The Anniversary – Alex Finlay

On May 1, 1992, two high school classmates in Nebraska, popular Jules and introverted Quinn, see their lives irrevocably changed, one via a sexual assault by a serial killer and the other through an unfortunate fight that lands him in juvie.  Over the next decade, their find themselves growing and, occasionally, reconnecting, as both deal with the repercussions stemming from the fateful night.  Eventually, they are brought together for good, which enables them both to put to rest the one thing that has haunted them both: her, the identity of her assaulter, known as the May Day Killer, and he, the secret of his mom’s “red flag file”, which he believes will reveal who was responsible for her death.  The only question is if they will both survive learning those answers.

Alex Finlay returns with The Anniversary, his sixth novel in the past six years.  He has become a steady, and enjoyable, presence on my bookshelf over that time.  This was a quick read, and the identity of the May Day Killer was rather predictable, but it was a fun ride while it lasted.  I’m sure he’ll be back with another good time next summer.