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The Anniversary
7 hours, 38 minutes
From the bestselling author of Parents Weekend, comes one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year.
Every Year He Comes For Them.
On one fateful night in 1992, the lives of two seventeen-year-olds are changed and intertwined forever. Quinn Riley, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, is arrested after he innocently tries to break up a fight but ends up nearly killing someone. Jules Delaney, high school royalty, survives an attack by the elusive and terrifying May Day Killer—a serial predator who strikes every May 1st in midwestern small towns.
A year later, Jules is struggling with trauma and guilt, tormented by the Why was I spared? Quinn is newly released from juvenile detention and returns home to fresh the unsolved murder of his mother.
Over the next decade, their lives are revisited on a single day each year—May 1st. As secrets unravel and the paths of Quinn and Jules collide, two mysteries edge closer to the truth. All the while, the May Day Killer is still out there—and the clock is racing toward another May 1st.
The Anniversary is an utterly compelling story of the hunt for a serial killer. But it’s also a heartfelt—and heartrending—novel about fate, innocence lost, and two souls who find that sometimes being broken is the only way for the light to get in.
Twisty, high-concept, and emotional, the novel reaffirms Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.
From the bestselling author of Parents Weekend, comes one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year.
Every Year He Comes For Them.
On one fateful night in 1992, the lives of two seventeen-year-olds are changed and intertwined forever. Quinn Riley, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, is arrested after he innocently tries to break up a fight but ends up nearly killing someone. Jules Delaney, high school royalty, survives an attack by the elusive and terrifying May Day Killer—a serial predator who strikes every May 1st in midwestern small towns.
A year later, Jules is struggling with trauma and guilt, tormented by the Why was I spared? Quinn is newly released from juvenile detention and returns home to fresh the unsolved murder of his mother.
Over the next decade, their lives are revisited on a single day each year—May 1st. As secrets unravel and the paths of Quinn and Jules collide, two mysteries edge closer to the truth. All the while, the May Day Killer is still out there—and the clock is racing toward another May 1st.
The Anniversary is an utterly compelling story of the hunt for a serial killer. But it’s also a heartfelt—and heartrending—novel about fate, innocence lost, and two souls who find that sometimes being broken is the only way for the light to get in.
Twisty, high-concept, and emotional, the novel reaffirms Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.
Audiobook
First published May 12, 2026
About the author
Alex Finlay
18 books6,513 followersALEX FINLAY is the bestselling author of several acclaimed novels, including the 2026 instant national bestseller, THE ANNIVERSARY. His work regularly appears on best-of-the-year lists and has been translated into twenty-eight languages and sold around the world. Alex’s books have been optioned or in development for film and television, including his 2025 instant bestseller, PARENTS WEEKEND, which was recently acquired for adaptation to the screen. Alex lives in Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,703 reviews
June 30, 2026
What is it all the kids say nowadays? No notes, so good! Just kidding though, cause I have lots of notes.
So this is Alex Finlay doing what he does best. Everything I love about his thrillers is here—the characters, the mystery, the writing, not to mention the sheer intensity. I was drawn in from the very first page, and from there on out, I was holding my breath and turning the pages as fast as I could until I reached the very end.
To follow two characters as they try to figure out their own individual mysteries is an intriguing setup. Jules survived the May Day Killer, but is he coming back for her? And Quinn, fresh out of juvi, must find out who murdered his mother. Their two storylines weave back and forth, drawing closer and closer in the way that mysteries must, until everything ultimately collides into a satisfying conclusion.
We really get to know Jules and Quinn throughout this story. Some thrillers can come across a bit random because the characters feel interchangeable, but not here. Here, the dual points of view serve to sear these characters into our minds, and their growth and triumph is at the heart of this story's appeal.
When it comes to thrillers, I feel like I'm always complaining about how there's so much filler. Often, for large swaths of the narrative, nothing is happening, yet we follow character after character as they wallow and ruminate and jump at the shadows. So it's quite a breath of fresh air to get one where every chapter, every scene brings something urgent to the table.
A large reason for this is due to the book's unusual structure. Its timeline takes place exclusively on May 1st, year after year. We start in 1992, and then we jump to the same day the following year, and on it goes. And because there is so much time in between not covered, so much left unsaid within the pages, it necessitates a tighter narrative that strips away all the fluff and filler, automatically amping up the tension and making it unputdownable.
My only quibble is that the mystery component—and maybe it's more my fault than the story's—is too obvious. Normally when I read a mystery, I may start to get an inkling of what's going on, and by the end, I've gotten some things right and some things wrong. But in this case, I called it all and I did it with a large portion of the story still left. It doesn't take away substantially from my enjoyment of the whole thing, but I did wish for a eureka moment that never really materialized, at least for me.
Quibble aside, I had a lot of fun with this one. I loved Alex Finlay's first two books, heard his next few were a bit middling so I skipped, and here we are now. If you haven't read any Alex Finlay, you can't start with a better one. And if you've been holding off like I have, well, come on over cause he's back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Every Last Fear
The Night Shift
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
So this is Alex Finlay doing what he does best. Everything I love about his thrillers is here—the characters, the mystery, the writing, not to mention the sheer intensity. I was drawn in from the very first page, and from there on out, I was holding my breath and turning the pages as fast as I could until I reached the very end.
To follow two characters as they try to figure out their own individual mysteries is an intriguing setup. Jules survived the May Day Killer, but is he coming back for her? And Quinn, fresh out of juvi, must find out who murdered his mother. Their two storylines weave back and forth, drawing closer and closer in the way that mysteries must, until everything ultimately collides into a satisfying conclusion.
We really get to know Jules and Quinn throughout this story. Some thrillers can come across a bit random because the characters feel interchangeable, but not here. Here, the dual points of view serve to sear these characters into our minds, and their growth and triumph is at the heart of this story's appeal.
When it comes to thrillers, I feel like I'm always complaining about how there's so much filler. Often, for large swaths of the narrative, nothing is happening, yet we follow character after character as they wallow and ruminate and jump at the shadows. So it's quite a breath of fresh air to get one where every chapter, every scene brings something urgent to the table.
A large reason for this is due to the book's unusual structure. Its timeline takes place exclusively on May 1st, year after year. We start in 1992, and then we jump to the same day the following year, and on it goes. And because there is so much time in between not covered, so much left unsaid within the pages, it necessitates a tighter narrative that strips away all the fluff and filler, automatically amping up the tension and making it unputdownable.
My only quibble is that the mystery component—and maybe it's more my fault than the story's—is too obvious. Normally when I read a mystery, I may start to get an inkling of what's going on, and by the end, I've gotten some things right and some things wrong. But in this case, I called it all and I did it with a large portion of the story still left. It doesn't take away substantially from my enjoyment of the whole thing, but I did wish for a eureka moment that never really materialized, at least for me.
Quibble aside, I had a lot of fun with this one. I loved Alex Finlay's first two books, heard his next few were a bit middling so I skipped, and here we are now. If you haven't read any Alex Finlay, you can't start with a better one. And if you've been holding off like I have, well, come on over cause he's back.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
Every Last Fear
The Night Shift
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
July 7, 2026
4.5* SO many good things to say about this one. The mystery had me completely invested the whole time, I could not pin down a solid theory. The main characters/POVs felt real and had emotional depth to them that I wasn’t expecting. I looooved the 1990’s setting and the way the narrative unfolds through the years on the same day each year. Short chapters made it hard to put down. Definitely recommend this one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Anniversary by Alex Finlay
Narrated by Ari Fliakos; Brittany Pressley
The book starts in 1992 but the horror started years ago thanks to someone labeled the May Day Killer beginning their reign of terror in midwestern small towns. May Day is when the killer strikes and everyone, but especially girls and women, are told to not go out alone, to stay in groups, to stay alert. This is the year that seventeen year old Jules, the girl who has it all, and Quinn, poor, studious Quinn, have their lives become intertwined more than just the times they spend in study hall together.
This May Day, Jules will allow circumstances to put her in a very disastrous situation, leading to years of guilt and destructive behavior while Quinn's heroics throw his life onto a precarious path. Despite what Jules went through on that fateful May Day, she is able to build a successful career. Quinn, loyal to the end, holds his life together so he can take care of a brother who needs him. Over the next ten years we will follow these two as they go about their lives on May Day.
The May Day Killer has hurt so many people besides those he kills. Families, friends, small towns suffer from the losses, the fear, the dread, the wondering if the killer lives right there among them. Some want to move on and forget while others can't let go of a horror that isn't over yet.
Jules and Quinn will come back together eventually. Jules will always want to help victims of violence and Quinn will never stop looking for the person who took his loved one away. This story is full of people who could be the killer and although I did figure out the killer at one point, I can't give myself credit because I also thought another handful of people could be the killer. Then there is a last twist that was one twist too much, a twist that I don't think added to the story that already had more than enough twists and suspects. Still, this is a very engrossing story, I felt for the characters, I sometimes wished they'd make different choices, but I also respected that they never really gave up. I was able to read this story with Jayme, DeAnn, and Mary Beth so be sure to check out their reviews. I look forward to whatever Alex Finlay has in store for us next.
I had both the ebook and the audiobook and read the ebook first and later listened to the audiobook. Both were great experiences, with the narrations being really good since I've enjoyed the work of both talented narrators, in the past.
Publication May 12, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley for this ARC
Narrated by Ari Fliakos; Brittany Pressley
The book starts in 1992 but the horror started years ago thanks to someone labeled the May Day Killer beginning their reign of terror in midwestern small towns. May Day is when the killer strikes and everyone, but especially girls and women, are told to not go out alone, to stay in groups, to stay alert. This is the year that seventeen year old Jules, the girl who has it all, and Quinn, poor, studious Quinn, have their lives become intertwined more than just the times they spend in study hall together.
This May Day, Jules will allow circumstances to put her in a very disastrous situation, leading to years of guilt and destructive behavior while Quinn's heroics throw his life onto a precarious path. Despite what Jules went through on that fateful May Day, she is able to build a successful career. Quinn, loyal to the end, holds his life together so he can take care of a brother who needs him. Over the next ten years we will follow these two as they go about their lives on May Day.
The May Day Killer has hurt so many people besides those he kills. Families, friends, small towns suffer from the losses, the fear, the dread, the wondering if the killer lives right there among them. Some want to move on and forget while others can't let go of a horror that isn't over yet.
Jules and Quinn will come back together eventually. Jules will always want to help victims of violence and Quinn will never stop looking for the person who took his loved one away. This story is full of people who could be the killer and although I did figure out the killer at one point, I can't give myself credit because I also thought another handful of people could be the killer. Then there is a last twist that was one twist too much, a twist that I don't think added to the story that already had more than enough twists and suspects. Still, this is a very engrossing story, I felt for the characters, I sometimes wished they'd make different choices, but I also respected that they never really gave up. I was able to read this story with Jayme, DeAnn, and Mary Beth so be sure to check out their reviews. I look forward to whatever Alex Finlay has in store for us next.
I had both the ebook and the audiobook and read the ebook first and later listened to the audiobook. Both were great experiences, with the narrations being really good since I've enjoyed the work of both talented narrators, in the past.
Publication May 12, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley for this ARC
June 13, 2026
it’s been tooooo long since i’ve read a good mystery/thriller and this was great! short chapters made the pace of the book fly by and i liked how it jumped forward year by year. kept my attention and kept me guessing up until the end!
December 26, 2025
Alex Finlay truly is the king of unputdownable mysteries—the kind that glue you to your seat, make you flip pages nonstop, and leave you devouring the whole book in one breathless sitting. His stories build pressure so fast and so tightly that you feel like you’re hyperventilating right alongside the characters, only to be hit again and again with sharp, smart twists you never see coming.
This is another gripping novel that moves across ten years—actually, you could even say twenty if you count that perfectly placed, epilogue-like final chapter. The story revolves around two unforgettable main characters whose lives collide on the same devastating night.
Quinn Riley is a boy from the wrong side of the tracks: quiet, bookish, and deeply caring. He looks after his younger brother George, who has special needs and suffers episodes, while living with his widowed mother and her parasitic, volatile boyfriend, with whom Quinn has recently had a serious altercation. He works at a drive-through, struggles to hold his family together, and still dares to dream of college and something better.
Jules Delaney, on the other hand, comes from a completely different world. She’s the “it girl,” high school royalty, turning heads with her beauty and sizzling confidence, carrying big dreams and a future that seems wide open.
Everything changes for both of them on the night of May 1st—Quinn’s birthday, which will forever become the day Jules’s old self dies.
That night, Quinn steps in to break up a fight at a concert, a choice that spirals into nearly deadly consequences and lands him in juvie for five months. Jules also leaves that same concert early, only to be attacked by the infamous May 1st Killer. Shockingly, he lets her live—but not without a chilling warning: stay silent, or her family will pay the price.
From that moment on, their lives fracture. In the year that follows, Quinn returns to find everything he knew destroyed—his home auctioned off, his mother brutally murdered, and his brother sent to a care facility. When he later sneaks back into their abandoned house, he discovers what he believes is the murder weapon used to kill his mother, a horrifying clue that convinces him the truth is far from over and sets him on a relentless search for answers.
Meanwhile, Jules, who survives and even rises to sudden fame after becoming a sensation at a stadium game, begins pursuing a modeling career. But the past won’t let her go. An FBI agent reaches out to her, asking for help in tracking the May 1st Killer. Over the next ten years, we follow their parallel paths: Quinn hunting for his mother’s murderer, and Jules working with other survivors to uncover the identity of the man who spared them, all while knowing he could strike again at any moment.
What neither of them realizes is that their paths are destined to intersect. The answers to both mysteries are more closely connected than they ever imagined—and the killer may be far closer, hiding in plain sight, than anyone would expect. The tension builds until it’s right at their doorstep, delivering revelations you won’t see coming until it’s almost too late.
Overall, this is a fast-paced, addictive read that’s nearly impossible to put down. I did manage to guess a few of the twists and the main perpetrator’s identity a bit earlier than expected, but that didn’t take away from the thrill of the ride. The nostalgic walk through the ’90s, the emotional weight of a decade-long mystery, and the clever way everything unravels make this an irresistible page-turner. Once you start, I guarantee you won’t be able to stop.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for sharing this addictive mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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This is another gripping novel that moves across ten years—actually, you could even say twenty if you count that perfectly placed, epilogue-like final chapter. The story revolves around two unforgettable main characters whose lives collide on the same devastating night.
Quinn Riley is a boy from the wrong side of the tracks: quiet, bookish, and deeply caring. He looks after his younger brother George, who has special needs and suffers episodes, while living with his widowed mother and her parasitic, volatile boyfriend, with whom Quinn has recently had a serious altercation. He works at a drive-through, struggles to hold his family together, and still dares to dream of college and something better.
Jules Delaney, on the other hand, comes from a completely different world. She’s the “it girl,” high school royalty, turning heads with her beauty and sizzling confidence, carrying big dreams and a future that seems wide open.
Everything changes for both of them on the night of May 1st—Quinn’s birthday, which will forever become the day Jules’s old self dies.
That night, Quinn steps in to break up a fight at a concert, a choice that spirals into nearly deadly consequences and lands him in juvie for five months. Jules also leaves that same concert early, only to be attacked by the infamous May 1st Killer. Shockingly, he lets her live—but not without a chilling warning: stay silent, or her family will pay the price.
From that moment on, their lives fracture. In the year that follows, Quinn returns to find everything he knew destroyed—his home auctioned off, his mother brutally murdered, and his brother sent to a care facility. When he later sneaks back into their abandoned house, he discovers what he believes is the murder weapon used to kill his mother, a horrifying clue that convinces him the truth is far from over and sets him on a relentless search for answers.
Meanwhile, Jules, who survives and even rises to sudden fame after becoming a sensation at a stadium game, begins pursuing a modeling career. But the past won’t let her go. An FBI agent reaches out to her, asking for help in tracking the May 1st Killer. Over the next ten years, we follow their parallel paths: Quinn hunting for his mother’s murderer, and Jules working with other survivors to uncover the identity of the man who spared them, all while knowing he could strike again at any moment.
What neither of them realizes is that their paths are destined to intersect. The answers to both mysteries are more closely connected than they ever imagined—and the killer may be far closer, hiding in plain sight, than anyone would expect. The tension builds until it’s right at their doorstep, delivering revelations you won’t see coming until it’s almost too late.
Overall, this is a fast-paced, addictive read that’s nearly impossible to put down. I did manage to guess a few of the twists and the main perpetrator’s identity a bit earlier than expected, but that didn’t take away from the thrill of the ride. The nostalgic walk through the ’90s, the emotional weight of a decade-long mystery, and the clever way everything unravels make this an irresistible page-turner. Once you start, I guarantee you won’t be able to stop.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for sharing this addictive mystery’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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January 4, 2026
My first book of the year turned into a 5 ⭐️ banger!
Woo hoo! I’m telling you now, this is hands down, Alex Finlay’s best novel yet! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
What started as a slow burn mystery turned into a coming-of-age banger of a thriller! I was thinking about this book even when I wasn’t reading it!
The story follows two lives who intersect in high school, Jules and Quinn. But one night, May 1st, two tragic events change everything for them. As we watch them grow up as adults, women have gone missing. Some are spared after a horrific attack. It’s always May 1st. The media dubs him the May Day Killer.
The characterization is out-of-this-world spectacular! My heart ached for Jules and Quinn. I fell in love with the people they became and just wanted justice for them both.
The justice part, you’ll have to read to find out. But trust me, Finlay laid his best work here. Know that! Everyone will be screaming about this book!
Add it to your TBR, want to read shelf and pre-order your copy! You don’t want to miss this!
All the ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date - 5/26
Thanks to Minotaur Books and Alex Finlay for my gorgeous gifted copy!
Woo hoo! I’m telling you now, this is hands down, Alex Finlay’s best novel yet! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
What started as a slow burn mystery turned into a coming-of-age banger of a thriller! I was thinking about this book even when I wasn’t reading it!
The story follows two lives who intersect in high school, Jules and Quinn. But one night, May 1st, two tragic events change everything for them. As we watch them grow up as adults, women have gone missing. Some are spared after a horrific attack. It’s always May 1st. The media dubs him the May Day Killer.
The characterization is out-of-this-world spectacular! My heart ached for Jules and Quinn. I fell in love with the people they became and just wanted justice for them both.
The justice part, you’ll have to read to find out. But trust me, Finlay laid his best work here. Know that! Everyone will be screaming about this book!
Add it to your TBR, want to read shelf and pre-order your copy! You don’t want to miss this!
All the ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date - 5/26
Thanks to Minotaur Books and Alex Finlay for my gorgeous gifted copy!
June 2, 2026
THIS is the Alex Finlay book I’ve been waiting for! He had me a little nervous last year with Parents’ Weekend, which didn’t quite rise to the level of his other books in my opinion, but this feels like the vintage 5-star Finlay whose 2021 debut novel Every Last Fear got me hooked on his writing.
In 1992, popular and pretty 17-year-old Jules befriends quiet and introverted classmate Quinn. Though they come from different worlds, she’s the rich girl who sees something in Quinn, whose single mom makes ends meet for he and his non-verbal brother George. They live in a small Nebraska town that isn’t known for much - except for being in the multi-state path of The May Day Killer, who strikes every year on May 1st. For a few victims, he strangely allows them to live after assaulting them, though he takes identifying “trophies” from them.
As fate would have it, The May Day Killer strikes close to home one May 1st night - a day that also happens to be Quinn’s birthday. This night changes the course of his and Jules’ lives, as the book revisits them each May 1st for the next decade. Both are dealing with tragedy and trauma as new events add to their struggle to find answers and heal. I’m leaving things vague as the blurb says a lot. Personally, I’d recommend going in blind.
Why does this book work so well?
Finlay writes those short, punchy chapters that alternate back and forth from Jules' to Quinn’s POV. This cleverly keeps the reader wanting to read more, as each character’s story gets temporarily interrupted by the other’s. I didn’t find that annoying at all - it only increased my curiosity and desire to keep going!
The addition of a ‘some will, some won’t’ scenario regarding whether the victims die kept this from being just another serial killer story where it’s one death after another. The victims who are spared don’t know why and the reader won’t either until late in the book, which again fed my curiosity.
Jules and Quinn are both messes in their own ways, but they’re relatable and likable enough that I wanted both to find their answers and heal. It was also nice to see a popular girl treat a quieter kid with kindness and respect. More of that please!
My only minor issue, and it’s surprisingly a tiny one, is that I didn’t think the final reveals were all that difficult to figure out, though Finlay did a stellar job of throwing out misdirections that kept me questioning my guesses constantly.
This was an immersion read with my Kindle and the ALC narrated expertly by Ari Fliakos and Brittany Pressley. I highly recommend this excellent mystery thriller in either or both formats!
★★★★ ½ (rounded up)
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Alex Finlay for the DRC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. This is out now.
In 1992, popular and pretty 17-year-old Jules befriends quiet and introverted classmate Quinn. Though they come from different worlds, she’s the rich girl who sees something in Quinn, whose single mom makes ends meet for he and his non-verbal brother George. They live in a small Nebraska town that isn’t known for much - except for being in the multi-state path of The May Day Killer, who strikes every year on May 1st. For a few victims, he strangely allows them to live after assaulting them, though he takes identifying “trophies” from them.
As fate would have it, The May Day Killer strikes close to home one May 1st night - a day that also happens to be Quinn’s birthday. This night changes the course of his and Jules’ lives, as the book revisits them each May 1st for the next decade. Both are dealing with tragedy and trauma as new events add to their struggle to find answers and heal. I’m leaving things vague as the blurb says a lot. Personally, I’d recommend going in blind.
Why does this book work so well?
Finlay writes those short, punchy chapters that alternate back and forth from Jules' to Quinn’s POV. This cleverly keeps the reader wanting to read more, as each character’s story gets temporarily interrupted by the other’s. I didn’t find that annoying at all - it only increased my curiosity and desire to keep going!
The addition of a ‘some will, some won’t’ scenario regarding whether the victims die kept this from being just another serial killer story where it’s one death after another. The victims who are spared don’t know why and the reader won’t either until late in the book, which again fed my curiosity.
Jules and Quinn are both messes in their own ways, but they’re relatable and likable enough that I wanted both to find their answers and heal. It was also nice to see a popular girl treat a quieter kid with kindness and respect. More of that please!
My only minor issue, and it’s surprisingly a tiny one, is that I didn’t think the final reveals were all that difficult to figure out, though Finlay did a stellar job of throwing out misdirections that kept me questioning my guesses constantly.
This was an immersion read with my Kindle and the ALC narrated expertly by Ari Fliakos and Brittany Pressley. I highly recommend this excellent mystery thriller in either or both formats!
★★★★ ½ (rounded up)
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Alex Finlay for the DRC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. This is out now.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
YEAR ONE
May 1, 1992
There was an assembly at school about the MAY DAY KILLER-a serial killer who strikes every MAY 1st in one small midwestern town or another. Students were asked to use the buddy system, and seventeen year old Jules Delaney did so, until a fight with her boyfriend had her ignoring the advice- and paying the price.
Seventeen year old Quinn Riley, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, will also have his life changed that night. . He is arrested after he tries to break up a fight, almost killing someone in the process, and ruining his chance to go College.
YEAR TWO
May 1, 1993
We meet up with these two again a year later, and EVERY May 1st, for the next ten years, following how their lives have changed over the last 365 days. Often, their paths will briefly cross.
All the while, the May Day Killer is still out there—making it impossible to completely forget or to completely move on.
Alex Finlay returns to form with this CLEVER novel, which is much more reminiscent of his first two books, which FOR ME, were far superior to his last two books. Filled with 90’s Nostalgia (remember Bennigan’s?) I was transported back in time and reminded of WHO and WHAT was making HEADLINES during that time!
I was instantly HOOKED and found this book hard to put down-it truly was one of my favorites by the author, but find myself torn between four and five stars. Enjoyment wise, it’s a 5 ⭐️ but I did suspect the guilty party early one, and felt the last twist was unnecessary, so I think I have settled on 4.5 stars ⭐️ rounded down for those two reasons.
At least for now. 🤔
You can pick this one up NOW!
A buddy read with DeAnn, Marilyn and Mary Beth-we all recommend this one! Please check out their reviews for additional insight!
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
May 1, 1992
There was an assembly at school about the MAY DAY KILLER-a serial killer who strikes every MAY 1st in one small midwestern town or another. Students were asked to use the buddy system, and seventeen year old Jules Delaney did so, until a fight with her boyfriend had her ignoring the advice- and paying the price.
Seventeen year old Quinn Riley, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, will also have his life changed that night. . He is arrested after he tries to break up a fight, almost killing someone in the process, and ruining his chance to go College.
YEAR TWO
May 1, 1993
We meet up with these two again a year later, and EVERY May 1st, for the next ten years, following how their lives have changed over the last 365 days. Often, their paths will briefly cross.
All the while, the May Day Killer is still out there—making it impossible to completely forget or to completely move on.
Alex Finlay returns to form with this CLEVER novel, which is much more reminiscent of his first two books, which FOR ME, were far superior to his last two books. Filled with 90’s Nostalgia (remember Bennigan’s?) I was transported back in time and reminded of WHO and WHAT was making HEADLINES during that time!
I was instantly HOOKED and found this book hard to put down-it truly was one of my favorites by the author, but find myself torn between four and five stars. Enjoyment wise, it’s a 5 ⭐️ but I did suspect the guilty party early one, and felt the last twist was unnecessary, so I think I have settled on 4.5 stars ⭐️ rounded down for those two reasons.
At least for now. 🤔
You can pick this one up NOW!
A buddy read with DeAnn, Marilyn and Mary Beth-we all recommend this one! Please check out their reviews for additional insight!
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
July 2, 2026
When most people hear the words May Day, they think of an ancient spring festival, or modern labor rights movements, who celebrate International Workers’ Day on May 1.
Not in this story.
For Jules, May Day is far more than a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of a past she has never been able to escape and a mystery that continues to shape her life.
As the years pass, the case refuses to let go of those most deeply affected by it. Long-buried secrets, lingering trauma, and unanswered questions pull the characters back into a mystery that has haunted their community for far too long.
In typical Alex Finlay fashion, this is a nerve-racking, petrifying, and thoroughly engrossing thriller. The short chapters keep the momentum high, the twists are well timed, and the mystery never loses its grip. Best of all, the story delivers a satisfying conclusion that makes the journey well worth taking.
Not in this story.
For Jules, May Day is far more than a date on the calendar. It is a reminder of a past she has never been able to escape and a mystery that continues to shape her life.
As the years pass, the case refuses to let go of those most deeply affected by it. Long-buried secrets, lingering trauma, and unanswered questions pull the characters back into a mystery that has haunted their community for far too long.
In typical Alex Finlay fashion, this is a nerve-racking, petrifying, and thoroughly engrossing thriller. The short chapters keep the momentum high, the twists are well timed, and the mystery never loses its grip. Best of all, the story delivers a satisfying conclusion that makes the journey well worth taking.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4.25 ⭐️ Every year he comes for them.
May Day is a DEATH DATE. An anniversary date you will not forget. A serial killer stalks a small Midwestern town. Two lives forever marked by his crimes...
Until one night, he ties them together. Every May 1st he pulls them together. Two teens, Jules Delaney and Quinn Riley are broken souls whose lives become intertwines forever. A boy from the wrong side of the tracks and a queen-bee, high school royalty are both ridden with guilt and trauma. On May 1st, Jules survives an attack by the May Day Killer while Quinn returns home from a juvenile detention center to an unsolved murder of his mother. We follow a story over a decade, revisiting lives of both main characters every year, on a single day each year--May 1st. The lives of these characters collide in the most unexpected ways, edging two mysteries closer to the real truth.
The formatting and plotting of this book is top notch, clever and brilliantly executed. Finlay moves the story along by laying the converging timelines with details and plot points that may or may not be relevant. You're going to be reading and thinking 'Whats the point of all this?' but pay attention because everything is literally connected...you just don't know it yet. I was extremely impressed and surprised because of how crafty this ploy was. Finlay keeps you engaged by slowly building suspense and locks you in with a tender, heartrending stories of both main characters. The 90's nostalgia and atmosphere set a perfect backdrop to this story and that ending, that twist was perfect!
It's more than a simple murder mystery. It's a compelling story of two innocent and lost souls who found each other amidst all the broken pieces.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Alex Finlay for this early eARC.
Publication date: May 12, 2026
May Day is a DEATH DATE. An anniversary date you will not forget. A serial killer stalks a small Midwestern town. Two lives forever marked by his crimes...
Until one night, he ties them together. Every May 1st he pulls them together. Two teens, Jules Delaney and Quinn Riley are broken souls whose lives become intertwines forever. A boy from the wrong side of the tracks and a queen-bee, high school royalty are both ridden with guilt and trauma. On May 1st, Jules survives an attack by the May Day Killer while Quinn returns home from a juvenile detention center to an unsolved murder of his mother. We follow a story over a decade, revisiting lives of both main characters every year, on a single day each year--May 1st. The lives of these characters collide in the most unexpected ways, edging two mysteries closer to the real truth.
The formatting and plotting of this book is top notch, clever and brilliantly executed. Finlay moves the story along by laying the converging timelines with details and plot points that may or may not be relevant. You're going to be reading and thinking 'Whats the point of all this?' but pay attention because everything is literally connected...you just don't know it yet. I was extremely impressed and surprised because of how crafty this ploy was. Finlay keeps you engaged by slowly building suspense and locks you in with a tender, heartrending stories of both main characters. The 90's nostalgia and atmosphere set a perfect backdrop to this story and that ending, that twist was perfect!
It's more than a simple murder mystery. It's a compelling story of two innocent and lost souls who found each other amidst all the broken pieces.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Alex Finlay for this early eARC.
Publication date: May 12, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25⭐
Genre ~ crime thriller
Setting ~ Nebraska
Publication date ~ May 12, 2026
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 317 (p+ 86 chapters)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 38 minutes
Narrator ~ Ari Fliakos, Brittany Pressley
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, serial killer, short chapters, mentions of off page rape/assault
Jules & Quinn are unlikely friends in high school. He's poor, gets bullied, enlists in the ARMY after a stint in juvie, and becomes a PI. She's rich, popular, a victim of the May Day Killer, and becomes a model. They are clearly on different paths, but we get a look into what's going on with them and how their lives intertwine on every May 1st from 1992-2001, which also happens to be Quinn's birthday.
Love books set in the 90's, which bring me back to the days I grew up. Fun times! But not so fun if you're in a town where a serial rapist lives.
Overall, this is my favorite of this author. It was fast paced and I was engaged throughout. I hadn't guessed the killer, so yay for that. The epilogue is 10 years later in 2011 and it was a great.
Narration notes:
Brittany, of course, does a perfect job as usual. Ari was great, too, but he was kind of monotone sounding.
Genre ~ crime thriller
Setting ~ Nebraska
Publication date ~ May 12, 2026
Publisher ~ Macmillan Audio
Est Page Count ~ 317 (p+ 86 chapters)
Audio length ~ 7 hours 38 minutes
Narrator ~ Ari Fliakos, Brittany Pressley
POV ~ dual 3rd
Featuring ~ multiple timelines, serial killer, short chapters, mentions of off page rape/assault
Jules & Quinn are unlikely friends in high school. He's poor, gets bullied, enlists in the ARMY after a stint in juvie, and becomes a PI. She's rich, popular, a victim of the May Day Killer, and becomes a model. They are clearly on different paths, but we get a look into what's going on with them and how their lives intertwine on every May 1st from 1992-2001, which also happens to be Quinn's birthday.
Love books set in the 90's, which bring me back to the days I grew up. Fun times! But not so fun if you're in a town where a serial rapist lives.
Overall, this is my favorite of this author. It was fast paced and I was engaged throughout. I hadn't guessed the killer, so yay for that. The epilogue is 10 years later in 2011 and it was a great.
Narration notes:
Brittany, of course, does a perfect job as usual. Ari was great, too, but he was kind of monotone sounding.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
May 1st. The day everyone in the Midwest has come to hate. It’s the day a notorious serial killer hunts his prey!
Let’s go back to 1992, when the paths of two high school kids cross for the first time.
Jules: A victim of the anniversary killer, her life was spared, but why?
Quinn: Has the unfortunate coincidence of his birthday falling on May 1st.
As the years tick by and the anniversary approaches, we peer into the lives of these two characters, as they move forward and paths cross. With the fear of the killer never far behind.
This was a fast and engaging thriller. I enjoyed both characters equally and the figure-eight pattern of their lives took that kept them coming back into each other.
The nostalgia of the 90’s was a nice backdrop as well.
I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read by this author and this one is right up there as one of his top!🙌
✍️ Alex Finlay
📄336 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: May 12, 2026
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Thriller, suspense
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press / Minotaur Books
Let’s go back to 1992, when the paths of two high school kids cross for the first time.
Jules: A victim of the anniversary killer, her life was spared, but why?
Quinn: Has the unfortunate coincidence of his birthday falling on May 1st.
As the years tick by and the anniversary approaches, we peer into the lives of these two characters, as they move forward and paths cross. With the fear of the killer never far behind.
This was a fast and engaging thriller. I enjoyed both characters equally and the figure-eight pattern of their lives took that kept them coming back into each other.
The nostalgia of the 90’s was a nice backdrop as well.
I’ve enjoyed all the books I’ve read by this author and this one is right up there as one of his top!🙌
✍️ Alex Finlay
📄336 pages
🗓️ Anticipated release date: May 12, 2026
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Thriller, suspense
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press / Minotaur Books
![Profile Image for Teres [on hiatus].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1625114818i/39438556._UX200_CR0,53,200,200_.jpg)
May 31, 2026
That was gooooood! 🙌🏻
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC of The Anniversary by Alex Finlay
I swear this one gave me split personality disorder. Like, I absolutely LOVED it. But Patricia had some issues. (Btw, if you got that reference can we be friends?)
I did really enjoy the structure here! Along with the layers of connection shared by the characters. It was definitely a page turner and rather entertaining to read. I loved the nostalgia of classic thrills being mixed with new ideas.. You can clearly tell a good amount of time and planning was put into everything especially the characters. My personal "issues" (or should I say Patricia's) are with the ending. I do wish there was a little more to the ending. For me it sort of felt as if it packed up shop and left town faster than the Wormwoods. But if you think about it.. is anyone ever really upset that a "bad" book has come to an end? .. probably and most definitely not. So, it's safe to say I was really was relishing in this one overall. I have a few more books in my endless TBR by the same author I haven't gotten to yet and I will definitely be bumping them up on my list!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
I swear this one gave me split personality disorder. Like, I absolutely LOVED it. But Patricia had some issues. (Btw, if you got that reference can we be friends?)
I did really enjoy the structure here! Along with the layers of connection shared by the characters. It was definitely a page turner and rather entertaining to read. I loved the nostalgia of classic thrills being mixed with new ideas.. You can clearly tell a good amount of time and planning was put into everything especially the characters. My personal "issues" (or should I say Patricia's) are with the ending. I do wish there was a little more to the ending. For me it sort of felt as if it packed up shop and left town faster than the Wormwoods. But if you think about it.. is anyone ever really upset that a "bad" book has come to an end? .. probably and most definitely not. So, it's safe to say I was really was relishing in this one overall. I have a few more books in my endless TBR by the same author I haven't gotten to yet and I will definitely be bumping them up on my list!
Until next time,
Hades
🩵
February 22, 2026
A fast-paced mystery that will keep you turning those pages until the very last one.
Quinn and Jules strike up an unlikely friendship during study hall. She’s super popular, and he’s not so much. There is one thing that they can agree upon, and that is the concert that is upcoming on May 1. Jules is hoping Quinn will be there, and vice versa, even though she has a boyfriend. However, things don’t go as planned, and what happens sets off a series of events that are highlighted through the next 10 years on May 1. Why is May 1 so important? There is a killer that strikes on that date every year, and the police have no leads.
The fact that the story unfolded on the same day each year made it easy to not get bogged down in the details. You got a glimpse as to what our two MC’s were doing and how they were consistently zigzagging into each other’s paths. That is something that really worked for me. Where it became a bit of a negative was by doing a glimpse each year, you didn’t get the depth of the characters besides their role in the novel… which isn’t necessarily needed as they serve their purpose. The ending was a bit predictable, but I liked how it all tied up.
This was definitely a step up from last year’s Parents Weekend and went more the route of his earlier novels. Plenty of 90s nostalgia and good old-fashioned serial killer mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Quinn and Jules strike up an unlikely friendship during study hall. She’s super popular, and he’s not so much. There is one thing that they can agree upon, and that is the concert that is upcoming on May 1. Jules is hoping Quinn will be there, and vice versa, even though she has a boyfriend. However, things don’t go as planned, and what happens sets off a series of events that are highlighted through the next 10 years on May 1. Why is May 1 so important? There is a killer that strikes on that date every year, and the police have no leads.
The fact that the story unfolded on the same day each year made it easy to not get bogged down in the details. You got a glimpse as to what our two MC’s were doing and how they were consistently zigzagging into each other’s paths. That is something that really worked for me. Where it became a bit of a negative was by doing a glimpse each year, you didn’t get the depth of the characters besides their role in the novel… which isn’t necessarily needed as they serve their purpose. The ending was a bit predictable, but I liked how it all tied up.
This was definitely a step up from last year’s Parents Weekend and went more the route of his earlier novels. Plenty of 90s nostalgia and good old-fashioned serial killer mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
August 6, 2026
3.5 🌟 pretty good! Not dying over this one..but it was unique in a lot of parts k kept my attention
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Quinn goes to a concert, and a kid dies, he ends up going to jail. After his release, he enlists, but he’s still obsessed with finding out who brutally murdered his mum. He’s convinced it was her boyfriend and finally gets some answers when he returns for the trial.
Jules gets into a car, and a man ties her up, and something terrible happens. The May Day Killer is still at large, and Jules is one of the lucky ones he let go alive. Years later, Police Officer Jack brings together the three known survivors to try and catch him.
Both Quinn and Jules share the same date, May 1st, marked by painful memories and events that changed everything for them.
They meet a year later and reconnect, and Quinn has always secretly liked her. I really liked how the story is told in yearly increments, it added a lot in showing how the characters change over time. The book flowed so easily, keeping track of timelines and events. The ending completely blindsided me. I didn’t expect it to go that way, and the whodunit was a real surprise. I had a suspect in mind, but I was way off.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Jules gets into a car, and a man ties her up, and something terrible happens. The May Day Killer is still at large, and Jules is one of the lucky ones he let go alive. Years later, Police Officer Jack brings together the three known survivors to try and catch him.
Both Quinn and Jules share the same date, May 1st, marked by painful memories and events that changed everything for them.
They meet a year later and reconnect, and Quinn has always secretly liked her. I really liked how the story is told in yearly increments, it added a lot in showing how the characters change over time. The book flowed so easily, keeping track of timelines and events. The ending completely blindsided me. I didn’t expect it to go that way, and the whodunit was a real surprise. I had a suspect in mind, but I was way off.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
June 3, 2026
What an amazingly layered and character-driven thriller. Finlay keeps the pacing tight while spanning an entire decade, showing the impact of a string of murders and corresponding growth of the characters for a taut and emotionally satisfying read. Incredibly well done!
January 4, 2026
A serial killer called the May Day killer terrorizes the town every year. Some of his victims do survive to tell their tales.
At first, it felt very abrupt how the story went from one year to the next. This story spans many years and has a few chapters for each. Eventually, you begin to see how this is important to the story. It also feels like reading true crime.
This book is full of action and doesn’t let up. There was never a slow moment and every moment mattered and was interconnected. I had a few theories about who the killer was, but they all turned out to be wrong. And then the ending had another huge surprise which I also did not expect.
There is some romance within the book, as well, which was enjoyable and I def was rooting for them.
Def worth the read!
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
At first, it felt very abrupt how the story went from one year to the next. This story spans many years and has a few chapters for each. Eventually, you begin to see how this is important to the story. It also feels like reading true crime.
This book is full of action and doesn’t let up. There was never a slow moment and every moment mattered and was interconnected. I had a few theories about who the killer was, but they all turned out to be wrong. And then the ending had another huge surprise which I also did not expect.
There is some romance within the book, as well, which was enjoyable and I def was rooting for them.
Def worth the read!
Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 18, 2026
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC. It was fast paced at the end, but the wrap-up didn’t fully land for me. The story was just too cliche and formulaic for me to fully enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Once again, Alex Finlay is at the top of his game with “The Anniversary”. While this book was a thriller, I’ve come to the conclusion that nobody can create a better nostalgic feeling than Finlay. This book starts off in 1992, and then takes place on May 1st over the next ten years, and he recreates the feeling of being back in that time so perfectly. I also loved how the two main characters of Quinn and Jules, grew so perfectly in this story.
This story takes place in Year One- May 1, 1992. It is Quinn Riley’s birthday, and he is arrested at a concert for becoming involved in a fight, and then sent to a juvenile detention center. One of Quinn’s classmates, Jules Delaney, is attacked by the infamous May Day Killer. However, Jules life has been spared, she is one of the lucky ones that the May Day Killer let live. But why was she so lucky?
Also, while Quinn was locked up in juvenile detention, his mother was brutally murdered. No one has been charged with her brutal crime, and upon Quinn’s release, he makes it his mission to find out who murdered her.
This story takes place on May 1st over the next ten years, and catches us up on the lives of Jules and Quinn. Quinn has an obsession with finding the killer of his mother, and Jules makes it her mission in finding the May Day Killer. Through this time we find out what has been going on in each of their lives, and how they have been dealing with their inner and outer traumas. They both have had to deal with many struggles that were difficult to overcome.
This story had fantastic fast-paced, short chapters- that made you want to read “just one more”, before you could put this book down. It had absolutely everything I look for in a book. The only thing I will mention is that I did figure out the May Day Killer early on 🕵🏻♀️ (sorry, I read too many thrillers), but that’s okay, because this story still had other twists to keep you on your toes!
All in all, this is another winner by Finlay that I recommend reading, and I say add it to your shelf now as you won’t want to miss this one!!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading for an honest opinion.
Publication date: May 12, 2026
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction (Adult)
This story takes place in Year One- May 1, 1992. It is Quinn Riley’s birthday, and he is arrested at a concert for becoming involved in a fight, and then sent to a juvenile detention center. One of Quinn’s classmates, Jules Delaney, is attacked by the infamous May Day Killer. However, Jules life has been spared, she is one of the lucky ones that the May Day Killer let live. But why was she so lucky?
Also, while Quinn was locked up in juvenile detention, his mother was brutally murdered. No one has been charged with her brutal crime, and upon Quinn’s release, he makes it his mission to find out who murdered her.
This story takes place on May 1st over the next ten years, and catches us up on the lives of Jules and Quinn. Quinn has an obsession with finding the killer of his mother, and Jules makes it her mission in finding the May Day Killer. Through this time we find out what has been going on in each of their lives, and how they have been dealing with their inner and outer traumas. They both have had to deal with many struggles that were difficult to overcome.
This story had fantastic fast-paced, short chapters- that made you want to read “just one more”, before you could put this book down. It had absolutely everything I look for in a book. The only thing I will mention is that I did figure out the May Day Killer early on 🕵🏻♀️ (sorry, I read too many thrillers), but that’s okay, because this story still had other twists to keep you on your toes!
All in all, this is another winner by Finlay that I recommend reading, and I say add it to your shelf now as you won’t want to miss this one!!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for a DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading for an honest opinion.
Publication date: May 12, 2026
Genre~ Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction (Adult)
April 16, 2026
3 stars. he’s an auto buy author for me and i enjoy reading his books bc they’re quick, the chapters are 2-3 pages and they usually grab me right away. all that holds true for this one, but i predicted the main twist prob 20% in and was prayyyyying i was wrong but wasn’t 😩🫠
still entertaining and worth pushing through, but with how many thrillers i read i found the twist to be super obvious. maybe that’s just a me problem!!
read if you like:
- books with short chapters
- serial killer thrillers
still entertaining and worth pushing through, but with how many thrillers i read i found the twist to be super obvious. maybe that’s just a me problem!!
read if you like:
- books with short chapters
- serial killer thrillers
June 8, 2026
4.5
LOVED how we were falling our characters only on one day of the year over 10 years. GREAT twists and overall entertaining plot. Super easy writing to read and short chapters. Definite recommend x
LOVED how we were falling our characters only on one day of the year over 10 years. GREAT twists and overall entertaining plot. Super easy writing to read and short chapters. Definite recommend x
July 20, 2026
Every May 1st, a serial killer strikes again... and no one knows who will be next. 🌸🔪
This started a little slowly for me, but once the story picked up, I became invested in Quinn and Jules and how their lives kept crossing. I especially loved the ’90s setting, the nostalgic little details, and the way all the pieces eventually came together.
I had no idea who the killer was until the reveal, which is always a win for me! 😂
A few parts felt choppy, and the ending was a little rushed, but overall this was an engaging mystery with compelling characters and a premise I really enjoyed.
I also don’t feel like Quinn and Jules’ story is completely over…sequel, maybe? 👀
This started a little slowly for me, but once the story picked up, I became invested in Quinn and Jules and how their lives kept crossing. I especially loved the ’90s setting, the nostalgic little details, and the way all the pieces eventually came together.
I had no idea who the killer was until the reveal, which is always a win for me! 😂
A few parts felt choppy, and the ending was a little rushed, but overall this was an engaging mystery with compelling characters and a premise I really enjoyed.
I also don’t feel like Quinn and Jules’ story is completely over…sequel, maybe? 👀
July 5, 2026
I’ve been anxiously waiting for this one after seeing so many great reviews, and it did not disappoint. The 90s references pulled me in immediately. The nostalgia hit hard and made the whole setup feel like I was right back in that era. The anticipation in this story is phenomenal, and the short chapters are my absolute favorite.
This book completely gripped me. I tore through it because I could not put it down. It’s the perfect thriller for readers who love tension that builds until you feel like you can’t breathe. I was so invested in these characters, and I can’t express enough how much I loved this story. My fiancé thought something was happening to me with how many times I gasped out loud.
The second half of my reading year is starting off incredibly strong, and I already know this is going to be one of my favorites of 2026. This is one you should add to your TBR immediately. Alex Finlay absolutely delivered.
This book completely gripped me. I tore through it because I could not put it down. It’s the perfect thriller for readers who love tension that builds until you feel like you can’t breathe. I was so invested in these characters, and I can’t express enough how much I loved this story. My fiancé thought something was happening to me with how many times I gasped out loud.
The second half of my reading year is starting off incredibly strong, and I already know this is going to be one of my favorites of 2026. This is one you should add to your TBR immediately. Alex Finlay absolutely delivered.
June 18, 2026
It’s been a while since I’ve picked up one of Alex Finlay’s books, and after enjoying The Night Shift, The Anniversary reminded me why I want to work through more of his backlist.
I listened to this entirely on audio, and the narrators did a fantastic job of giving each character a distinct voice while enhancing the story’s cinematic feel. With multiple timelines and a large cast, though, this is one of those intricate thrillers that may be easier to follow in print alongside the audiobook, as I occasionally found it a little overwhelming to keep track of everything.
One of the biggest surprises for me was how much I liked the characters. In a genre where I often find myself frustrated by character decisions, it was refreshing to have protagonists I genuinely cared about. Quinn was my favourite. Despite everything he goes through, he comes across as resilient, thoughtful, and grounded, making it easy to invest in his story. Jules was equally compelling, and after becoming a victim of the Mayday Killer, it was impossible not to sympathise with her and root for justice. While I’m not usually drawn to romantic subplots in thrillers, the dynamic between them added just the right amount of emotional weight and “will-they-won’t-they” tension without overshadowing the mystery.
Finlay handles misdirection really well. With a story that unfolds over a decade, you’re constantly trying to piece together a much larger puzzle. I had strong theories along the way, but every time I felt confident, something shifted and sent me back to square one. The clever plotting keeps you guessing, and all the pieces eventually fall into place in a satisfying way.
By the final showdown, I was fully invested in Quinn and Jules and desperate to see how everything would play out. The stakes felt high, the tension kept building, and while I guessed a few pieces, Finlay still had a couple of surprises up his sleeve that completely blindsided me.
Gripping and unexpectedly emotional, The Anniversary is a binge-worthy thriller that had me hooked from the first moment I pressed play. If you enjoy layered mysteries, strong character work, and plenty of twists, this is well worth picking up.
I listened to this entirely on audio, and the narrators did a fantastic job of giving each character a distinct voice while enhancing the story’s cinematic feel. With multiple timelines and a large cast, though, this is one of those intricate thrillers that may be easier to follow in print alongside the audiobook, as I occasionally found it a little overwhelming to keep track of everything.
One of the biggest surprises for me was how much I liked the characters. In a genre where I often find myself frustrated by character decisions, it was refreshing to have protagonists I genuinely cared about. Quinn was my favourite. Despite everything he goes through, he comes across as resilient, thoughtful, and grounded, making it easy to invest in his story. Jules was equally compelling, and after becoming a victim of the Mayday Killer, it was impossible not to sympathise with her and root for justice. While I’m not usually drawn to romantic subplots in thrillers, the dynamic between them added just the right amount of emotional weight and “will-they-won’t-they” tension without overshadowing the mystery.
Finlay handles misdirection really well. With a story that unfolds over a decade, you’re constantly trying to piece together a much larger puzzle. I had strong theories along the way, but every time I felt confident, something shifted and sent me back to square one. The clever plotting keeps you guessing, and all the pieces eventually fall into place in a satisfying way.
By the final showdown, I was fully invested in Quinn and Jules and desperate to see how everything would play out. The stakes felt high, the tension kept building, and while I guessed a few pieces, Finlay still had a couple of surprises up his sleeve that completely blindsided me.
Gripping and unexpectedly emotional, The Anniversary is a binge-worthy thriller that had me hooked from the first moment I pressed play. If you enjoy layered mysteries, strong character work, and plenty of twists, this is well worth picking up.
July 20, 2026
**4.5-stars**
The Anniversary follows two main characters, Jules Delaney and Quinn Riley. When they were both 17-years old, back in 1992, one fateful night changed the trajectory of both of their lives, and intertwined their stories forever.
This sounds dramatic, but it's true. Finlay expertly-weaves together the stories of Jules and Quinn, keeping me at the edge of my seat the whole way through.
On the fateful night in question, Jules survives an attack of the elusive May Day Killer, a serial predator who attacks unsuspecting young women every May 1st in small Midwestern towns. Though she survived the attack, certain psychological scars may never heal.
And poor Quinn, trying to break-up a fight, severly injures one of the participants, and he's arrested and ultimately ends up in juvenile detention because of it. While he's there, his mother is murdered, and the crime goes unsolved.
A year later, Jules is plagued with survivor's guilt, and Quinn, recently released from juvie, struggles to put the pieces of his life back together.
We follow both of their perspectives through that process, with the book ultimately spanning over many years.
Jules and Quinn never give up their search for answers, and over time, more and more clues are revealed, bringing their paths back together once again. The bottom line is the May Day Killer is still out there, Quinn's mother's murderer is still out there, and they're determined to find the truth before any other innocent lives are lost.
I feel like I'm not giving this detailed plot justice, but you get the gist. I really enjoyed the back and forth and how we followed the two MCs over such a long period of time. As the puzzle pieces started to fall into place, my attention was fully captured.
The audiobook was fantastic. It's dual narrated by Brittany Pressley and Ari Fliakos, and having the individual narrators for both perspectives, really lent believability to the plot. It also kept my attention more than had I just been reading a hard copy, I think.
Jules and Quinn were both great characters. They had been through so much, but they never let the negativity of those events completely overwhelm them. Sure, they struggled through some complicated emotions, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, but they never lost their determination and will to fight for closure.
They were also both very smart and resourceful. A highlight for me was their interactions together. I felt like they supported each other nicely.
Overall, I had a blast with this. It's really, really good. The story is gripping, with tons of twists and turns that'll keep you flipping pages well into the night.
Finlay's last release, Parents Weekend, fell a little flat for a lot of people, I enjoyed it, but certainly not as much as some of his earlier works. With The Anniversary, I feel like he's hit his stride again. I definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to the pubisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I look forward to whatever Finlay has in store for us next!
The Anniversary follows two main characters, Jules Delaney and Quinn Riley. When they were both 17-years old, back in 1992, one fateful night changed the trajectory of both of their lives, and intertwined their stories forever.
This sounds dramatic, but it's true. Finlay expertly-weaves together the stories of Jules and Quinn, keeping me at the edge of my seat the whole way through.
On the fateful night in question, Jules survives an attack of the elusive May Day Killer, a serial predator who attacks unsuspecting young women every May 1st in small Midwestern towns. Though she survived the attack, certain psychological scars may never heal.
And poor Quinn, trying to break-up a fight, severly injures one of the participants, and he's arrested and ultimately ends up in juvenile detention because of it. While he's there, his mother is murdered, and the crime goes unsolved.
A year later, Jules is plagued with survivor's guilt, and Quinn, recently released from juvie, struggles to put the pieces of his life back together.
We follow both of their perspectives through that process, with the book ultimately spanning over many years.
Jules and Quinn never give up their search for answers, and over time, more and more clues are revealed, bringing their paths back together once again. The bottom line is the May Day Killer is still out there, Quinn's mother's murderer is still out there, and they're determined to find the truth before any other innocent lives are lost.
I feel like I'm not giving this detailed plot justice, but you get the gist. I really enjoyed the back and forth and how we followed the two MCs over such a long period of time. As the puzzle pieces started to fall into place, my attention was fully captured.
The audiobook was fantastic. It's dual narrated by Brittany Pressley and Ari Fliakos, and having the individual narrators for both perspectives, really lent believability to the plot. It also kept my attention more than had I just been reading a hard copy, I think.
Jules and Quinn were both great characters. They had been through so much, but they never let the negativity of those events completely overwhelm them. Sure, they struggled through some complicated emotions, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, but they never lost their determination and will to fight for closure.
They were also both very smart and resourceful. A highlight for me was their interactions together. I felt like they supported each other nicely.
Overall, I had a blast with this. It's really, really good. The story is gripping, with tons of twists and turns that'll keep you flipping pages well into the night.
Finlay's last release, Parents Weekend, fell a little flat for a lot of people, I enjoyed it, but certainly not as much as some of his earlier works. With The Anniversary, I feel like he's hit his stride again. I definitely recommend this one.
Thank you to the pubisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I look forward to whatever Finlay has in store for us next!
May 14, 2026
4.5 stars - Okay, this is now my favorite Alex Finlay - surpassing "The Night Shift" which I also really liked and was also a serial killer with a holiday call-back theme and was also set back in the 90's with nostalgic vibes. What sets this one above it though is the two MC's - Quinn & Jules along with strong secondary characters. I did not expect this to have such a "star-crossed soulmates" vibe and I really liked the way that part was told - very, very well-done. If you like your thrillers on the dark side, I highly recommend this one, it's quite clever
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
May Day 1992 is the start of a serial killer killing spree, who strikes every year on May 1.
In 1992 teenage Quinn is arrested and sent to a juvenile detention center, and teenage Jules survives a brutal attack by the May Day Killer.
When Quinn is released, he returns home to deal with the aftermath of his mother’s murder, and Jules suffers with survivor’s guilt.
Each chapter of the book revisits these characters every year on May 1, as the May Day killer is still on the loose.
An interesting format, but the execution was lacking. Because we only meet up with these characters once a year, it’s all tell, and no show for what we missed over the last year. This made it difficult to invest in the characters or care what happens to them.
The pop culture references were throw away lines in an attempt at 90’s nostalgia but they felt inserted into the narrative with no context to make me feel we were in the 90s.
The story had a YA feel to it due to the characters being in their teens and early 20s for most of the book.
The story was slow, convoluted, and the reveal made my eyes roll.
Out of 4 books I’ve read by this author, I gave three of them 2 stars, and one, 4 stars. I don’t think this author is for me.
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
May 12, 2026
All the stars for The Anniversary 🌟
We meet Quinn and Jules thrown together in the most unexpected way. This is a mystery, sure, but the emotional investment in the lives of Quinn and Jules was SO unexpected and what separates The Anniversary from all the other thrillers.
Short chapters makes this a fast paced, binge read. Throw in a serial killer striking every year on May 1, earning the name the May Day Killer. The suspense and thrill of knowing the date of the next murder and following the lives of Jules and Quinn is exactly what a reader wants in a murder mystery.
Alex Findlay is a new author to me and rocked my boat! I can’t wait to see what’s next. I highly recommend picking up this book for an engrossing ride. Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an early copy.
We meet Quinn and Jules thrown together in the most unexpected way. This is a mystery, sure, but the emotional investment in the lives of Quinn and Jules was SO unexpected and what separates The Anniversary from all the other thrillers.
Short chapters makes this a fast paced, binge read. Throw in a serial killer striking every year on May 1, earning the name the May Day Killer. The suspense and thrill of knowing the date of the next murder and following the lives of Jules and Quinn is exactly what a reader wants in a murder mystery.
Alex Findlay is a new author to me and rocked my boat! I can’t wait to see what’s next. I highly recommend picking up this book for an engrossing ride. Many thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an early copy.
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