Five years earlier, Alison Lane and Ryan Richardson are “visiting” Lover’s Lane when Ryan is knocked out and Alison disappears. Although Ryan is the prime suspect in her disappearance, he is never charged. Ryan has changed his name, is getting a law degree from Georgetown University, and is on a summer trip to Italy when he gets a strange message. In following the message instructions, he tracks down the person he thought he saw on that fateful night. Meanwhile, back in Kansas, Poppy McGee, recently been discharged from the Army, has taken a job as a deputy sheriff. When a submerged vehicle, linked to Alison’s mother, is found at the bottom of a local lake with two dead men inside, she is drawn into the original disappearance. Alison’s father, Michael, has been drawn into the Philadelphia mob family of Shane O’Leary because of a need for money. When Shane’s teenaged son commits suicide, he is hellbent on finding out why, and when he does, extracting retribution from those responsible. Sound confusing? Not really as the three main story lines move forward through many surprises, twists, and crimes. This is the 3rd book I have read by Finlay (the one I missed didn’t get great reviews anyway!) and he has done a very good job of creating a story that started out slowly but about halfway through had me turning pages as fast as I could. While some of the outcomes might have been seen coming, getting there was a real roller coaster ride. My thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

High school sweethearts, Ryan and Ali, are attacked while parked in “lover’s lane”. Ryan is knocked out and Ali disappears along with her car. For years Ryan has had to deal with everyone’s suspicions. Now five years later Ali’s car is found with two dead men and a preserved note in Ali’s purse saying: “If something happens to me…”. Then Ryan spots the man who took Ali and a mad chase across Europe ensues.

Poppy is back in her hometown after being discharged from the army, taking a job as Deputy Sheriff when Ali’s car is discovered. Poppy went to school with Ali, remembers when it all happened and so the case is personal. Strange facts come to light. Who can she trust?

Shane O’Leary, a mob boss, going through his own tragedy, and Michael Lane, his accountant. I wasn’t sure how they fit into the story, but it all comes together!

If Something Happens to Me was an exciting page-turner I didn’t want to put down! I felt the characters’ urgency at piecing things together with bad guys on the loose. I was rooting for Ryan, Poppy and Michael! There were several twists I didn’t see coming! My favorite Alex Finlay to date!

I alternately read and listened to an audio copy of the story. I enjoyed both versions! Having three narrators gave each of the characters a distinct voice and made the switch in POVs seamless! I listened to my usual 1.5x normal speed and higher at times.

BOOK REVIEW: IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME

The newest @alexfinlay is gripping, fast- paced, and completely unpardonable!! Five glowing stars for this wild ride of a book! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Huge thank you to @minotaurbooks for my gifted copy! I binged this one in two sittings and loved it! There were a lot of moving parts with 3 POVs but everything came together in the end and some of the twists along the way had me SO surprised!

This one is def a little more dark and at times gruesome than I was expecting so readers be warned! The pacing was 10/10 and the short chapters had me HOOKED!

This was a short fast-paced thriller making it an easy read. It was another multiple POV storyline which I'm getting rather worn out on but still seems to be the staying as the current thing to do. I could also see some of the twists long before they were revealed but it still made for an entertaining read.

Told from several POVs, this suspense/thriller continued to throw out plot twists that I didn't see coming. Looking back, maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised at the main one that happened at the 50% mark, but it wasn't on my radar at all.

There is so much I would love to discuss, but some would be plot spoilers. However, this story is well told and kept my interest from start to finish. I did suspect something was up with a character or two, but I was mostly surprised at the story's direction. 

I really liked Poppy. She is a new deputy sheriff in the town after some issues with her time in the military. I like that she is petite but takes no guff from anyone. She delves into the mystery surrounding Ali once the car is discovered in the lake. She is tenacious yet caring. 

The book does contain scenes regarding suicide, depression, bullying, and more. However, these helped us understand the parent's point of view and their feelings. I am not saying what they do is right (you have to read the book to find out), but it is understandable.

This is the second book by this author that I have read, and so far, I have enjoyed both. 

We give this book 5 paws up.

This mystery/thriller opens the night a teenage girl goes missing five years ago. Told through multiple POVs, across multiple locations, this one will keep you turning those pages.

Are some of the twists and turns predictable? Sure, but it’s still such a fun summer read.

I received an advance copy of the ebook from Minotaur Books and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley and the author for an advanced copy of this book.

Honestly this book was so convoluted. It was hard to follow the plot lines at times, and since it was so random at times it made me not care to follow. I did enjoy that this was a quick read, as I was done fast, but other than that this book doesn’t really live up to the other ones by this author.

3.5 - Pretty solid read and kept me turning the pages quickly. I liked the short chapters from different perspectives. The end got a little bit "boring action" for me but overall a good, entertaining read. Rounded down to a 3.5 bc I will forget about this book pretty quickly and skimmed through a little of the action.

This is one thriller that will cure couples of going parking in deserted areas! When Ryan and Ali are parking one night someone opens the car door, knocking Ryan out and taking Ali. Five years later, Ali is still missing and Ryan is still dealing with the aftermath.

The story takes readers to Tuscany, Paris and a small village in the UK, as well as Kansas and Philadelphia in the United States. From small town law enforcement to the mob, readers will slowly discover what really happened the night Ali was taken.

I would have never imagined all that transpired in this book. It was one exciting read and one of the best thrillers I have read this year!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am pleased to offer my honest review and recommend this to other readers.

Alex Finlay’s "If Something Happens to Me" is a riveting thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The novel deftly blends suspense, mystery, and a touch of legal drama, showcasing Finlay’s skill in crafting intricate, high-stakes narratives.

The story centers on Ryan Richardson, a man haunted by a traumatic night five years ago when his girlfriend Ali was abducted. With no evidence to clear his name and relentless scrutiny from the media, Ryan changes his identity and tries to move on. However, his past catches up with him when Ali’s car is discovered in a lake, containing two dead men and a cryptic note in her handwriting. This discovery sends Ryan on a desperate quest across Europe to uncover the truth and confront the man who has haunted his nightmares.

Finlay’s ability to create compelling, multifaceted characters is evident throughout the novel. Ryan’s journey is both a physical and emotional odyssey, drawing readers into his relentless pursuit of answers. The narrative is enriched by the perspectives of a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas and a mobster in Philadelphia, whose stories intricately intertwine with Ryan’s, adding layers of depth and complexity to the plot.

The novel’s pacing is expertly managed, with each twist and turn heightening the suspense. Finlay’s descriptive prose vividly brings to life the diverse settings, from the picturesque hills of Tuscany to the bustling streets of Paris, immersing readers in Ryan’s frantic chase.

While the book excels in maintaining tension and delivering shocking revelations, some readers might find the numerous plot threads and characters a bit overwhelming. Additionally, a few coincidences in the storyline may stretch believability for some.

Despite these minor drawbacks, "If Something Happens to Me" is a masterful thriller that cements Alex Finlay’s reputation as a leading voice in the genre. The novel’s blend of psychological intrigue, action, and well-drawn characters makes it a must-read for thriller enthusiasts.

In summary, "If Something Happens to Me" is an engrossing, pulse-pounding novel that keeps you guessing until the very end. Alex Finlay delivers a multi-layered thriller that explores the depths of trauma, the quest for truth, and the unexpected connections that can change everything.

I was already a big fan of Finlay’s work, but this one just took the cake. My favorite of his to date, it was just so good. The chapters are short and leave you hanging each time. You’ll constantly be saying “just one more chapter” until next thing you know it’s over. There are multiple POVs that have you playing detective to connect all the dots. When the twists started hitting and things started to come together, I was shook. Everything was so unexpected, I couldn’t get enough!

Riveting from the Get-Go!

Alex Finlay knows how to keep me on my toes, and in suspense and this time is no different. Ryan Richardson thought his nightmarish past was behind him, unfortunately for him, he was very wrong. If Something Happens to Me is yet another pulse pounding tale from Alex Finlay that kept me on my toes

Another buddy read with Kaceey.

Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the arc.

If Something Happens to Me is the third book I've read by Alex Finlay, and I must say it's my favorite so far! It's always hit or miss with me when a story is told from the viewpoints of different characters; however, there was no confusion whatsoever here and it made the story even more exciting. When I got to the end of Part One, my jaw dropped. I did not expect THAT!

Ryan Richardson has, for the past five years, relived the night when his car door was ripped open, he was pulled out and received a crushing blow to his head. He also remembers the scream of his girlfriend Ali when she was dragged away. The car and Ali were never found, and suspicion fell on Ryan. However, there was no proof that he was complicit in that night's drama, plus he had a good lawyer. Ryan changed his name and entered law school. While on a trip to Italy with his law school classmates, he receives a call from his father: Ali's car was found submerged in a lake in his hometown, with two dead men inside. Ali isn't there, but there's a note found with her handwriting, stating "if something happens to me"... He's stunned, but it gets even more bizarre. A man makes his presence known to Ryan in Italy...the same man he's dreamed about for 5 years. Ryan begins his search for the truth through Tuscany, a rural village in the U.K. and Paris. He has no idea that the answers may be found with a mobster in Philly who also suffered a tragedy, and a young sheriff's deputy working her first case in Kansas.

This was a mystery/thriller that actually had strong elements of each. This story engaged me from the start, grabbing me by the throat and forcing me to race to the finale. Ryan was a sympathetic character. He was a star basketball player in school, and Ali was his love. When she was abducted, so many thought Ryan was the culprit. His excellent lawyer helped him, but he couldn't get past people thinking he made Ali disappear. He changed his name and entered law school, but the memories remained with him. After his father told him about Ali's car being found while Ryan was in Italy with his law classmates, he saw the man - with no pinkies - who he had a glimpse of on that fateful night. Ryan goes on a mission to find this man, leaving his classmates behind. Then we have Poppy McGee, a sheriff's deputy in Leavenworth, Kansas. She was in the military police, until she punched her commanding officer in the nose for harassing her. When the missing car was discovered in the lake, there was a note from Ali in it, which contained a book cipher. When the Sheriff disappears, Poppy is determined to find the truth. She was such a likable young woman, determined to discover what had happened. She knew she must follow every clue, even when they pointed to her brother. Shane O’Leary, a mob boss in Philadelphia, is also tied into this case. When a personal tragedy occurs, I felt sympathy for him, even though he was a mobster. However, he quickly lost my sympathy, because he sought revenge, and it was not pretty! There was a group of war veterans that were also involved in this matter, which ended up being quite important to the story. It was exciting with the story spanning the US, Tuscany and Paris. I like to think I'm an intelligent person, but I could not figure out who did what, and I was often shocked. There was also a character who became an unlikely hero, and he was my favorite. But I can't mention him without giving away secrets you will want to discover on your own. Alex Finlay is absolutely a writer you must follow! I will be sure not to miss any of his work.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

This book had me interested within mere pages. It was fast-paced and interesting. There is some hoping between locations with different sets of characters, but it is not hard to follow. I really enjoyed reading this one. I received this book from Netgalley and St Martins Press as an advanced reader copy in return for my honest review.

I love the narrators for this audiobook. The book flowed nicely. I enjoyed the descriptive information about the characters.. The back-and-forth between the two time periods in the book we planned it well and easy to follow along. I loved the twist of creating a code to leave a message if something ever happened to you.

Five years ago, Ryan Richardson and his high school girlfriend Ali were parked at the local “lover’s lane”. He’s attacked and when he comes to, Ali and the car are gone. The only things he remembers about the attack was Ali’s screams and that the attacker was missing both his pinky fingers. Ryan was accused of the murder of Ali, since she never found her.
Years later Ryan changed his last name hoping to reinvent himself. He is now in law school and has decided to take a trip with his schoolmates to Italy. Ryan just happens to catches sight of something that shocks him to the core. It’s the man from the night Ali went missing. Ryan must risk his own life to track this man down and finally find out what happened to Ali.

Poppy, a young war vet who returns home to Leavenworth, Kansas, to work as the deputy sheriff. Her first call is to an abandoned car found in a lake. There are two men that have an evidence of an execution style murder. Poppy must find out who these men are, and why they were murdered. The car is Ali’s, the exact one that went missing that terrible night. Ali’s body is not in the car, but her purse is. They find a note in Ali’s handwriting that says, if something happens to me with a cryptic message.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a completely fast paced, easy read with lots of twists and turns, that kept me guessing. It is told in multi character POV. The narrator fits all of the puzzle pieces together for us, with ease. This was a 4 star read for me.

This was such a fun book! The characters and plot were interesting, it was fast-paced, and I thought it all tied together well at the end. I like stories that are multi-faceted and this one definitely was. It’s best to go in blind, there are some surprising connections and twists. If you enjoy mystery, suspense, adventure, and a little bit of romance mixed in, then I recommend this one. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC!

A decent popcorn thriller. There were lots of characters and could get a little confusing at times. I kept having to pause and remember who people were. I was a big fan of the short chapters so I could pick up and read when I had just a few minutes.

I thought I had given up on Finlay after not enjoying his last few books, but I kept seeing praise for this one and I’m happy I gave him another chance! it’s another quick, fast-paced action filled mystery from him but this one was simply more interesting and bingeable. Finlay is back on my radar now.

Short and sweet, this book kept me on my tors flipping pages! I didn’t want to put it down! Such a great mystery and I had to know what happened! It was fast paced and easy to read! This one just published so don’t sleep on it! Pick it up!