The Anniversary Audiobook By Alex Finlay cover art

The Anniversary

A Thriller

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The Anniversary

By: Alex Finlay
Narrated by: Ari Fliakos, Brittany Pressley
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From the national bestselling author of Parents Weekend, comes one of the most anticipated thrillers of the year.

"Everything I want in a thriller!”―Ashley Elston
"I could not put it down!”―Angie Kim
"Nonstop twists!"—Jason Rekulak
“A master of his craft.”―Jeneva Rose

"[Narrator Brittany] Pressley gives an expressive performance of this intricate narrative...From playful podcasts to menacing tension and twists, Pressley expertly delivers each distinct facet of the novel." —Library Journal on Parents Weekend

Every May 1st, a serial killer stalks a small town. Every year he comes for them . . .

On May 1, 1992, Jules Delaney and Quinn Riley hardly know each other.

Jules is high school queen bee in a small Midwestern town when she survives a brutal attack by the elusive May Day Killer—a predator who strikes every May 1st and then vanishes without a trace. Quinn, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks, is arrested the same night after trying to break up a fight and nearly killing someone.

By morning, their lives are forever connected.

A year later, Jules is haunted by trauma and guilt, tormented by one question: Why was she spared? Quinn is newly released from juvenile detention and returns home to devastating news—the unsolved murder of his mother.

Over the next decade, their lives are revisited on a single day each year: May 1st.

As the years pass, secrets surface, lies unravel, and the paths of Jules and Quinn draw closer together. Two mysteries edge toward the truth—what really happened the night Jules was attacked, and who murdered Quinn’s mother? 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, The Anniversary is an addictive murder mystery and nail-biting thriller—but it’s also a tender, heartrending story about fate, innocence lost, and two people bound by a single day. With its masterful structure and propulsive tension, The Anniversary reaffirms Alex Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.

A Macmillan Audio production from Minotaur Books

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​Rating: 4.5/5 🌟
​If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that actually earns its "unputdownable" badge, Alex Finley just raised the bar. The Anniversary is brilliant writing at its finest—a masterclass in tension, pacing, and the "just one more chapter" struggle.
​The Premise
​The story centers on the "May Day Killer," a predator who strikes a small Midwestern town every May 1st and then vanishes into thin air. We follow Jules, a survivor of a brutal attack, and Quinn, a boy from the wrong side of the tracks whose life is upended the same night. The hook? We revisit their lives on a single day every year—May 1st—for an entire decade.
​Why It Works
​The Structure: The "one day a year" format is genius. It forces the character development to hit hard and fast, showing how trauma and secrets evolve over ten years.
​The Twists: There was so much build-up, yet the reveals were completely unexpected. Just when you think you’ve pinned the killer, the rug gets pulled.
​Dual Mysteries: I loved how the plot linked two seemingly unrelated murders. The different POVs keep the narrative fresh and the stakes high.
​Final Verdict
​This book keeps you guessing up until the very last page. It’s gritty, atmospheric, and incredibly clever. If you’re a fan of thrillers that weave complex character arcs with a ticking clock, put this at the top of your TBR pile.

May 1st

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Hands down an absolute favorite. It had everything plus a heart warming story along with a great thrilling ride. And the best narrating due I’ve listened too ever! Bravo loved it!

One of the best books I’ve read in a long time

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I will be honest, I have read all of Alex Finlay’s books and for me, none of them have been 5 star reads. Until this one. I can confirm the raving ARC reviews are true and this is a banger! The characters are all likable and have depth, all were well written, not just the two mains, it’s dual POV between Quinn and Jules and we follow them every year on May 1, when the May Day Killer takes another victim. I did not at all suspect the revelations at the end. Maybe one twist but not the other at all. Highly recommend!

Exceeded Expectations!!

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Great pacing, building to a clever conclusion. Finlay gets better with each book. I listened to it in just two long sessions. Well done!

Done it again!

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I loved it! 5 ⭐️! It was different, I liked the dual POV and how the years past and we saw a little bit in each year. I loved, loved the many 90’s references; shows, songs, news stories, trends, I laughed at it all and felt like I was back there again. The narrators were fantastic, two of the best so no surprise there. I loved the mystery of the May Day killer, I loved as stuck between it being 2 different people and won’t say to avoid spoiling, but the twists were great! And after the first big twist, I thought that was it and was 😳 with the rest! I couldn’t stop listening, I wanted to find out what was going to happen. I am a sucker for a HEA and I LOVED the ending!! Overall, I laughed, I cried, I was surprised and anxious, it had me in all the feels! I have loved everything I’ve read by Alex Finlay and this was no different. Great read!

5 ⭐️ read for me! Loved it!

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