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!

This book started off with a bang and kept that same energy the whole way through. There was a lot going on - lots of characters and various settings. At times, I had to pause to focus on who was talking and where we were. That didn't take away from the enjoyment though. There were good twists and turns that helped answer all the questions I had throughout the story. The chapters were quick and easy to read. There was also nonstop action that kept me entertained and invested in what was going to happen. This was my first read by this author, but it definitely won't be my last.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Get ready to lose some sleep! Alex Finlay’s latest, If Something Happens to Me, is so addictive you will gladly sacrifice a good night’s rest to get to the end.

He had to change his name, switch colleges, and declare a new major. For five years, Ryan Richardson’s life has been defined by one night. A rainy evening when he and his girlfriend Ali (Alison) went to Lover’s Lane and did not see the monster approaching their vehicle through the fogged-up windows. They only knew he was there after. After he had yanked open the door, ripped Ryan from the car, and driven Ali’s BMW into the night, her screams piercing the dark.

When Ali disappeared, so did Ryan’s reputation. The police were skeptical (to say the least) of his description of a man with no pinkies materializing in a remote area of a backwater town, perpetrating a kidnapping (or murder) and leaving no trace of himself, Alison, or the car. To close the case, the cops and community needed Ryan to have done it. They would all sleep better, they assured him, knowing the killer in their midst had been locked away. Unfortunately for them, lack of evidence and a good defense attorney meant Ryan was never charged, much less incarcerated. That hasn’t stopped people from convicting him in their hearts, though. Nor has it kept the media from heavily implying he got away with it. The former basketball star had to cease to be Ryan Richardson and become nerdy Ryan Smith to have a shot at a future.

Then, the past comes calling. While on a trip to Italy with his law school classmates, Ryan’s phone rings. It’s his dad, letting him know that a YouTuber called Cold Case Company has found Ali’s car submerged in a lake not far from Lover’s Lane. There are two dead men inside, but no sign of his former girlfriend.

Poppy McGee’s life hasn’t exactly gone as planned. Thanks to a handsy superior officer and the untimely and unexpected death of her mother, Poppy is back home in Leavenworth, Kansas. She knows she has a job as a sheriff’s deputy not because of her military experience but because her dad had served with the Sheriff in Iraq. She’s grateful for the position; her family has never been poor, but they sure aren’t rich either. With her dad’s cancer keeping him from earning a living, it’s Poppy’s paycheck that will keep them afloat.

She expected quiet days driving quiet streets, keeping drivers in line. Instead, her first day is full of tedious excitement. Excitement because Alison Lane’s vehicle has been found, breaking open a case five years cold, tedium because putting up blockades to keep the lookie-loos from compromising the scene isn’t exactly a thrill-a-minute. Her next day is even less exciting – she gets the fun, fun task of weeding through the tips that come in and coordinating with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Little does she know those two things will be what finally sheds light on what happened during a stormy night when a couple of teens expecting a fun makeout session found themselves involved in something far more dangerous.

Weaving through the story of Alison, Ryan, and Poppy is the tale of Shane O’Leary, his son Anthony, his accountant Michael, and that man’s daughter Taylor. From Philadephia to Italy, from Paris to Kansas, the threads of these lives will tangle together into one final explosive showdown between past and present.

If Something Happens to Me is a multi-PoV tale. Readers hear from Ryan, Poppy, Shane, and a host of others, each with a riveting piece of the story to tell. The author does a fabulous job of turning the narratives of these distinct individuals into a mesmerizing whole. I read this novel in a single sitting and was so grateful I could find the time to do that since I definitely didn’t want to put it down.

Figuring out how the disparate dramas fit together is compulsive, but what really pulled me in was the people. My heart just ached for Ryan, who had his life shattered by being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is a genuinely thoughtful, sincere person carrying guilt for the girl he couldn’t protect and the money his family had to spend keeping him out of prison. Ryan’s keen intelligence and courage shine through when he is sucked back into the mystery of Ali’s disappearance.

Shane O’Leary is a deeply flawed human being whose only redeeming characteristic is his love for his fragile son, Anthony. I found my heart aching for them at the start, too. Shane, like many powerful people, finds himself powerless in the face of Anthony’s social awkwardness and outsider status at school. As that situation unfolds, you can’t help but feel for them as Anthony falls prey to some cruel people, and Shane finds himself unable to protect him. I didn’t at all agree with what happensas a result, but I certainly understood the emotions driving it.

Poppy is a sweet but stock character. She plays the role of a law enforcement officer who has just plugged into the system, still has ideals, and is willing to think outside the box and push back against the powers that be when needed. She works well here because the story needs her Holy Fool-style persona, but that doesn’t change the fact that she is ultimately only a tool for the author to move the narrative forward.

My one complaint with If Something Happens to Me is its sheer unbelievability. At numerous times during the tale, I found myself close to the giggles as our heroes repeatedly battle and defeat trained killers. That’s okay because this isn’t meant to be more than a fun summer action/adventure read, but the craziness pulling me from the story a few times did cause a wee bit of a downgrade. I would still recommend this novel very strongly, however. If a few hours of entertainment is what you are looking for, you can’t do better than this.