I have been catching Alex Finlay's books for a while, so was glad to see this new one appear. So far his mystery/thriller books have held my attention and always provide a good story. The envelope on the cover with water drops on it made me think there was a letter somewhere involved - and it contained a very interesting clue when it appeared.

Description:
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, 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.

My Thoughts:
The story skipped around between Leavenworth, KS; Philadelpha, PA; and across the sea to Italy. Finlay skillfully weaves this addictive plot together leaving us with a mystery with lots of twists and turns that kept me reading. I didn't want to put the book down. The young deputy sheriff, Poppy McGee has her hands full when her first day at her new job gives her a car in the lake belonging to a girl who went missing five years ago. But there are two bodies inside and not the missing girl's. Who are they and why are they there? Also, people do not seem to like Poppy asking questions, like something is being hidden about this missing girl. Questions are raised, things begin to happen - in all the three locations that seem separate and unto themselves, until they are not. I enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery/thriller.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books through Netgalley for an advance copy.

Admittedly, I struggled to get onboard, but once I did, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME is proof that a gripping story need not start at the beginning. When Ryan Richardson falls for Alison Lane, he has no clue as to the skeletons tucked away in her closet. During the lovers’ planned rendezvous, someone rips Ryan from Alison’s vehicle and renders him unconscious. When he comes to, both Alison and her car are gone.

Suspected of her disappearance, relentless disparaging remarks and sidelong glances invariably drive Ryan from his hometown. Years later, and still grappling with the traumatic event, he is halfway around the world when he spots the ominous man he remembers seeing moments before Alison disappeared.

Which is when Finlay ratchets up the suspense and begins cleverly knitting some seriously bizarre pieces together. Though some may see the final twist coming, most will appreciate the propulsive pacing, diverse characters, and the familial bonds that defy daunting odds. Much appreciation to Alex Findlay, Minotaur, and NetGalley for the ARC.

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is an incredible thriller.

I loved the multiple Point of Views and the incredible story.

There are lots of twists and turns.

I am still not sure how I feel about the ending, but nonetheless I really enjoyed this book.

This is an excellent book. It has a large cast of characters. Thanks to Mr. Finlay's skills as an author, it's actually quite easy to keep track of them all. I particularly like the way the author was able to connect them.
I would recommend this book
Thank you for the ARC.
#IfSomethingHappensToMe#AlexFinlay#St.Martin'sPress#Minotaur#NetGalley

Started out slow with a lot of characters to keep track of. I liked that the chapters were short and told from different POVs. Then at some point I started to see all the connections and I was hooked. Characters you thought were one way could be another or fit into a gray area. Poppy McGee was a great character. A little red-headed kid that went into the Army but then was discharged to come home to help take care of her dead. She joins the PD and her boss is one of her Dad's Army buddies. When a car is found in the lake that belonging to Allison Lane missing for five years she is tasked with monitoring emails. One character I would have liked to see more of was Ziggy, the 12-year-old true crime podcaster. He has so much potential for growth. The end was a roller coaster ride and I loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital copy.

If Something Happens to Me is another suspenseful thriller novel from author Alex Finlay. The story in If Something Happens to Me is one that is told by changing the point of view between three central characters in the novel and takes place in the present time which is five years after a fateful event that is now coming to light.

Five years ago Ryan Richardson was with his girlfriend Alison Lane alone at night while parked in their car when suddenly Ryan is dragged from the car and hit over the head all the while hearing nothing but Ali’s screams. Ali was never seen again and of course the police looked at Ryan as the suspect but with no evidence to prove he might of been lying Ryan was never charged.

Now five years later Ryan has changed his name and after finishing college he’s headed to Europe before tackling law school. It’s while traveling Ryan gets the next Ali’s car was found but with two strangers dead inside and only a note from Ali marked “If something happens to me”. Deputy sheriff Poppy McGee is then determined to solve the cold case from five years ago and find the truth of that night.

If Something Happens to Me is the fourth thriller novel I’ve read from author Alex Finlay and the one thing I say after each one is if you haven’t tried one of those thrillers yet you really should. This latest novel was full of all of the fast paced excitement that I expected with so many twists and turns to keep readers on their toes that as usual it is hard to ever put the book down and not want to continue flying through the pages until the very end. I do know that I will continue to return to Alex Finlay’s thrillers and do hope others give them a try too.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy of If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay. Alex Finlay has done it again, I could not put this one down! I loved the short chapters and the multiple narrators. These characters were so relatable and the epilogue was the perfect ending. The twists and turns have me still reeling. I cannot wait for the next book! 5/5 stars

“What did you think was going to happen to you, Alison Lane?”

I feel like ever since I read “Every Last Fear” my favourite time of year is when the new Alex Finlay book comes out and this one did not disappoint!

I loved that the story was told from multiple POVs and from multiple different locations. All of the characters and their stories were so interesting I had a hard time putting this down! There was even a point where I actually gasped before part II begins #iykyk

I also loved the small town, mob family, revenge vibes that this book gave off! The plot was so interesting and I really enjoyed reading this! Might even be my favourite Alex Finlay book!

Read if you like
📖short chapters
📖cliffhanger chapter endings to keep the pages turning
📖multiple POVs
📖small town/mob life vibes

my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

🥳Pub Date: May 28th

If Something Happens To Me is an multi-POV mystery/thriller. Ryan’s girlfriend is kidnapped while they were together and he’s accused of the crime. Over the next 5 years, Ryan is attempting to move on from the trauma and but there are so many lingering questions. Without divulging any spoilers, the readers experience the story mainly through the perspectives of Poppy, a new deputy sheriff, Ryan, Micheal, an accountant, and O’Leary, the head of an organized crime syndicate. Seemingly the characters stories aren’t connected. But over time it comes together. The mystery is interesting, the storyline is engaging and there are some twists that you see coming and some that you don’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

Alex Finlay does not disappoint with his newest book! It was a fast paced story, that was packed with action and suspense. Each of the storylines was well developed and kept me turning pages. Most importantly, I loved the way that he brought the storylines all together at the end.

A fast paced thriller that will keep you reading till the end. The ending wasn't really a surprise though, I'd guessed where it was going.

Incredibly fast paced thriller about a college kid who can’t shake his past. See, he was there the night his girlfriend Ali was abducted but they never caught the deformed killer. Fast forward to finding her car in the lake - will they finally find Ali out the puzzle pieces together of her disappearance?

Alex Finlay is one of my autobuy authors! I have come to love his thrillers, and this one was no exception! Told in alternating POVs— this thriller kept me on my toes! At first I wasn’t sure how things connected, but once the bomb was dropped.. it all started making sense. Usually with alternating POVs I struggle with at least one of them, but I found myself invested in all of the perspectives of this one. Highly recommend for a fast paced thriller that you can devour in just a few settings!

Wow what a ride! Alex Findlay is a new author for me and I have to say that I am impressed. I enjoyed this story and found it to be fast paced and highly entertaining. The amount of suspense was just right and took a few turns that could have gone cheesy but didn't.

I was caught off guard by multiple POV and timelines but once I figured out what was happening, I thought it was a nice addition to the story.

The characters in this book are love able and well written. I do wish there had been a little more character building, they're outstanding characters that I want to know more about!

I would have read this in one sitting if I didn't have responsibilities. There's a lot of characters introduced in the beginning but it wasn't difficult to keep up with what was going on. I don't know why this sat on my TBR shelf for so long. It was addicting! I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn't reading the novel and desperately wanted to know how it played out for everyone. This is my first Alex Finlay novel but I'll be adding more to my list and will be recommending this one to everyone.

I’ve been a fan of Alex Finlay since The Night Shift, so this was one of my most anticipated thrillers of the year and I really enjoyed it! It was fast-paced, unique and once I started it, I did not want to put it down. As with his previous books, there are multiple POVs that weave together to a pulse-pounding ending. It was intriguing trying to figure out how all the puzzle pieces fit together. I probably would have preferred a slightly different ending, but overall still recommend it.

This was my 4th novel of Finlay's.. I really get immersed into the story and found it very unpredictable. Story takes places in Kansas, Philly, Italy, Paris and England.. Ryan a law student is a suspect of his girlfriend's disappearance from 5 years ago . He discovers he may be able to finally prove his innocence.. I could not put this down the last few days. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in an exchange for an honest review. #AlexFinlay # If SomeThingHappensToMe

I liked this okay but wasn’t my favorite thriller! It was fast-paced but took me a while to get into.

Alison, a teenaged girl and her high school boyfriend Ryan, decide “tonight’s the night” and go to lovers’ lane to finally take their relationship to the next level. It’s a nice night so they spread a blanket outside but as it starts raining they rush back to their car. Just as they are getting in to the car, Alison is abducted and Ryan is knocked out by a man who he later describes as a monster with both pinky fingers missing. Thus begins a fast paced read with twists and turns across multiple states and foreign countries. Innocence lost, suicide, corruption, lost love, murder and a diverse cast of characters are all intertwined to create an interesting series of events. Couldn’t put it down! This ARC was provided by St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️

Ryan works to move on from the terrible night 5 years ago when his girlfriend was snatched from her car and he was left unconscious from a blow to his head.

This pulled me in from the very beginning! I loved the story being told by different characters and how they all intersected by the end. I had an
Ah Ha moment in the middle and had to go back several times to reread. This is my third book from Alex and it was a good solid read. It was fast paced with a few twists and a mystery to figure out. I loved getting a glimpse of the scenery of different parts of the world and coming back to the hometown to complete the full circle. The short chapters were a plus and helped make it a fast paced ride. I definitely recommend grabbing this book!

*TW - suicide, bullying, violence/murder
*you will like if you like: twist and turns, complex characters, mobsters!