If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is a suspenseful thriller that kept me engaged throughout.The plot of the book was intriguing, with a missing person case at its core. The author did a commendable job in building suspense and keeping me guessing until the very end. The narrative was well-paced, and the twists and turns added an element of surprise.

However, I found the character development to be too complex. At first, it was difficult to keep each character straight, making it challenging to truly envision each character and to fully connect with their journey. Additionally, some of the secondary characters felt underdeveloped and their motivations were not fully explored.

On a positive note, I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of this book. It allowed me the opportunity to read and review it before its official release. NetGalley continues to be a valuable platform for discovering new books and supporting authors.

Overall, If Something Happens to Me is a decent thriller with an intriguing plot. The book defiantly delivered an entertaining reading experience. I recommend it to fans of the genre who are looking for a suspenseful and fast-paced read.

Note: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

With multiple POVs, a ton of characters, sudden plot twists, rapid shifts in location, and the occasional need to suspend disbelief, you’d think that ‘If Something Happens to Me’ would become a slog, or at least very confusing. But in Alex Finlay’s capable hands, it was a page-turning thrill ride, perfect for summer reading.

Did I occasionally say “oh, come on!” out loud while reading it? Sure. But there was so much to love about this book. It had short, propulsive chapters with plenty of action and some surprises along the way. It also had reflective moments to collect your thoughts and allow you to emotionally connect with the characters. That’s not something you get in every thriller/suspense novel and it elevates this one above the crowd.

Readers should be aware that there are some major trigger warnings inherent in the story, but I can’t mention them without revealing spoilers. So if you have things you don’t like to read about, please check the reviews for this book on StoryGraph.

I rate ‘If Something Happens to Me’ 4 ½ stars and highly recommend it for everyone’s summer reading list.

{ Perilous. Breakneck. Incendiary. } 

If Something Happens to Me is a perfect summer vacation pick. 

With short, fast-paced chapters, I zoomed through it in one weekend. I did not want to put it down!

The plot development wasn't necessarily surprising, although that may only because I've read several recent thrillers that used similar plot devices. It was so extremely entertaining, though. Again, even though I was sure I knew where the plot was going, I was dying to keep reading.  

Read this if you liked The Last Thing He Told Me or Just Another Missing Person

3.5/5

This thriller had a lot going on in it: murder, abductions, mob ties, corrupt law enforcement and so much more!

I found that this book was an interesting listen - it was definitely more of a mob/organized crime thriller than what I typically read. I don’t love talk of torture and disfigurement (normal things that you would associate with mob enforcement) so I did not love that part of this book but I still enjoyed it overall.

This is my second Alex Finlay - The Night Shift was my first. I would read more books written by him for sure and look forward to seeing what he puts out next!

Having read all of Alex Finlay's books, I was really looking forward to this one and it surely didn't disappoint. At first, I was slightly confused by the different time lines and characters. But things soon fell into place and questions were answered. Main character Ryan is still troubled by the abduction/murder of his high school love 5 years ago. Circumstances fall into place that make him question if she might still be alive. I love Finlay's writing style and his plots are always unique and interesting. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good, fast paced thriller.

I read my first Alex Finlay book a few years ago and LOVED it, he quickly became a must read author for me, and If Something Happens to Me has continued that streak.

Right from the beginning this book was hard to put down. I read almost the first half in one sitting. There was quite a bit going on, in several different settings and I wasn’t quite sure how it would all fit together, but it did and was amazing.
Alex Finlay has a very straight forward tone as an author, and I find it enjoyable. He writes exactly what he means and makes it easy to absorb. Some people aren’t a fan of that but I don’t mind it.
I loved the dimension he was able to bring to these characters. It’s easy to generalize characters based on their lifestyles or choices but so many of these characters were written with vulnerabilities or flaws that made them multifaceted and realistic.
It wasn’t pulled together with a picture perfect happy ending and quite a few predictable closures were flipped upside down and completely did not happen, which I thought was refreshing.

There’s only one book by this author I’ve yet to read and I’m definitely jumping into that one as soon as possible, I loved this book and Finlay’s writing style remains top of the game.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books, and the author for this ARC.
Publication date 5/28/24

A nice, average thriller, good for a quick read. It held my attention, but I was hoping for a little more of a thrill while reading.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.
Due to be published on May 28,2024,

Ryan is scarred by 'pinky man', someone who kidnapped his girlfriend in high school, while they were parked at lovers lane. Initially accused by the authorities, Ryan has since moved, changed his name and tried to start a new life in law school. While on a summer abroad trip in Italy, he experiences the unthinkable, he sees 'pinky man'!Thus begins the race to uncover what really happened to his girlfriend, if she's still alive, and how he can make those that took her pay.Alex Finlay kicks it up a notch in this pulse pounding thriller, as Ryan encounters hired hit men, mobsters, and the real truth about what went on in his small town during high school. As the body count keeps piling up, Ryan must use all the resources at his disposal to avoid jail, clear his name yet again, and make people believe his outrageous story. Some situations are a bit implausible, but the main character is so likable, you're happy to go along for the ride.

I was a big fan of his prior book, 'Night Shift', but this is a more complex plot, way more characters, and shows how much he's growing as a writer.It's a fast paced read with multiple POVs, and several plot lines going at once. The ending is a bit predictable but Alex ties up all the loose ends nicely. This has been optioned for a movie, so will look forward to seeing this one!

What I loved:
Multiple POVs
Fast Paced
Short chapters
Action packed

Another highly anticipated read for me that did not disappoint. I was hooked from start to finish and loved all the characters and locations. Even though there were multiple POVs and settings the author never made it feel overwhelming or confusing. I never wanted to stop listening because I just wanted to know how it was going to all come together. I definitely recommend this one! And go in blind!! Thats the best way to do it

This novel is a fast-paced thriller about a missing girl presumed dead, a notorious crime boss, and a new deputy-sheriff trying to put the pieces together. There are three primary narrators: Ryan, once accused of his girlfriend’s murder, and he is now on a law school trip in Italy. Poppy, a young war vet who returns home to Leavenworth, Kansas, to work as the deputy sheriff, and Shane, the head of a major crime syndicate in Philadelphia. A few additional POVs are mixed in. How the narrators/story fit together is a bit of a puzzle, but seasoned thriller readers will most likely figure out how the pieces connect early on. It's a wild ride.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-arc.*

That horrible night five years ago has haunted Ryan daily. While in the car with his girlfriend Ali, she is taken while he is knocked out. No clues are left. So of course Ryan is charged but luckily cleared. Getting away from the people that still believe he did it was difficult but he has changed his name and is successfully completing law school. While on a summer trip, his dad calls with news that Ali’s car was found in a lake with two bodies in it and a note from her. Now he finds himself following a man across Europe that he is positive was the one who took her.

First off, Finlay is the master of twists and suspense. I was grabbed quickly with this one and immediately connected with Ryan and his inability to let go of that night and the need for answers. I loved the trickle of clues along the way but I could not put them together to fit. Then, in maximum Finlay form, the twists kept coming and coming until this unbelievable scenario played out. Now that is how you write a thriller! I did feel the end wasn’t one of his best but it did not stunt my entertainment. Finlay still stands as a phenomenal suspense writer.

I recommend this to those that love unpredictable twists!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for the copy!

A fast-moving, popcorn-type thriller. It jumps a lot between places and times, and that can be a little confusing at times. I also found characterization not quite believable in a couple of cases. But overall, it’s an enjoyable read when you’re looking for a don’t-think-about-it-too-hard thriller.

This book had a decent storyline and I loved the different POVs. It was captivating from the beginning and I found myself really caught up in what happened. However, about halfway through I started predicting a lot of what would happen. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and to be left surprised, but that never happened. It just kept playing out exactly how I expected. Again, not that the book was bad… but I just wasn’t drawn in by anything the last 50% which was kinda unfortunate.

Ryan and his girlfriend Allison are parked as teengers when she is taken suddenly and Ryan remembers nothing. The story takes place 5 years after the tragic event, with suspicion still on Ryan and Ali yet to be found.

The story follows Ryan, Poppy, the small town cop, and a mobster named Shane O'Leary. While the story intertwines the 3 characters in the end of the book, all comes together to make sense. While the book was a fast read (I'm a big Alex Finlay fan!), the characters fell sort of flat and were hard to cheer for. For example, some of the character's quirks fall flat, like Poppy's obsession with Chipolte. I should also admit, I'm not a huge fan of Mobster stories, so if you love a mobster trope then this book is definitely for you!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC!

I believe this is my first Alex Finlay book and it was really fun and exciting and also I was sucked in from the very first chapter. (I may be a little biased as well since I live in Kansas and I ALWAYS enjoy a good book that takes place here)

The dual timeline wasn't terrible but I it was hard to follow at times, especially considering we were also flipping between cities and characters.

This is my fourth read by this author. I was excited about this one based on the descriptions since it gave me that first book feeling and I’m happy to say that I couldn’t put it down once I started. I found it immensely readable even though I saw several of the twists coming. I was enjoying the story and the characters so much that I didn’t care. I started on audio then picked up the ebook to finish when I couldn’t stop reading. The audiobook is narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh. All the narrators did a fantastic job with smooth and compelling voices for the story and characters.

The story is told in third person with multiple narrators. Ryan is currently in Italy with law school classmates and was previously accused in the case of the disappearance of his high school girlfriend, Ali, in Leavenworth, Kansas, but the case was ultimately attributed to a captured serial killer known as the Missouri River Killer despite his denials. Poppy returns to Leavenworth to be near her sick father and starts her new job as a Sheriff’s deputy the day that Ali’s car is found in a local lake five years after her disappearance. Shane is trying to run the “family business” in Philadelphia while juggling the issues his sensitive son is having in his new private school.

The belongings in the car include a protected enveloped addressed “if something happens to me” and the note inside is a book cipher code but Poppy and the forensic scientist are at a loss as to which book to use to decipher it. I really enjoyed the three separate storylines in this novel and the journey to bring them all together even if I found it a bit predictable. It was filled with compelling characters, intrigue and gripping thrills throughout. I easily read this one in a day through stress-filled trips to the vet for a dental procedure.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Minotaur Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

I definitely enjoyed If Something Happens to Me. This was a quick, suspenseful read! Great popcorn thriller!
My only dislike was the multiple different prospectives. I prefer one, maybe two and this had four that the chapters rotated through that were also in different cities.

They all tie together but I find it just makes the storyline a little more confusing at first.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Ryan Richardson remembers the night Alison Lane was taken and a cloud of suspicion was over Ryan as everyone was suspecting him but he was never charged. Now he has entered law school and put his past behind him. Ryan gets a call from his father while traveling in Italy. He tells Ryan that Ali’s car has 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….
This story is told by different characters POV with a twist after twist which kept me guessing until the very ending. I have read all of the other books written by Alex Finlay and they just get better and better. If you like fast-paced thrillers then you will love this book. I am now looking forward to his next book as I think he is an excellent writer and I know you will enjoy reading him too.

I’ve enjoyed Alex Finlay’s previous work and this one was no different.

A twisty story. It did take me a little bit to get sucked into, but once I did, it was hard to put down.

I’d recommend this to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by this author. I liked it.
There are a lot of characters and settings to keep up with in this book and it was confusing at times. But I was amazed at how it all came together the last 25% of this book. I loved Ryan, who was accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and his relentless pursuit of the truth. And I loved Poppy, the new, young member of law enforcement who would stop at nothing and go to many lengths to fight for the truth. She was loyal and brave.
Overall, it was a good read! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book!