Book Review: The Anniversary

Title: The Anniversary

Author: Alex Finlay

Publisher: Ballantine

Publication Date: May 12, 2026

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

The Anniversary delivers a bold narrative structure of twin storylines that unfolds exclusively on May 1st across multiple years, creating a unique rhythm that both propels and constrains the narrative in fascinating ways.

The dual storylines work in tandem effectively. Jules Delaney's arc traces her evolution from high school rape survivor to fashion model, all while carrying the psychological weight of her encounter with the May Day Killer. Quinn Riley's journey is equally compelling—returning from juvenile detention, he embarks on a years-long quest to find his mother's killer. The decision to check in with these characters only once per year creates natural narrative gaps that Finlay uses to show transformation rather than tell it.

The annual intersections between Jules and Quinn feel almost fated, their paths crossing with a frequency that tests the boundaries of believability. This is where the novel's structural ambition becomes its greatest vulnerability. The coincidences pile up, and while they serve the story's thematic interests in fate and connection, they occasionally strain credibility. The climax arrives with both the intensity and the predictability that comes from a carefully engineered plot—you can see the pieces moving into place even as the tension ratchets up.

What saves the book from feeling too calculated is Finlay's ability to ground the thriller mechanics in genuine emotional stakes. The trauma Jules carries, the grief that drives Quinn—these aren't just plot devices but real psychological weights that give the mystery hunt its urgency. And just when the ending seems to have arrived exactly where expected, Finlay delivers a final twist that makes you want to reread the book with fresh eyes.

The May Day Killer premise is chilling in its simplicity, and Finlay maintains menace throughout by keeping the threat active even as years pass. The ticking clock element works precisely because we know another anniversary is always approaching.

A big thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley.  I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review: Hope Rises

Title: Hope Rises

Author: David Baldacci

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date: April 14, 2026

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Hope Rises is a sequel that demands you've lived through Nash Falls. It launches at full speed from the exact moment the previous book ended, with zero catch-up narrative.

Walter Nash, now operating as Dillon Hope, has transformed from spreadsheet sidekick to lethal weapon with one purpose—destroying Victoria Steers and her criminal empire. Working as an FBI informant, he must infiltrate her inner circle, a task requiring every bit of the brutal training that's reshaped him. Baldacci throws readers straight into the deep end at 100mph.

What frustrated me about Nash Falls' abrupt ending becomes this book's greatest strength—there's no downtime, no reset. The relentless pacing never lets up. Yet the characterization falters. Victoria Steers steps into the spotlight but her ruthlessness wavers in ways that feel implausible. Hope's motivations blur in equally unconvincing ways. 

A new character offers this gem of wisdom: "But what you must always remember is that no matter whether a cow looks like a cow, moos like a cow, and gives milk like a cow, there is no guarantee whatsoever that it is indeed a cow." It's a line that encapsulates the book's central theme—nothing and no one is quite what they seem, including Hope himself and the woman he's sworn to destroy.

The final third delivers clarity and closure, though the resolution feels contrived. I wanted a bolder ending. Still, this is a propulsive thriller that builds on its predecessor, even if the character arcs don't fully convince.

A big thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley.  I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review: The Only One Who Knows

Title: The Only One Who Knows

Author: Lisa Matlin

Publisher: Ballantine

Publication Date: Macrh 3, 2026

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Kangaroo Bay is a grimy Australian fishing town soaked in violence and secrets, where "silence is their first language" and the darkness runs deeper than the ocean. When disgraced TV reporter Minnow Greenwood returns after a public meltdown, she finds a place where locals vanish, shark attacks pile up, and domestic violence festers behind closed doors like an infected wound.

Matlin uses the Australian beach culture to brilliant effect, creating atmosphere that feels both exotic and claustrophobic. The "blood boys" and "blood men" of Kangaroo Bay aren't just colorful details—they're the rotting heart of a community built on unspoken brutality. "Nobody really spoke about the violence. It's not something you speak of. It changes you, though."

What fascinated me most was the central question: what happens when you finally snap? When you've had enough of holding it in, of being prey? Sometimes you become the shark instead. The book explores the masks we wear, the polished exteriors hiding feral rage, and asks who we really are underneath—or if we're the only ones who truly know ourselves.

The twists caught me off guard. Most characters are deeply unlikeable, including Minnow, but that's the point. These are damaged people in a damaged place, and Matlin doesn't flinch from the ugliness.

If there's a weakness, it's that the relentless darkness can feel overwhelming. But for a story about generational violence and predation—both human and animal—maybe that's exactly right.

A big thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley.  I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Book Review: Worse Than a Lie

Title: Worse Than a Lie

Author: Ben Crump

Publisher: Ballantine

Publication Date: February 17, 2026

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I picked up this advanced reader copy expecting a legal thriller, but what I got was something more—a story that forces you to confront uncomfortable truths about justice, race, and the systems meant to protect us all.

The premise is explosive: Hollis Montrose, a Black ex-cop, is shot ten times during a traffic stop on the night Barack Obama is elected president. Attorney Beau Lee Cooper takes on the case despite impossible odds. Ben Crump, drawing on his real-world experience as a civil rights attorney, crafts a narrative that moves quickly and pulls no punches about institutional racism within law enforcement.

Where the book stumbles slightly is in characterization. Some figures, particularly antagonists like Jack, veer into caricature territory. The systemic corruption feels so extreme that I questioned whether such blatant racial bias could actually exist unchecked—though Crump's own career suggests these scenarios may be less exaggerated than I'd like to believe. The partnerships in the story develop authentically from tension into solidarity, and the moral complexity Beau Lee faces adds depth beyond a simple good-versus-evil framework.

This is a promising start to the Attorney Beau Lee series, and I'm genuinely interested in reading what comes next. While it may not be a perfect thriller, it's an important one that entertains while challenging readers to think critically about justice in America.

A big thank you to Ballantine Books and NetGalley.  I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.