Alex Finlay's Parents Weekend delivers a serviceable thriller, but ultimately falls short of being truly memorable. The premise, setting five families on edge when their college freshmen vanish during parents weekend, certainly holds initial intrigue. The tension builds effectively as hours turn into a desperate search, and the introduction of FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller adds a familiar and welcome element for fans of Finlay's previous work.
However, the central storyline itself felt somewhat conventional. While the novel attempts to weave together the individual family dramas and potential secrets as possible motives for the students' disappearance, the underlying mystery never quite reaches a level of unique suspense. I found myself anticipating plot points rather than being genuinely surprised.
Furthermore, the narrative structure, jumping between the perspectives of each of the five families, occasionally made the timeline feel a bit convoluted. Keeping track of each family's specific anxieties and their connection to the unfolding events sometimes proved a bit of a mental juggling act, hindering the overall flow of the story.
While Finlay excels at creating a palpable sense of unease and the exploration of family dynamics is interesting, Parents Weekend ultimately feels like a solid but not exceptional thriller. It offers a diverting read, but don't expect a groundbreaking or particularly easy-to-follow mystery.

I absolutely love this author’s books! They keep me on the edge of my seat and scare me just enough that I’m on edge… Without the nightmares, the other books give me! His mysteries are so well written, and I will always tune in when I see, he has a new book coming out. Definitely recommend!

Finlay is a great storyteller. This plot if full of drama and twists. Five families arrive at a small private college for parents weekend. But, none of the children show up for the dinner. One parent is a judge, another has a high profile job in DC. Is this why the kids have disappeared or is there another reason. Every parent is harboring a secret, as well as the kids.. FBI agent Sarah Keller is on the case. You think you know who is kidnapper, but you might just be surprised.

Alex Finlay might be my favorite thriller writer I’ve read in the past few years. "Every Last Fear" was just incredible, a devastating thriller that sticks with you, especially because it’s so tragic and shocking, with a plot that’s perfectly laid out. The Night Shift was another stunner. Very hard to forget. If you haven’t read his stuff yet, Parent's Weekend is a great starting point; it’s a bit lighter and easier to get into since the catastrophes happening here are equally divided among several families. While it might not hit you as hard as his earlier works, he still knows how to deliver those gut-punch twists. This book is super snappy, like a script that would have Hollywood buzzing. It has that perfect elevator pitch and goes down like a refreshing honey-infused summer drink. With a twist.

We’re thrust into a nerve-wracking and chaotic scene in the dead of night, where five students find themselves being pursued. Then, just like that, we shift back to the sunlit lawns of this gorgeous campus, brimming with the excitement of Parents Weekend. This annual event draws in the wealthy moms and dads of those five students, including a senator, a judge, and several high-profile figures. Among them, the most sympathetic one is the mother of one student who manages to get her son enrolled by working as a secretary at the university.

It’s through her eyes that I truly connect with the story. As she preps for dinner with the other parents, nervously donning a dress she hopes will help her blend in, the tension builds. When the parents gather, and the kids fail to show up, the unsettling realization begins to sink in that something may be seriously wrong. We’re then reintroduced to one of my favorite heroines, FBI agent Sarah Keller, and her charming husband, Bob.

What’s skillfully crafted in this book is that each chapter zeroes in on different families, and oh, do they have their fair share of troubles, almost as many as their kids face. We hop from one troubled family to another to read about cheating spouses, stalkers, fraudsters, and a teacher embroiled in accusations of inappropriate relationships with students, along with bullying, pranks, and all the riveting elements that make this story so captivating. This novel is not only really juicy but also elevated, much like a classic Mint Julep served at the Oak Room, to be specific about that drink.
Once you finish it, and if you haven't had the chance to read them before, I highly recommend diving into the two books mentioned earlier. They tend to be a bit grittier and more unyielding. You’ll truly be impressed by Alex Finlay's remarkable talent for crafting perfect mysteries that will really get under your skin.

This book hits the ground running and has you wondering what's going on. I enjoyed the popcorn thriller and it was a fast paced book to read. It's perfect for summer reading and one I'd definitely recommend to fans of thrillers.

Alex Finley NEVER disappoints!! What a fantastic read! I couldn’t put it down. Each new Finley book becomes my new favorite. I loved this book!!

Five families show up to a dinner at a parents weekend at their kids college. The issue - none of the students make it to the dinner. At first, it is suspected that the kids have skipped to attend a party or something else more exciting on campus. But as time passes and none of the students appear or answer calls, the families and officials begin to worry that something more sinister has happened. Following multiple perspectives of the students (Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella), parents, and FBI operative, the reader is brought into their different lives to try to figure out what really happened.

Overall, this book was an okay read. I was nervous at the start when so many character perspectives were being introduced. But Finlay was able to write them in a way that you can quickly piece together all of the narratives. The first 75% or so of the book had me absorbed in trying to figure out what happened to the students, and who's family was targeted. But the ending and resolution of the book was a bit underwhelming. Additionally, when I finally made it to the end of the book, I felt like there could have been fewer narratives featured/subplots to be able to focus on the development of a smaller subset of characters.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Alex Finlay for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was the first Alex Finlay book I've read and I plan on reading more. I liked the premise of the book, parent's weekend at an elite college. Although there weren't many twists and turns along the way, it was enjoyable read. None of the adult characters in this book were likable, however, you couldn't help but get sucked into their dysfunctional stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Mintaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the ALC/ARC! It’s parents’ weekend at a small, private college in California. When five kids don’t show up to a planned dinner, concern starts to grow. What happened to Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix and Stella?

I swear every one of Alex Finlay’s books is better than the one before it! His latest is a fast-paced, multilayered mystery involving people behaving badly. Questions swirled not only in the story but in my mind as bits and pieces of the missing students’ lives came to light. Told through multiple points of view, “Parents’ Weekend” is extremely character driven and full of some morally grey characters (which are my favorite kind!). I also loved seeing FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller and the additional perspective she brought to the story.

I found myself thinking “just one more chapter” many times throughout this story - thank goodness I had the audio because I simply couldn’t put it down! Captivating and entertaining, this was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time!

“Parents’ Weekend” is out NOW! This review will be shared to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

I think this could have been way more interesting if it went deeper into the friend group dynamic of the five instead of basically all of the parents having affairs. everything just felt very anticlimactic and I honestly just don't think thrillers are for me anymore.

Alex Finlay knows how to write a character driven story. Parents Weekend is no exception. Taking place over one weekend on a college campus in California, Parents Weekend brings multiple groups of parents and students together in a race against the clock, suspense filled novel. When 5 students go missing with no explanation, it is up to temporarily reassigned FBI Agent Sarah Keller to work with multiple police jurisdictions in order to bring the children home safe.

I will say in the beginning, it is hard to keep all of the student/parent families straight, as each family has their own dirty laundry and disfunction to deal with. However as the story progresses readers will start to pick standout characters and hope for their safe return, etc. Alex Finlay is quickly becoming an "automatic buy" author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Publishing/St. Martin Press for the opportunity to read this novel.

Having enjoyed Alex Finlay’s previous books, I was excited to get an early look at his newest release.

Super enjoyable, liked the multiple POV’s and happy to see Agent Keller again. Hopefully there’s more of her to come in future works.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the advanced digital copy.

I think I’m done with Alex Finlay. I loved The Night Shift but I’ve been disappointed in each novel since. This one, just like the last two, has too many characters and too many distractions. It definitely could have been cut back.

⸻

Read If You Like:
• Multi-POV thrillers with layered timelines
• Family secrets and generational fallout
• Missing persons mysteries with emotional stakes
• Campus settings with a dark undercurrent
• Fast-paced Storytelling  

During Parents Weekend at a prestigious Northern California college, five students from Campisi Hall vanish without a trace. Initially dismissed as typical college antics, concern escalates as hours turn into days with no contact. The missing students—Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella—each hail from distinct backgrounds, and their disappearance sends shockwaves through their families and the campus community.  

As the investigation unfolds, FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller returns to navigate the complex web of secrets, lies, and hidden connections. Told through multiple perspectives and shifting timelines, the narrative delves into the personal histories of the students and their families, revealing that the past may hold the key to the present mystery. 

What I Loved:
• The intricate narrative structure that maintains suspense while exploring character depth
• The realistic portrayal of parental fears and the complexities of family dynamics
• The atmospheric campus setting that adds tension and authenticity
• The return of Agent Sarah Keller, providing continuity and a strong investigative thread
• The exploration of how past decisions and secrets can reverberate through generations  

Thanks so much to the publisher for my gifted ALC and ARC!

I really enjoyed this. Interesting and diverse characters, and the plot had lots of twists and turns. I had a hard time putting it down!

I've read everything by the author and this is right up there at the top. I loved the little unexpected touch of connection between this story and Finlay's book The Night Shift with having Agent Keller in both stories.

This book was great. It lived up to all of the previous books by this author. Creepy, engaging, and fast paced.

📚Parents’ Weekend by Alex Finlay

⚠️CWs for murder, suicidal ideation, thwarted suicide attempt, infidelity, pedophilia, child abuse, sexual assault, and more

Rating: ⭐️⭐️/5

Yesssss give us nothinggggggggggg. This read more like a drafted outline than an actual published novel. The plot itself was obvious and there was no intrigue along the way. I liked the initial setup but hated that there was no big payoff.

I love had similar lukewarm feelings about his backlist, but I think this might be the end of the road for me and Alex Finlay.

💭This wasn’t my favorite Finley book, but he will forever be a go to author for me!

It’s parents weekend at college, the parents and kids are supposed to meet up for dinner together except the kids never show. No one can get ahold of them and the police are called.

This book has a ton of characters, but the chapters are broken up by family groups which helped me remember who everyone was. The story shifts from past and present, with short chapters to keep you turning pages. If you like campus thrillers and mysteries, you will enjoy this one!

Alex Finlay’s Parents Weekend delivers a suspenseful narrative centered on the sudden disappearance of five college freshmen during a celebratory weekend at a Northern California campus. Told through multiple perspectives—including those of the students' parents and returning FBI agent Sarah Keller—the novel explores themes of family dysfunction, generational secrets, and the pressures of modern parenting.

Finlay adeptly balances a fast-paced plot with character-driven storytelling, using alternating viewpoints to maintain suspense and deepen the emotional stakes. The integration of contemporary issues such as cyberbullying and social media's influence adds relevance without overshadowing the central mystery.

While the novel's structure and thematic depth are commendable, some readers may find the multitude of characters and backstories challenging to track, potentially diluting the impact of key revelations. Additionally, although the conclusion ties up the narrative threads, it may feel somewhat rushed compared to the meticulously built tension throughout the story.

Overall, Parents Weekend is a compelling addition to Finlay's body of work, offering a gripping exploration of parental fears and the complexities of family relationships. Fans of domestic thrillers and character-rich mysteries will find much to appreciate in this novel.