Thriller Thursday
Parents Weekend
Alex Finlay
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🎧

Thanks to @macmillan.audio and @minotaur_books for the eARC and ALC through @netgalley.

In the mood for a fast moving binge worthy thriller with multiple POVs and some twists you don’t see coming?

I listened to Parents Weekend the other day while doing some much needed chores around the house and had a great time. Five college students go missing on the opening night of Parents Weekend at a prestigious California campus. As the mystery of what happened to the unfold we also get the dysfunctional dirt on each set of parents as the families converge around a shared tragedy while the university scrambles to control the scandal.

I enjoyed the multiple POVs which added depth to the plot without unnecessary confusion. Some of the reveals were predictable, but I still enjoyed the plotting overall and the pacing kept my interest. The story had a satisfying conclusion that brought closure and some surprising without getting so far out there it lost believability.

The book is read by Brittany Pressley. At a running time of 7 hours 24 minutes, it makes a great listen for a day trip in the car or relaxing by the pool.

The narration was just okay. She seemed almost bored with reading it. There were entirely too many characters that ultimately I wasn't invested enough to keep up with.

This book was a struggle to get through. There were far too many characters, many of whom added little to the plot, and an overload of unnecessary character details that didn’t serve the story. The pacing was another major issue — it took nearly half the book before the actual mystery-solving even began, making the setup feel excessively drawn out.

The setting, supposedly a college environment, felt disjointed and underdeveloped. Aside from being a convenient backdrop to bring families together, it lacked any real academic atmosphere or relevance to the story. Overall, it was a slow and cluttered read that didn’t live up to its potential.

I love when a thriller has a compact timeline and this one takes place over one weekend. It was good having Agent Keller back from Finley’s other novels - I really do love a competent FBI agent! It took me a second to get into it with all the characters because there are many but once I did it was easy to keep track of who everyone was and how they were connected. The ending was neatly tied up, if not a bit predictable.

The story is set in California at Santa Clara University. Five college students go missing during Parent’s weekend. This book is heavily character driven and it took me a bit to keep all of the characters straight. Once I did, I was invested in their lives and I enjoyed the character development. There’s secrets and lies, family drama, and friendship. The story is entertaining, I enjoyed the short chapters and the ending was 🤯🤯. I switched back and forth between reading and listening to the audio version. Brittany Pressley is the narrator and did a fantastic job.

Read if you like:
🏫 Multiple POVs
🏫College campus setting
🏫Popcorn Thriller
🏫 Complex family dynamics

I've read a few by Alex Finlay in the past and was excited about this one -- but it really did not work for me.

I did love Brittany Pressley narrating and thought she did an outstanding job! She's one of my faves and always love listening to her.

I overall found this one a little dull and convoluted -- there were so many characters and I feel like we couldn't get invested in any of them, and by the end I found myself not really caring about the outcome.

I have enjoyed previous ones by Alex Finlay and will probably give his next one a shot! I did enjoy the interconnection with his previous books in this one, with the overlap of Sarah Keller.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

THis was a fun fast paced thriller. I normally have a hard time following different POV especially with audio books but didn't feel this way for this one.

4.25⭐️

I flew through this audiobook!! Read in under 24 hrs. This is a perfect summer popcorn thriller to read while relaxing by the pool or beach. Alex Finlay is becoming my go to thriller author!

Five college students disappear during Parents Weekend at a small private university in Northern California. As their families gather for dinner, the students fail to appear, setting off a chain of events that leads to a full-scale investigation. For listeners who enjoy fast-paced thrillers with multiple perspectives and a focus on family dynamics, Parents Weekend may be a compelling choice. The audiobook's narration by Brittany Pressley was very well done, she is one of my favorite narrators.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was not as good as his other books--I have read them all and enjoyed them but this book was very lame. It was not scary and was very predictable. The setting was good (I work at a college) but the plot was pretty boring. I expected more. The end was rushed, predictable and a bit simplistic. I expected a lot more intrigue and mystery. The topic was good and parts were ok but overall, I cannot recommend this book especially since I have read his other books which are so much better--written better, better plot and characters. I hope he spends more time on his next book and perhaps he needs to reflect on some of the books he has already written.

I’ve read The Night Shift and ever since, Alex Finlay became an autobuy thriller author for me!

I love his fast pacing and he writes in short chapters that makes reading so bingeable! I also love following the investigation part of all his books. And his latest book, Parents Weekend is another one you should add to your list if you’d like to read a book that you’d honestly just fly through.

I listened to it mostly on audiobook and even if the book was told in multiple POV, it wasn’t confusing at all because the narration was easy to follow!!

Now for the plot. It’s Parents Weekend at a small private school in Northern California. When the kids didn’t show up for the first night dinner, the parents thought that the kids were just being kids until they soon later find out that five of the kids were missing. Aaaand that’s all I’d say about the plot without giving anything away! 😂

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the free audiobook!!!

💭 Do you guys know that Mormon Wives season 2 is now out?! Haha. I’m excited to binge it! Also, I just finished binge watching a new show on Hulu called High Potential! It’s really good too!!! Please give me more TV show recs!!!

Parents Weekend is a thriller that takes place during a college parents weekend at Santa Clara. I have been to 2 parents weekends so far for my daughter and have never had anything like this happen at one! Basically a group of kids goes missing on their way to meet their parents for a group dinner. It’s twisted and intense. What I really liked was the way that each chapter was dedicated to the different families so we got a deep dive into each one. It added red herrings and made me get even more attached to the story and finding these kids. And one family was staying at Half Moon Bay so loved that since we go there every year. It was a fun, suspenseful thriller that kept me very entertained

I enjoyed listening to this book a lot. I really liked the narrator as well.

I loved how different complex families were shown and how they each react to crisis and family conflicts.

I couldn’t put my headphones down I was hooked from the beginning. I really recommend this book it was written beautifully and the twists weren’t predictable.

Thank you again for the eARC of this audiobook

Parents Weekend was a solid and suspenseful listen! I’m already a fan of Alex Finlay’s writing and Brittany Pressley’s narration, so I was excited going in—and this didn’t disappoint.

The premise is immediately gripping: during Parents Weekend at a small private college in Northern California, five families gather for a night of dinner and drinks… but their kids, all residents of Campisi Hall, never show up. What unfolds is a twisty thriller told from the POV of each family, revealing that everyone has something to hide—and no one is entirely innocent.

The multiple perspectives were engaging, though admittedly a bit hard to follow in audio format since it’s not as easy to flip back and remind yourself who’s who. That said, Brittany Pressley does a great job differentiating the characters and keeping the pace tight.

I was also excited to meet FBI Agent Sarah Keller—this was my first time reading a book with her in it, but now I want to go back and read the others she appears in. While I did guess the abductors fairly early, the way the story weaves past and present secrets together still made for a compelling listen.

Definitely recommended for Finlay fans or anyone who loves twisty, character-driven thrillers—just make sure to pay attention!

First off, I adore Brittney Pressley. She is a top notch thriller narrator.
With that said, 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!

Alex Finley is yet to disappoint me and this is the 5th book I’ve read from him! He has become one of my favorite thriller/mystery writers.


Special Agent Sarah Keller has transferred to Northern California for family reasons. On day one, she is thrown in the mix of a possible kidnapping case on a college campus. I was happy to have her back and see where she was in life. The book is fast paced and keeps you engaged. Highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this audiobook, these are my honest opinions.

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.

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan audio for the chance to review this title. Alex Finlay has been one of the author's I actively look forward to reading and look for his new releases. Unfortunately, I did not connect to any of the characters, so the story was difficult to get into. I will still follow the Keller series, but I hope that the next release has stronger writing.

In Parents Weekend, five college students disappear during Parent’s Weekend. While the parents are having dinner at the meet and greet, their kids disappear. Agent Keller takes over the case and uncovers hidden motives and secrets among these college students and their influential families.
This was an exciting story that had plenty of twists and turns. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this Advanced Audio book.