New Year’s Eve, 1999 - 4 teenagers working at a Blockbuster are murdered, with one other survivor, and the suspect flees and is never seen again. Now 15 years later, another similar massacre at an ice cream parlor in the same neighborhood occurs, again with a lone survivor. Are they connected? The Night Shift is a thrilling, topsy-turvy ride from start to finish, with intersecting plot lines from both events, great characters, and so much suspense that you’ll be flying through the pages. The author artfully weaves it all together in this rollicking, tense book. Solid 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ho-oh-oh-oh-ly cow! What a good book!

The ripple/domino effect of a just one choice, one action impact the lives of so many in this fantastically constructed and well told story.

Finlay does it again!

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

Told from many points of view - the original crime and the present day crime. The victims, their families and law enforcement all converge to tell a story of abusive relationships, love, trauma, obsession, regrets and long held secrets.

Ella, Chris, Mr. Steadman - all connected by the first crime.

Ella, Jesse, Sarah, Atticus - all connected by chance and the second crime.

Suspenseful, well written story that explores how a single event ripples across lives, bringing victims, villains and heros to an unexpected resolution.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. This is my first time reading Finlay and it will not be the last! He sure can write a suspenseful book! Everything I thought I knew along the way turned out to be wrong. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone. Also, great cover!

WHOA, THAT WAS GOOD!

I just finished this book and I am sitting here in actual awe of how incredible it was. The last few chapters had my heart racing so fast. I don't think I've ever experienced that from a book before.

The book starts out on New Year's Even 1999 in a Blockbuster so right off the bat as a 90s kid, you know I'm already hooked. Then there's a murder 😱 and all of a sudden we're in 2015 and there's an eerily similar murder 😱

Crazy coincidence? Same person? You're going to want to find out.

This book had so so many twists and turns and just when I thought I figured it all out... I got hit with a surprise that had me literally shouting "WHAT!?" outloud.

Thank you so much to #netgalley #stmartinspress and #minotaur books for an ARC of #thenightshift

This book will be released on March 1, 2022 but add it to your lists now, because it's going to BIG!

I started The Night Shift late afternoon and finished it around 330am. Could not put it down.

On Dec 31, 1999, four teenagers were attacked at a Blockbuster at closing time with only one survivor. No one was ever caught. Fast forward 15 years and an almost identical scene occured, again with only one survivor. Was there a copycat or did the same person commit both crimes? FBI special agent Sarah Keller is called in as a favor to help the local small town police help find the killer and maybe solve a cold case.

Keller, who by the way, is eight and a half months pregnant and it's quickly apparent she's a certified badass. Keller is the only person in this story who doesn't seem to be hiding a secret. The surviving victims are predictably broken, having lived through multiple traumas. Finlay shows you their scars and imperfections but also how strong they are.

For me, the subject matter was tough to stomach. He tempers those feelings by having three strong women, in different stages in their young lives, as the driving force behind The Night Shift.

I figured out the perpetrator fairly early on but in no way did it detract from the story because he throws in some bombshells I had not foreseen. The Night Shift is a story of immense tragedy but also of redemption and hope. The Night Shift is a book that'll stay with me for a long time

Thank you to Alex Finlay, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advance copy of The Night Shift.

At first i didn’t think i was going to get along with this book. It’s a multiple POV book and i didn’t find myself connecting with or caring for 2/3rds of the POVs but i stuck it out and I’m so happy i did because this seriously delivered.

The payoff of this book is exquisite. And rarely has a thriller flat-out thrilled me so much! I could not guess what was going to happen next, all of my predictions were wrong- which i love with a thriller- and i yelled at this book at least four times. I loved it.

Thank you to St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author for an advanced e-reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was...not what I was expecting. I don't usually read thrillers but this was really good. The first third of the book I struggled to get through because I found it a bit slow but it was definitely worth it. The characters were amazing; I don't normally enjoy multi-POV but each character POV was incredible, especially Keller. A few moments even had me tearing up which I was not expecting and I wish a few characters had different outcomes but I think it was well done as it was.
Loved the twists, definitely did not see it coming and had me second-guessing the whole way through!

Wow - this book was good. I finished it in less than one day. Seriously, good.

I loved that I had no idea who the killer was until right before it was revealed. Also, love the twists about the other murders that weren't part of the Blockbuster incident or the Ice Cream Store incident. Throws you off the trail a bit more and I love a book that keeps me guessing.

I wish Vince had a different outcome. I quite liked him and would have liked a different story line for him, however; it makes sense with everything else that happened in the book.

The YouTube excerpts were pointless. They did not add a single thing to the story and honestly could be taken out and it would make the book better.

You will be unable to put this down! Do not start this book late at night if you value your sleep. Once you start it you must devour it. This book is in my top 10 for the year. It was amazingly written, the characters were phenomenal and relate-able. The story line was full or terror and suspense. This is one of those books where your sad when you reach the last page and it’s over.
It’s fast paced and there not one full moment. Twist and turns galore, this book is the whole package read it!

This was a good read for the most part. It was suspenseful with a mystery to work out. The problem for me was that there were too many characters with similar roles and trying to remember if they were characters from 1999 or the present became became a little difficult. I didn’t guess the ending and it was twisty but not much of a surprise either.
Overall, it wasn’t really for me, but I’m sure there are other readers who will enjoy it.

I really like Every Last Fear and was excited to read The Night Shift by Finlay. I didn't care for it as much though; I would have liked more character development. I was surprised by a few twists, though. One thing that really bothered me was FBI agent Sarah Keller, 8 1/2 months pregnant with twins, out there doing the stuff she was doing. I myself had twins and could barely make it through the grocery store at 8 1/2 months pregnant. I do like Keller as a character, but the pregnancy situation was not realistic.
Overall, a fairly good mystery.

4.5 Don’t work the night shift in Linden stars

Picture the very late 1990s, just about to turn 2000, and a Blockbuster store in a small town. There are four teenage girls working the night shift along with their manager. A killer strikes, and all but one of them are killed. There’s a suspect immediately arrested, but he’s released for lack of evidence and then disappears. The lone survivor, Ella, turns to counseling to process her experience.

Flash forward 15 years and the same crime occurs again, this time at an ice cream parlor. Has the original killer returned? Or has a copycat criminal struck the same town of Linden? The survivor of this attack, Jesse, connects with Ella.

The FBI is called in and I love the character of Sarah Keller (she was also in Every Last Fear). She’s very pregnant with twins, but she doesn’t let that slow her down! The local police don’t really want to cooperate with her, but she keeps at the case, trying her luck at solving the Blockbuster murders from years ago and checking for similarities to the new case.

Then there’s Chris, working as a public defender, and he’s got a very close connection to the case. I rooted for him and liked his character as well.

I had some suspicions about how this one would turn out but there were definitely some surprises for this reader! I really like Alex Finlay’s writing style and he’s created a believable thriller here. While not perfect, I recommend this one!

This is a thriller for sure . . . HOLY COW IN A TUTU . . . such breath-taking suspense!!

I enjoyed reading Alex Finlay's Every Last Fear, so I was excited to get my hands on a copy of his latest work.

In the opening scene of this story, we learn the details of a crime committed during a closing shift on New Year's Eve in 1999 and segue into a hauntingly similar situation playing out fifteen years later.

I really like the skillfully fleshed ensemble cast of characters and the intricate twists and turns of all their lives along with the investigation. I simply could not put this pulse pounder down . . . I put off work, food, and sleep to find out who knew what! During the last intense scenes, I was tearful and sweaty. I cannot think of the last time I had such a visceral response to a novel. To some folks, this experience may not sound like a good time, but to a book-lover, it's exciting, like riding the rails of a theme-park coaster.

I'd like to thank the author, NetGalley, and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Night Shift for an honest review. Five Stars.

This was EXACTLY the book I needed. It came to me when I was entering a slump, and it picked me right up out of it. Well-written, groovy mystery, interesting characters… what more could one ask for? The only complaint I have is it was a bit predictable.

I loved Alex Finlay’s previous novel, Every Last Fear, and this new book doesn’t disappoint. Finlay has a way of shifting between viewpoints but making the reader care about each character, showing their complex lives without bogging down the mystery with too much backstory. FBI Agent Keller is a wonderfully badass, warm female character, eight months pregnant and my favourite part of the book.

Finlay also manages to create a mystery with lots of twists and turns that are both unpredictable and not too far-fetched. I read The Night Shift in one day, and had a lot of fun with it.

I'm going to preface this by noting that I just recently read Every Last Fear. So right from the beginning I had a good guess on who the ‘bad guy’ was based on past experience. That, or it was my Scooby Doo detective skills.

This was a great read though. The different points of view make you feel like you are right in the middle of the mystery trying to figure it out, too. The supporting investigations add such depth to the story. I will definitely read whatever Alex Finlay releases next!

On New Year's Eve in 1999 four teenagers working late at night at a Blockbuster Video store, were all brutally attacked leaving only one survivor, Ella.
The guy who was accused of committing the crime Vince, jumped bail and was never heard or seen from again.
15 years later four more teenage girls were attacked while they were working late night at a fast-food restaurant, leaving only one survivor, Jesse. Could this new massacre be the work of Vince or was it committed by someone new?

The story is told through 3 points of view, Ella the blockbuster massacre survivor, Chris a public defender, and Keller who is a detective working on the case. The story is told in the present tense with some flashbacks to the past.

This story starts with an intense scene and hooked me in immediately! The first half of the book is slower-paced, It introduces the reader to all of the characters and their backstories. The second half is faster-paced with action scenes and shocking revelations.

I loved reading about how all of the flawed characters' lives intersect and how their stories were connected. I enjoyed the complexity of the plot and how it wasn't so cut and dry.

This book would make an excellent movie!
The Night Shift was such a fun and fast read and I can’t wait to read more of Alex Finlay’s work. I would highly recommend this book for fans of detective/crime mysteries with a thriller twist. Many thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

It’s New Year’s Eve, 1999, and the whole World was afraid that computers would be unable to move into a new century, causing planes to fall from the sky, elevators to plunge to the ground and the Stock Market to collapse.

I remember attending a New Year’s Party, and waiting fearfully with friends as we watched the clock strike 12-
Would the World end as we knew it?

But, it seemed like just another night at the Blockbuster video store in Linden, NJ for the 4 teenaged girls and their manager who were working the NIGHT SHIFT. Rewinding the videos returned, selling microwave popcorn, and gossiping in the break room, they were eager to close at 10 PM and celebrate with friends!

None have them could have guessed that they might not survive the night for reasons other than Y2K.
But, then they are all BRUTALLY attacked.

There is just one survivor-Ella.

Fifteen years later, four more teenaged girls are VICIOUSLY attacked in Linden, NJ, just before closing time at the Dairy Creamery Ice cream shop.

Again, there is just one survivor-Jesse.

And now, in the aftermath of this crime, Ella, now a therapist will be called to try to help Jesse make sense of what happened.

Vince Whitaker, the boyfriend of one of the girls from the Blockbuster Video had been swiftly arrested, following that tragic night, but when he was released on bail, he disappeared and has never been seen again. Could he be back? His younger brother, Chris, now a Public Defender, who has always maintained his innocence doesn’t think so. But, local police are able to call in the FBI because of this possibility, and Sarah Keller, (from Every Last Fear) arrives to assist. Each will try to figure out IF these two crimes are linked.

Alex Finlay’s writing HOOKS me instantly!

I was immediately drawn in by the nostalgia and the well developed characters. Although I guessed one piece of this puzzle pretty early, I couldn’t put together how it would all come together in the end. I think his books are written this way-giving you a chance to solve the crime-as in both books the crimes felt plausible to me. That isn’t to say that there won’t be surprises-there definitely are-but there isn’t going to be that crazy twist that comes out of left field.

And, I LOVE stories written like this!

I am already looking forward to seeing what he comes up with next!

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!!

I know this doesn't come out for awhile but it's October and I wanna read some thrillers.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy! My opinion is my own unbiased thoughts.

This had all the 90's nostalgia feels to it. Blockbuster was the sickest place to be on Friday nights!

We are following two murders that happen 15 years apart but have similarities. Is it the same killer?

I overall enjoyed the story. I reduced my star rating because there were some minor plot holes and structural issues I had which I hope will be changed by release date.

The fuckin anxiety this pregnant detective gave me half the time I swear.

I did ultimately guess who the killer was early on and I sorta guessed one of the twists so not too surprising but very entertaining nonetheless.

Alex Finlay, you have my attention.