVs were quite different (victim/therapist, FBI agent, lawyer) so they weren’t easily confused. I don’t think this book would have been as good and complex as it was without the different perspectives.

📼 The characters (primary and secondary) were genuine and had very interesting and complex individual backstories, which benefited the narrative greatly.

📼 The story was fast-paced and extremely engaging. I read it very quickly because I didn’t want to put it down! There were some clever gotcha moments I didn’t anticipate, and I always appreciate a solid surprise in a thriller!

📼 I did suspect who the killer might be early on, but there were enough red herrings that I second-guessed myself often. Ultimately, my guess was correct, but since I didn’t know how the connection was made to the killer until the end of the story, my enjoyment of the book did not falter at all.

📼 I also really enjoyed the nostalgia of the Blockbuster Video store (except for the murder part of course). I found myself remembering MANY trips to Blockbuster in my earlier days and how excited or disappointed I’d feel if I found, or didn’t find, a copy of the movie I wanted to rent. But I digress…

📼 If you liked Every Last Fear by this author, you will like this book also. If you enjoy the final girl trope, crime dramas, or complex thrillers, this book is for you!

📼 Alex Finlay’s books are now an auto-read for me!

Thank you to @NetGalley and @StMartinsPress and @Minotaur_books for providing an eARC for me to review, which I have done honestly and voluntarily

Absolutely loved this nail biting thriller full of millennium nostalgia!

It’s NYE 1999 when four girls are brutally attacked while working the Night Shift at Blockbuster, only one survives. A suspect is identified with evidence and charged, but a technicality sets the man free and he instantly disappears, never to be heard or seen again. Fast forward decades later when history repeats itself in the local ice cream shop. Told from the voices of each of the lone survivors, the brother of the original suspect and the FBI agent desperate to solve both cases we embark on a series of questions; are the cases truly related, was the original investigation compromised, and where has the original suspect disappeared to?

Be sure to give yourself time once you sit down to read this because it is a page turner. It kept me guessing with some surprise twists and a bit of a whodunnit. I did figure out where the end was leading to which is why I can’t give a full 5 stars but, the final scene is very reminiscent of Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs and left me spooked!

Night Shift by Alex Finlay takes place On New Years Eve 1999. Four mischievous girls with their manager are getting ready to close when someone comes in the back door and attacks them all. Ella is the only girl who survives and her only memory is a man whispering to her.
Flash forward fifteen years and tragedy has struck again, this time four girls were attacked in an ice cream shop and again only one has survived. In an effort to get the newest survivor to talk, they reach out to the survivor from the original scene, Ella who now works as a psychologist.
The main suspect in the Blockbuster murders was a small time marijuana dealer named Vince who disappeared after he was released on bail. His younger brother Chris has never believed in his guilt and became a public defender to help people like his brother. He has become increasingly disillusioned with the system .The one bright spot in his day is a blog he follows of a wandering traveler who never identifies himself but he is convinced is the brother he misses and believes to be innocent.
Arpeggio, the local sheriff calls in the FBI to assist with the latest murders and the case is assigned to Agent Sarah Keller who is eight months pregnant with twins but still on the job.
Despite the sheriff trying to keep information from her she won’t be deterred from seeking answers and speaking to witnesses. Sarah is referred to a young investigator named Atticus Singh who has always taken interest in the Blockbuster case and can help her spot similarities between the latest murders though Arpeggio is insistent the cases are not connected. Sarah and her new partner refuse to back down and they spot clues that others may have missed and put them in a killers crosshairs.
This is the second novel by this author and he will be a must read author based on this one. This grabs you from the beginning and although there are things that strain my credibility Ie- a pregnant FBI agent who is due any day out in the field , I loved the pacing and I did not guess who the “ bad guy” was. This will be released tomorrow so don’t miss it! Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for the e copy of a book sure to be in the best sellers list!

BOOK REVIEW ‘THE NIGHT SHIFT’
…
★★★★★

WOW, wow, WOW! This was my first Alex Finlay book and definitely won’t be my one and only. I LOVE a great time lapse mystery that is now repeating itself in present day. I could’ve finished this in one setting, but it took me two LOL. I couldn’t stop turning the page!! I am a sucker for an old school high school “slasher” storyline and plot. Right from the first chapter, I was HOOKED. I loved the way it was written, the strong female characters, the sub characters - just about everything LOL.

Also, I dream of the nights when my Dad used to take me to Blockbuster on a Friday night. Talk about 90’s nostalgia - ugh the finer days. SOME network needs to adapt this to the screen! It’ll make an amazing series. MUST read!

It’s December 31st, 1999, chaos is predicted with the start of Y2K. At a Blockbuster Video in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls are working the night shift when they are brutally attacked. Only one survives. The main suspect is identified but disappears and is never seen again. Fifteen years later, in the same town, the same crime occurs at an ice cream shop. Three lives will cross: the survivor of the Blockbuster massacre, the brother of the suspect, and the FBI agent determined to solve both cases.

The first half of the book is very slow, but it’s necessary due to their being multiple characters and backstories to learn. The story picks up a lot in the second half and you’re hit with all the shocking twists! I loved reading about how all of the characters and their stories were connected. The culprit wasn’t completely obvious to me and I really enjoyed how it kept me on my toes and always guessing! I went to Blockbuster all the time as I kid so the nostalgia from that was fun. Thank you so much to Minotaur Books, Alex Finlay, and NetGalley for my E-ARC!

The first two lines of the intro to the book says it all: an expectation of tragedy on New Year's Eve 1999. Y2K was a real fear in the computerized world of the day....could it deal with the the numbers of the year 2000?? But that was the least concern of four teenaged girls as they worked their shift at Blockbuster, and couldn't wait for closing time. Unbeknownst to them....only one would survive. Fifteen years later in the same town, three girls are attacked at the Dairy Creamery....only one would survive. Ella, survivor from 1999, is now a counselor and is called in to talk to Jesse, the survivor, who has said she will only talk to Ella. This begins a story that we learn from the perspective of main characters of each book chapter: Ella, Jesse, Keller (the very pregnant FBI investigator for the case), and Chris (brother to the escaped suspect of 1999 andnow a lawyer). This book kept me on my toes and unexpected twists had me reminding myslef of miniscule clues read earlier in the story. That is what a mystery/thrilerl is all about!! All the little pieces fit together nicely into an ending that is both unexpected and yet makes you wonder why you didn't see that coming?? I loved this book because of all those things that made me absolutely not want to put it down. The characters are so real that it is easy to become invested in their struggles to find answers, and to have heartstrings tugged for those that have been victims in so many ways. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minatour Bookss for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheNightShift