When I read What Have We Done last year I wasn’t sure if Alex Finlay was for me. Boy am I happy I picked this book up! I didn’t even know the same author wrote both of these books because of how much I loved this one.

The first part of this book was so gripping, I couldn’t put it down. When I went to bed the first night I was already at 39% and only went to sleep because I couldn’t keep my eyes open.

I loved the characters and how the story is woven together. I feel like I should have seen the first twist coming but I didn’t. I felt the end of this book was satisfying with its twists as well.

I highly recommend this one if you like mystery thrillers!

ARC provided by Minotaur Books.

Pub date: May 28, 2024

This is a page turner! I’ve read a few books by this author, and this is a good one. There are three seemingly separate story lines, and they all eventually merge together well. Recommended!

Still haunted by the abduction of his girlfriend right in front of him 5 years ago, Ryan has tried to move on and make a life for himself. When the monster who took her resurfaces, he finds himself in a race to figure out what really happened to Ali before more people get hurt.

This is a fast paced, absorbing read. While I figured out most of the plot very early on, I still found this to be enjoyable. The story is told though multiple POVs. Those POVs weave a tale of secrecy, deceit, and ultimately, murder. It's one of those books that is hard to put down and I finished it in 2 sittings. Despite figuring out what what coming, the details of how and why it all happens is enough to keep you turning the page. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery/thriller, especially if they are looking for something quick and entertaining.

Alex Finlay is a master storyteller.. everything he writes is gold. If Something Happens to Me is no exception. Great characters, great locations, great pacing. The story is told thru different perspectives, which I really liked. Once everything came together, my mind was blown! Twisty, suspenseful and action packed! Loved it!

Alex Finlay captivates readers with his masterful storytelling. Through compelling characters and a brisk narrative, this fast-paced thriller takes readers on a suspenseful journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. With its multiple points of view, the story intricately intertwines the lives of diverse characters, offering a gripping tale of redemption and reckoning that keeps readers hooked until the very end.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley

If Something Happens To Me

4.5 ⭐️

I honestly haven’t read a good thriller in a while and this was such a fun one to dive into! Fast chapters, multiple points of view, chases all over the world—what more do you need?!

In a small town in Kansas, a car is found in a lake 5 years after the high school girl who owned it went missing. At the time, her boyfriend and then a serial killer were named as the suspects. A new local deputy sheriff along with her old boyfriend try to uncover what really happened.

Alex Finlay writes such solid thrillers and I really enjoyed every second of this fast paced one! Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads

Thank you Alex Finlay and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy of this thriller! I was very excited to get my hands on Finlay’s newest work.

In this book we have at least three different POVs to keep track of: Poppy (the deputy sheriff), Ryan (the law student), and Michael (the dad of Taylor). With short chapters and so many POV changes, my interest was definitely piqued and had me wanting to keep reading just to see where each character would go next.

It’s hard to give a full review without spoiling the main plot points, but I will try.
The novel starts off with Poppy, the newest deputy sheriff, having to jump into a known missing person case on her first day when a car was found submerged in a lake. But how are the two men found dead in the car linked to a teenage girl who went missing 5 years ago?
Ryan is in Italy studying abroad during law school. he’s changed his name and his whole future after his girlfriend was taken while they were parked his Senior Year, but he hasn’t been able to let go of her.
Michael has been doing some shady business with some super shady people. He helps his business associate get his son into a prestigious high school, but what happens next was very unexpected.

This book makes you wonder how far would you go to protect the people you love? Would you go to the ends of the Earth to keep them safe? Would you kill for them?

Things I’m here for with this book.

1. A chapter one hook that made me want to ignore my life’s duties.
2. Quick revelation where the plot thickens early on.
3. Short chapters!
4. Chapter after chapter ending with cliffhangers.
5. Keeping me up way later than planned.

Things I don’t prefer
1. Mobsters

If Something Happens to Me was a fast-paced read with lots of little twists along the way. If you love that and mobsters this book will easily be 5 stars for you.

mmm. didn’t love this. but I did like it more than finlay’s last night. it was less confusing - but I think that he adds too many different perspectives in his novels, which can either be confusing (not really in this one, as mentioned), or you just don’t really grow to care about anything of this characters (this was how I felt about this one). i’m sorry, but the writing is just not that good, either. this is a quick and easy novel to read, but it’s just not that good. lots of cliffhanger endings in chapters too which gets annoying when he tries to hook you every single time. this is probably 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

This is the first Alex Finlay book that I picked up, but as soon as I finished I rushed to the library to pick up his other novels. I breezed through this one and didn't want it to end! Fantastically written, and a wonderful story!

This is a story about Ryan and Ali, and they were about to leave for different schools so they drove out to a favorite spot to say their goodbyes. Little did they know, their lives were going to be changed forever. Ryan woke up with a head injury and Ali was gone, and he was the number one suspect in her disappearance. All this time he is trying to find out what happened that night and where Ali may be.

I love that this book had multiple different points of view, at some times it was a little hard to follow and know which one I was reading, but as time went on that went away.

Definitely pick this one up if you love fast paced thrillers, with amazing and twisty endings!

What a gripping read!
From start to finish, I was hooked and was so invested in the story. The characters are believable and interesting, I love multiple POV, short chapters (which a lot of people love and makes for easy reading), and most of all, the plot is intriguing and so well written! This was my first Alex Finlay book, but will not be my last! I have heard so many great things about his books, and this book did not disappoint! I usually don't love a time span/jump, especially years, but this one worked and was so well done that it didn't bother me at all and I actually loved it. Also, it just makes sense! Some shorter books (under 400 pages), time jumps can come across as lazy or too fast paced. I would definitely recommend to readers who love thriller, suspense, and/or mystery! What an excellent read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay!

This was a quick and interesting read! I was able to stay engaged throughout the story! I was able to guess a few of the plot twists in the story but still enjoyed! This story is told from multiple perspectives which keeps the plot interesting

What a quick, fun mystery. It captured my attention right from the beginning… I couldn’t put it down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for an advanced ebook copy to review.

Told from multiple perspectives, If Something Happens to Me, is a fast paced mystery novel by Alex Finlay.
I thought this was a quick, fun read. I did figure out the two twists before the reveal, but it did not take away my enjoyment of this book. This was my first Finlay novel and it did not disappoint.

It is the third Alex Finlay novel I’ve read, and I loved it—😍 Prepare to cancel your plans and anticipate a book hangover. If Something Happens to Me is exhilarating, taut, compelling, cleverly plotted. I suggest you go in as I did blind to enjoy the book and avoid spoilers. I am not going to elaborate more on the characters. 🤐

Anthony is bullied and humiliated at a party—the result is shocking, and he leaves his parents heartbroken and enraged with thoughts of revenge. That leads to a collision course with the main and secondary characters that is pacy with non-stop action: ‘Hauntingly heartbreaking scarifies, unforeseen twists, and an emotionally shattering conclusion.’

On a hot and humid summer night, Allison and Ryan drive to Lovers Lane (a popular place where teenagers go to make out). Ryan follows Allison to their favourite spot under a large oak tree and lays out a blanket. As they begin to kiss, a flash lights up the night sky and a drop of rain falls on Ryan's cheek. Allison and Ryan race to her car as the rain falls in a downpour. They pick up where they left off suddenly. The door flies open, and a man knocks Ryan out and pulls him from the car— he awakens on the wet grass; it's morning, and Allison and her vehicle have disappeared.

Five years later

Ryan has moved on with his life. While in Italy with his friends and classmates from Georgetown University, he hears a voicemail from his father informing him that the police retrieved Allison's BMW, submerged in Suncatcher Lake—

It's Poppy McGee's first day as deputy sheriff with the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office; the Sheriff informs her that some YouTube Slueths posted a video of a vehicle submerged at the bottom of Suncatcher Lake. When Poppy arrives at the lake, they confirm that the car submerged is Allison Lake's BMW. Inside the car, they find among her personal effects an envelope written on the front in her handwriting — if something happens to me, inside the envelope is a cipher written on a piece of paper. Who is it for? What does this mean? Also inside were the remains of two men. Who are they? Did they know or abduct Alison? And where is Allison? Poppy is determined to solve this mystery and will stop at nothing until she gets the answers to her many questions.

It's a propulsive thriller that is taut, with secrets, lies, betrayal, non-stop suspense, and drama; well-paced with short chapters, gasp-worthy twists, and multiple storylines and timelines that Finlay seamlessly weaves together that will have you on the edge of your seat and keep you fully immersed until the final pages. I highly recommend you read this. You won't be disappointed! It’s my favourite thriller of the year.

<b> <br /> <br /> I want to thank St. Martins Press and NetGalley for the ADC in exchange for an honest review.

Alex Finlay does it again! I was gripped from the start of this book and couldn't get through it fast enough.

Three different perspectives in varying times are told to create an engaging and suspenseful story. Ryan is accused of murder when his girlfriend Allison is kidnapped right out of a car he was in with her in Kansas one night. No one believes his story about what happened or why he couldn't save her. Five years later while on a trip in Italy, he spots the man he is sure is responsible for ruining his life. And that man reveals a shocking surprise-Ali is still alive.

Poppy is back in Kansas after being discharged from the military. With nowhere else to go, her dad's best friend, the sheriff, gives her a job on the force. And, on day one, a vehicle is found-and it seems to be Allison's car. Poppy dives down the rabbit hole and is determined to figure out what really happened, while trying to understand how her brother is involved.

Meanwhile, in Boston, a mob family is mixed in with all of the drama and mystery. No spoilers!

I couldn't put this book down. It might even be my favorite of all four of his books I've now read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review!

This one got me good. I was very invested from the beginning, but I couldn’t figure out how the different stories were connected. That plot twist was not at all what I was expecting!

I don’t want to give any kind of summary here because going in blind was best for me. I have loved every book I’ve read by this author, and this is no exception. I do believe it’s my favorite. There’s a lot that goes on in this book, and a lot of different PoVs and locations to keep straight, but it’s not at all confusing. The way everything comes together is very well done.

I loved it all. The small town sheriff, the big city mobsters, and the law student that travels to a bucket list of places throughout Europe. The characters were all great and well fleshed out. And did I mention a plot twist?

Not as gripping as Finlay’s other novels, probably because I was so turned off by the characters. Not because they were bad people, but because I wasn’t interested in where their story went, I’m glad I got to read this, but I’d rather read the absolutely bonkers prologue to THE NIGHT SHIFT on repeat for 300 pages than read this one again.

Boycott. As a Muslim and mother to black children. We demand an apology. It’s a shame such a big company will stand for such atrocities, end this boycott. Issue a public apology.

First off, Poppy’s obsession with Chipotle, is life! I live that life! This book was so good! I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of Alex Finlay books so far, I only have one left to read! I am SO grateful I finally got access to this book so I couldn’t resist picking it up right away! This one has multiple POVs, short chapters 🙌 and some likable and relatable characters! The plot get plotting and the twists be twisting and it was a fun story! I absolutely binged this one and I’m excited for whatever Finlay has next up!!!!