Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
mysterious
medium-paced
really enjoyed this thriller and the multiple families it follows. Lost me a bit at the end but then it all came back together. Listened to the audio-and Brittany Pressley is amazingโฆbut with several families, I wonder if multiple narrators would have added to the experience.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The premise was interesting, but I felt that more could have been done with it. The mystery was fast-paced and tense but didn't have any depth or twists. The relationship among the students was not well-established prior to the crime and the plot was somewhat predictable though still enjoyable.
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
The events in this book take place during a Parents Weekend at a private college in Northern California. A small group of students from the same dorm room are supposed to meet their parents at a celebratory dinner. They come from a variety of backgrounds, so not all of the parents click. Some of the spouses aren't getting along either, so for some it was already going to be a long weekend, even before a series of events occur that definitely are NOT on the agenda.
The story is told from multiple points-of-view and this keeps the story moving quickly. There is a combination of characters to root for and others that are hard to take. My favorite characters aren't even parents or students. FBI Agent Sarah Kelly is on a temporary assignment in the area due to a family situation. She becomes involved in an investigation of a missing student and finds secrets around every corner. Sarah and her supportive husband, Bob, are wonderful characters and I would love to see Sarah leading a future investigation. I like her bravery and her initiative and also the way she takes a student who is interning at the campus security office under her wing.
The book is suspenseful and parts are bittersweet. There are a lot of red herrings to keep you guessing as to what is really going on with this group of students. This is the second book I've read by Finlay and I like his style of writing. The ending was a bit rushed, but a detailed epilogue helps to wrap things up.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advance copy of the ebook.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
โ ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฃ ๐ฅ๐ข๐บ ๐ณ๐ฆ๐ท๐ช๐ฆ๐ธ โ
โ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ค๐ช ๐ก๐๐ ๐ :
-California campus setting
-missing persons
-family drama
-multiple POV
-police investigations
-red herrings
-short chapters
โ ๐๐ฎ ๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ช๐๐๐ฉ๐จ :
Alex Finlay delivers a twisty, fast-paced mystery that feels more like a true crime documentary than your typical college drama. Despite the university backdrop, it doesn't fall into the typical dark academia vibeโwhich I actually really appreciated. Instead of moody professors & secret societies, the focus is on the high-stakes investigation to find missing students, which I found far more compelling. That true crime feel kept me hooked the whole way through.
The short, fast-paced chapters made it impossible to put down, & I loved how the multiple POVs were woven together. There's a big cast of characters, but the audiobook really helped keep everyone straight-Brittany Pressley's narration was fantastic (as always)!
I didn't realize FBI Agent Keller was a recurring character until after I finished, but now I'm definitely going back to read Every Last Fear and The Night Shift.
Parents Weekend would make a great poolside thriller you could easy binge in a weekend ๐
Thanks @macmillan.audio + @netgalley for the opportunity to read & listen to this ARC!
I have decided that rich people drama is officially my favourite genre. Throw in a campus and a murder mystery and you will have me on the first page. I loved the multiple points of view this was told in, the twist, and the messiness of the characters. A fun, fast read. I listened to the audio version. The narrator was excellent and made the book easy to follow, even with multiple perspectives.
It is parents' weekend at a small, elite private college, and five families arrange to have dinner together. As the night goes on, things get scary, when none of their college age children show up.
Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Minotaur for the advanced review copies.
It is parents' weekend at a small, elite private college, and five families arrange to have dinner together. As the night goes on, things get scary, when none of their college age children show up.
Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Minotaur for the advanced review copies.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sometimes plans take an abrupt turn in life. It happened to proud parents when they booked a trip from different parts of the US to be with their freshman kids at Santa Clara University. They went from feeling excited to agitated and nervous when they learned that five friends โ their sons and daughters -- were now missing.
They could have just been on a camping trip away from their moms and dads but the high-powered, wealthy parents suspected differently. An FBI agent from DC was involved tracking down all sorts of clues.
The chapters were short and easy to follow with tons of family drama and current concerns over social media.
I really enjoyed Alex Finlayโs last book, โIf Something Happens To Meโ which kept me on my toes. This one was at a slower pace. I wasn't as engaged. I think this would be more entertaining for younger readers who love mysteries and college settings.
My thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 6, 2025.
They could have just been on a camping trip away from their moms and dads but the high-powered, wealthy parents suspected differently. An FBI agent from DC was involved tracking down all sorts of clues.
The chapters were short and easy to follow with tons of family drama and current concerns over social media.
I really enjoyed Alex Finlayโs last book, โIf Something Happens To Meโ which kept me on my toes. This one was at a slower pace. I wasn't as engaged. I think this would be more entertaining for younger readers who love mysteries and college settings.
My thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 6, 2025.
Libby, Blane, Mark, Felix, and Stella are freshmen at a private school in Northern California. It is parents weekend and their families are arriving at their school for the festivities. The five, as they are known, are from all walks of life with families that are vastly different. The five are supposed to meet their families at dinner when oddly, none of them show up. Their parents aren't worried at first, maybe they went to a party instead or decided to ditch dinner. But, as the night drags on and then the morning comes with no response to texts/calls, their parents concern grows. Campus police are called and FBI agent Sarah Keller joins the investigation and quickly realizes something just isn't right.
Review:
4.25 stars
This was a super quick and fast paced popcorn thriller. I found myself not wanting to put this one down, which is exactly what I needed to get myself out of my current book slump. There are a lot of characters and storylines to follow, but Alex Finlay writes them in a way that reminds you who is who and they each have their own distinct voices. I never had an issue keeping the characters separated like I have in other books. There is a lot of drama between the parents and students and it kept me entertained throughout the entire book. The story lines all fit together perfectly at the end and I really enjoyed the puzzle pieces falling together. I did not predict the ending for a single second.
Parents Weekend publishes on May 6th and I highly suggest picking this one up for a fun and wild ride!
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Finlay, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC of Parents Weekend in exchange for an honest review!
Review:
4.25 stars
This was a super quick and fast paced popcorn thriller. I found myself not wanting to put this one down, which is exactly what I needed to get myself out of my current book slump. There are a lot of characters and storylines to follow, but Alex Finlay writes them in a way that reminds you who is who and they each have their own distinct voices. I never had an issue keeping the characters separated like I have in other books. There is a lot of drama between the parents and students and it kept me entertained throughout the entire book. The story lines all fit together perfectly at the end and I really enjoyed the puzzle pieces falling together. I did not predict the ending for a single second.
Parents Weekend publishes on May 6th and I highly suggest picking this one up for a fun and wild ride!
Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Finlay, and St. Martin's Press for this ARC of Parents Weekend in exchange for an honest review!