First 5 star read of 2024! I am becoming a huge Alex Finlay fan! This book had great pacing, character development and a very unique storyline. Mr. Finlay is adept at writing page-turners that you don't want to put down. Without giving too much away, I will simply say that this book involves: bullying, the mob, murder, intrigue, kidnapping, a cute lil detective, Iraq war vets, and several trips to Europe. There are red-herrings and clues galore. The past and present collide in an awesome story that keeps you at the edge of your seat.

This book is perfect for your summer beach read, plane book, vacation novel. Highly recommend it as a fun read - now I will be going back and checking out more of Mr. Finlay's books!

Special thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Alex FInlay book and I was absolutely sucked in. The different characters and points of view made it a fast read that I didn't want to put down. I quickly figured out where the pieces were falling so I would say I was more captured by the thriller side than mystery.

If you are looking for a page turner or something that spikes your adrenaline a little, this one is for you. I look forward to reading Alex Finlay's other works.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy!

Would give this 4.5 stars. I truly couldn't put it down. The pace was fast and kept me engaged. The twists were good and kept coming at a rapid pace. I enjoyed the writing- when a books reads like I think, I can plow through it quickly. I'd admit I was a bit hesitant after "Night Shift', but this was much more on track and suspenseful. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is broken into 3 parts and told in 3rd person. Alternating POVs between Ryan, Poppy, Shane, Michael ~ I was unsure how they’re connected at first which I loved. Wild ride with sooo many twists. Page turner!! I absolutely loved this and highly recommend

As this novel commences, there are chapters which alternate between Kansas, Philadelphia and Italy and this leads the reader to wonder why.
There is a lot going on in this book — the mob, school bullying, multiple murders, a new deputy sheriff, the disappearance of a high school girl and inter agency rivalries replete with leaks therein. Mr. Finlay ties all of these seemingly unrelated items together in a very interesting and intriguing manner and, as the action occurs, it becomes extremely difficult for the reader to put this book down.
This book is highly recommended and I thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication and look forward to Alex Finlay’s next novel.

Alex Finlay does it again! I started reading and could not stop! If you are a Harlan Coben fan, this is equal to his best.
Heart racing from from the beginning, there are many lose threads, and it's pure reading pleasure to see them pulled!
Intrigue, great characters, excellent mystery, don't miss it!

This was a fun ride! Told in multiple timelines, perspectives, and locations, this novel centers around the disappearance of a teenage girl five years ago. The author deftly weaves the story together in a way that had me literally saying, "OHHHH!!" aloud multiple times as different connections were revealed. The characters may not be as fleshed out as they could have been, but I think that's typical in this type of plot structure. There is a lot of action but it also delves into serious themes like redemption and forgiveness. (Trigger warning for suicide.) Overall I really enjoyed this and read it in a day.

I found this a little hard to rate. I did enjoy the short chapters a lot. It made it easier to read but I find the story a little too far fetched and somewhat comical. Some parts were good, some were too much in my opinion. Overall, I’m glad I got to read it and really appreciate the ARC!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Highly recommend this fast-paced, well-developed plot with multiple storylines. I couldn’t put it down and read the entire book in a few hours. The ending ties everything together perfectly!

Wow. Alex Finlay is an author that you just have to read. All of his books have knocked it out of the park and If Something Happens to Me smashed it. This is kind of book that you want to go into as blindly as possible. There is so much happening all the time and it is compelling reading. I read this in a day as it is impossible to put down.

There are lots of characters in this story, and some you will be puzzled about how they fit in. Never fear, it will all become clear as you keep reading. It is so clever and multilayered, I don’t know how the author kept it all straight writing it.

It is dark, messy and complex, just how is like them. If you have read this author before you will know how his writing just draws you in. Absolutely brilliant

Thanks so much to St Martin’s Press, Minotaur and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Loved it so much.

This novel is a twisty one. I couldn't stop turning the pages and finished it in one day. A thriller that delivers. I enjoyed it. I did feel a little lost with all of the characters at first but it didn't take long to sort them out. If you like thrillers, try this one.
Thank you to the publishers for an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed Finlay's 'The Night Shift' from a few years ago, so I was excited to jump into this one!

The plot itself is outlandish but in an entertaining way. The characters are fun and easy to read. There are a couple low stakes twists but it's all wrapped up with a satisfying conclusion.

Huge thank you to Netgalley and St.Martins Press for an advanced copy of the perfect book to binge over a long weekend!

Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Such a fun popcorn thriller! I recommend to go in blind and enjoy the ride. Fun, fast paced, and thrilling!!

Long story short- buy this book! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with its different arcs that eventually converge into quite a suspenseful read. As some other reviewers have stated, you do have to let some over-the-top elements slide, but this is truly a gripping, stay-up-past-your-bedtime novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC. I'll definitely be checking out other books from this author.

Ryan's life changed dramatically five years ago, when his girlfriend Allison was kidnapped from the car they were both in and is now presumed dead. Although he was not charged with the crime, many still point the finger at Ryan. Now, with a new name, his past has crept up when he comes face to face with the man from that night, who took everything from him. This sends Ryan on a wild goose chase, while back home, Allison's case is back in the spotlight as her car is found with two dead bodies in it. The POVs include Ryan, a deputy sheriff, a mobster, and an accountant.

Alex Finlay just keeps getting better! I was immediately hooked from the prologue and could not put this one down. All of the character POVs really pull the story together and they intersect in a way that I didn't foresee.

Thank you to Alex Finlay, St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange of my honest review. Publication date is May 28, 2024.

This is a solid Alex Finlay book but it is much more a thriller than a mystery. The mystery of it all is pretty much figured out by the end of part 1 and the remaining two parts are spent in a high adrenaline rush of the chase and resolution.

Ryan Richardson was in high school when he was knocked out and his girlfriend, Ali, was kidnapped. He has lived under suspicion of being a murderer for the past five years. When new deputy detective Poppy is put on the case after Ali’s car is discovered she realizes that there may have been a lot more to this case than was shared.

This is a globe trotting chase that cuts through the UK, Italy, France and the US. It’s vivid and captivating as it describes all the different chase sequences. There were times I felt the plot jumped a bit - how did the mob find the 8 fingered man? Why did he seek out Ryan then? He had told people about his memory ages ago. How did he even know he was in Italy? The leaps seemed too far fetched. Nevertheless it was a really interesting story and I can’t wait for more Finlay books!

I read this book in a single sitting and enjoyed it like I was watching a tense action thriller! As readers, we are introduced to a handful of characters, of course not being sure where their stories might intersect yet. Ryan, the only witness to his girlfriend Ali's sudden disappearance five years ago, is on a trip in Italy with his law school cohort when he is confronted by a mysterious message and has a panic attack in a hot air balloon. Poppy, a young veteran, has returned to her childhood home in Kansas to care for her father and start a new job as the deputy sheriff. This role is not as fancy as it sounds -- she's assigned to monitor the tip line, but then tips start coming in about the discovery of Ali's car, submerged in the lake for the last five years -- with two dead men inside. Shane is a mob boss in Philadelphia who is trying to balance his work (killing guys, apparently) with his family life (his son is struggling at his fancy new boarding school).
We've got code breaking, an FBI agent who loves riddles, and some really likable characters. We jump from Kansas, to Italy, to Philadelphia, and beyond, and I had a great clear sense of place and characters. The chapters are short with a few cliffhangers; this is definitely a page turner as I was predicting connections and couldn't wait to find out how everyone was connected.
This was my first book by this author but I would love to read more -- I was super satisfied by the ending and how all my questions were answered (for example, why didn't anyone find Ali's car in what should have been a huge search for her five years ago?). Recommend for fans of Taylor Adams or Martin Scorcese's The Departed. Enjoy!

4.5⭐️ You won’t want to miss Alex Finlay’s latest book when it hits the shelves on May 28th! With a storyline featuring a missing girl, questionable characters, and a few murders, this book will have you flipping through the pages. Trust me, from start to finish, it’s easy to get caught up in the story, and even with multiple viewpoints, it flows smoothly.

Three separate stories finally come together at the end - lots of balls in the air but Finlay made them all make sense. A little violent in some parts for my taste (I like my murders off camera and not all that descriptive) but otherwise, engaging characters, solid plot, kept me engaged, and some glimmers of possible sequel. This one is a good one. Read it one day and my thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for the advance copy.

Went in knowing not much about the premise of the book. I did not see the plot twist coming with Alison Lane and the multiple identities. I had to go back and reread that page a few times because I was shocked. I thought this book was well written and the multiple perspectives weaved together nicely. Loved seeing the change of Chaz’s heart to let them go for his grandson. I also was not expecting the dirty FBI agent. It was fast paced and suspenseful.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC. I would highly recommend it for anyone who loves fast paced thrillers.