I liked the short bingable chapters and the 90s nostalgia in flashback chapters. However, didn't really like the ending and wasn't convinced about the final motive of the killer in the end.

A huge thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for providing me with a digital advance review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Two eerily similar murders occur 15 years apart in Union County, NJ. In both instances, three night shift employees at local stores are killed by a mystery assailant leaving one lone survivor. Now, authorities must figure out if the brutal killings are connected and race to find the culprit(s).

FIVE SHINY GOLD STARS TO ALEX FINLAY’S NEWEST! I devoured half of this on a flight and finished the other half today. Told through alternating viewpoints of the FBI agent investigating the murders, the brother of the accused, and one of the surviving victims, this one was utterly unputdownable and kept me guessing til the last. As a Jersey girl, I loved the setting, and as a child of the millenium, I felt nostalgic for the time period of Y2K, video rentals, and no cell phones (one of the murders takes place on NYE in ‘99).

Findlay has crafted an utterly entrancing mystery, and I am excited to read EVERY LAST FEAR. Finlay’s writing style pulled me in and held me til the last page. I’ll definitely be thinking about this one for a little while.

This was a great twisty thriller that reminded me of a retro halloween movie at first. This was my first thriller by Finlay and I'm looking forward to seeing what he writes next!

Alex Finlay is a master storyteller! I loved his first novel, Every Last Fear, and his second novel did not disappoint. The reader is transported back 15 years earlier when a gruesome murder occurs that leaves several teens dead. Coincidentally, a similar crime is committed leaving the community wondering if a serial killer is back. The characters and storyline were great and I had a hard time putting this one down! I was guessing until the end!

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

3.5 Hearts I have some dislikes with this story but mostly I think it is pretty good. I enjoyed the cold case intersecting with the current case even though it has been a decade and a half. I enjoyed that Sarah is not a wallflower waiting for others to do the job. She gets right out there and does what she needs to do.

But that leads me to a dislike. Any woman who has been pregnant and ready to pop at 8 ½ months pregnant is not running around like a teenager, honestly at that far along the mom to be is exhausted. And more so the mom to be does everything in her power to protect her baby (in this case twins - which makes it even more so) but Sarah is out there doing things that just are feasible.

But other than that I enjoyed the story. I honestly kept trying to forget that Sarah was pregnant and enjoy the rest of the book even though it was very hard with some of the action scenes.

All in all a good book. Without the ridiculous writing for a pregnant woman (no surprise it was written by a man) I would have given this book 4 hearts.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Every Last Fear and have been looking forward to Alex Finlay's new book. The Night Shift did not disappoint!! It has all the tension and drama of Finlay's first book and promises we'll be seeing this author around for a long time.

The characters are vivid and realistic, and the story is compelling. The tight writing leads the reader from one red herring to another right up to the shocking ending. And then one last surprise.

I can't wait for Finlay's next book!!

5 Stars!

I absolutely loved Every Last Fear and Night Shift was no different!!!

Alex Finlay takes you back to New Year's Eve, 1999 when a grisly murder happened at a Blockbuster video store. Fast forward to the present day where a similar murder happens at an ice cream shop. Dun dun duuuunnnnn! I loved all the characters and their complexities and the twisted things that happened along the way. I wanted to sleep on the plane, but this book had me wanting more and forsaking sleep for it.

A special thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Alex Finlay for providing me with an ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley, Alex, and Minotaur for an advance copy of The Night Shift.

It’s December 31, 1999. The world is anxiously awaiting the new decade, new century, new millennium. But while everyone is wondering if technology will crash down around us, four teens working at Blockbuster are being brutally attacked, only one making it out alive. 15 years later, there is another attack, this time at an ice cream shop. Three teens murdered, one survivor. Both final girls recall the same thing being said to them, “goodnight pretty girl.” Upon the investigation of the ice cream shop, the final girl from Blockbuster is forced to relive what she has worked to moved past, the brother of the Blockbuster suspect who is sure his brother was wrongfully accused, and an FBI agent all come together to try and figure out whether this is the original killer, a copycat, or something completely new.

This was my first Alex Finlay book, and it is getting ALL. THE. ATTENTION. on social media. I swear, every third picture on my instagram is The Night Shift! It is well-deserved attention. This book was compulsively readable. While I would’ve loved to have spent some more time in the 1999 setting (really, just give me any and all things 90s forever and ever amen), I really liked how Alex led with that event, and it hung over the entire book like a black cloud, but it did focus mostly on the after-effects of the 1999 setting and kept us in the 2014/2015 story for the most part.

I enjoyed all the characters, Alex does a great job at giving us distinct POVs that made it easy to follow along. I didn’t see the twist coming (no surprise there since I rarely do). Well-written, short chapters, multi-POVs – what’s not to love?

Read this book in two days! I loved how it shifted to the perspectives of multiple characters as well as two time periods!

I hadn't read an Alex Finley novel before this one. Positive reviews for past books and the teaser for this one grabbed my attention. I wasn't disappointed!

"The Night Shift" follows two sets of murders 15 years apart. Several people were killed during their late-night shifts -- and one person survived each time. As the novel unfolds, the two crimes have more connections than a large spider web.

The first murders are laid out amid the fears of Y2K, and who (of a certain age) can't relate to Blockbuster video stores? The second set occurs in an ice cream shop in a time when cell phones rule. The author cleverly adds twists and turns at a steady pace while saving the most surprises for later in the book.

Finlay certainly knows how to tell a story, and his use of two timelines is clear and easy to follow. Some aspects, though, were a bit hard to swallow. Could a very large pregnant FBI agent really do what Agent Keller does? Why does the therapist seek out romps with strangers? Overall, the novel is fast-paced and entertaining. Enjoy "The Night Shift" for what it is -- a contemporary whodunit.

This story was engaging and easily bingeable. It reminded me a lot of all of Riley Sager's books. The nostalgia of the 90s was enjoyable for me as well. I loved going "back in time" to Blockbusters. However, it also is predictable and gets a little over-the-top towards the ends. If you are used to these kinds of thrillers, though, that shouldn't bother you. I didn't bother me. I found this book to be a great beach read for the summertime. The perfect summer book to read in one sitting. The writing isn't anything incredible, nor is the plot development, but it is a treat and is exactly what you are expecting when you open it up. If you like Riley Sager or Megan Miranda, give this book a try.

Thank you so much NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.


On New Year's Eve in 1999 everyone is worried about the impending doom of Y2K, but for the workers in one Blockbuster in Linden, New Jersey it’s just a typical night shift. Until it isn’t.


Alex Finlay congratulations on writing a fast-paced, tangled web of a thriller that I could not put down. Only stopping to work and sleep I devoured this book in two days. It read like the perfect binge-worthy true-crime inspired Netflix hit. I quite literally felt like I might as well be watching a movie as I raced to finish the book.

The pacing of this book was so utterly perfect. I’ve found that some crime novels tend to get bogged down in the process of examining the case. In The Night Shift, the shifting perspectives as well as the addition of flashbacks, and excerpts from youtube videos, keep the pace enjoyable and the story flows really well.

There are five different perspectives, including small video clips described in this book. Two are outside the main characters of The Night Shift. One of them, Steve, is only available for one chapter - the prologue. I think that Finlay does such a great job at defining a character and setting up an atmosphere in such a short amount of time that I truly cared about Steve for the fleeting moment we spend with him. Another, Katie, appears just once in the penultimate chapter. I know people often complain about the addition of a new narrator so late in a story, but this really really worked for me. The addition of Katie’s POV helps to show how the story is concluding, rather than simply telling. The video clips and the hope Chris has about his anonymous youtube obsession were terrific additions to the book, and left me just as hopeful as he raced to get his answers.

I have to admit I am an absolute sucker for the trope of a ‘final girl’, so I was instantly drawn to this book, but wow did it deliver more than just a new take on a campy horror concept. The Night Shift was deep and heavy with emotion and the psychological/physical damage that comes from such violent crimes. There are two characters outside of the three narrators I wish to talk about but can’t without spoilers. I will say their journey throughout the book almost had me crying when I reached the end.

Ultimately I’ll rate this a 4.5 rounded up. I thought this would be a 5-star read, and honestly the only thing stopping it from being so are a couple small qualms I have with the ending. The epilogue jumps forward an entire year, from the thrilling, yet terrifying end of the book, and it doesn’t provide too much closure.

Without giving away too much, the name of the book comes into play in a way that is supposed to seem significant but personally fell flat. Characters who’s whole characterization is built on their drive for their future, don’t get any closure or explanation. Perhaps the two most impactful deaths aren’t really delved into. I enjoyed every second of this book, and won’t hesitate to recommend it, but ultimately the ending fell just a little short of what I was hoping for.

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the ground because The Night Shift was OMG good. I absolutely adored Alex Finlay's last book Every Last Fear, yet I was hesitant to read this one because I didn't want to be let down. The synopsis of this book further heightened my expectations, because it sounded original and thrilling. I am pleased to say there were NO eye rolls reading this book, and I couldn't put it down (when my children allowed me uninterrupted reading time).

All of these characters were damaged, sketchy and irresponsible, but I couldn't get enough of them. I loved the short chapters, which made me binge it even faster, especially when the chapters ended with me NEEDING to know what happened next. I kept saying "one more chapter". I had NO idea what was coming for me at any point reading this book, maybe that makes me naive, but I didn't see it and I honestly couldn't really have guessed anyone was guilty other than who the suggested suspect was. So many dark twists I didn't see coming which made me love this one even more.

One HUGE hangup I have with this book is Agent Keller being pregnant with twins and chasing down violent criminals. As someone who was pregnant with twins, I can promise you that would have been absolutely impossible to do. Yet I loved her, she was an incredible character.

Unpopular Opinion: I loved Every Last Fear so I really thought it was a no-brainer that I would love The Night Shift. I started off enjoying it. I loved all of the references to the 90s; however, I thought the story was somewhat lackluster. I didn’t feel any interest in the characters after the first half of the book. The epilogue was too “hallmarky” for my taste. I’m disappointed I couldn’t get into this one. I think the concept of the story was creative, but unfortunately it didn’t quite gel for me. Don’t let my humble opinion deter you from reading this book, it is one of the most highly-anticipated thrillers of 2022 and has a lot of buzz surrounding it. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I personally didn’t enjoy this as much as Every Last Fear. The story wasn’t as interesting and didn’t’ enjoy it as much. Still an Alex Findlay fan and will continue to read books by this author!!

The Night Shift is about two almost identical crimes, committed fifteen years apart. The first occurred on New Year's Eve 1999 where the store manager and 3 female employees were killed. There was one survivor, Ella, who is now a therapist. Vince, Ella's boyfriend was suspected of the crime, but he disappeared when he was let out on bail. Fifteen years after that horrific night another attack takes place at a local ice cream shop. Again there is only one survivor after the attack, a teenager named Jessica. The local high school principal calls Ella to try and connect to the surviving victim as she has a perspective no one else would understand. At this point, FBI Agent Sarah Keller is called in to see if the suspected killer from the Y2K crime has reappeared. Before long, Jessica is arrested and the local pubic defender's office is called in. One of the members of the team is Chris, the brother of Vince, who was adopted and took on a new name. Hang onto your hat as the twists keep coming. Has the original killer returned to recreate his crime? Is it a copycat? Or has the killer been hiding in plain sight all this time?

Ella, Sarah and Chris are all great characters. They all want justice, but what does that look like. Ella is a flawed character. She had issues with her mother before the murders, but after it happened, her mother just wanted her to get over it. She participates in some questionable activities, but when Jessica needs her, she does what she can to help her. I love Sarah Keller. She is 8 1/2 months pregnant with twins and is such a badass. Chris also has a lot of baggage. He was a product of an abusive home, abandoned by his mother and still looking for his brother who he is sure is innocent. Jessica is a smart, sassy, courageous, chance taking teenager, who is in foster care and dealing with bullying as well as baggage from her past. As this case is explored, clues followed, questions asked and secrets revealed, we begin to get an inkling into what really happened. There were some minor twists along the way, then a huge reveal that shocked me. I loved this story as much as the first Alex Finlay story I read. I am eagerly waiting to see what he has in store for us in his next book.

I really enjoy Finlay's writing style - short, addicting chapters that keep you turning pages quickly without a lot of unnecessary fluff! Some things were not a huge surprise but how were go there was so I definitely didn't figure everything out! I'm glad for a solid read and will definitely continue to read Finlay's books.

The story starts off on New Year's Eve 1999 when a group of teens is attacked inside of a blockbuster video store all but one is murdered. Fast-forward to current day and we are following three different points of view. The one survivor from the blockbuster massacre, a very pregnant FBI agent, and a public defender who is the younger brother of the accused Blockbuster massacre. We follow the three as they uncover secrets and discover what really happened all those years ago and how that crime might be connected with a recent killing at an ice cream store in the same town.


This book started off slow for me and I wasn't sure it would be for me as I wasn't really interested in the view point of the FBI agent or the public defender. I found Ella's plot line to be very interesting and found myself eager to get back to her chapters. At about half way through the book I started to become very invested in the characters and the plot and needed to find out how the book would end. I really enjoyed when the different characters began to interact with each other and they started to working together to solve the crimes. Overall I would recommend this book and found myself unable to put it down.

Alex Finlay blends a true crime mystery from the 90's with a modern day murder in The Night Shift. His character in the young witness is rather fantastic in her own right being incredibly smart and making you truly wonder how much of what she reveals is the actual truth, and how much she has manipulated. While she seems a side character, her role is actually the piece of the puzzle that moves the story forward and connects the past to the present. This is an excellent book for lovers of true crime, murder mystery's, and anyone who loves to try to piece together a puzzle.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay is a fast-paced thriller about two different mass murder cases. 15 years ago there was one survivor from a murder spree at a Blockbuster. Fast forward to the present day when another murder spree occurs nearby and also leaves just one survivor. A team of experts convenes to determine if this is the work of the same person, especially since the suspect from the original case disappeared once released from his prison hold. Lots of action keeps this plot moving right along. Read and enjoy!