Jenny’s Pick of the Week: The Anniversary

The Anniversary, Alex Finlay’s upcoming thriller, delivers a uniquely structured and gripping mystery that reviewers are calling his best book yet.

The story unfolds over nine years, from 1992-2001, with each section firmly anchored on May 1st. This date, infamously known to Midwesterners as Death Day, is when an elusive serial killer strikes each year. Some survive the brutal attacks; others don’t. But one thing remains the same: it only happens on May 1st. This annual countdown adds a haunting layer of tension to the story, making each return to Death Day feel increasingly more ominous. It’s a fantastic setup for a nostalgic mystery, and Finlay executes it perfectly.

At the heart of the story are Jules and Quinn, two young people whose lives first intersect in 1992 as high school seniors. Jules, popular and destined for fame, becomes a professional model. Quinn, lonely and searching for direction after a stint in juvie, enlists in the army at eighteen. It is at this point, when their paths diverge, that the narrative really starts to shine.

By employing a dual point-of-view structure, Finlay makes it easy for readers to become fully invested in both characters as they grow older and navigate separate lives. I found myself genuinely caring about them, hoping they would find justice and closure. And, when circumstances eventually conspire to pull them back together, I was unsurprisingly rooting for their reunion.

The short, momentum-driven chapters create an easy reading experience that propels you forward. This bingeable quality is only intensified by an increasingly desperate and obsessive search for justice, which had my hooked throughout. Add in the warmth and nostalgia of its ’90s setting, and the result is a richly layered story woven into a compelling mystery. Beyond its format, the ’90s references—Pearl Jam concerts, dial-up internet, grunge fashion, and more—were easily one of my favorite aspects of the book.

Readers in search of a unique thriller infused with nostalgia and character development, The Anniversary is a must-add to your reading list! It’s fast-paced, emotionally resonant, and filled with unforgettable moments. Fans of The Night Shift by Alex Finlay, God of the Woods by Liz Moore, and Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier will find much to love in this compelling thriller, publishing May 7th.

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