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detrasystem's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Self harm
kingrosereads's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
On New Year's Eve 1999, the teenaged employees of Blockbuster in Linden, New Jersey, are excited to welcome in Y2K. But before they can close, they’re all brutally murdered. All but one. The remaining survivor, Ella, is haunted by the events of that night. Fifteen years later, an eerily similar attack happens in an ice cream shop in Linden, again with only one survivor, Jesse. Ella returns to town, now a therapist, to help Jesse navigate her new world and hopefully solve both crimes once and for all.
The story has multiple POVs: Ella, Chris (the brother of the alleged Blockbuster murderer and now public defender), and Agent Keller (a very pregnant FBI agent assigned to help the local PD). I wasn’t a fan of Ella or how her character was written, but I thought Jesse was really compelling. Chris was also written well, but the women in his life not so much. Keller was okay, but kind of just there and sorta just randomly solves the crimes. Atticus was my one true love in this whole book. The best personality, that guy.
I gotta say, I’m not always a fan of thriller novels since the ones I’ve read tend to be really predictable and have annoying pacing, but this book was paced well and had me on the edge of my seat a few times. At some point, different mysteries became predictable and the main big bad in this story had a rather rushed climax with minimal information on the resolution. The book’s murders are much like the yogurt shop murders that happened in Austin 1991, and I can’t see the author’s choice of motive really fitting in this kind of case. Also, hated that the only character of color was killed.
A decent thriller.
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Toxic relationship
leebeeloves'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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Suicide, Blood, Grief, and Pregnancy
booksofautumn's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Blood, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pregnancy, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence
jmarierva's review against another edition
4.25
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Gore
Minor: Pedophilia, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
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
twistykris's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent
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
librariangeorgia's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Self harm
louisegraveyard'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? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Gun violence, and Stalking