Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
3.5 ⭐
Mystery/Thriller
Pubdate: May 6, 2025
Thank you @libro.FM Alex Finlay, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the #ALC #ARC in return for an honest review! 🎧
Read if you like:
🌊Academic Setting
🌊FBI shows
🌊Summer Thrills
🌊Short Chapters
Hold on to your hats because this was quite the roller coaster! A group of parents decide to head to "Parents Weekend" at their kid's university not knowing that 5 students would go missing that night... super interesting premise.
I enjoyed the narrative told from different POVS and the short chapters! I guessed some things but not everything which I always like. This was fast paced and had all the summer thriller vibes. ☀️At times I did have a hard time remembering who was who, so that was a bit confusing. Also ***POSSIBLE SPOILER**** that ending was so rushed and kinda a letdown with all the "peaks" we had. Meh.🙄
I would recommend.
Mystery/Thriller
Pubdate: May 6, 2025
Thank you @libro.FM Alex Finlay, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the #ALC #ARC in return for an honest review! 🎧
Read if you like:
🌊Academic Setting
🌊FBI shows
🌊Summer Thrills
🌊Short Chapters
Hold on to your hats because this was quite the roller coaster! A group of parents decide to head to "Parents Weekend" at their kid's university not knowing that 5 students would go missing that night... super interesting premise.
I enjoyed the narrative told from different POVS and the short chapters! I guessed some things but not everything which I always like. This was fast paced and had all the summer thriller vibes. ☀️At times I did have a hard time remembering who was who, so that was a bit confusing. Also ***POSSIBLE SPOILER**** that ending was so rushed and kinda a letdown with all the "peaks" we had. Meh.🙄
I would recommend.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was my first Finlay book and I was not disappointed. I found the storyline interesting and characters developed. Certainly there were some more likable than others. This did not contain some giant, shocking twist but the mystery unfolded in a logical way. I think it would make a good limited series to watch.
I will be checking out If Something Happens to Me by the author next.
The narrator did a great job with the audio version as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC. All opinions are mine.
I will be checking out If Something Happens to Me by the author next.
The narrator did a great job with the audio version as well.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC. All opinions are mine.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Thank you @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the complimentary DRC & ALC
A Solid, Entertaining Thriller
The story starts off a bit slowly, mainly because there are quite a few characters to keep track of. It took me some time to connect all the families together, which made the beginning feel a little sluggish. However, once the investigation started the pace really picked up.
While I figured out the perpetrator and their motives early on, I still thoroughly enjoyed uncovering all the finer details and watching how the plot unfolded. Something happened towards the end that genuinely caught me off guard which I always love.
It was great to see Agent Sarah Keller return and I enjoyed the narration by Brittany Pressley. While this may not be my favorite Finlay thriller or the most standout of the genre, it was still a quick, entertaining read that hit the spot. I hope Finlay continues to write more stories featuring Keller.
A Solid, Entertaining Thriller
The story starts off a bit slowly, mainly because there are quite a few characters to keep track of. It took me some time to connect all the families together, which made the beginning feel a little sluggish. However, once the investigation started the pace really picked up.
While I figured out the perpetrator and their motives early on, I still thoroughly enjoyed uncovering all the finer details and watching how the plot unfolded. Something happened towards the end that genuinely caught me off guard which I always love.
It was great to see Agent Sarah Keller return and I enjoyed the narration by Brittany Pressley. While this may not be my favorite Finlay thriller or the most standout of the genre, it was still a quick, entertaining read that hit the spot. I hope Finlay continues to write more stories featuring Keller.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Parents Weekend is the ultimate popcorn thriller! I devoured this fast-paced page-turner in a single day, completely captivated from start to finish. The multiple points of view kept me engaged, and I loved the various storylines. Secrets abound, and with almost all characters walking the line of moral ambiguity, the tension never lets up. While some might argue there are too many characters, I found the large cast refreshing and never lost track of who was who. Every subplot intertwined beautifully, adding layers to the story.
I was thrilled to see FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller (Every Last Fear and The Night Shift) return. This tough agent and her supportive husband are personal favorites. I enjoyed seeing Sarah team up with local police to unravel the mystery of the missing students.
Overall, this is a twisty read that fans of fast-paced thrillers will devour.
I received a free copy of this book.
I was thrilled to see FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller (Every Last Fear and The Night Shift) return. This tough agent and her supportive husband are personal favorites. I enjoyed seeing Sarah team up with local police to unravel the mystery of the missing students.
Overall, this is a twisty read that fans of fast-paced thrillers will devour.
I received a free copy of this book.
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this alc.
Set during a parents weekend at Northern California University, this novel is about five students who mysteriously vanish, leaving their families and the community in turmoil. Told through multiple perspectives, the story primarily focus on the students and their parents. However, as the investigation progresses, FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller is brought in to unravel the mystery.
Finlay keeps the suspense going and skillfully makes use of the multiple POVs. The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley who delivers a spectacular narration of the multiple voices, bringing each character’s perspective to life. I particularly enjoyed agent Keller’s perspective. To me, the student’s perspective didn’t catch my attention.
Parents Weekend explores parental expectations, family secrets and the complicated relationships between parents and their children. This is a fast-paced thriller that delves into the complexity of family dynamics and the secrets that bind them. Overall, this is an entertaining read and I had a good time reading this novel.
mysterious
sad
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:
No
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This one takes a little bit to get into because there are soooooooo many characters. Once I settled in though, I was hooked. I absolutely loved the way the plot unfolded, and the audio narration kept me listening! This was almost a 5 star read for me, but the ending just felt......anticlimactic. After all of the build up in the action, I wanted a stronger and twistier ending than we ended up with. That said, I still recommend this one!
The premise of this book immediately grabbed my attention and I couldn’t wait to dive in! As I started reading, I expected it might follow a trajectory similar to the tragic events in Norway at a youth summer camp, which added to the intrigue, but this was not the case.
The story centers on five missing college students and is told mostly through the perspectives of their parents and law enforcement. While this angle was unique, it felt stifled. The extremely short, sometimes choppy chapters made it difficult to connect with the characters or fully invest in the unfolding mystery. Or to feel empathy or understanding for them as it seemed to be all over the place.
It also felt strange that the narrative leaned so heavily on the parents' POVs, especially since the students were hinted to be hiding something major. Yet that really wasn’t explored until the final chapters. The ending, while full of potential, came off as rushed and cliché.
That said, it’s a fast and easy read, and if you're a fan of twisty plots and red herrings, this might be one to check out.
*Thank you to Alex Finlay, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.