This book had me hooked from the very beginning, if it weren’t for having responsibilities, I probably would have finished it within days. I loved the multiple point of views and short chapters, it keeps things quick and helps with the twists. I didn’t think it had a crazy twist or tons of shock factor. It was just a fun read! Things happened quickly to keep the story intense and captivating. I wanted to find out this story so badly and see how it all unfolded. It gave me Harlan Coben vibes, which is a high compliment because he is one of my favorites. Very much enjoyed this and so happy to have had the privilege of reading it early!

Ryan and his girlfriend, Ali, are at Lover's Lane doing what young teenagers in love do when Ryan is hit unconscious. When he finally comes to his girlfriend and her car are gone. What happened to Ali?

Ryan is accused of foul play. They don't believe him when he says he didn't see anything which makes him their #1 suspect. His Dad hires a hot shot lawyer and no charges are filed and no evidence is found but Ryan's life will never be the same again. People never forget when you're accused of murder.

Fast forward 5 years later and Ali's car has been found in the bottom of a lake. Inside are two long since dead men and Ali's handbag. Inside that hand bag is a note "If something happens to me" followed by a cryptic puzzle.

Is it possible that Ali's alive and safe somewhere? You'll have to read this to find out!

Okay, I can totally see why this book has such high ratings. Fast paced, short chapters, and likeable characters you can root for will leave many thriller readers *thrilled* with Alex Finlay's latest. I liked it well enough but it was never a love match for me. My main complaint is the mafia aspect. I just didn't buy it and felt it was a little cheesy. It's also a HUGE part to the storyline so while I was invested in the outcome I was never super excited whenever I picked this up. This is a me thing. I prefer psychological thrillers more so than action packed shoot 'em ups. If YOU like a lot of action with a mafia angle then this one is sure to satisfy! 3 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.

4 stars.

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this copy for review. This one is hard to talk about without giving away too many details due to possibly spoiling it. My suggestion is to go into this book knowing as little as possible. I loved that the book was two in multiple POVs (one of my favorites for thrillers). I loved the character dynamic and their over development throughout the story. I can't wait to see this book in the bookstores so I can pick up a finish copy. Defiantly my favorite by Alex Finlay.

Out of all the books I’ve read this year, this one stands out as one of the best. The transitions between timelines and point-of-view in the book were executed flawlessly, showcasing Alex Finlay’s superb writing style, while the captivating plot kept me on the edge of my seat. The unexpected twists in the plot left me visibly shaken, and by the end I was speechless. It is safe to say that this book will be among the top-tier releases of 2024, making it an essential addition to your TBR.

Ryan Richardson was in a car with his high school girlfriend Alison Lane when he was hit over the head and pulled from the car. When he woke up, Ali and the car were gone. This face paced thriller has begun! Ryan was never charged but was thought to be a killer and had to change his name and give up his basketball career to escape the haunting accusations.
Fast forward 5 years and the car was found submerged in the lake with 2 dead males inside. And the mystery resurfaces. Told by 3 narrators, the story unfolds and the reader tries to piece together how the 3 voices of the story intertwine to explain what actually happened to Ali.
This is a suspenseful read that is impossible to put down! It has mystery, intrigue, and lots of twists and turns.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the advanced copy of this heart pounding thriller.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. I read this in one day and it was a lot of fun. This is a rabbit hole of a story (in a good way), with many connections and twists. I really enjoy short chapters in thrillers and this one did that. I liked this one more than Finlay’s last novel, and will continue to read his future works. Pick this one up if you want a fast-paced, twisty thriller that deals with darker themes.

I’ve been a fan of Alex Finlay since the book The Night Shift so I was excited to read this new book. I was not disappointed. This was quite an action packed read. From the many different POV’s and a duo timeline sneaking in, I kept the pages turning. I love short chapters, it helps keep the story moving along quick. If Something Happens to Me could be a movie it was so filled with action and drama. I will definitely be recommending this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you so much to Alex Finlay, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for my ARC of If Something Happens to Me.

I am no stranger to Finlay and his writing style. I love how his short chapters and multiple POVs have you flying through his stories.

I was hooked by this story line only a few chapters in. The story line is fairly straightforward but it’s so interesting to see how everyone in the book weaves into the same story line.

My only complaint was that there are SO many characters that I had to read into the chapters or go back to figure out who was who, especially with the mobsters.

This book was a super fun, thrilling, interesting read. Alex Finlay is a phenomenal author and I look forward to reading much more from him!! 4 out of 5 stars

Reading 2024
Book 71: If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay

Grabbed this book on a NetGalley Read Now special. The pub date for this one is May 28, 2024. Going to go and see the author on his book tour through Dallas in June. This is my first Finlay book.

Synopsis: In classic Alex Finlay form, If Something Happens to Me is told from several distinct, compelling characters whose paths intersect, detonating into a story of twist after pulse-pounding twist. The story cements Finlay as one of the leading thriller writers today.

Review: This was a propulsive thriller, with many different characters that all connect in some way. Pay attention for how it all comes together piece by piece. The pages go quickly, with multiple POVs. Many of the characters are likeable, even the not so nice ones. Definitely enjoyed this one, 4⭐️.

Wow - thanks to Negalley for the ARC. I blew through this book in less than a day on vacation. What a gripping thriller that had a LOT going on but all came together. I enjoyed the pacing and the perspectives used to tell the story. This is the first book I have read from Finlay and I will be seeking out more!

This was a super quick domestic thriller by Finlay. I was swept into the mystery from the start and surprised by the twists and turns the story took. Finlay has definitely become an author I really enjoy. Thank y9u netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

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.