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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
One thing I love about summer? There’s always a new Alex Finlay thriller out. I had such a fun time reading this book. Did I have to suspend some belief? Of course. Did this take away from how much fun this book was? No way! I thought this was the perfect afternoon thriller read. Like all of Finlay’s books, the plot moved fast with very short chapters that kept the reader hooked. I thought it was paced quite well, and I enjoyed the main character that the reader spent the most time with was FBI agent Keller. I found her to be such an anchor for this story, one who helped put all the pieces together. Read this one if you like a college setting, some questionable parents, and teenagers doing bad things. This was a fun ride, and I will continue to read all Finlay books that I can get my grubby little hands on.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to NetGalley, author Alex Finlay, and St. Martin’s Press: Minotaur Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!
This was a perfect fine thriller but not a standout for me personally. I was hooked in the story the entire time, and I enjoyed how fast-paced it was. Having so many different characters and POVS definitely made the story move quickly. However, because there were so many characters/POVs, it felt really surface-level the entire time through. I didn’t connect with any characters in particular, and at times, I even felt confused between similar storylines of a couple of the parents. I think my favorite character was Keller, and I enjoyed seeing her solve the case. Even though this story is centered around the students missing, it’s really told more through their parents and their involvement, so I would have liked to see more flashbacks from the students’ perspectives into what happened. Once the climax was revealed, I didn’t feel as invested because I just simply didn’t know the characters enough to be fully invested. It was a fine read for a thrill but forgettable to me unfortunately.
This was a perfect fine thriller but not a standout for me personally. I was hooked in the story the entire time, and I enjoyed how fast-paced it was. Having so many different characters and POVS definitely made the story move quickly. However, because there were so many characters/POVs, it felt really surface-level the entire time through. I didn’t connect with any characters in particular, and at times, I even felt confused between similar storylines of a couple of the parents. I think my favorite character was Keller, and I enjoyed seeing her solve the case. Even though this story is centered around the students missing, it’s really told more through their parents and their involvement, so I would have liked to see more flashbacks from the students’ perspectives into what happened. Once the climax was revealed, I didn’t feel as invested because I just simply didn’t know the characters enough to be fully invested. It was a fine read for a thrill but forgettable to me unfortunately.
It's parents weekend at college so all the students are trying to be on their best behavior. when one missing student turns up dead and then five more students go missing. Law enforcement and the FBI have their hands full trying to find these kids. When one secret unravels more secrets come to light and not everyone is as innocent as they seem.
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the ARC!
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed the return of Agent Keller and her family in Parents Weekend. I like the development of her character and hope she will make an appearance in future Alex Finlay novels.
This book has a lot of POVs. In my opinion too many. With only one narrator doing the voice of literally dozens of characters it was at times difficult to figure out who's POV it was. I think reading a print copy would be beneficial simply for the ability to flip to the first page of the chapter for character confirmation when the POVs get messy.
That said my hubby and I enjoyed listening to this together. With a long list of possible suspects and numerous possible motives the twist and turns are sufficient to keep the reader guessing until it nears the end.
This book has a lot of POVs. In my opinion too many. With only one narrator doing the voice of literally dozens of characters it was at times difficult to figure out who's POV it was. I think reading a print copy would be beneficial simply for the ability to flip to the first page of the chapter for character confirmation when the POVs get messy.
That said my hubby and I enjoyed listening to this together. With a long list of possible suspects and numerous possible motives the twist and turns are sufficient to keep the reader guessing until it nears the end.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
If you are looking for a fast paced thriller that is mixed with messy family drama, this is the book for you. I flew through this book, as I do with all of Alex Finlay's work. I love the short chapters and multiple POV's it really helps keep the story flowing and makes it a quick enjoyable read.
It's Parents Weekend at SCU and parent's from all different areas and backgrounds are coming to see their college freshman. There was already a missing college girl before the weekend started so tension was high on campus already. Then, a group of students doesn't show up to the parent's dinner leading to a wild search for the missing students while uncovering family secrets and student drama.
This one kept me on the edge of my seat and had me racing through this book. I stayed up way too late on the few nights I was reading this one just to get one more chapter in. I love Alex Finlay's writing style and how everything unfolds right in front of your eyes so perfectly. Definitely check this one out!
It's Parents Weekend at SCU and parent's from all different areas and backgrounds are coming to see their college freshman. There was already a missing college girl before the weekend started so tension was high on campus already. Then, a group of students doesn't show up to the parent's dinner leading to a wild search for the missing students while uncovering family secrets and student drama.
This one kept me on the edge of my seat and had me racing through this book. I stayed up way too late on the few nights I was reading this one just to get one more chapter in. I love Alex Finlay's writing style and how everything unfolds right in front of your eyes so perfectly. Definitely check this one out!
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay is a decent police procedural in which we see only a part of the investigation but get an intriguing introduction to the family of one of the investigators: Sarah Keller. The rest of the vignettes about families are about the families of the victims. There were four: two boys and three girls. One of the girls had drowned earlier in the week but Keller thought she was involved. The four just disappeared on their way to diner with their parents on the first night of Parents Weekend. They were pretty much normal kids but the same couldn’t be said of their parents. As the stories unfolded, the was love, remorse, disrespect, and so much more. Had it affected their children? Undoubtedly, but did it play into the crime? Mostly, no.
Lots of characters involved. When one reaches an age wherein one is a parent to a college student, there is plenty of water under the bridge. Some good, some bad. And everyone has run into crazy people. There seemed to be a high count in these peoples’ lives: some unique, some not. Good characters and a story well told. Chapters were short and the story moved along quickly. Keller was a good FBI agent who was out of her depth her but performed admirably, having gut reactions which solved the mystery. The solution came out of left field and it helped make the book. I enjoyed the read.
I was invited to read Parents Weekend by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #AlexFinlay #ParentsWeekend
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
another pub day, another review! alex finlay is back with a quick, light, and entertaining mystery that takes place at a california college during parent's weekend. this book has a lot of twists and red herrings, which i normally love, but these ones all got squared away a little too quickly. i wanted them to breathe a little bit and cause some more tension, but it didn't bother me too much. i have personal opinions about the whodunnit/ending, but i won't spoil it for anybody.
my main issue with this book is that i didn't have enough time to get to know anybody in it. there were just way too many characters and not enough space. the only person who we get to spend time with is special agent sarah keller. i liked her and her family, but even she could have used more of a deep dive because they all came across a little too perfect (then again, i did audibly shout "BOB!!" at one part of the book). this is the third of finlay's books that keller has been in, but i didn't remember (and i LOVED the night shift!) her. overall, i think she's a strong and levelheaded lady and i appreciated her steadiness, but i just wanted to get to know even more.
also, the author's note at the end made me laugh — i didn't know alex finlay and david ellis were besties and this quick little acknowledgment was a very fun way to wrap up the book!
thanks to st. martin's press and minotaur books for the digital copy of this book on netgalley in exchange for an honest review.