Finlay's "Anniversary" Tops Thriller Lists
Alex Finlay's "The Anniversary" is being highlighted as a top pick among 31 new page-turning thrillers, praised for connecting two young men from different backgrounds through a shared, life-altering event. The novel stands out for its taut plotting and emotional depth, making it particularly appealing to fans of domestic and psychological suspense.
- "Alex Finlay" is the pseudonym for Anthony J. Franze, a prominent Washington, D.C. lawyer who has argued over 40 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. - "The Anniversary" is Finlay's sixth novel, following a string of successful thrillers including "Every Last Fear" (2021) and the instant national bestseller "Parents Weekend" (2025). - The plot of "The Anniversary" revolves around two central characters, Quinn Riley and Jules Delaney, whose lives become intertwined after two traumatic events on the same night in 1992. - A key antagonist in the novel is a serial predator known as the "May Day Killer," who attacks victims every May 1st in small Midwestern towns. - The narrative structure of the book revisits the characters' lives on the same day, May 1st, over the course of a decade as they grapple with the aftermath of the initial events. - Finlay's works have been translated into twenty-six languages, and nearly all of his books have been optioned or are in development for film and television. - His 2022 novel, "The Night Shift," was a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Mystery & Thriller. - The author credits a MasterClass by Neil Gaiman as part of the inspiration for his first book, where he combined the idea of a Netflix crime documentary with a real-world tragedy.
