Ryan Richardson’s life as he knew it ended when his girlfriend Allison Lane was abducted from the car they were both in at Lover’s Lane toward the end of their senior year of High School. As a result, he was the suspect of her disappearance and lost his basketball scholarship. Five years later, that night still haunts him. Now studying for a law degree on a school trip to Italy, he comes face to face with a man who’s haunted his dreams for years. This man is only connection he can remember to the night Ali went missing. One thing leads to another and he realizes this man is being hunted down and Ryan should be scared as well.
Back in Ryan’s hometown, Poppy McGee has just joined the police department and has been assigned to cover Ali’s case after the car from that night has been discovered in a lake. Insides the car was a note in Ali’s purse that read “If Something Happens to Me” with the details written in a strange code that no one can seem to figure out.
Meanwhile, the story also follows a Father named Michael who gets involved as an accountant for a Mob Boss. When the Boss’ son commits suicide due to being bullied at his prestigious private school, Michael now realizes there is a hit on his and his daughter’s heads.
The story is told through the triple point of view of Ryan, Poppy and Michael. We are eventually clued into the fact of how they are all connected.
I have read all of Alex Finlay’s books so far and while this is not my favorite, it was still a fast and intricate read which kept my attention and left me reading much later than I should have been. I loved the triple POV and how everything became connected, but the storyline was a little farfetched for me. Towards the end of part 1, I felt the twist was pretty easy to guess. If I had to rate his books in order, my favorite is Every Last Fear, followed by The Night Shift, then If Something Happens to Me and lastly What Have We Done. Thank you Minotaur Books for the early eARC!

During a late summer night, Ryan Richardson and his girlfriend, Ali, are attacked. This attack sets in motion a series of events that involves Ali going missing, Ryan accused of murder, and a plot line that kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot twists and big reveals didn’t stop from the first page to the last.

With flashbacks intricately weaved throughout the present, it was a thrilling look into the choices of others and how those choices can turn into something even darker. The number of characters that this book fits into the mystery had me wishing that each one was the focus of the story. Each character was given an attempt at a detailed backstory, but many times it fell flat. There were only one or two characters that I found myself sympathetically connected to as the chaos unfolded.

Despite the lack of focus on certain characters and the jarring flow of the plot, this is a book that sticks in the mind. The topics that are addressed are heavy and the manner in which they are dealt with has the power to really make you think. To be honest, even after finishing this book, I still can decide how I feel about that fact.

4/5 stars for a wild ride of a thriller

4.5 rounded up to 5
Alex Finlay is back and this time not all is what it seems:

Ryan thought he had found the love of his life, Ali, and her piercing screams still haunt him at night. The only thing that Ryan saw was a man missing his pinky fingers before he receives a crushing blow to the head. No on believes his story, even though there is no evidence but with a good lawyer he is not charged. 5 years later while in Italy, Ryan swears he sees the same man again, back home Ali’s vehicle is recovered in a lake and there are two dead men inside and a very cryptic message. This prompts the police department to reopen Ali’s case and it is assigned to a young detective and what she finds out is truly shocking.

I have read most of Finlay's books so far and what I appreciate is that he has not repeated himself in content or formula, that is a great author make. This book had me hooked from the beginning, there is something about the start of this book that just drew me in and I needed to know what had happened.

You will have to be okay with multiple POV and locations to enjoy reading this thriller, for me I enjoy this type of format so I was able to sink into it. I was able to figure out some of the twists but not all. You may think that a few POV are way out there, but do not fret, Finlay is able to bring it all together.

I think the characters I enjoyed the most were Poppy and Sophia. I think that either could have their own spin off series in a way, especially with the skills that Poppy picked up in the military and the one that Sophia has had to acquire over time, just by what has happened in their life. I think there will be times when one is confused about how all of the POV are related to each other, keep going it will all makes sense and I think n that Finlay does a good job bringing it all together.

Online bullying is no joke, and you always hope that things will change, but i think that the incidents that Finlay has occur in this book are true of now and it is sad that after everything they are still occurring.

Another great novel from Finlay, and I think one of my favourites by him. I love how all his books are different but have some similar threads. If you are looking for a high paced thriller, then make sure to pick this one up.

Enjoy!!!!

For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open.
The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali's piercing scream as she is taken. With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, he's never charged, though that doesn't matter to the podcasters and internet trolls. Now, Ryan has changed his last name, and entered law school.
He's put his past behind him. Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father: Ali's car has finally been found, submerged in a lake in his hometown. Inside are two dead men and a cryptic note with five words written on the envelope in Ali's handwriting: If something happens to me... Then, halfway around the world, the unthinkable happens: Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night. As Ryan races from the rolling hills of Tuscany, to a rural village in the Uk, to the glittering streets of Paris in search of the truth ...
My thoughts: this book was a lot of fun to read, multiple points of view, suspense, a great female deputy sheriff, old mobsters, fast paced, a great plot line that manages to weave all the different strands together, no unrealistic HEA... if you are looking for a great thriller, look no further, this is a good one !

Allison Lane went missing 5 years ago. Many assumed her boyfriend did it, but the best they could find was her hair on a serial killer’s sleeping bag. Then her car turns up at the bottom of the lake - they couldn’t find or missed it 5 years ago. Where is Allison Lane?

So many twists and turns. Many of them I guessed only just before they happened - definitely kept me on the edge of my seat.

#netgalley #IfSomethingHappensToMe

Short synopsis: Ryan’s life has never been the same since his girlfriend was stolen out of his car, now five years later Ryan spots the man he recognizes as bashing him on the head before stealing Ali.

My thoughts: This was a fun popcorn thriller with added elements of podcasts, multiple times lines, missing girls, and major cliffhanger endings.

There were a few moments that didn’t come as a surprise, but definitely ones that came out of nowhere and had my head spinning.

Quick and completely bingeable with short chapters that had me needing to flip pages quicker to see what was going to happen next.

Read if you love:
- Fast paced thrillers
- Missing girls
- Podcasts and true crime
- Multiple POV

This book was so-o-o GOOD! I think this was Finlay's best book yet! The pace of the book is incredible. It captured my interest from the get-go, and I didn't put it down until I finished. The premise was original, and the story lines wove together so seamlessly, there were no moments I felt confused or lost. The ending was poetic. I highly recommend this book to readers who like to be thrilled.

Finlay books are always reliable for me. It wasn't amazing but it kept me reading. Mob stuff isn't usually my favorite for a book that is supposed to be mostly realistic. I mean just the wonton killing and all but I liked the characters.

I love a good mystery. If Something Happens to Me was a crazy, twisty adventure. The dual storylines weaved together in such an interesting way.
I can't imagine being Ryan and not knowing what happened to your long-time girlfriend, along with being accused of her possible death or kidnapping. The pain and confusion, plus everyone around you accusing you.
The rich "mob boss" character was pretty standard, but it worked out well to weave into the story. I do wish that there was a bit more of the search, the codes worked into the story. It was added as such a small part, but the search would have been more exciting. (personal preference but still)
There was a lot going on in the book, with both multiple POVs and the timelines. It was done well enough to keep them all straight, but I can see this as something some readers don't like.
The ending was better than I expected. It started to feel a bit rushed, but it worked itself out.

If Something Happens To Me had me hooked from the blurb alone. I was immediately invested in the story and characters. Ryan was the main suspect in his girlfriend's kidnapping/disappearance but was not charged. However, everyone in his small town still alienated him, so he left. 5 years later he goes on a school trip and he received a phone call related to his girlfriend's disappearance and starts a whirlwind of twists and turns.

I absolutely loved the multiple perspectives/storylines. I loved seeing them slowly intertwine until finally coming together. This book kept me on my toes and I wanted to keep reading and not put it down. It was so well written and I can't wait to read more by Alex Finley.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review

The layers of the story in this one were so impressive! I couldn’t get enough. Loved the characters and the slow unveiling of how they all connected and who they really were. The pacing was perfect.

**Ryan Richardson, haunted by his girlfriend Ali’s disappearance, embarks on a quest for answers. The discovery of Ali’s submerged car leads him across continents, intertwining with other lives.

**Brace yourself! Finlay masterfully weaves pulse-pounding twists, leaving you guessing until the final chapter.

**Ryan, Poppy, Shane—their narratives collide, creating an intricate web of suspense.

**A rollercoaster ride of secrets, redemption, and unexpected alliances. Buckle up!

🎧From Tuscany’s rolling hills to Paris’s glittering streets, the audiobook transports you.

Emily Bauer's voice brings the characters to life, capturing their emotions and adding an extra layer of suspense. Whether it’s the urgency in Ryan’s search or the enigmatic tone of Poppy’s secrets, Bauer’s narration enhances the overall experience. You’ll find yourself immersed in the story, hanging on every word.

I may be a rare reader in that I’ve never picked up an Alex Findlay book before this one but I had definitely heard the name! From the very first page I was HOOKED. Findlay ties multiple story lines together to weave an intricate and thrilling tale in If Something Happens to Me. I did start connecting the dots so maybe it was a little bit predictable in some aspects but still “hanging-on-the edge-of-my-seat” enough that I devoured this read in a matter of days.

Thank you Alex Findlay and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Wow what a ride! Has my from page one! Great thriller! I have always like this author another good book here .

I enjoyed this one! The short chapters with alternating viewpoints made this a speedy read. There was a lot of suspense throughout that kept me hooked. I liked Poppy's character and her journey to solve the disappearance of Allison. It was fun to follow Ryan, especially since he visited so many European cities. The mobsters were a bit confusing to follow, I couldn't keep track of who was who besides Shane. As a result, I lost a bit of the plot toward the end but I still found it entertaining.

This might be one of the best thrillers of the year for me! It was fast paced throughout, had lots of characters and settings, and short chapters to propel you through the story. It's a little predictable but the author gives you obvious clues so it's not necessarily supposed to be a massive surprise who the bad guys are. If you're in a reading slump, I highly recommend this book to get you out of it.

The cold case of a high school girl who disappeared years ago comes back to haunt a small town in Kansas. Newly appointed Deputy Poppy McGee is appointed to the case, and it is up to her to track down the boyfriend cleared of the disappearance. Little does she know how involved she will become with the a mob boss, man with missing pinky fingers, and the FBI.

Unsettling, Riveting, and Addictive, this is one thriller you won't want to miss.

If Something Happens to Me has all the elements of a solid thriller: action, tension, suspense, and a bit of mystery. The pace is fast, fueled by twists and turns. Most of all, it is fun to read, and it saved me from falling into a reading rut.

From Italy, to the US to UK to Paris, this book will keep you anticipating what happens next. Ryan has been under suspicion since the disappearance of his girlfriend 5 years ago. How this ties into a mobster in Philadelphia and action in Leavenworth Kansas, will keep you guessing. I enjoyed the separate narration for the 3 main storylines.

From start to finish, this was a page turner. It had me at the edge of my seat the whole time!
I like that it was told in 3 different perspectives from different locations, and they were all interconnected.
I liked how, in the end, all the characters were moving on, but the chain of violence in the crime family community never stopped.
One thing that was a little confusing was that one of the perspectives was in the past at first, and it wasn't clear until the "Aha!" Moment. It made complete sense, but there was no indication that it was in the past.
The main point of this book, in my opinion, was showing how far someone would go to protect your family. Whether you're a mobster, an ex military, an accountant, ect. Family is the most important thing.
Other than that, I absolutely loved this and would definitely recommend it!

This fast-paced thriller is told through three locations and character POVs. Its short chapters hook you in and keep you turning the pages. I found that there was a before aspect you don’t fully notice until Finlay wants you to and it INSTANTLY makes all the pieces fit into place.

Thank You to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.