Really really enjoyed this one! I’ve read two other Finlay books and this was my favorite by far. I didn’t see the twists coming, unlike The Night Shift, and it held my attention from the first page.

The three different POVs, with one seemingly not connected was a great touch!

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
If Something Happens to Me
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 336
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Release Date: May 28, 2024

Ryan was making out with his girlfriend in her car when some guy rips open the car door, smashes Ryan in the head leaving him for dead on the ground, and takes off with his girlfriend and the car. And no one has seen her since and no progress has been made on the case. Until five years later when the car is dredged up in a nearby lake and Ryan spots the kidnapper on a class trip to Italy.

OK, so that’s just the premise of the book. What happens before and after is so juicy and twisty! I loved how everything came together in big ah-ha moments. I could easily see this playing out as a Netflix miniseries.

Thank you, @NetGalley, @StMartinsPress, and @AlexFinlayAuthor for my gifted copy. I loved it!

Another freaking great listen for me! The plot of the story is told so well that you're immersed into it right from the start. The multiple POV seems like it wouldn't all go together as the settings of the story are in Kansas, Pennsylvania, Italy and France, but as you go along with the plot it all starts to come together and make total sense. I liked the mystery of it, like what actually happened to Ali? Why do they think Ryan murdered her? Alex Finlay really knows how to do a twist and I plan to read/listen to more of his books.

Thank you to Minotaur Books, SMP Influencer Program and NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved the action, pace, and mystery of this one! It was such an easy to fly through thriller.

The suspense starts quickly when a girl is abducted from her car while parked on the side of the road with her boyfriend. The story fast forwards to 5 years later, when a car is found in a lake and a coded letter is uncovered. The letter is believed to be written by the girl who vanished and a detective seeks out the help of the previous boyfriend to solve the mystery.

I loved that this story has multiple fun settings and jumps around. It does take some mental focus to keep track of everything, but I liked the puzzle of it all.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press( Minotaur Books) for access to this title.

When the book begins, we have two young teenage lovers, Allison and Ryan out at a lover's lane in Leavenworth Kansas. The night ends in tragedy with Allison believed to be dead and Ryan accused of killing her. Eventually, Allison's murder is linked to a serial killer and it seems the case is closed. Years later, Allison's father's vehicle is recovered from the lake and there are bodies inside- but neither one belongs to Allison. As a new deputy investigates, other characters emerge that make it clear that there is more to this case than originally thought.

I really enjoyed the pace of this book and definitely recommend it to thriller fans. I do warn that the beginning was a tad confusing with many characters - be patient, it all comes together in the end!

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME is an intriguing, braided tale. It is told in multiple viewpoints. Ryan has changed his last name and entered law school to get away from the fateful night when he and his girlfriend Ali were attacked at the local make-out spot. She disappeared and he was questioned in her disappearance.

The second point of view is that of Poppy McGee who is in her first week as a sheriff's deputy in her hometown of Leavenworth after an honorable discharge from the Army when she was harassed by a superior officer. Her first job happens after Ali's car was discovered at the bottom of a local lake by true crime podcasters. Ali's body wasn't there but the bodies of two men, shot in the head, were.

The third point of view is that of Shane O'Leary who is a crime boss in Philadelphia who goes on a rampage when his teenage son commits suicide after bullying at his exclusive prep school. His accountant raids his accounts in a Swiss bank and goes on the run with his teenage daughter who was a part of the bullying.

As the story progresses, we learn how all three parts of the story connect. The clues are gradually revealed as the characters investigate their own parts of the mystery. This was a fast-paced and intriguing thriller. It was filled with adventure and discoveries.

The first half of this book was amazing while the second was, well, the opposite of that.

This book started with a bang and the suspense then kept building up and up and up till halfway through, at which point I have already figured the whole thing out, making the rest of the book quite boring and a chore to get through.

I liked some of the characters, the plot, the quick-pace, I just wish it was somewhat…unpredictable? I mean, not one twist caught me off guard and I hate when that happens.

3.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley, Alex Finlay, and Minotaur Books for an #ARC in return for an honest review! Read as an audio!

After reading two other books by this author and not being blown away, I decided to give this one a chance. And I did enjoy this one much more! This was decent and entertaining. The narration was done well and engaged. Short chapters so that makes this read go quickly which I always enjoy. There were any OMG moments or crazy things occurring in my opinion, but I cared enough for the characters and the thrill!

I think my main issue was that there were wayyyyy to many characters, subplots, and cities to keep track of. I like the mystery of it all but I also do not want to have too keep a web of information on the side just to read this book...

Read if you like:
- crime fiction
- puzzle-like
- popcorn thrillers
- action packed
- multiple POVs

Read Completed 5/3/24 | 3.5 stars
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this early listening review copy! Macmillan Audio provided this audiobook for review and this did not affect my read or review process in any way. #MacAudio2024

EVERY LAST FEAR (2021) | 4 stars
THE NIGHT SHIFT (2022) | DNF
WHAT HAVE WE DONE (2023) | 1.75 stars

Alex Finlay has been super hit or miss for me lately so honestly, I didn't go into his one with high expectations and I think that helped my read a little bit. Alex Finlay still has a million POVs in the book, but these characters were much easier for me to connect with than some of his previous books, and they were just slightly less cliche, so that helped.

I don't normally like mob plot lines in psychological thrillers (not a spoiler - it's one of the POVs in the beginning), and I figured everything would tie back in that way because why else would you include it.... The ending wasn't super shocking and I easily picked up on some clues and twists throughout the way.

This wasn't ground-breaking for me, but I'm happy I still was engaged with the book and got to root for some characters. I wasn't ever bored and the pacing was good, keeping me wondering what was going to happen next and waiting for my guesses about the twists to be confirmed. It wasn't super believable in some ways, but I was here for the popcorn thriller entertainment factor and let it be what it was.

I'm glad I enjoyed this, even if it wasn't a new favorite. If I didn't like this read, I definitely wouldn't be reading more Alex Finlay, so there's hope yet!

AUDIOBOOK THOUGHTS: I was happy to see Helen Laser as a narrator because I've enjoyed her performance and her voice lately! I thought all of the narrators did a nice job and covered the voices really well. There were two other narrators, both male -- John Pirhalla, Paul Dateh -- and I thought they had nice performances as well! There were multiple male POVs so I think they did a really good job making all of those characters feel different enough that I wasn't confused. I forgot how many narrators there were and while the voices weren't wildly different, I would have believed there were more to cover all of the POVs. I would happily recommend this as an audiobook for someone who was interested.

It's no secret that I love Alex Finlay, so I was thrilled to get an ARC of If Something Happens to Me. Needless to say, I was hooked within the first few chapters. Told from alternating perspectives, timelines and locations, Finlay did an exceptional job of weaving together the narrative to make a cohesive story. Of course, there were a few fantastical elements to the plot but Finlay somehow even makes those elements plausible. Don't sleep on this one!

Title: If Something Happens to Me
Author: Alex Finlay
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: May 28, 2024

I received complimentary eARC and ALC from Minotaur Books, a division of St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Twisty • Complex • Cinematic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open. The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali’s piercing scream as she is taken.

With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, he’s never charged, though that doesn’t matter to the podcasters and internet trolls. Now, Ryan has changed his last name, and entered law school. He's put his past behind him.

Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father: Ali's car has finally 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…

Then, halfway around the world, the unthinkable happens: Ryan sees the man who has haunted his dreams since that night.

As Ryan races from the rolling hills of Tuscany, to a rural village in the UK, to the glittering streets of Paris in search of the truth, he has no idea that his salvation may lie with a young sheriff’s deputy in Kansas working her first case, and a mobster in Philadelphia who’s experienced tragedy of his own.

💭 T H O U G H T S

I cannot recall exactly what prompted me to request Alex Finlay's upcoming release, If Something Happens to Me on NetGalley. Yet, here I am having read my first from this author and not exactly sure how I am feeling.

Told through several distinct voices and spanning continents, I was kept on my toes through short chapters with cliffhanger endings. The pacing was what I'd expect from a popcorn thriller. However, there is a lot going on, and I definitely needed to keep up with the digital copy in order to keep track of people, places and time periods. The cryptic note was a buzz word for me, however, it played a minimal part of the plot. This was disappointing because I felt misled.

The audiobook is very well done. With a multi-cast narration, each voice is distinct enough to differentiate between the various characters. I did have a bit of an issue keeping track of time and place, which I rectified by tandem reading with the ebook.

It is safe to say that thrillers have not been working for me recently and the same can be said for If Something Happens to Me. At times, I was confused and drawn out of the story. I think it was more of a me issue; it was quite possibly a mistake to pick up a thriller when trying to get out of a slump. While it didn't work for me, I could easily see this one being turned into a movie and think it will be a hit with thriller readers this summer.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• fast paced thrillers
• short chapters
• plots spanning multiple continents

⚠️ CW: death, child death, murder, suicide, torture, gun violence, violence, self-harm, bullying, terminal illness, kidnapping, drug use, overdose, cursing

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Pub Date: May 28, 2024
How I Read It: 📱

Synopsis
Ryan and Ali are at “Lover’s Lane,” sitting in Ali’s car, when all of a sudden, Ryan is yanked out of the car and knocked out. He wakes up and Ali and the car are gone. That was five years ago and Ryan has since changed his last name, is in law school, and has tried to move on, but when he is met by a stranger, on a summer trip to Italy, who turns out to be the pinkyless man, and his father calls him to tell him Ali’s car has been found, everything changes. He also discovers there’s a note from Ali that reads in code, “If something happens to me….” Ryan needs to find out what happened now more than ever.

My Thoughts
This story hooked me from the beginning, and I love that the book was a quick read because I needed to know what happened! I couldn’t put this one down. The characters were all pretty much likable, and the story kept my attention the whole way through. There were a few characters and timelines, but the book is well written so that wasn’t a problem. The twists and turns had me on a journey I never saw coming.

Final Thoughts
I liked this book a lot! If you like fast-paced thrillers, this would be a good book to pick up. I do feel like the ending was a little rushed for me, which was why I deducted a half star, otherwise, it would have been a five star read for me!

❗️Of Note
📝 Brutal Murders
📝 Mobsters

Themes:
🔪 Thriller

Ratings
Characters: 5 ⭐️
Pace: 4.5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 5 ⭐️

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Being miles from home and receiving a note that says “I know who you are” wouldn’t bother most people but when it has something to do with a disappearance, it worries Ryan.

Ryan had been a suspect in the disappearance of his girlfriend five years ago, was cleared, but when new evidence is found he is trying to stay under the radar.

Who could have sent that note?

What will happen now?

And how did they know Ryan was in Italy?

Three different locations and three different but similar situations going on. Do they all have a connection?

We find characters in Philadelphia, Kansas, and Italy. Philadelphia has a mob ring, Kansas has a cold case that became open again, and Italy has Ryan and someone who is after him.

You will NOT be able to put this book down. It is intense, intriguing, and Finlay's best.

The action is non-stop and has you grabbing at straws to figure out what's going on.

There are some gruesome scenes, but the twisted plots that all connect in the end will have your jaw dropping and totally enjoying the edge-of-your seat and at times a bit unrealistic scenes.

But....do not miss this one. And that cover is GREAT!! 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I’ll start by saying there were a lot of characters and a lot of POVs, which is typical of the Alex Finlay we’ve grown to love. I’d say it took me a solid 25% before I had a good grip on who was who and where. Once I got the hang of it, it moved quickly.

I love the way Alex Finlay writes mob thrillers and this one really delivered with the Pinky Man.

4⭐️

This thriller boasts a multitude of characters, perhaps too many for some tastes. Spanning four cities and told from four distinct points of view, the narrative complexity can be challenging to follow. Yet, the expertly crafted short chapters serve as a lifeline, ensuring the story's momentum never falters.

Despite the initial whirlwind of activity, everything ultimately coalesces in a satisfying conclusion, leaving readers marveling at the author's storytelling prowess, but meet Alex Finlay!

I also think it was way better than Night Shift, which was overhyped in my opinion. This book stands on its own merits, proving the author's versatility and depth. It's a testament to the fact that one shouldn't judge an author on one title alone.

This is a fast-paced read about a missing girl presumed dead, a notorious crime boss, and a new deputy sheriff in town who’s been assigned to this cold case which suddenly came alive again with the discovery of new evidence.

There are three primary narrators: Ryan -the missing girl’s boyfriend at the time of her disappearance and presumed murdered , Poppy, the new deputy sheriff to Leavenworth, Kansas, and Shane, the head of a major crime syndicate in Philadelphia.

The book is a solid thriller: action-packed, full of tension and suspense with a mystery element — the book reads fast and has some good twists and turns. — There are some parts of the book that require some suspension of your disbelief but if you just go with the flow it is a fun ride.

While reading the novel I was equality invested and engaged in all the characters and their outcomes —and the story was difficult to put down.

4.5 So engrossing was this book I ended up binging it in a day. It wasn’t just the tension or storyline of the book that had me hooked, it was characters and their growth arcs. It was actually really touching at times which I didn’t expect with the bullying, sadness, and violence it began with.

This marks the third Finlay I’ve read and my favorite so far! I’d recommend not reading the synopsis on this one and just enjoy.

I did a combo read but ended up starting the audio at chapter four and never looking back. The audio was truly excellent!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the alc and Minotaur Books for the arc via Netgalley.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read an ARC of If something happens to me by Alex Finlay. While this was my first read from the author, his books are in my TBR file. The synopsis sounded fantastic and right up my alley. After I started it, I just couldn't get into the story. There were several seemingly different plot threads, and I was a bit disappointed...at first. Once the plots started to come together I started to really get into the story and couldn't put it down, and was not disappointed by the ending. My only issue was the mafia plot line. I do recommend If something happens to me!

Alex Finlay is one of my favorite authors. This book to me was one of his best. I've enjoyed a few and though I did see what was coming at the end of the first part it did not take away from the story for me. There were to many things going on for it too cause to much stress....

A girl goes missing. Her boyfriend is knocked out and dragged from the vehicle. He wakes and both her and the vehicle are gone... What happened? Who could or would do such a thing and why? Alison and Ryan are out in her father's BMW at Lovers' Lane. A make out spot. When it starts raining they run get into the car. After that Ryan's world and life will never be the same.

What happened to Alison? Did Ryan do something to her or is there really a person with no pinky's who dragged him out of the car and took her. If so why.

This story goes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Leavenworth, Kansas. From the United States to France to Italy. A journey to find the truth and run from something. This is a story of young love mixed up in so much. Quite a few characters involved. All to find out what happened to Alison? Maybe a bit more.

There are a couple of gruesome scenes in this story but they are so necessary for you to get the whole picture of how bad a man named O'Leary is. A suicide. Some teens killed or overdosed. A family who will never be the same. Actually at least two families who will be affected.

I enjoyed this book and read it in one day. I didn't want to put it down. It's very descriptive and makes you cringe in places. Gasp in others. Enjoy the scenery in some. I even cried in a couple places. I laughed a time or two. It was good but not necessarily for the faint of heart. I also loved how the title of this book played into the story.

Thank you #NetGalley, #AlexFinlay, #StMartinsPress, #MinotaurBooks, for this ARC. This is my own honest opinion of this book.

FIVE big stars and a very high recommendation.

A fast-paced book with short chapters, likable characters, and plot twists? Sign me up! Honestly, this book started off with such potential for me and then it took a turn into a mafia/mobster plot which completely threw me off. I’m not really into crime thrillers and since that ended up being a huge part of the book, it really drove down my rating. If you are into crime thrillers, I would definitely recommend this. It just wasn’t my vibe.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur for a #gifted eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.