A secret's a boat tossed on a wave: THE ANNIVERSARY.

The Anniversary by Alex Finlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a typical Alex Finlay page turner that I blew through in about 24 hours!

It follows the intertwining lives of classmates Quinn and Jules, checking in on both of them every May 1st, starting in 1992.

That first fateful May 1, 1992 is a big one: Quinn, a good kid from a poor household is arrested after trying to help stop a fight. And Jules survives an attack from the so-called "May Day Killer" that leaves her horribly traumatized.

After his time in prison, Quinn spends his time looking for his mom's killer, while Jules becomes a model trying to outrun her past. But over time, we see their paths overlapping more and more. This one is hard to put down, as we have lots to figure out--who is the May Day killer? Who killed Quinn's mother?

The only reason this isn't rated higher is that while I found the story captivating, I did find much of it predictable, figuring out the main culprits fairly early on. There's only so much character development when we check on our protagonists once a year. Still, this is an enjoyable thriller that also delves into serious topics, such as sexual assault and how society views missing women. 3.5+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in return for an unbiased review.

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I'm walking through the midnights: PARENTS WEEKEND.

Parents Weekend by Alex Finlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a quick read that draws you in immediately.

Alex Finlay just has a way of building suspense and keeping you guessing.

It's parents' weekend at a small university in Santa Clara, CA. As the parents descend, a group of capstone students disappear, never showing up as promised for dinner with their folks. We have Stella, the daughter of a plastic surgeon and his wife; Felix, the son of the dean's secretary; Libby, the daughter of an Internet-famous judge; Blane, the son of a high-ranking state department official; and Mark, whose dad has a prison record.

Finlay makes it simple to immediately get wrapped up in the lives of these kids and their college drama along with the parents and their messy situations. Their disappearance is investigated by FBI Special Agent Sarah Keller, known to Finlay readers from THE NIGHT SHIFT. I love Agent Keller, her husband Bob, and their twins! Seeing her again was a total highlight.

These college students have a ton of interpersonal drama plus involvement with a notorious older student. Meanwhile, their parents are busy cheating, lying, and keeping their own secrets. Short chapters from all sorts of POV (adult and teen, plus Agent Keller) build up the tension and slowly reveal details until we learn the truth.

If you want a thriller that's a quick read and keeps your interest, this is a good choice.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books.

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Where I see the days as they fade away: IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME.

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Not my favorite Finlay book, but still a page turner that I finished in one day!

This thriller is definitely compulsively readable, as, after five years, Ryan struggles with memories of his girlfriend Alison being kidnapped right before his eyes. She was never seen again. Now her car has been found in the lake in their hometown, but Alison isn't inside: police find the bodies of two strange men instead. Traveling abroad in Italy, Ryan starts to wonder exactly what happened to Alison, especially as he's contacted by local law enforcement from back home, a new deputy sheriff named Poppy.

The story is told from multiple POVs, including Poppy and Ryan, and weaves in an intriguing mob aspect. It's dark and gruesome, as is typical of a Finlay story. It delves into the theme of family and exactly what we will do for those we love. I especially loved Poppy's character: a war veteran struggling to find her place in the sheriff's department of her hometown.

I did find a lot of this story to be rather predictable, working out much of the twists way ahead of time. There are plenty of surprises, but many of them do seem rather obviously mapped out. Still, if you're looking for a quick thriller, this is a fun one. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in return for an unbiased review.

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The weak spot in the armor: WHAT HAVE WE DONE.

What Have We Done by Alex Finlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As kids, Nico, Benny, Jenna, and Donnie bonded at Savior House, a group home for kids. Their time there was full of trauma, as kids disappeared regularly, and they were bullied by the owner's son. However, they've all gone on to lead "regular" lives--with several of them even becoming famous. But soon they realize that someone is coming after them and has succeeded in killing Ben, a judge. As attempts are made on the others, the survivors must reunite and try to figure out why they are being targeted, even if it means returning to the horrors of Savior House.

I have come to really love Alex Finlay's books and while this one was a little different from the others I've read, it did share one trait: it was a total page turner. You have to suspend a little disbelief to fully enjoy WHAT HAVE WE DONE--it reminded me a little bit of a hellbent Rio Youers thriller at times. But it's a fun, crazy read and offers a great mystery.

DONE opens up with the Savior House kids committing a terrible deed as teens--jumping to their present-day lives, we see how that act (and their time at the home) has formed them into adults. We also can't help but wonder if the recent killing is related to what they've done. Not all of them are the most lovable characters, but each is interesting in their own way. We learn about Benny, a distinguished lawyer and judge, through his friends' memories. Nico is a producer for a reality show about coal miners (yup). Jenna has an interesting past and is concentrating on motherhood. And Donnie is a washed up rock star. While they might not all be close now, we see the power of their childhood friendship and how strong kids can be. The book covers some serious topics, including a range of abuse.

There's a lot going on in DONE and sometimes it seems like a little bit much. The short chapters always kept me reading, but the multiple POV and flashbacks to the group home could be overwhelming. Still, this was an exciting read that kept me guessing until the very end. 4 stars.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Minotaur Books in return for an unbiased review. Look for WHAT HAVE WE DONE on 03/07/2023!

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Made with pretty lies and broken dreams: THE NIGHT SHIFT.

The Night Shift by Alex Finlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

New Year's Eve, 1999. At the Blockbuster in Linden, New Jersey, four teenage girls and their manager are brutally attacked. Only one girl survives, Ella. The police rapidly hone in on a suspect, who escapes and is never seen again. Fifteen years later in Linden, it seems to happen again. Four teenage girls at a Linden ice cream store are attacked. Again, there is only survivor. As Linden struggles to recover from this new tragedy, Ella--now a therapist--is requested at the scene to counsel the new survivor, Jessica ("Jesse"). But as Ella gets to knows Jesse, she's drawn into a dark web of lies and deceit.

I've never read an Alex Finlay book before, and this one was a really pleasant surprise! I read each half over two days thanks to the short, quick chapters. It spans two time periods: 1999, when the first killings happened and then nearly present-day, when the ice cream store murders happen. These killings are linked by Ella, the earliest lone survivor, who now becomes a counselor to Jesse, the girl who survives the ice cream store killings. We also hear from FBI Agent Sarah Keller, called in to investigate the 1999 Blockbuster case, and from Chris, a young man who has ties to both time periods.

Honestly, this book captivated me. The multiple points of view helped it fly by and while I had some suspicions about who might be responsible, the book kept me guessing. There are lots of twists. Both the then and now storylines are interesting, especially since you have some teen drama thrown in, and Ella looking back on what was happening in 1999. Having multiple characters tie between the two time periods (Linden is a small town) really helped make everything work. Honestly, this would have been a 5-star read for, except the ending was a little abrupt and made me sad. Still, I really loved this fast-paced and intriguing thriller. 4+ stars.

I received a copy of this book from St. Martin's Press and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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