Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
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.
If you love a thriller that grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go, Parents Weekend is going to be your jam. This one moves fast—I’m talking blink-and-you-miss-it fast—with short, punchy chapters and a storyline that barrels forward full throttle. Secrets, betrayals, and twists are flying from every direction, and you barely get a chance to catch your breath.
The action kicks off right away, and while I appreciated the adrenaline rush, I have to admit: the first few chapters had me feeling like I was trying to memorize a yearbook. There are a lot of characters thrown at you early on, and it felt a bit like info overload. I found myself flipping back to keep track of who was who, which slightly pulled me out of the experience.
That said, once I got my footing, I was hooked. Finlay knows how to layer suspense and deliver juicy reveals at just the right moments. Even though the ending wasn’t a jaw-dropper for me, the journey getting there was so compelling, I didn’t mind. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to finish in a single weekend—ironically, Parents Weekend would be the perfect time.
Overall, this is a twisty, high-octane read that fans of fast-paced thrillers will devour. Just brace yourself for a crowded cast and buckle up for the ride.
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
Loved it! I have loved other books by Alex Finlay and jumped to read this when I had the chance! I loved it! There were some parts that may have been predictable but overall, I hadn’t guessed the main twists and had been surprised! I had the audiobook version, and the narrator was great! I listened to this in one sitting!
Loved it! I have loved other books by Alex Finlay and jumped to read this when I had the chance! I loved it! There were some parts that may have been predictable but overall, I hadn’t guessed the main twists and had been surprised! I had the audiobook version, and the narrator was great! I listened to this in one sitting!
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
sad
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a quick, binge-able thriller. I love the short chapters because it feels like the story moves quickly. I did like the different POVs, but it did feel like there were so many characters, and it was honestly hard to keep track of everyone. There we so many different possible "suspects", but none of them ever felt right and I basically figured out the "twist" from the beginning. I also would have liked to see more of the story from the student's perspective, instead of the parents'.
The ending wrapped up the story nicely, but it did leave me wanting more. Overall, it was a solid "popcorn" thriller and I enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
The ending wrapped up the story nicely, but it did leave me wanting more. Overall, it was a solid "popcorn" thriller and I enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!
dark
tense
fast-paced
This book has a great hook with the beginning with The Five and their realization that they have done something terrible but not knowing what and it drew me right in! I love the way this author writes his thrillers, nicely twisty with rotating view points with the parents (where you get to see how their actions might be the reason their kids have gone missing), to the students (ramping up the tension as you see what terrible mess they are in) and of course FBI Agent Keller whom I absolutely love and am glad she has made a reappearance in solving this current case. She is smart and knows how to use all the resources (including taking along local agents and one eager intern as they know the area and people) to solve the case. She really does shine and I hope we get to see her and her family in more of these thrilling books.
This was a fast and thrilling read and kept me on the edge of my seat as I urged Agent Keller and the other officers to find out the truth and where they missing students have gone, hopefully before they end up dead! Yes, there is sadness in this book, but I really enjoyed it and the ending was good.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this awesome book. I love this author and look forward to reading all the novels her writes!
This was a fast and thrilling read and kept me on the edge of my seat as I urged Agent Keller and the other officers to find out the truth and where they missing students have gone, hopefully before they end up dead! Yes, there is sadness in this book, but I really enjoyed it and the ending was good.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this awesome book. I love this author and look forward to reading all the novels her writes!