Do you really know what’s going to happen? Do you really know who did what? Can you trust the system?

All of these questions have multiple answers in this small town with a corrupt law enforcement, survival instinct, lost love, and a thirst for vengeance.

The actions of middle schoolers rippled into a series of events, all becoming exponentially worse than the previous one. Do your actions really have that huge of an impact if your life? Yes, they either lead into a life of lies to survive or to your death, all depending on who you are working for and what your parent(s) are willing to do for so called “justice.”

My favorite from this author. I was sucked in from the very beginning and couldn't wait to find out what happened at the end. So many twists and turns and fast paced. Highly recommend.

I love a thriller in the summer and this was the perfect one to start with. The pacing and short chapters made this absolutely un-put-downable. After reading several books by the author I had a feeling I would really enjoy this one and I did.

The plot felt a little different than anything I’ve read which is always nice with a thriller.

I definitely enjoyed the first half more as we got to know the characters and learned the twists and turns. The second half was a little slower since we kind of knew what was going on but it was still very enjoyable.

I really liked this one! I listened on a little 5 hour road trip and it kept me captivated and curious. It didn’t go where I expected, I found it pretty unique and interesting. I thought it was paced well too, I never felt bored or anything. This is my first book by this author, but I’d pick up another for sure.

Finlay writes another fantastic thriller. Ryan and his girlfriend Ali experience a horrifying night; Ryan gets knocked in the head and Ali gets taken. 5 years later, Ryan still thinks about that night. They never found Ali, and they have no idea who took her. Ryan is studying law and is abroad in Italy when he receives a call, they found the car that Ali was in at the bottom of a lake. Inside, there are two dead bodies and a cryptic note: If something happens to me… The man that Ryan believes took Ali shows up in Italy. And then he vanishes. Ryan tries his best to find him. All the while, Deputy Sheriff McGee is trying her very best to figure out what happened to Ali.

I love Finlay books. They are twisty, they keep you guessing, they keep you on the edge of your seat, and they shock you. I was certainly shocked in this one when the puzzle finally fit together for me. You can tell that Finlay puts a lot of work into his books. The intricacies of the plot are very well thought out.

The chapters are told from different points of view/characters/locations. They are short, and filled with action. There is not a dull moment in this book. This is definitely one of Finlay’s best works.

Wow this book really made me think, what I would do in this situation.
Ryan and Ali are young couple that go to lovers lane, they are attacked and Ryan was knocked out. Ali was abducted and this ruins Ryan’s life. Not only is he seen as involved but he can’t escape it.
Ali’s car is found submerged with a note that kick starts an investigation to decipher the code and find out what happened.

This was my first Alex Finlay novel and I really enjoyed it! I was sucked in from the beginning and could not put it down mid read. I do think the ending was dragged out and there were SO many characters it I got confused on who was who at some points. It is a fast paced thriller and I would definitely recommend.

I take a lot of time to consider what my first read of each year will be. It's not a decision I take lightly, as I feel like it can make or break the vibes of the year for me. I'm usually never upset with my decisions. I ultimately chose If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay as my first read of 2024 and I was so excited to dive in. But I was sadly disappointed throughout the reading of this book. It didn't capture my attention like I had expected. It was the fast paced thriller I was hoping to devour.

I loved the concept of this - a girl goes missing after getting into an accident and she's never found. Until years later when her car is found, two unknown men are found in the car and a cryptic note is found.

While I just didn't love the execution of this story, I still think the plot is genius and I've love to see this turned into a movie or tv series. I think it would translate well with some updates to the story.

I enjoyed this fast paced thriller by author Alex Finlay. . Five years ago, Ryan and his girlfriend Ali were parked at the local “lover’s lane”. He is attacked, and when he regain conscious , to, Ali and the car are gone. There are several possible leads, , and the reader is right in the middle of the investigation. This is an engaging story.

I've read other books by this author and enjoyed them. However, this one missed the mark for me. It really seemed to drag on, and it was quite predictable. There was far more of the mobster element than I expected, and that's really not my cup of tea. I did appreciate the short chapters. There was enough action, but there were too many characters. The big reveals weren't a surprise, unfortunately. However, if you are looking for a popcorn thriller, this may be of interest to you.

I really enjoyed If Something Happened to Me by Alex Finley.. It pulled me in from the very beginning, and the relatively short chapters, and quick pacing had me turning the pages, unable to put it down. Though the story starts off cycling through multiple points of view, with lots of different characters, and locations throughout, it does all come together in the end in a way that I didn't see coming. I will definitely recommend this to others. Looking forward to reading more by Alex Finley.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Alex Finlay book, and I absolutely devoured it! Written in multiple POV's, the short chapters kept the story moving and kept me wondering how all of these people connected and what happened 5 years ago when Ryan's girlfriend, Ali, disappeared. When I got to the one twist I literally said "no way!" out loud and my kids thought I was nuts 😂😂. This was a bingeable book and will definitely make a good summer read. This may be my first, but will definitely not be my last book by Finlay.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the e-ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

WOAH! What a fantastic thriller. Alternating between present today and an unforgettable chain of events that occurred about 5 years ago, the story follows a missing teen who mysteriously vanished while in the company of her high-school boyfriend, Ryan. Shockingly, her car and body were never discovered. All eyes turn to Ryan, but there was not enough evidence to convict him and he himself is trying to figure out just what happened. Fast forward to present day, her car is discovered. But she is not in it.

The events that led up to that event and that unfold 5 years later are told in such a masterful way that I really could not put this book down! The author truly kept you guessing at so many key facts and there were several plot twists that I just did not anticipate. Highly recommend!

Review posted to Goodreads, thank you netgalley, all opinions are my own

Ryan Richardson has spent five years haunted by the disappearance of his girlfriend Ali after a violent incident. Despite suspicion surrounding him, he's moved on, changing his name and pursuing law school. However, when Ali's car is discovered with a cryptic note inside, Ryan's past comes rushing back. As he travels across Europe in search of answers, he discovers unexpected allies and dangerous adversaries. "If Something Happens to Me" weaves together multiple perspectives in a gripping thriller that showcases Alex Finlay's mastery of the genre. This heart-pounding thriller kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The short chapters, multiple perspectives, and creative twists make for an exhilarating read that I couldn't put down. The fast-paced narrative takes you on a rollercoaster ride across continents, weaving together the stories of compelling characters whose paths intersect in unexpected ways. Finlay's skillful storytelling and masterful pacing make this a must-read for fans of the genre. I was thoroughly entertained and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping and immersive thriller experience. Five stars without a doubt!

A law student fighting with the memories of a traumatic event runs into someone connected to his past while on vacation. The encounter sends running for his life, all while he’s trying to clear his name. Author Alex Finlay returns with a fun thriller that gets a little too intricate in the mostly enjoyable book If Something Happens to Me.

Ryan Richardson is on a trip in Italy with his fellow law school classmates. He’s supposed to be enjoying the fully-funded excursion, but he can’t help thinking of his high school love, Alison Lane. Five years earlier, on what was supposed to be a special night during their senior year of high school, someone knocked Ryan unconscious and abducted Ali. She’s been missing ever since.

As if the event wasn’t bad enough, everyone believed Ryan had something to do with Ali’s disappearance. The harassment continued into college and got so bad that eventually Ryan transferred and changed his name. He’s had a little bit of peace since then—people no longer chant “Killer” when he goes by—but he can’t get away from the memories. He loved Ali, and the thought that he’s essentially responsible for her kidnapping has eaten him up since then.

Back in Ryan’s hometown of Leavenworth, Kansas, Poppy McGee has stepped into the role of deputy sheriff after an unexpected honorable discharge from the military. Poppy never thought she’d be back in Kansas and working a desk job no less, but here she is. On her first day in the station, though, there’s a horrific discovery: Alison Lane’s car is discovered submerged in a lake. Inside are two men and a cryptic note.

Poppy is stunned, but she starts working the case right away. The key to finding Ali is Ryan Richardson, but he’s disappeared. Poppy doesn’t let that hold her back, though. She follows up on other leads and tracks down witnesses who weren’t interviewed before. As she gets through one piece of information after another, Poppy’s patience starts to pay off. For the first time since Ali went missing, the Leavenworth police are making progress in Ali’s case.

In Italy, Ryan comes face to face with someone from the night that Ali went missing and he’s beside himself. For the longest time after Ali was kidnapped, Ryan insisted he remembered a specific person from the kidnapping that no one could find. Yet that man tracks Ryan down in Italy and shares shocking information about Ali’s disappearance. After the meeting, Ryan knows he won’t rest until he finds out the truth. On a hunch, he ditches his classmates and runs off to the UK to find answers.

With Poppy working the case in Kansas, Ryan running across Europe, and a mob boss bent on revenge for another tragedy, it’s only a matter of time before the truth about Alison Lane’s disappearance comes to light.

Author Alex Finlay offers readers a compelling thriller that starts with three separate storylines and braids them into one cohesive plot. Along the way, Finlay surprises readers several times with fun plot twists and will keep the audience turning or swiping pages as fast as they can. Finlay is clearly in his element, and it’s also clear just how much fun he’s having with his plot and his readers alike.

There are places where the book gets a little too complicated. In an attempt to keep all of the plotlines moving at the right pace, occasionally a few too many secondary characters come into the story. One of the key secondary characters makes his presence felt but then disappears for so long that when he’s mentioned again readers may need a few minutes to remember who he is and why he’s important.

For the most part, however, readers will thoroughly enjoy the thriller that Finlay has constructed. The ending is satisfying and wraps up everything in an organic way. Those who want a fun read, especially for vacation, should check this one out.

When local teen Allison Lane went missing, everyone blamed the boyfriend, Ryan Richardson. He was the last one with her, there was no trace of her or her car, and he had a strange story about a man with missing fingers dragging him from the car that couldn’t be proven. Five years later, the missing car is found at the bottom of the lake with two male passengers in the font and no trace of Allison Lane. Many new questions arise. Why was the car not found on previous searches? Who are the two men dead in the front? And where is Allison Lane?

The story is told from multiple narrative viewpoints and across different location settings. I wasn’t sure how they all fit together initially but the multiple character paths eventually intersect. I was quickly captivated but the action and mystery. I was cautious of who to trust and of where the story would go. The chapters are short and easy to read; I was always wanting to read just one more to find out what was happening. This is a quick faced and entertaining read that you can devour quickly!

When I requested this book, I thought I had already read and enjoyed other books by Alex Finlay. When I looked closer I realized I was mistaken. But I will definitely read more of his work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A terrible kidnapping! Ryan is haunted by his missing girlfriend. Alex Finlay has another outstanding story to read. How to go on living under the shadow of suspicion and put the past behind you.
Now, a vehicle has been found, but there are unknown bodies within…

If Something Happens to Me falls squarely into the thriller lane, with a fast past and a multi-POV narrative.

The story opens as law student Ryan is on an Italian holiday with some classmates when he gets a call from home. A cold case he was a suspect in, the unsolved abduction of his high school girlfriend, is no longer cold.

The action moves from a small town sheriff, to Ryan to other characters as well, and the twists and turns keep coming.

A great summer beach read!

My my my - the layers that exist in this one!

This was my first work by this author, and now I want to go, and read their entire back list. I read quite a bit of thrillers, and this book was very well done in my opinion!

I enjoyed the intricate plot, the action, the intersecting paths of the characters. I really enjoyed getting to go through Europe a bit. Reading this one felt like watching an action packed thriller movie.

I found it to be fast paced, and packed with twists. Perfect for readers who enjoy multiple point of views.

It's not exactly a whodunnit book. It was draggy from the second chapter onwards. People on this book just keep on killing someone without any regard for anything as if they are psychopaths. I don't know about the storyline but it fails to deliver the mobster element like the godfather. This was not for me, one of Alex Finlay's greatest work.