Gemma Roberts has written a distinctive novel that takes place over just one-night shift, but don’t be fooled; it is action-packed and difficult to put down.
The Synopsis of The Night Shift
How can one 12-hour night shift be so deadly?
I loved the anonymity, flexibility and solitude that working the night shift at Storage Queen gave me.
The unsociable hours paid well, helping me fund my university degree and giving me a quiet place to study while the world slept peacefully in their warm, cozy beds. It was the perfect job for me.
But that Friday night proved to be more than I bargained for when a man walked through the door, dragging a large suitcase.
My immediate instincts told me something was wrong.
That’s when my ordeal began.
I just had to make it through the night shift.
A pacy, heart-stopping, page-turning thriller for the fans of Shari Lapena and Lisa Jewell.
More about The Night Shift
Imagine spending your nights working as security in a storage unit alone. Well, that’s exactly what Nina does to fund her University degree. She has dreamt of being a doctor since she was first diagnosed with diabetes as a youngster, and nothing is going to stop her—not an extended trip to Thailand with her boyfriend or a crazed individual stalking the corridors of Storage Queen, where she works.
It was meant to be another uneventful evening at work. Nina had an assignment due, so the Friday night shift was the perfect time to study. Little did she know at the start of the evening that no studying would occur.
When she took over, there was just one couple unloading boxes into their storage unit. Later, after they left, a solo man arrived carrying a rather heavy bag, which he then took up to the top floor. That should have been the end of it, and if only Nina had stayed at her desk, it would have been another uneventful evening.
However, while doing her evening rounds to ensure all was ok, she thought she heard a scream, which led to her checking CCTV, marking down number plates and asking questions that would only get her into trouble. Basically, her inquisitive nature leads to a night playing cat-and-mouse with a potential killer now out to add her to the list of victims.
Will she survive? Will she become the doctor she has always dreamt of becoming? Only time will tell, and with 12 hours until the next person arrives on shift, it is extremely unlikely.
My thoughts on The Night Shift
The Night Shift by Gemma Roberts is a gripping psychological thriller that thrives on tension and isolation. The main character finds herself in a life-or-death situation spread across a 12-hour timeline and keeps you gripped from beginning to end. It is a fast-paced narrative that keeps you on edge and is hard to put down. You are fighting for Nina just as much as she is fighting for her own life.
Nina’s character is portrayed as both intelligent and resourceful, yet also vulnerable. While adding a medical condition – diabetes – into the plot’s Roberts is creating a tension that is thoughtful and effective, making her fight for survival even more intense.
The story itself builds momentum quickly, and you soon feel the increasing sense of danger alongside Nina. The storage facility serves as a perfect backdrop for suspense, with its dark corridors and locked units creating a maze-like environment. Plenty of twists and turns keep the mystery alive, although some moments feel predictable.
You quickly feel as trapped as Nina, and the isolated setting only makes you feel even more for the main character. The short, punchy chapters make it an effortless page-turner, heightening the suspense with each new development.
There are places where the story begins to feel repetitive, and in places, you have to question the reality of the situation, but overall, it was an enjoyable novel that could easily be read in one sitting.
About Gemma Rogers
Gemma Roberts’s love of writing was inspired by hours spent reading Point Horror, Richard Laymon, and Christopher Pike, with an occasional Judy Blume thrown into the mix. When she is reading or writing, she also enjoys a good scary movie, long country walks, and anything that involves eating cake.
Her first novel, Stalker, was released in 2019, followed in 2020 by The Secret and The Teacher. She then published The Mistake and The Babysitter in 2021 and The Feud in 2022. In 2023, The Neighbour and The Flatmate were published, with The Good Wife and The Honeymoon being released in 2024.
For more up-to-date information on her latest releases, you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and sign up for her newsletter.
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