The Anniversary - by Alex Finlay (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

From the bestselling author of Parents Weekend, comes one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year.

Today became an anniversary they would never celebrate.

One fateful night in 1992, Jules and Quinn's lives 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 predator who strikes every May 1st in small Midwestern towns.

A year later, Jules is struggling with trauma and guilt, tormented by the question: Why was I spared? Quinn is newly released from juvenile detention and returns home to fresh heartbreak: 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 converge, 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 anniversary.

Twisty, high-concept, and emotionally charged, this novel 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. The Anniversary reaffirms Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.

Review Quotes

"Two people are forever connected by the events of a single day. Piece by piece, Alex Finlay expertly reveals the secrets and lies that bind them together. Razor sharp, smart, and emotionally charged--it's everything I want in a thriller!"--Ashley Elston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins

"The Anniversary is Alex Finlay at his best, an addictive murder mystery, nail-biting thriller, and tender love story, all beautifully told through a masterful story structure. I could not put it down!"--Angie Kim, New York Times bestselling author of Happiness Falls

About the Author

ALEX FINLAY is the bestselling author of several acclaimed novels, including the 2025 instant national bestseller, Parents Weekend. His work regularly appears on best-of-the-year lists and has been translated into twenty-six languages and sold around the world. Alex's books have been optioned or in development for film and television, including Parents Weekend, which was recently acquired for adaptation to the screen. Alex is the director of the thriller/mystery section of the Leopardi Writing Conference in Italy, and a board member of the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. He lives in Washington, D.C.