What a fantastic read - my head is still spinning! Five years prior, Ali and her boyfriend, Ryan, have gone out parking. Someone yanks open the cardoor and hits Ryan in the head. When Ryan is found unconscious, the car is gone and Ali has disappeared. Present time, a podcaster/sleuth has discovered the car in the nearby lake and when it is pulled out, there are the remains of two males along with some of Ali's possessions. There is a new deputy sheriff on staff now, former resident Poppy McGee who has been assigned to the case. Lots of exciting and strange things happen in this story until the very climactic ending. If you want an exciting page-turner that is going to keep you up late at night reading, you will love this one.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC of this gripping, suspenseful, exciting book that I could not put down.

Wow! What a book! This book had me hooked from the first chapter. I had a hard time putting this down, I was eager to keep going which I haven’t experienced from a thriller in awhile. I enjoyed how Finlay wrote each character distinguishable and intriguing. The first chapter in the book was really thrilling and really set the tone for the rest of the book.There are multiple characters in this book but Finlay effortlessly weaves them all together and they are all connected in some way. At the end of Part one there is a big reveal and I said out loud “What??!”

I enjoyed all of the twists throughout the story and the various settings, makes me want to travel! I recommend this book if you want a fast paced thriller with a diverse cast of characters. I want to read more of Finlay’s backlist and I look forward to his next book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

You heard it here: Alex Finlay is the thriller author to be keeping your eye on!!!

This is the epitome of a thriller. We've got action, suspense, and heart-pounding scenes that make this a book that you will be looking to reschedule your plans and obligations to finish.

Synopsis: Ryan Richardson has been reliving one night from five years ago on loop: car door yanked open, hit on the head, his high school girlfriend Ali being yanked from the car, Ali taken into the night without a trace. Suspicion was always on Ryan, although he was never charged, and in the current reality of his life we meet him as Ryan Smith, a law school student heading to Italy on a school trip. One day Ryan gets the call that Ali's car has been found submerged in a lake in his hometown, with two men dead inside and an odd note in the glovebox in Ali's handwriting.

The different points of view are what totally make this book!! The characters are SO different and so compelling in their individual ways. When they all converge in Part Il and Ill... it's gold.

I truly loved this book from beginning to end. The intensity was real. The twists and turns kept the pace flying, even in light of some over-the-top this-probably-wouldn't-happen parts!

I also think it's worth noting that I think this is a thriller that will satisfy most readers - it's not overly gory, or graphic, or leave the lights on all night. It has just the right amount that I would recommend it to most people - and think it would make a great Father's Day gift for any dads in your life that enjoy a good who-dun-it.

If Something Happens To Me releases on May 28th, so get those library hold requests/preorders/gift orders in!!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

For the past five years, Ryan has been haunted by the night his girlfriend, Ali, was abducted. Despite suspicion surrounding him, Ryan has moved on, changing his name and pursuing law school. However, his past resurfaces when Ali's car is found with two bodies and a cryptic note inside. As he embarks on a journey spanning continents to uncover the truth, unexpected allies—including a rookie sheriff's deputy and a seasoned mobster—emerge to aid him in his quest for redemption and justice.

This story is about much more than Ryan… in fact, I enjoyed the parts told from other POVs better. The chapters are short (which I love) and the book is a quick read. There isn’t much suspense because a lot is revealed to the reader. I really liked the author’s first two books, Every Last Fear and The Night Shift… I did not like What Have We Done, and this one falls in the middle for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

4.75

My first novel by Alex Finlay, and I was certainly captivated! This is told in multiple POVs and is one of the few books I’ve seen do end of chapter cliff-hangers right. Here’s the thing: I guessed a lot of the twists before they were revealed, but each time I figured it out, I still got that shocked feeling and eagerly read on. That’s how compelling Finlay’s writing was.

With multiple locations, strong, developed characters, and a good plot, I could easily see this turned into a movie, one that I would eagerly see.

This book was full of twists and turns I never expected. The character development was great and the author sets the scene very well for every situation. This was a good read and I give it 4/5 stars just because the beginning was a little slow. After it picked up, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a slow-burn, medium paced thriller.

I was first introduced to Alex Finlay with The Night Shift which was the biggest surprise and one of my favorite books I read in 2022. Then we get What Have We Done and while I enjoyed it, I didn't rate it as high as The Night Shift. Then I see his next book in NetGalley and I don't hesitate to request it because I know it's going to be good. I was NOT wrong! The first part of the book is told from the POV of three characters: Poppy, Ryan, and Shane. Each character gets a short chapter and many supporting characters but there is no issue with confusing them and who their main character association is. They all are very distinct and by the time you finish part one, you are trying to decide how all these characters are going to come together. Then buckle in because Part Two hits and you begin to see the intertwining but how this will end? That's for you to read, enjoy, and find out! I like a thriller/mystery with lots of moving parts and then watching them all come together in a bang at the end but also leaves me with questions. Like there could be a sequel but I think I'd rather just imagine how their lives continued on myself. All in all, this was a great read and I especially want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an advance copy to read and enjoy.

Alex Finlay is back with a thriller that spans multiple countries, follows multiple POVs, and delivers multiple smart twists!

Ryan Richardson changed his name after his girlfriend Ali was abducted on their date in high school and everyone decided he was the killer. Five years later, he’s on a European trip through his law school when Ali’s missing car is found in a lake back home.

At the same time, new deputy Poppy McGee starts digging into the case and finds startling connections to people in their small town in Kansas.

As more clues are revealed, a third perspective starts to fit into the complicated story behind Ali’s disappearance.

I devoured this book with its short, snappy chapters, and almost spy-thriller feel in its global setting. Fans of action packed, intricately connected perspectives will love this one!

I don’t even have the words for this book!! From literally chapter one, I could NOT put this book down. I enjoyed reading this so much. Thank you NetGalley for the early release read!! One of the best written books I’ve read in awhile.

Absolutely loved this book! This author was new to me but I will definitely be reaching for more of his novels in the near future. I have read a lot of books there time frame can confuse the reading, this book does a fantastic job will needing the readers interest but also keep them on track so that time frames aren’t confusing. So many twist in this book, and they all made perfect sense and kept the plot flowing perfectly. Highly recommend this book ❤️

This suspense thriller had my attention from the start with its short chapters and multiple POVs. Lots of action with several story lines that eventually are brilliantly woven together. Good versus evil. Young love. Friends going to the ends of the earth to have their friends and their families backs. It was very well written and an enjoyable suspense read that would make an awesome movie.

Thank you @alexfinlayauthor @StMartinsPress @MinotaurBooks and @NetGalley for a free e-ARC. The opinions are mine alone and not biased in any way.

I really enjoyed The Nightshift so I was excited to give this a go. It’s completely different and felt a bit more mature and very well developed. Lots of moving parts that all come together in a smart and interesting way. Likable characters that you can root for. All around a great read that I didn’t want to put down. Highly recommend for suspense fans.

Outlier alert. I really liked the first part of this story, it was a bit over the top but I read it for what it was, a decent popcorn thriller. When I got to the end of part one I wasn’t surprised at all. I saw that twist a mile away. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve read so many thrillers over the years or if it’s because I am so smart.

This book is getting rave reviews everywhere and I can see the appeal but it didn’t work for me for so many reasons. The main one being that once that twist in part one was revealed the story seemed to drag and there were two parts to go still. By that point, I stopped caring what happened to the characters or why. This is my fourth book by Finlay; I loved The Night Shift and Every Last Fear, but this title and What Have We Done I did not so he is two for four with me. I would read him again as I always give three strikes to an author before deciding they’re not for me. I just wish this one had the suspense and momentum of the two books I did like.

This is a two-star book at best in my opinion BUT I am giving it 2.5 for readability and being a page-turner. I can’t round up because this was just too predictable and didn’t wow me. There are plenty of 4 and 5 star reviews for this title so take mine with a grain of salt.

Soooo good!

And man, what a twist. I merely thought we were getting two different stories. But the genius of hidden timelines really caught me off guard. In the best way!

The story line played out really well. Kept me guessing. I assumed some of the outcome, but there were a few surprises.

If Something Happens to Me was my first Alex Finlay book and I loved it! At its core, this was a story about love, loss and friendship, and it really struck a chord with me. I was hooked right from the beginning,
and had to physically force myself to stop reading and go to bed multiple times over. All of the main characters were fantastic, but my personal favorite was Michael Harper. He was smart, moved with intention and was an incredible father. I highly recommend adding this one to your summer reading list!

Read if you like:
✨ Chipotle
✨ Revenge
✨ Bingeable reads
✨ Multiple POV’s

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC!

I couldn't put down Alex Finlay's gripping thriller, 'If Something Happens to Me.' From the very first page, I was drawn into the intense and fast-paced story that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

The novel follows Ryan Richardson, who has spent the past five years haunted by the events of a terrible night when his girlfriend, Ali, was abducted. Despite never being charged, suspicion still lingers over Ryan. But when Ali's car is discovered submerged in a lake, along with a cryptic note in her handwriting, Ryan's world is turned upside down once again.

What follows is a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue as Ryan embarks on a journey to uncover the truth, racing from Italy to the UK to Paris. Along the way, we meet a cast of compelling characters whose lives intersect in unexpected ways, adding layers of complexity to the story.

Finlay's masterful storytelling kept me guessing until the very end, with twist after pulse-pounding twist that left me breathless. I was completely immersed in the world he created, unable to tear myself away until I had uncovered every secret and revelation.

'If Something Happens to Me' is a must-read for fans of thrillers and suspense, and I can't wait to see what Alex Finlay has in store next."

This was a fast-paced powerhouse of a thriller. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, but the author did a good job of making the them memorable. The dual timelines blend right into one another, and threw my brain for a loop, but was expertly done. I am eager to read more books by this author because he seems to be a master of psychological suspense! Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

There is so much about Alex Finaly's upcoming novel, If Something Happens to Me, that will draw you in and keep you enthralled through each and every plot twist. The book follows multiple characters ranging from a law student on a trip to Italy with his fellow classmates to a mobster in Philadelphia and an honorably discharged MP starting over as a deputy sheriff in her small hometown in Kansas. Finlay weaves a delicately tangled web which he expertly untangles with plot twists that will hit you before you even see them coming!

Ryan Richardson takes his girlfriend, Alison, to Lovers Lane one night, a storm is moving in but what happens that fateful night will haunt Ryan for years to come. As things heat up between the teenagers, Alison is ripped from the car, Ryan is hit over the head and the only thing Ryan is left with is the sound of her screams because Alison is never seen again. Five years later in Italy Ryan has changed his name, the blame and fallout of that night causing him to become someone else. It's on this trip that Ryan's past comes crashing back in and leaves him questioning everything. This story was fast-paced and riveting. I couldn't put in down because I needed to know what happened. While this was my first book by Alex Finlay it will most certainly not be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own. Check out If Something Happens to Me when it releases May 28, 2024.

I normally don’t like multiple POV books much, but I couldn’t stop reading this one. From page one I was hooked. So many different viewpoints and stories that as you read the book come together to make a fantastic ending. This was my first read from Alex Finlay, but definitely won’t be my last.

This is not a book I would recommend unfortunately. The storyline was okay but it did not keep me engaged, in fact I started checking on my kindle what percentage of the book was still left halfway through which is never a good sign. I felt no real affinity with any of the characters so I did not become emotionally involved which is always the best way to get caught up in a book.