Book Review: ‘The Night Shift: A Novel’ By Alex Finlay

The year is 1999 and it’s New Year’s Eve and 5 employees are working at Blockbuster video and it’s closing time. As midnight approaches 4 of them are dead and one girl named Ella survives. The investigation leads to high school student Vince Whitaker, who had an abusive father and no mother as she took off years ago. He was involved with one of the girls. He’s arrested and released and soon takes off, never to be seen again. Now 15 years later a similar incident happens at an ice cream shop and one girl named Jessie survives (she’s also been obbsessed about the Blockbuster murders). Ella is now a therapist and she gets close with Jessie and works with her to remember everything about that night. The FBI, local police and even the Secret Service is on this case. When Jessie is arrested for the murders, she gets a public defender, who has his own hidden interest in the case. Small things don’t add up and soon shocking secrets and twists and turns are revealed, leading up to the truth about 15 years ago and today. A well-written cast of characters and a twisty plot highlight another great novel from author Alex Finlay (Every Last Fear). Looking forward to the next one from this gifted author.

You can pick up The Night Shift in stores on Tuesday, March 1st from Minotaur Books.