Another winner from Alex Finlay - with twists and turns I never saw coming, this book takes multiple timelines and blends them together seamlessly and kept me turning the pages from start to finish.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME - Alex Finlay

4.5⭐

PLOT
5yrs ago Ryan Richardson's girlfriend was taken from their car after he was hot on head and the suspicion lies on Ryan but no proof and a good lawyer he was not charged. Now he is enrolled in law school and put his past behind . while on a summer trip he gets a call telling Ali's car has been found with a cryptic note If something happens to me and Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night.
Now Ryan races all over Europe in search of truth along with a young deputy Sheriff from Kansas working her 1st case.

MY THOUGHTS -
Alex Finlay's thrillers are always binge worthy and this was just that with multiple pics and timelines I ended up finishing it very quickly.
It's more mystery and at one point you will figure out what happened but still it didn't deter me from reading and the action in the end was totally worth it.

If Something Happens to Me is my second book read by Alex Finlay and my second chance to enjoy this author. Often, when I am on the fence about a popular author, I give them two books to wow me before I put them on the Do Not Read list. This is one of those instances where it worked in my favor. I enjoyed the book If Something Happens to Me, reading it in one go. The characters were interesting, and I enjoyed the multiple POV style. I did guess many plot points before they were revealed, but it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. I give this book 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review If Something Happens to Me. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Alex Finlay for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for If Something Happens to Me coming out May 28, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love Alex Finlay’s books, so I was really excited to receive this book. I enjoyed the different locations. One setting is close by, so that was cool to see some local places. The Italy setting was also fun. I loved the short chapters and it felt like the story was moving along quickly. I really wanted to love this book. Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling really connected to the characters. I thought it would be more of a thriller with twists and turns. I liked it, but I wasn’t really surprised by the storyline. I didn’t care for the ending. I’ll definitely read other books by this author though.

Ryan has relived that awful night from his teen years many times including the blow to his head and Ali’s scream as she is taken. All fingers pointed to Ryan at the time, but with no evidence he walked free. He’s tried to keep that night in his past, even changing his name and carrying on with his life including being a law student.

A summer trip abroad with his law school friends brings the past to light when his father calls saying Ali’s car was recovered from the lake in his hometown. The remains of two people were inside, but neither of them is Ali. A note sealed in a baggie has survived the years underwater with the words “If something happens to me…”.

As if by chance when Ryan is in Europe, he spots the man he believes is responsible for the events of that evening including Ali’s disappearance. Ryan races to try to track down the truth of that night.

This novel by Alex Findlay did not disappoint. The story being told by many characters whose lives cross paths, only adds to the overall quality.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. #NetGalley #IfSomethingHappenstoMe

The title of this book certainly made me want to read it, and I devoured it! If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is written with different POVs and several settings. I won’t repeat the summary because I want to tell you that this book had some jaw dropping moments as well as head shaking moments. The mob, sheriff, young sweethearts, and FBI are all involved in the fast moving twists! I did write down the initial characters so I could refer back to them, but only needed to do that at the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this e-ARC. I am willingly giving my unbiased opinion.

#St. Martin’s Press, #Alex Finlay

A heavily disguised, “I didn’t see that coming” moment in the middle of the book that rolled easily into an excellent last half and ending. The book is told from different views that the author blends into a well written book with surprise after surprise. Easy to read with a story that keeps moving,

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

If Something Happens To Me is an action-packed suspense novel, an edge-of-your-seat page turner! The twists kept coming, one after one, and each one had me in a chokehold!

Ryan Richardson and his girlfriend Alison Lane were at Lover's Lane when they were attacked. By the end of the attack, Alison and her car were nowhere to be found. After being taunted and feeling an immense amount of guilt, Ryan decides to uproot his life in Kanas and move to Italy.

Five years later, Alison's car is found in Suncatcher Lake. When the car is pulled up, two men are found in the front seat, however there is no trace of Alison. Aside from the car itself, the only connection to Alison is her purse, and the note found inside it. The envelope reads "If something happens to me", and when Deputy Poppy McGee opens it, she is surprised to find the note is written in code. It is up to her to crack the code and find out what really happened to Alison Lane.

Talk about suspense! This book was so good! There are several characters, which can get confusing especially when you make it mid-way, but by the end they all play their part. They all add to the plot twists, many that we do not see coming! The pacing is fast, yet even throughout, and the characters and overall story were well developed. Alex Finlay nailed it with this mystery thriller! 4.5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Alex Finlay for this read!

If you ever need a fast-paced thriller, Alex Finlay should be the first author you think of. I've read all four of his books and flew through all of them! He has a way of making you feel instantly connected to his characters, and even some of the characters who aren't so great have redeeming qualities.

This book had everything I loved about AF's first three novels, and the twists and OMG moments didn't stop coming until the very end. True to form, we get several POVs in this book and quick chapters that often end on cliff-hangers, making you immediately want to go on to the next one. This book gave us a bit of what his first book, Every Last Fear, did- travel. This book takes place in the US and Europe, and I loved the back and forth while trying to figure out how the stories would come together. I love the moment when it all the POVs and stories line up, and this one did NOT disappoint. When I say I audibly gasped, I'm not kidding...

This book is a must read for this summer! It's absolutely addictive and will be the perfect book to throw in your beach bag! Make sure you pre-order this one today!

*Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*

Me? Forget to read the synopsis before requesting? Yeah sounds about right.

But this book is so much more than the quick synopsis. It's a mafia thriller, a cold case mystery, all mixed up with a lot of gore. I feel like the book really hit its stride between the 20 and 60% mark. We were flipping between Italy and the US, following 3 distinct threads. But of course, things must converge and I thought it was super well done. The downside was that everything after the merge was kinda meh and predictable, but I'm giving it 4 stars for how *excited* I was about the threads coming together. Plus I always enjoy the little easter eggs to his previous books. (Here's looking at you, Ken)

Hope you love this book as much as Poppy loves Chipotle.

Alison Lane was taken five years ago and there has been no trace of her since. Everyone blames her boyfriend Ryan who was with her that night. But he tells a story of a man who kidnapped Alison and knocked out Ryan. Nobody believes Ryan until two dead men are found in Alison’s car at the bottom of the lake. Along with a note written by Alison with the words “if something happens to me”.

Meanwhile Ryan gets a suspicious letter while in Italy and finds the man who took Ali that night. As he’s chasing down answers he discovers the mystery goes deeper than he could’ve ever imagined..

The book was a bit predictable at some places, but I finished this in less than 24 hours and was thoroughly entertained! I enjoyed that the books had different povs and three different places that all tie together in the end.

It had short and fast paced chapters that made it easy to binge read! If you’re looking for a quick and engaging thriller I recommend!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

3.5 ⭐️ It’s hard to get connected to characters in thrillers, especially with thrillers that are multiple POV’s & timelines which is why I’m not giving it a higher rating, but the story was fun and addictive! A good palette cleanser with good writing. Would recommend only if you’re looking for a quick easy bingeable read.

This was a really good book! The first part of the book (approximately 60%) was really intense with a lot going on. I was on the edge of my seat and didn’t want to stop reading. The second part of the book slowed down a bit, but still held my interest as puzzle pieces started falling into place and I was more vested in the character outcomes. The final part of the book was a quick finale that wrapped things up.

There were multiple settings in the novel that all contributed to the mood. The small towns set the stage for suspense and danger where the big cities created a feeling of chaos.

This novel was well written. Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #IfSomethingHappenstoMe by #AlexFinley in exchange for honest feedback.
-4 stars

My new favorite Alex Finlay novel!

It takes a lot of talent to create a book that is both a slow burn while also keeping you intrigued and turning the pages, and this book managed to do just that.

You get enough bread crumbs to make guesses, without having everything spelled out for you. I truly wasn't sure what would come to fruition and I kept reading for huge blocks of time so I could find out what happened next.

While not my new favorite Finlay book (that title is still taken up by The Night Shift) this was still a solid suspense! I did figure out at least one twist/reveal pretty early on, but I still enjoyed the multiple POVs, and the fast-paced nature that is Finlay's writing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wow what a fantastic read! There were so many twists and turns that made this book are great book.

I have read quite a few of Alex's book. But this by far was the best one yet!

Great book Alex.

This book follows three POVs: Ryan's, who was with his girlfriend Allison when she was taken by some unknown man, with few memories of that night and was originally the prime suspect; Poppy McGee, the sheriff's deputy in the same town where Allison was taken, whose first day on the job starts with them finding Allison's car sunken in the lake five years later; and Shane O'Leary, a mob boss who seemingly has no ties or connections to any of this.

I'm honestly not sure how to rate this one, because I genuinely loved it at the beginning, but a little over halfway through, it went off the rails a bit. The first part follows the mystery of truly how the three POVs are connected - Brian's and Poppy's are a little more obvious, but I couldn't figure out how O'Leary fit into all of this - and the connection was truly shocking (and very sad).

But that was the main ~whodunnit~ piece of this story. After about 60% it turns into a chase/run from the mob, there's no more ~mystery~. It was thrilling for sure to wonder whether they were going to make it/who would die, but it just went from being a murder mystery thriller to something like an action movie if that makes sense? Which is totally fine - just not what I expected.

I think I'm going to land around a 3.5/3.75 for readability and entertainment value, just knocking it down for the lack of twists.

From the outset, this mystery novel captivates readers with its immersive audio experience and intriguing storyline. As the narrative unfolds, however, the complexity of the plot and the numerous characters introduced can be overwhelming. While this may initially pose a challenge, it ultimately enriches the story, offering depth and nuance to the mystery.

The use of dual timelines adds an extra layer of intrigue, keeping readers guessing and engaged throughout. While it may require some effort to piece together the various threads of the story, the payoff is well worth it. The frequent travel and seemingly disjointed plot elements may lead to moments of frustration, but they serve to heighten the suspense and keep readers on the edge of their seats.

One of the highlights of the reading experience is the opportunity for discussion and interpretation. Engaging in conversations with fellow readers who have differing opinions and perspectives adds depth to the overall experience, offering new insights and interpretations.

While his novel presents its challenges, it offers a rewarding and thought-provoking reading experience. Despite the occasional confusion, the captivating storyline and rich character development make it a journey well worth embarking on.

A non-stop suspenseful and dangerous story filled with intrigue around every corner. The author alternates POVs between some interesting characters from very different backgrounds, and when you get the hang of them all, they begin to merge and the story comes together. Once you start reading this one, you won't be able to put it down. This one was a wild ride.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC! I enjoyed this book, my first of Alex Finlay’s, it definitely was an interesting ride! When I started reading I was worried the different storylines and backstories would be confusing and hard to follow but once you figure out where the story is going it all clicks into place. My only complaint is it all came together a little too easily and quickly but all in all it was a fun read and I would love to read more of his work.