3.5 stars
Coming in hot in chapter 1! This book starts off with a bang, then immediately slows waaaaay down to set the scene. The long game pays off. Solid mystery/thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.

Redemption for Alex Finlay!

I've read this author's previous 3 books and none left an impression good or bad on me; they were all just fine if not dull. But this one was the definition of a popcorn thriller. Fast paced, easy to read, engaging, shocking in a believable and guessable way, & not too long.

I read this over the course of 4 days and just ate it up. Does it do anything new? No.
Are the twists that shocking? No. In fact, they're laid out really well! Almost seems to be the type of twists where you want to ask friends at what point they saw a certain twist coming.
Did either of those 2 things detract from my enjoyment? NO!

This is an easy recommend for a rainy weekend read. My biggest complaint is the ending which seemed to move too fast and jump perspectives a tad too much for me. Slowing it down and maybe adding 10-15 pages would have improved that rushed feel for me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press & Minotaur Books for an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What really happened the night that Ali was kidnapped? It's been 5 years and that question still haunts Ryan - he has changed his name and tried to move on with his life, but that night continues to haunt him. Then Ali's car is found in a local lake with two dead men inside it and a coded note "If Something Happens to Me", at the same time across the globe Ryan sees the 8-fingered man that was there the nigh Ali went missing. What follows is a twisty, fast-paced mystery told from multiple POVs. This has all the trademarks of a hit thriller!

The way that Alex Finlay wrote this from multiple perspectives and different timelines turned into the perfect recipe to keep you reading from page 1 to the end! I loved how twisty this plot was and how it all unfolded. While it was not a huge surprise to me how everything played out, the journey was so fun and unique. The way the story lines weaved into each other was brilliant and kept me on the edge of my seat! This may be my favorite Alex Finlay book yet!

Overall, I loved the pacing and how the story unfolded. The writing style from so many POVs and timelines worked particularly well here and that is a compliment to the author's writing. This is the perfect dark grey thriller, with just enough twists to still be believable.

I didn't necessarily connect with the characters, but I did connect with the story. Even though I saw what was coming before it did, I still highly enjoyed it. If you are looking for a book that is going to shock the socks off of you, this is probably not the book for you. Although, if you want a fast-paced thriller that is a highly enjoyable read, then you should definitely check this one out.

I highly enjoyed this book and am thankful that NetGalley and the publisher allowed me to have an ARC. If Something Happens to Me is going to be a thriler that I recommend far and wide because I think that thriller readers of all varieties will love this one.

I’m sure this was a great book but I personally do not care for story lines that involve the mob, chases, etc.

So it really is a case of it’s me, not the book.

I loved his previous book and have high hopes that it will be a better fit.

Triple POV makes it a little tough to find the flow, but once the characters are straight and the timing makes sense, it's easy to follow along the rest of the way. It never feels like an unreliable narrator, and the plot itself it a bit far-fetched. That said, the short chapters, pacing, and delivery of details does make it interesting, so it's a very quick read. While some elements are pretty predictable--and the ending is also relatively easy to guess-- there were enough moments of reveal to keep the story on track.

Overall: 4 stars (It really liked it)

**Thank you to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

I was so excited about this one as I have loved this author’s last 3 books but this one fell a little short . The overall story is good but a little convoluted

I actually really liked the multiple POVs - they were unique perspectives. The overall twist I saw coming a mile away 🤷🏼‍♀️

I think this is one of those stories that could be adapted to the screen quite well

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫

I really liked the triple POV in this one. the synopsis made me nervous too much would be going on but they flowed well together. The mobster chapters were also very fun—they got a little graphic but I was able to skip.
Once I started, I couldnt put it down. I enjoyed also the short chapters. That made it flow a little easier.
I did figure out the plot before I finished, but I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC :) I have super mixed feelings about this book. I loved the fast plot, short chapters, and multiple perspectives. Plot wise it was definitely kind of an unbelievable and out there plot, but if that doesn't bother you then I think it was overall enjoyable. Will definitely want to check out more from this author in the future!

If Something happens to me was a great read. I found this book to be thrilling, mysterious and fast paced. There are a lot of characters to follow but one I got them all straight I was able to read with ease. I give this book a solid 4.5 starts.

Thank you Alex Finlay and Minotaur Books for my #gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this one! Between the short chapters and multiple viewpoints, this book flew!

I can honestly say that this book kept me guessing for the first half on how everything was intertwined. I fully did not guess the first major twist.

In most thrillers, there is always a character that annoys me with their stupidity, and for me in this one, that was Ryan. But even he didn’t annoy me too much. Maybe because he was written as a teenager so well that I could actually see a teenager making the dumb choices he made.

The cryptic messages added such an interesting element and I almost wish we got more.

Can I say this was a fun thriller? It wasn’t anything that had me really nervous or too stressed, but it was a fun story to read. I might have to look into more thrillers involving mobsters now.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. Was it the most edge-of-your-seat thriller? No. But it was a light and enjoyable thriller to read!

Quick binge (I love short chapters). There were a lot of characters and timelines to keep track of, so I did have a hard time keeping everything straight. But the ending and how everything was related came together well, though like most thrillers, I wanted a little more. The twist at the end of part 1 I did not see coming at all. The characters were well-developed and, besides the mob, lovable and I was rooting for them throughout.

Very fast-paced and highly recommend!

Review live now on GoodReads and StoryGraph.

I absolutely loved Alex Finlay's first two books, especially, The Night Shift. He has quickly become a favorite mystery/thriller writer for me. His last one did not quite hit the mark for me as a favorite. But he was definitely back on his A game with If Something Happens To Me. This was so fast paced and kept me up late reading. This is the story of the mysterious disappearance of a teen girl, Ali. Right away, the boyfriend, Ryan quickly becomes the top suspect. But with no real evidence and him having a really good lawyer, he is never charged. But he still has a cloud of suspicion hanging over him. Years later Ali's car is found at the bottom of a lake with two dead men and a cryptic note inside. Things quickly take off from here. There were so many twists and turns in this one that I didn't see coming, especially the ending. Overall, a fun, fast pace read and I will continue to read whatever he writes in the future!

BOOK REVIEW❤️‍🔥🔎📍🪓💣🚨🌧️✈️🇫🇷🇮🇹

If Something Happens To Me - Alex Finlay
Pub date: 5/28/2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

👀 WOW this one was so fun! I needed an action-packed ride like this to bring me back from my recent reading slump. I’ll admit after reading the synop, I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this one but I loved it.
This story is told in multiple POV’s but wasn’t confusing to follow, which obviously was great.
I LOVED the “mobster” aspect — not many thriller authors can successfully intertwine a mob/mafia storyline into a crime novel, but this was done perfectly in my opinion.
Another thing I truly enjoyed about this book was that there was really no side nonsense. From the very first page, the reader is thrown into ALL the action. There’s enough backstory to keep you informed, but no rambling or unnecessary side plots.
I was fully invested from the very beginning and never got bored! This plot is over the top and wild, but I wasn’t rolling my eyes at any of the far fetched moments. Yes it was crazy, but it was extremely entertaining at the same time.
Such a fun, edge of your seat, action-packed thriller!!

THANK YOU @alexfinlayauthor @netgalley @minotaur_books @stmartinspress for this e-arc! All opinions are my own.

👀Make sure to grab this one when it hits shelves on 5/28!!

#thrillerbooks #thrillerbooksaddict #thrillerbookreview #alexfinlay #ifsomethinghappenstome #netgalleyreview #arcreview #arcreviewer #minotaurbooks #stmartinspress

I really enjoyed this book! It had a plot that had me hooked from the beginning. I liked Alison and Ryan's story and all of the backstory that leads to the quick and twisty ending. Alex Finlay is a must read author for me and this is just another book that is well done and has many layers but it works so well! There are multiple perspectives and it was so well done! Highly recommend this book!

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ½ ⭐️✨
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller
📖 336 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🎙️🏍️🇮🇹🚔🕵🏻‍♀️✉️🇫🇷🆘🔥💊🚙
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 5/28/2024

💙𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💙

Thank you @netgalley @minotaurbooks for the #gifted copy!

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME was captivating from start to finish! I found myself completely engrossed, reading at such a pace that I had to doublecheck the page count 😅 . The story features a wide array of characters & multiple POV, creating a complex web of suspense where trust is a scarce commodity & identifying the guilty party is a thrilling challenge.

The narrative is packed with relentless suspense, nonstop action, & unexpected twists. Each chapter, narrated from a different perspective, kept me equally invested, eager to see how the pieces fit together. The seamless shift between viewpoints added depth & intrigue, making it a compelling read that I highly recommend!

⚠️ bullying, suicide

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ podcasts
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ suspense & twists

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: For 5 years, Ryan Richardson has been haunted by a night of terror, where his girlfriend Ali was abducted. Despite suspicion & online harassment, he's rebuilt his life, studying law under a new identity. A call from his father about Ali's car resurfaces the past, leading Ryan on a journey across continents. As he delves into the mystery, unexpected allies emerge, hinting at salvation from unexpected places. From Italy to the UK to Paris, Ryan's quest for truth uncovers a web of intrigue linking distant locales & unlikely figures.

What a bingeable read this was! This is my second by this author and I definitely need to read his backlist now!

I really enjoyed how Finlay takes a handful of characters with intriguing plot points, who seemingly have nothing to do with one another, yet somehow all interconnect flawlessly.

I loved the short chapters, which kept me fully invested and on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how everything connected within this story. While twisty reveals ensued, they did seem a bit over the top, yet he made them feel believable. My only critique is it was hard to keep track of the characters especially when first names and last names are used interchangeably.

Overall I really enjoyed and will recommend as a solid thriller!
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for my #gifted ARCs!

An entertaining summer thriller!

Five years ago, college-bound Alison Lane was abducted in her car at night, and her boyfriend, Ryan Richardson, left behind injured. Ali was never seen again, and Ryan has never been able to get past the suspicion hanging over him that he was somehow involved in Ali‘s disappearance.

Meanwhile, Poppy McGee [award for most fun character name!] has just started work as the deputy sheriff in her hometown of Leavenworth, Kansas. On her first day on the job, the car of missing Alison Lane is discovered in a local lake - and inside it, a cryptic message in an envelope that says „If something happens to me…“.

Following the grizzly discovery, both Ryan - in Tuscany on a trip with friends from law school - and Poppy try to untangle what really happened to Ali. Ryan‘s chase takes him from Italy to the UK and finally, to France, while Poppy quickly realizes some answers lie much closer to home.

Told from three different perspectives - Ryan‘s, Poppy‘s, and Philadelphia local Shane O‘Leary‘s - the book is split into three parts. The first was by far the most fun. Although by the time a certain character is introduced in chapter 4 you can pretty much guess where this is going (and I was able to correctly predict the big twist), I still found the book very entertaining. Sure, the whole thing was a bit over the top and you’ll need some suspension of disbelief at various stages, but I’d consider this the literary equivalent to summer cinema: an enjoyable popcorn thriller. Fast-paced, with some strong, complex characters, and a tour across Europe, this is a fun summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„If Something Happens to Me“ is slated to be published on May 28, 2024.

Ryan Richardsons girlfriend went missing 5 years ago and believedto be dead. Everyone believedit was Ryan that killedher even though there was no evidenceto proveit. So when her car was found 5 years later with 2 guys tied to it but no Ali the police began to wonder if she was still alive.

I have read this author before and loved all his books. This one was good as well with a story line that kept the audience intrigued. The only critique I have is there were too many characters and too many POV.
I feel personally it made the story a bit confusing and hard to follow. I usually give 5 stars on his books but I still think the story was good and giving 4 stars.

I want to thank Netgalley and Minotaur books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first Alex Finlay book, and I was pleasantly surprised. I did call the "big" twist pretty early on, but it didn't take too much away from the remaining development of the book.

Ultimately, I wished for a slightly different ending, but I also appreciate Finlay going down the unexpected route.

All in all, it was a really good book, and a great summer read.

If Something Happens to Me is a riveting, puzzle-piece mystery/thriller from Alex Finlay. It’s layered, quick-reading, nicely paced and one you won’t want to put down.

Ryan Richardson has lived his adult life under suspicion from the tragic day when his high school girlfriend was pulled from his car and disappeared while on a late night, beach date. Ryan remembers very little of the incident, until a vague memory arises years later, which only casts more suspicions his way. Five years later, with a name change and a fresh start underway, he finds himself in Italy with a group of fellow law students when his past shows up once again in alarming fashion.

Poppy McGee is a new deputy sheriff and is immediately drawn into a murder mystery when a submerged vehicle is found in the local lake with two dead men inside. This shocking discovery is one that hits closer to home than Poppy would like. The submerged car is the one Ryan’s missing girlfriend was driving that fateful night, and within its confines a cryptic note is found within an envelope stating, “If something happens to me”.

There are so many facets to this story and it’s so cleverly plotted that it keeps the reader interested throughout the entirety of the plot. This is a compulsive story that is suspenseful, easily accessible and highly entertaining. Alex Finlay is consistently a winning author for me with compelling characters, diverse plots that are intriguing and well-written, and conclusions that are satisfying.