There is a lot going on in this story and all of it is great! Ryan had his girlfriend ripped from his life and no one knows what happened to her. Then out of the blue her car is pulled from a lake only she is not one of the bodies in it. Follow along as this story takes down an intersection path.
So good!

I knew that I liked Alex Finlay after the Night Shift, but this made me like him so much more. Three amazing things about this book: SUPER quick chapters (think 3 pages), Multiple POV (but not confusing or too much), and a book that kept me asking myself "HOW ARE ALL THESE STORIES GOING TO TIE TOGETHER?" any anytime that happens automatic A from me.

Ali and Ryan are high school sweethearts who live in a small town in Kansas. They decide they want to head to the towns hook up spot, for a fun night out. It begins to downpour and suddenly Ali is dragged from the car and Ryan is knocked unconscious never to see Ali again. Fast forward five years later, Ali's car is found at the bottom of the lake. Poppy, the new town sheriff, has been asked to go through the tip line, where she begins to find clues about Ali's disappearance. As the investigation continues, Shane O'Leary a major crime boss, begins to intertwine in this case. Did the disappearance have to do with a vengeful mob boss with a grudge against a group of teens? And why?

Mobs, money, small town romance, yes please. BUT huge trigger warnings to suicide.

I was fortunate enough to get an ARC of this through Minotaur Books!

I found this book to be a delightful surprise, despite my usual impatience with stories that take time to reveal their connections between characters. There was just something about the storyline or perhaps the writing itself that compelled me to read on, and I'm so glad I did. From the moment Ryan wakes up to find his girlfriend missing and his life turned upside down, the suspense never lets up. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story threw me for another loop. The ending was incredibly satisfying, and I was pleasantly surprised by the level of realism that was maintained throughout. I'll definitely be keeping an eye out for more books by this author!

This book was well worth reading, despite my usual impatience with books that have multiple characters who don't seem to have any connection until long enough into the book that I find myself skimming the pages until I can see what is going on. I'm not even sure why I didn't do it this time - there was just something about the storyline or maybe the writing that told me it was going to be worth reading the whole book. And it WAS. Poor Ryan got knocked unconscious and woke up to find the car and his girlfriend gone. All he has is a vague image of the man who attacked him in the dark. Of course everyone assumes that he killed her, even though her body hasn't been found. He is so severely harassed that he moves out of the country and changes his name. Time goes by and Ali's car is found at the bottom of a lake and it is NOT empty. Ali's purse is found in the car with an envelope which says, "If Something Happens to me" (hence, the title of the book). It contained a cryptic message of nothing but numbers which experts were struggling to decode while a deputy sheriff tracks down Ryan somehow after having no luck talking to Ali's friends about what the code might be about. And it's a roller coaster ride from here on. Every time you think you know who the bad guys are, you quickly find out you are wrong. There was only one case where I saw something coming, and that was ONLY because I kept wanting to tap the Deputy Sheriff on the shoulder and ask her why she hadn't asked somebody something that was really bugging me. When she never asked, I figured it had to be for storyline purposes, which ended up being true. I found the ending to be very satisfying, although when it was getting close, I DID look back to see if the author was male or female so I could be prepared to be disappointed. Yes, the book is fiction, but I want there to be enough reality that the ending doesn't feel contrived, which this one certainly didn't. I will be looking for more of his books!

What a fun ride this was! I finished this book in one day because I had to find out how it ended! I would definitely describe this as “unputdownable”. It was fast paced and easy to read. I love the authors writing style. This is my second book by him, and I’ll definitely be reading more. Thanks to NetGalley and SMP for the advance copy!

This book just wasn’t any good. Too much going on and it still bored me to read. It was really hard to keep up with all the different characters. I’m also no expert in law enforcement but half the stuff they’re doing in the story would never slide in real life.

Thanks to the publishers at St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley I was able to get a early access E-Copy of “If Something Happens to Me” by Alex Finlay

The start of this story your immediately thrown into some action which hooked me and reeled me in, it was hard to put down. I wanted to know what came next and who was connected to who.

One night at the end of his senior year Ryan meets up with his girlfriend of four years Alison at lovers lane a hot spot for hook ups in a small town of Kansas before a summer split between the two of them only to end up knocked out and Alison missing.
Ryan was a suspect of Alison’s disappearance until evidence came about she was a possible victim of a cereal killer who was in the area at the time of the attack.
Ryan has moved changed his last name in fear of others finding out his true identity and being linked to Alison’s disappearance.
6 years has passed and one day Ryan is confronted with his passed.

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This one will have you on edge forsure!

This one captivated me from the beginning. We jump around between three different points of view and I was confused how they.intertwined, but once I figured it out it was fantastic! I would recommend this one to anyone that loves action and mysteries that you're trying to figure out.

Wow. Believe it or not this is my first ever Alex Finlay book so send me all the recs!!

This suspenseful book was just soooo well developed. I don’t know if I can say anything bad about it! Once you start, you honestly can’t put it down! I read this at red lights and in the shower— it’s that kinda book!! The writing is easy and the twists pack a punch! (I had a few moments of sitting there thinking of just how these characters are all connected and I’m happy to say I was on the right track!)

Read this if you love:
✉️ short chapters
✉️ multiple POV
✉️ alternating settings— Kansas / Italy / Philly
✉️ ruthless characters
✉️ bingeable thrillers

Alex Finlay's "If Something Happens to Me" lives up to its billing as a pulse-pounding thriller. The novel follows Ryan Richardson, a young man haunted by a traumatic event from his past. On a trip abroad, he receives news that forces him to confront his demons and embark on a desperate search for the truth.

Finlay excels at weaving a complex narrative with multiple characters. From Ryan, racing across Europe, to a young sheriff's deputy in Kansas and a Philadelphia mobster, each character brings a unique perspective to the unfolding mystery. Their paths intertwine in surprising ways, keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

Finlay is known for his masterful use of twists, and this novel doesn't disappoint. Just when you think you have things figured out, the rug gets pulled out from under you. The story is filled with red herrings and unexpected turns, making it nearly impossible to put the book down.

While the plot is undeniably thrilling, it's the characters that truly elevate the novel. Ryan is a well-developed protagonist, his desperation and determination palpable throughout the story. The supporting characters, too, are richly drawn, each with their own motivations and secrets.

A Must-Read!

This is a fantastic, twisty ride! Set in two time periods and interweaved with a great deal of care, this will keep you guessing. A girl disappears after a night with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend is accused. We get several perspectives, including his. The writing it tight and compelling. Fun, easy read that keeps the surprises coming!

This story started off with a bang- and just kept on going!! I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to keep up, because we have several locations and characters throughout this story. But don’t worry, it’s easy to keep up with, and all the twists and turns have everything come together nicely.

Poppy is a new police detective, and it’s her first day on the job when a car that has been submerged underwater in the lake nearby has been discovered. Is this the car that belonged to Alison Lane, the teenage girl that went missing all those years ago? Alison’s boyfriend, Ryan Richardson was yanked out of the car and has little memory of what happened that night. Does Ryan remember the man that yanked him out of the car and drove off with his girlfriend, or is it just a figment of his imagination? What really happened that night, and will Ryan ever live a normal life again?

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania we have Shane O’Leary who “runs” the city per se… Shane is a man that you don’t want to double cross, and he has several men that work for him. Yes, he’s a mob boss. Shane and his wife experience a horrible tragedy, and all those involved will pay. But just how far can you run?

This story was divided into three parts with short, quick chapters that made this book easy to read. This book was action packed and full of thrills! Once again, Alex Finlay is at the top of his game and moving forward he is an auto-read/auto-buy author for me! This is one book that you don’t want to miss!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for an ARC of this book. Publication date: May 28, 2024. Genre~ General Fiction (Adult), Mystery & Thrillers

I loved this book. I’ve been itching for a really good thriller and this one delivered! I loved the multiple POVs and jumps in the timeline. And that plot twist!!! 😱

I enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept you on your toes. The ending was WILD. Although I did enjoy this book, I found the multiple point of views a bit hard to keep up with. I found myself getting confused over the characters throughout the book and having to look back. Overall, it was a good read and filled with so many twists. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

So so so good!! Awesome plot, multiple POVs and the end of part one will leave you 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯! I didn’t want this book to end — this was my second Alex Finlay and I’m such a fan!! Don’t sleep on this one if you can read an early copy! 🙌🏻

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this eARC!

This book was WILD. I feel like it was up and going right from the beginning. I love a good detective thriller. I was NOT expecting anything that happened in this book. It had me on the edge of my seat, turning pages just to see what was coming next. The characters were likable, with the exception of the bad guys, obviously. The way the story came together in the end, was insane. I’ll admit that I spent most of the time a bit confused as to what things had to do with some others, but it all came together so nicely and made sense at the end. This book teaches you to TRUST NO ONE. Not even those you think are out to help you. Such good action, a lot of suspense, and too many twists to count. Extremely well written, fantastic plot, and great characters. Overall a fantastic read.

I thoroughly enjoyed If Something Happens to Me! It was a fast paced and engaging mystery/suspense novel that was difficult to put down. The story line was interesting and unique in its complexity and structure. While there was a lot going on, it kept me guessing which I enjoyed. All the dots were connected in the end!

This is the third book I have read by this author, and I look forward to reading more. Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur, and Alex Finlay for this free ARC digital copy.

This book was fast paced and grabbed me right from the start! It is the best kind of thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat as all of the pieces of the story come together. It is action packed from start to finish. This is a must read!! Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC copy of this book.

Well that may have been the book to finally get me out of my reading slump for good.

At first the 3 different POVs are confusing. You feel like you’re reading 3 different stories until later in the book everything comes together to show how they all connect.

Once I figured that out, everything was so fast paced. There are so many twists near the end that keep you on your toes. Sometimes the timelines are confusing but you catch on eventually.

At 60% through I audibly gasped. Because I did not see that coming at all.. my favourite thing about thrillers is just enjoying them as they come. I don’t try and guess I just like to genuinely see where the book takes me.

This was my first book I’ve read by this author and I really enjoyed their writing style! I will for sure be reading more in my future!

Thank you. St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this early in exchange for my honest opinion!

Thanks Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the DRC! I’ve really enjoyed this author’s past books so I was thrilled to be approved for this on NetGalley.

I’m always a fan of short chapters, but because the POV switched so much and the stories were drastically different for each character, it made it really hard to get into the story or connect with characters. The second half of the book picks up the pace and was much more engaging and enjoyable to read.

There are some odd remarks like Poppy commenting that Ruby, a new mother, is heavier than she remembered. Duh? She’s a new mom? But also, it has nothing to do with the story so why include it? Also, Poppy picking up a burrito is described as “Poppy takes her own burrito in her two small hands” like what? Her two small hands?? 🤷‍♀️ This was an ARC so perhaps the clunky language will be edited out by the final version.

I was able to predict the entire plot from fairly early in the book, but it might be more surprising for someone who doesn’t read a lot of thrillers. I still enjoyed seeing how it unfolded, but it wasn’t my favorite by the author. It’s an entertaining read if you don’t mind an unrealistic OTT plot. I seem to be the outlier as most of the early reviews have been raves, so perhaps it was just not the best fit for me and might be one you love! For me it was a solid 3.5⭐️ Read, rounded up to 4 here.