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.

I really wanted to love this. I really did. And it's not that I disliked it, because it is a great concept. It just fell flat for me. The characters lacked personality and substance, the story felt unfinished, there were so many unrealistic aspects. I just think it could have been developed a bit more.

That is not to say I wouldn't recommend it. It is a quick read and it kept me entertained. If you do read it, just know it is a standard 3-star book, not a life changing one.

Alex Finlay always delivers thrilling, intricate books! Ryan Richardson was attacked in his car five years ago, in his Kansas hometown. He wakes up to his girlfriend Ali missing, as well as the car. Now, all these years later, the car shows up in the lake with two dead men in it, and a note in Ali’s handwriting. Ryan has changed his last name and is in Italy with friends from law school. Poppy is the new Sheriff’s Deputy charged with investigating, however her family members may be linked to the case. Also connected is a mobster in Philadelphia. The story is told from multiple POVs, the characters are cleverly written and intertwined and there are multiple twists. I read this in one day as it was impossible to put down until the pieces fit together. You won’t be disappointed!

⭐️: 3.5/5

Five years ago, Ryan Richardson’s life was forever changed when on a date, he was attacked and his girlfriend Ali was abducted, and he was the prime suspect. Now, on a law school trip to Italy, the impossible happens. First, he gets a call from his father telling him that Ali’s car was found in a local lake with two dead men inside, and second, he sees the man who attacked him that night. As Ryan races to figure out what happened to Ali, his story converges with a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas working her first case and a Philadelphia mobster dealing with a personal tragedy.

One downfall to reading so many thrillers is that you start to see the commonly used big thriller “twists” or “reveals” from miles away. That happened to me in this one, and while normally it doesn’t bother me to much to be able to “call” the outcome of a thriller, it kind of made this one anticlimactic. Add in that the execution of the overall story fell a little flat to me, with the big climax feeling more like a small golf clap, and I didn’t find myself overly impressed with this thriller. I did enjoy the multiple POVs, which Finlay always does well, and the storyline that takes you all around the world. This is the third book by Finlay I’ve read, and while I found The Night Shift a great, unpredictable read, and What Have We Done thoroughly enjoyable, with a decent amount of twists, turns, and POVs that made it exciting, this one just wasn’t on the same tier. I still enjoyed the read, especially since it was a pretty short book, and I sometimes get a little manic when I’m reading a thriller that I’m pretty sure I’ve got completely figured out (at 25% through the book, this time), so the fact it was short reduced my anxiety-induced reading a lot. Not my favorite my Finlay, but still better than a lot of the other thriller books I’ve read recently.

Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers @stmartinspress and @minotaur_books for this free eARC for my honest review!!

Ryan and Ali are high school sweethearts and deeply in love as they are getting ready to say goodbye since they're both starting different universities in a few days they are going to have their first intimate moment in a lovers lane of sorts in Ali's father's car when suddenly Ali screams as Ryan is savagely pulled out of the car and hit over his head and he blacks out. When Ryan regains consciousness Ali and her car are gone and Ryan becomes the number one suspect in Ali's disappearance.

Five years later Ali's car is finally recovered with two bodies in the car but no Ali. Ryan will be approached by the man who took Ali while Ryan is on a law-study vacation in Italy and he wants to make a deal but before Ryan can answer the man disappears again so Ryan follows him and what he finds will turn his world upside down all over again and he will be more than determined to find out what happened to Ali this time but every step he takes finds him in great danger because there are many people involved in the disappearance of Ali and they will never, never let the truth come out!


This novel was exciting, brutal and so entertaining. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough needing to know what would happen next. Ryan was a special and determined character who had never recovered from losing Ali and his life was at a standstill for five years because he felt responsible for not being able to protect his precious girlfriend plus most people in his small town suspected him in Ali's disappearance and his life just stopped until his trip to Italy.

I loved the book for a few reasons, first the writing was so darn good and the storytelling was fantastic with a few different stories and characters with their own history that didn't include Ryan at the time but by the end of the book everything will come together in a few ways that were so unexpected and rewarding. The ending was also an unpredictable WoW! I wish all my thriller books could be as riveting as I found this novel to be and I'm definitely planning on reading more of this author's books!

I highly recommended this book to any reader who enjoys action packed thrillers and doesn't mind quite a bit of violence on the side!

I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given this stunner of a book a rating of 5 BRUTAL AND MYSTERIOUS 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!


Title: If Something Happens To Me
Author: Alex Finlay
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: May 28, 2024

Somehow, this is the first book I’ve read by Alex Finlay and now I’m prioritizing all the other ones I have on my shelf. This was such a fun thriller - it kept my attention the entire time and I was interested in the storyline the whole way through. This book releases next Tuesday, 5/28/24, and would be the perfect beach/pool read.