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.

Thanks to Netgalley, Minotaur books, St. Martins Press and Alex Finlay for this ARC. This is one of the few male authors I read, and look forward to his writing. As much as I enjoy his books, and I believe Ive read them all, this one was different from the others, and that’s what I enjoyed about it. I found it confusing and slow at the start,, and had a hard time getting into some of the characters. .But that’s might just be me. Not one of my favorites by Alex Finley, but still I read it in a few days., so that’s why I gave it a 4 star rating. I post my reviews in Amazon , Goodreads, X , local and FB book clubs .

If Something Happens to Me is twisty, weird, and not at all what I expected. While this didn't end up being what I was anticipating, I did enjoy it quite a bit. Finlay is always good for a twisty and unexpected mystery, and this is no exception.

This was a really great read! I didn’t see the ending coming and it was very well done. The characters were written well and the scenes were descriptive but not wordy. I really enjoyed the way the book came together and didn’t think it would end the way it did. Kudos on a great book!

DNFing, I keep chasing the same experience as Every Last Fear and The Night Shift and it just hasn’t happened.

Outlandish and contrived.

Thank you to NetGalley, SMP/Minotaur & Alex Finlay for a digital galley of If Something Happens to Me in exchange for an honest review.

I adore Alex Finlay's writing, so this was a no brainer. I was 100% going to read this & love it. And I did love it!

Ryan cannot forget the night that his girlfriend Ali was ripped from his car & never seen or heard from again. Of course, everyone believes the boyfriend did it, but he was cleared. However, the public doesn't feel the same. Five years later, he is in law school & has changed his name. On a trip abroad, he gets a call from his father that Ali's car was finally found submerged in a lake, but Ali's body was not found in the car. Oddly, the bodies of two males were found. Also inside is a note that says "If something happens to me....." Ryan later realizes that the note contains a cipher & he is the only person who can solve it. Then, as if the call summoned him, Ryan catches sight of the man who has haunted his nightmare. The man who took Ali. While Ryan is chasing this man across Europe, Poppy, a young deputy & Shane, a Philadelphia mobster hold other pieces to the puzzle.

Told from multiple POV, Finlay takes us on a journey all around the world to find out what exactly happened to Ali & why. And how do all of these puzzle pieces fit together into this one mystery?

This book was thoroughly entertaining. It was gripping from the first page to the last page. As you read through the three POV (Ryan, Poppy, Shane), it is not immediately known how all three stories will relate to one another, but Finlay brings it all together by the end and gives us the full picture of the mystery of Ali's disappearance.

This story was quickly paced and a highly bingeable read. This might be my new favorite by Finlay & I'm already anxiously awaiting his next book!

➸ 4 stars

“The girl disappeared off the face of the earth.”

thank you to netgalley for the arc!!

THIS WAS SO GOOD?! I literally read this in a DAY which says a lot because I’m such a slow reader but I could not put this one down!! Usually when I read thrillers I can guess the mystery before the reveal but I really had no clue in this one!

The way this book was written is so unique, told from 3 different povs in 3 different places that all tie in together in the mystery; I had no idea how one of these fit into the puzzle but the plot twist (MY JAW DROPPED) made everything make sense and tie together!! It was such a quick thriller read, the chapters were really short and each one ended in a small cliffhanger that then switches to a different pov the next chapter which added so much to the suspense and had me HOOKED! The characters were fun to read about!! I really couldn’t dislike them because even with their flaws, all did things for the people they loved. If you like a quick and faced paced thriller full of suspense and twists, this one is for you!!!

Alex Finlay does it again! This was a fast-paced thriller that I couldn't get enough of. I loved the story. It was a *little* confusing with some of the overlap and names but for the most part I really loved this book. I highly recommend people reading this one when it comes out in May 2024. Such a great storyteller!

This was a great read! Full of suspense & action while taking you all over the globe. It was so well researched (police work, France, England, so much!) and flowed wonderfully. I enjoyed Ryan & Poppy the most and hated for this book to end. Block off your next Sat & Sun then immerse yourself in some mobsters, murder & lots of madness. Wonderfully wild read!!