The Anniversary

by Amy Gutman

Book Overview

Five years after her boyfriend is executed for the murder of more than 100 women, Laura Seton, the man's defense lawyer, and a true crime author receive disturbing notes that indicate he may still be alive and find themselves targeted in a deadly hunt. 75,000 first printing.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316381209
• ISBN13: 9780316381208
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company
• Length: 352 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Has a Serial Killer Come Back from the Dead?

Nashville, Tennessee. Twenty-four-year-old Laura Seton testifies at the trial of Steven Lee Gage, her boyfriend and serial killer. She'd been naive about why Gage had been away from home so much and now she's paying the price as Tucker Shuyler, the brother of Gage's last victim, glares at her in court. Then, after being sentenced to death, Gage vows vengeance on all responsible for his sentence. Eleven years pass and now Laura lives in Cape Cod with her daughter Anna. She's changed her name to Callie Thayer, the last name she got from her ex who she met and married after the trial. She's taking some college classes, has a police officer boyfriend named Rick and a young, creepy type classmate named Nathan who is gaga over her. Posy Kisch is gaga over Nathan and doesn't like it one bit that he is obsessed with Callie. Callie worries not a bit about Nathan, in fact she's more interested in getting Rick's cop pal Tod Carver fixed up with her friend Martha. Her life seems to be ticking along fine, then she gets a note at home which says, "Happy Birthday, Rosamund, I haven't forgotten you." Rosamund was Gage's nickname for her, however he's been long dead, executed by the state of Tennessee. However, his death row pal, serial killer Lester Crain has escaped from prison and vowed to avenge Gage. Callie knows deep down she should go to the cops, however nobody, including her cop fella, knows who she is and she wants to keep it that way, so she stays silent. Meanwhile Melanie White, who was Gage's Attorney gets a similar note and she too, tells no one, because she thinks it's sort of a joke from her ex. Dianne Massey, a writer who wrote a book not to flattering to Gage, about the trial and Gage's life also gets a note. She goes to Maine and is in seclusion, working on a book. She is not so cavalier about her note, but she is the one who is murdered. Then Melanie is attacked, but luckily survives and right after that Posy is abducted and murdered, then Anna is kidnapped. So who is behind all this? Lester Crain is the first choice, but in this novel where people have secrets and not everybody is who they claim to be, noting is as obvious as it seems. I was on the edge of my seat, reading as fast as I could drag my eyes across the page, right up to the surprise ending. I thought I had it figured out, but Ms. Gutman had me completely fooled. She'll fool you too. Give this one a read and see what I mean, you won't be disappointed. Review submitted by Captain Katie Osborne

Book Ahead

The Anniversary will keep you turning pages well into the night, so schedule yourself accordingly before you pick it up. I enjoyed the author's first novel quite a bit, and this time she proves even more masterful. The threads of the plot are deftly woven, the suspense is finely paced and the characters resonate without lapses. If you seek psychological suspense and enjoy reading about women, this one's for you.

This is what scares us.

With the news full of serial killers and worse, this is the stuff that scares us all. Driving the plot is that other thing that scares us -- seeing others as they really are -- and letting them see our real selves. Best of all, it's good read! Grab a bowl of popcorn and curl up with The Anniversary.

Gutman Strikes Again with a Killer Psychological Thriller

The Anniversary is Hollywood movie material. I strongly recommend it to people who love mystery novels and to those who are new to the genre. This novel manages to live on a variety of levels. There are plots, subplots and a number of complex themes. On its most basic level, the Anniversary is about 3 women who all had a connection to a serial killer. The narrative begins when each receive a letter from him on the 5 anniversary of his execution. Don't want to say more.

great thriller

He is credited with strangling to death over one hundred women and then having sex with them postmortem. His crimes not only impacted the victims themselves but the victim's families, his lawyer and his girlfriend who was the state's star witness during his trial. On the anniversary of his death five years after Steven Gage was executed by the state of Tennessee, three women receive a note saying "Happy Anniversary, I haven't forgotten you!"When Callie Thayer receives the note, she immediately knows what it means and is afraid that her new life in Merritt, Massachusetts will be destroyed when the truth comes out. Melanie White, once Steven's lawyer and now practicing in New York City doesn't make the connection until Carrie calls her asking for help. True Crime writer Dianne Massey, whose book about Steven skyrocketed her to fame doesn't take the note seriously. By the time the dust settles one will die, one will be severely injured and the last will fight for her life against a killer who is determined to have his vengeance.Every once in a while, a book come along that is so exciting and chilling that the reader instinctively knows it will become a bestseller. THE ANNIVERSARY is such a book with its speed of light pacing and its action packed plot focusing on three females in peril. Try as one might, nobody will guess the identity of the killer until the author chooses to reveal the identity.Harriet Klausner