Scan barcode
biancabuysbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
The Night Shift was a quick read with short chapters (the best), and features dual timelines, which Finlay handled well. The first timeline, set in 1999, features four teenage girls working at a Blockbuster (throwback!) when 3/4 of them are killed. Police identify a suspect but are unable to capture him.
Fifteen years later, a similar crime happens at an ice cream shop: 4 teenage girls are working, three are killed, and one survives.
What follows is a race to catch this killer featuring a great cast of characters. We get a sharp female FBI agent and her eager assistant/sidekick, the original survivor who is now a counselor for troubled teens, the younger survivor who happens to be a troubled teen herself, and the brother of the initial suspect who eluded police for 15 years.
Finlay weaves in so many twists and turns in the hunt for the killer, along with unexpected connections between the characters! It was a page turner and I'm here for his next thriller!
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Minor: Suicide, Grief, Bullying, Self harm, and Child abuse
beckyremillard's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
The book is written in the third person from the perspectives of Ella, the Blockbuster survivor, Chris, the alleged Blockbuster murderer’s brother, and Special Agent Keller.
There was a lot of layers to this one but I liked that I didn’t immediately guess the entire plot. I figured it out before the story got there, but that’s how the book is written.
There seem to be some polarizing reviews on this one but I really liked it. I just couldn’t stand that the 8 month pregnant with twins FBI agent was running around and putting herself in danger. She made a comment about how she was treated by some while pregnant and working but she makes some extremely poor decisions.
Graphic: War, Pregnancy, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Bullying, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm
maregred's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Murder and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Death of parent, Child abuse, Blood, Alcohol, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual assault
foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Infidelity, Adult/minor relationship, Murder, Alcoholism, Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Pregnancy
Minor: Bullying and Gore
lilifane's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
It's about a brutal murder taking place in the past and a similar crime taking place in the present. I really like these kinds of stories.
This was fast-paced, the twists and turns surprised me, all loose ends were tied up, nothing really annoyed be. And I even liked the characters, although some of them were a little one dimensional. But I guess that's what I liked so much, no unnecessary personal drama.
It's not groundbreaking or anything, but it gave me exactly what I needed from the story.
Graphic: Pregnancy, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Minor: Bullying, Drug use, Self harm, and Suicide
becksreadsbooks's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, Bullying, and Adult/minor relationship
bookishgoob's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Death, Abandonment, Cursing, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Drug use
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
On New Year’s Eve 1999, a mass murderer struck the night shift of a Blockbuster, killing all but one employee. Fifteen years later, four teenage employees at an ice cream store are attacked in the same way—and once again, there is only one survivor.
First things first, this book is not what I expected from the blurb, cover, and various marketing materials I saw. I was anticipating something with slasher vibes and a heavily 90’s atmosphere—in reality, this is much more a procedural thriller and there are only a handful of scenes actually set in the 90’s.
Fortunately, I *love* procedurals, so this is a case of what I got being much better than what I imagined! The Night Shift had me hooked from the very first chapter, with brilliant characters, short and engaging chapters, and a string of great twists. I saw the whodunit coming, but not all of the underlying surprises, which always makes me happy. But the biggest standout of the novel is definitely the depth of feeling with which Finlay writes—there were so many moments of quiet compassion and humanity from the characters that I so appreciated. This is the kind of extra touch that so often gets lost in thrillers as authors struggle to keep their story as gritty and dark as possible, so I truly appreciated seeing the balance executed so well here.
Recommended if you like: procedural thrillers/mysteries; stories about cold cases; multiple POVs.
CW: Blood/murder/violence, injury and injury detail, discussions of inappropriate sexual relationships (adult/minor), mention of suicide.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Child abuse, Murder, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Bullying, and Death
Moderate: Pregnancy
bekah1210's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Minor: Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Death, Torture, Alcohol, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Stalking, Sexual assault, Self harm, Alcoholism, Bullying, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Suicide
c100's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
Moderate: Bullying and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicide