This was my first Alex Finlay novel, and I will definitely be reading more! With its fast pace, short chapters, and multiple POVs, it was a quick and easy read that I couldn’t put down. I was quickly pulled into the story, and the suspense kept me entertained and turning the pages to find out what happened next. There were so many twists that I did not see coming, and one in particular (you’ll know which one when you read it!) actually made me gasp out loud. If this is what I can expect from Finlay’s other works, then I am looking forward to reading more from him!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to netgalley for providing me with a copy for review.

This story follows many POVs as we try to uncover what happened to Alison the night she went missing. I found this story was readable thanks to the short chapters, however I found it to be boring and had a hard time really getting in to it. I found that there were too many characters and fake names I found it hard to keep everyone straight. I didn’t see some of the twists coming which I enjoyed and appreciated. Unfortunately near the end I just wanted it to be over and felt that the story was dragging and I was bored. Overall 3 stars.

This is my first Alex Finlay and I enjoyed it! Fast paced and reminiscent of Dan Brown with the international locations. I enjoyed this and read it quickly. I liked the multiple points of view and how it all wrapped up neatly! Definitely recommend!

3.5/5 Stars

Ryan Richardson's life completely changed after suspicion fell on him after the unexplainable disappearance of his girlfriend Alison Lane during their senior year. He leaves town and changes his name, trying to leave his past behind. Now attending law school, he is on a trip to Italy, when his father calls with the information that Ali's car is discovered in a lake, and a cryptic letter that says "If something happens to me..." in Ali's handwriting causing the case to be reopened.

I listened to this on audio, and I liked how short the chapters were, keeping my interest in the story. The time jumps kept me invested, and left me wanting more, but there were a lot of POVs to keep track of. I liked how there were multiple storylines, and characters that were all intertwined in some way. It was action-packed and each new POV uncovered more of the mystery. I finished it rather quickly, and it was a decent popcorn thriller.

This is my third book from Alex Finlay and I've come to the realization that this is just not the author for me. (I gave "Night Shift" three stars, DNF'd "What Have We Done," and did not like this one at all.)

The synopsis of "If Something Happens to Me" promises a gripping premise but fails to deliver any intrigue. The narrative, while initially promising with its blend of mystery and suspense, quickly becomes convoluted and loses momentum. The pacing feels uneven, alternating between frenetic chases and tedious exposition, which disrupts the flow of the story.

Characterization, touted as a strength, falls short of expectations. Ryan Richardson's transformation from a suspect to a law student on the run lacks depth, and his actions often seem erratic rather than driven by a coherent motivation. The supporting cast, including the deputy and other peripheral characters, add little to the plot beyond clichéd roles.

Despite the promising setup of a cold case reemerging with unexpected twists, the execution falters as the plot twists become increasingly implausible. The attempt to inject surprise feels forced, undermining the credibility of the storyline. Essentially, this amounts to a very predictable mob tale that anyone familiar with movies such as "Donnie Brasco" or "The Family" will be able to figure out quickly. Overall, "If Something Happens to Me" starts with potential but ultimately fails to deliver on its promises of suspense and intrigue.

This one was great! Definitely hooked me from the beginning and had me NEEDING to know how things were going to play out! Recommend for anyone looking for a good thriller!

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay (out now!) has all the things I love: a twisty plot, dual storylines, and multiple narrators. There’s also plenty of action that keeps the story moving and short addictive chapters that will have you rapidly flipping the pages. Throw in a fresh out of the academy sheriff’s deputy and Philly mobsters and you have quite the unique tale of murder and intrigue.

I really liked how this one developed, especially once the big twist was revealed. It helped the storyline flow smoothly into what it wanted to be, an action packed mob thriller.

The book was okay. The story line was good, but I felt like it was longer and way more intricate than it needed to me. Ended up skimming the last few chapters because it was just too long

Five years ago, on a rainy evening, Ryan's girlfriend disappeared and Ryan was knocked out and left behind. After years of suspicion, her car is found in a lake with 2 bodies inside. The case reopens and the evidence leads one investigator close to home. The author did a great job tying an intricate plot altogether.

If Something Happens to Me starts off with several characters whose paths slowly begin to intersect. I had high hopes for this one, but in the end it was just solidly average.

This book was intriguing to start. Made you want to keep going to see where it landed. I did enjoy it , however it started to get a tad predictable towards the end. All in all not bad though.

While I enjoyed the pacing and overall story, I did keep getting a little lost with all the different character perspectives and locations, but that was just a me issue, no real fault of the book.

I enjoyed the crime boss revenge plot, and how it all connected the different perspectives. I think the end was a little convenient, and everything tied up a little too nicely.

Overall though, this was a pretty enjoyable and fast paced read that I think a lot of people would enjoy.

I have really enjoyed each Alex Finlay book that has been published in the past 5 or 6 years. If Something Happens to Me is definitely an attention grabber. It may be just because my mind was not in the right place for the story style where characters had multiple names and there were a lot of them, but I found myself confused a lot. Even so, the book was a good book and I will be recommending it to all my friends who have enjoyed any of Alex Finlay's past books. I am anxiously awaiting the next!

If Something Happens to Me was truly unputdownable. It was fast-paced, compulsively readable and endlessly twisty and suspenseful. While I enjoyed The Night Shift, this sophomore effort managed to outshine it. There are few things more enjoyable than trying to figure out how all the characters and storylines fit together, only for them to meld in the most explosive and gratifying way. This is sure to be a popular summer read.

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the opportunity to read an ARC of "If Something Happens to Me." I put off reading this book for as long as I could because I typically finish Finlay's books in a day and am then devastated when I have to wait at least a year for another book by him. "If Something Happens to Me" sucked me in immediately. Utilizing three POVs with indeterminate timelines made for a propulsive thriller that spanned two continents and several countries. I did figure out one of the twists, but this did not detract from my experience reading this book at all. This story was clever. It was a unique missing person story with added redemption for the boyfriend. For once, the boyfriend/spouse/significant other doesn't do it!

4.5 for keeping me fully engaged and anxious to pick the book back up spurring me to read it entirely within two short blocks of time. Did the story work all the way though, did everything line up, were all the characters deep and likable? Does any of that matter if I couldn’t put it down?

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay was a twisty, fast-paced mystery.

Ryan Richardson was left for dead the night his girlfriend Ali went missing. Everyone thinks that Ryan did something to her, but the police could never prove it. Now, he's changed his last name and is in law school. On a school trip to Italy, 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 in Ali’s handwriting: If something happens to me…

When Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night, he 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, but he has no idea that his salvation may lie with a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas working her first case, and a mobster in Philadelphia who’s experienced tragedy of his own.

There were quite a few characters, multiple points of view, and several locations, but it wasn't hard to keep them straight in my head. The writing was fast-paced and easy to read, with short chapters to keep the story flowing. The entire time you're trying to figure out how everything fits together, then wait, what? Twist! The characters are fleshed out enough to make sense, but not overly developed. This was my first Finlay book, and I definitely was not disappointed.

Thank you to @Minotaur_Books and @NetGalley for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

This one sucks you right in from the start when Ryan’s girlfriend Ali is plucked from his car and he his left wondering what happened that night he was hit over the head. It is five years later now and while he is in Italy trying to move on, Poppy is a new detective on the scene back in his Kansas hometown.

I enjoyed the multiple settings and points of view but the Philadelphia mobster angle kinda got lost on me. The twists just kept coming, so much so that I seemed to lose track of who was who and what finally ended up happening. I found it had a masculine vibe, so would recommend to my husband.

I initially started this as a sampler, but within the first few chapters, I knew I needed to read the whole book early. Wow. Fun, engaging mystery, and interesting characters made this a hit!

I was excited to dive into another Alex Finlay book, hoping to find a gem since so many people love his work. Despite not being impressed by the first one I read, this book turned out to be a delightful surprise.

The mystery is complex and has you jetting across the world and that was a blast for me. It had a new take on the cross country roadtrip mystery and added a lot of fun dimension to the story. There is a lot to say about this book but I found the main characters motivations and how he had to change his entire life due to being essentially at the wrong place at the wrong time. His entire life fell apart and he was forced to forge a new path in the shadows.

Really just a solid mystery, with a bit of a weird twist, but it worked and wrapped everything up in a way that was fun and satisfying.

I had the chance to listen to the audiobook and it was nice to hear the characters come to life. If you like audiobooks then this one is worth the listen!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

This book should definitely have a movie adaptation - reading it was such a cinematic experience for me. Characters came alive, there were some picturesque locations and the story had me intrigued throughout. What can I say, I’m definitely a fan of Alex Findlay’s writing!

I loved going into this one knowing almost nothing of the story. The first half of the book gives a good insight into motivation of various characters and the second half read more like an action movie. Pieces started coming together pretty fast and I was there for it.

I also enjoyed complexities of characters - it’s not about good vs bad but more about how seemingly insignificant decisions can change someone’s path entirely. Grab this one if you’re looking for an entertaining summer read!

Grateful to Minotaur books, SMP and NetGalley for my ARC!