Five years ago, Ryan Richardson and his high school girlfriend Ali were parked at the local “lover’s lane”. He’s attacked and when he comes to, Ali and the car are gone. The only things he remembers about the attack was Ali’s screams and that the attacker was missing both his pinky fingers. Ryan was accused of the murder of Ali, since she never found her.
Years later Ryan changed his last name hoping to reinvent himself. He is now in law school and has decided to take a trip with his schoolmates to Italy. Ryan just happens to catches sight of something that shocks him to the core. It’s the man from the night Ali went missing. Ryan must risk his own life to track this man down and finally find out what happened to Ali.

Poppy, a young war vet who returns home to Leavenworth, Kansas, to work as the deputy sheriff. Her first call is to an abandoned car found in a lake. There are two men that have an evidence of an execution style murder. Poppy must find out who these men are, and why they were murdered. The car is Ali’s, the exact one that went missing that terrible night. Ali’s body is not in the car, but her purse is. They find a note in Ali’s handwriting that says, if something happens to me with a cryptic message.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a completely fast paced, easy read with lots of twists and turns, that kept me guessing. It is told in multi character POV. The narrator fits all of the puzzle pieces together for us, with ease. This was a 4 star read for me.

If Something Happens To Me
By: Alex Finlay

This was a good book, I gave this a 4.5 stars review.
I got this on NetGalley, but it released yesterday 5/28.

One night Ryan and Ali are out together, the car door opens, Ryan is hit in the head and ripped out of the car and he hears the screams of his girlfriend, Ali and when he wakes up she’s gone and is never found.

He moves away to go to school and changes his name, but it doesn’t matter, things start to catch up with him.

Poppy is a detective, she’s working on Ali’s case when they find Ali’s car in a lake, but no trace of her body only a note and 2 other dead bodies. Poppy looks for Ryan to find some answers.

So much happens in this story, but it’s so good!

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. The characters and plot were interesting, it was fast-paced, and I thought it all tied together well at the end. I like stories that are multi-faceted and this one definitely was. It’s best to go in blind, there are some surprising connections and twists. If you enjoy mystery, suspense, adventure, and a little bit of romance mixed in, then I recommend this one. Especially the audio! The narration by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh was entertaining, and I found it easy to follow along with all of the POVs. Thank you so much Macmillan Audio for this ALC through NetGalley!

This was my favorite Alex Finlay book so far! It was a bit over the top but not so wild to make it unbelievable. It had an interesting story and there is a time jump at one point where two stories are told parallel but you don't realize one was in the past. It made the twist more interesting.
Overall it's a typical thriller book. It's a page turner and a fun read, nothing too memorable though.

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.

The book "If Something Happens to Me: A Novel" by Alex Finlay was engaging enough to finish in one sitting. However, it was neither groundbreaking nor particularly attention-grabbing. The story was narrated by multiple characters, each contributing to a larger picture. While none of the characters were especially compelling, they all played their part in advancing the plot. The book is a satisfying read, as all loose ends are neatly tied up by the conclusion.

The voice actors did a commendable job with their character portrayals, bringing the story to life. The use of different narrators helped distinguish characters as the story evolved.

I really enjoy this. It was my first time reading from this author, but the story kept me want to keep reading. I sometimes don’t always like a bunch of POVs but I felt like for this it was used in a way to keep suspense and the story moving along. There were a few times in the audiobook I got a little confused on who was speaking, but overall I really enjoy it. I will be definitely be picking up another book by this Author.

4.5 ⭐️ Happy Publication Day!! 🎉 “If Something Happens to Me” is about Ryan and Allison, a couple who one night are attacked while parked at a lover’s lane. Ryan is hit on the head, and Ali is ripped from the car. People suspect Ryan may have done something to Ali, but without any proof, the case goes cold.

Five years later, Ryan is in law school at Georgetown, and is taking a summer trip to Italy. His life turns upside once again when he gets from his dad; Ali’s car has been found submerged in a lake in his hometown. Even worse, the bodies of two men are found inside, along with a waterlogged letter with the words “If something happens to me” written on the front. From there, we embark on a journey to answer so many questions: who are the men in the car? What does this cryptic note mean? If Ryan didn’t harm Ali who did?

The chapter are super short. So I was able to binge this book very quickly. We are following four different perspectives throughout this story. Some of the characters are hard to distinguish from one another; so it got a little confusing at times, especially towards the end. It was so hard to put this book down. I kept listening because I needed to know what happened.

Overall, this was a very fun popcorn thriller with lots of twists and turns! 4.5 stars!

Thank you to Alex Finlay, NetGalley, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the complementary advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review!

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME by @alexfinlayauthor is the definition of an unputdownable, edge-of-your-seat thriller. This has all the excitement and suspense perfect for making into a movie. It is told from a few different POVs, and the audio has a narrator for each one to help differentiate between them. They were all fantastic!

There’s a disappearance of a teen girl, a mafia, and police detective stories all intertwined. I loved how all the pieces fit together. I feel like I can’t say much more without giving something away. Just go grab a copy and enjoy!

Happy Pub Day to this great read! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @minotaur_books for an eARC AND thank you @macmillan.audio for this early listening copy! I’m so thrilled I was able to read this one! @alexfinlayauthor has definitely done it again! This one is sure to be liked by many!

Happy Pub Day to If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay

For five years, Ryan Richardson has been haunted by the night his girlfriend Ali was taken and he was brutally attacked, leaving him under a cloud of suspicion. Now living under a new name and attending law school, his past resurfaces when Ali's car is discovered in a lake with two dead men and a cryptic note in her handwriting. As Ryan races across Europe to uncover the truth, a young sheriff's deputy in Kansas and a mobster in Philadelphia might hold the clues to the truth.

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay grabbed my attention from the start. Finlay masterfully alternates between multiple points of view. At first, it wasn’t easy to see how the characters' stories connected, but the clever storytelling kept me intrigued. As the plot unfolded, Finlay expertly revealed the connections between the characters, leading to a series of twists that really surprised me at the end. If you love exciting and suspenseful books, you should read this one!

The audiobook version is narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh, and they did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. The multiple narrators helped distinguish the different perspectives. Thank you @NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for the gifted audio copy.

Thank you so much to the publisher #partner for the #gifted ARC and ALC!

I have now read three Alex Finlay books and I have to say this one is my favorite. The book is divided into three interrelated stories: Ryan who has changed his identity due to a macabre past involving his dead gf, Poppy who is the new cop investigating a cold case that has been resurrected, and the O’Leary crime family who is set to avenge everyone who influenced their son’s suicide.

As is the signature storytelling with all Finlay thrillers, the settings are international and action-packed from start to end. The plot is convoluted with a million things happening all at once and not a single lull in the story. Yet the author as always, expertly weaves in everything together to a neat finish. I paired the book with audio which I highly recommend thanks to the stellar host of narrators who did a great job creating tension in the story. My personal favorite was the narration of the O’Leary chapters! Thriller lovers, do not miss this book!

I was drawn into this story from the very beginning and I love how the different lives and storylines all come together. I enjoyed how Finlay plays around with the timelines and how the chapters are not dated, you assume they’re in linear order, and when you find out they’re not 🤯 The first big twist at the end of part one had my jaw on the ground. The plot was enjoyable for me as I was able to suspend my disbelief as we traveled all over the world and explored multiple well-known thriller tropes. Finlay’s characters are complex and multidimensional, and I was still learning more about them right until the last pages.

I thought this book worked really well on audio. I enjoyed the different audio narrators, thought that the different voices helped bring the characters to life and held my interest throughout. Great production quality, annunciation, and pacing by the narrators.

Con: I felt that there were simply too many characters in the book to easily keep track of. Example, in just one storyline, Ryan is studying abroad and has a group of five or six friends, all of whom are mentioned by name. I took the time to try to remember who was who, but their names did not end up being super relevant to the story. I also struggled a bit with keeping track of each name of who was in O’Leary’s circle. It was just a lot of different characters overall and I feel that limiting the number of characters could have helped the story flow a little better. Especially on audio, I feel there were too many characters introduced!

For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has relived that terrible night. The car door ripping open. The crushing blow to the head. The hands yanking him from the vehicle. His girlfriend Ali’s piercing scream as she is taken.

With no trace of Ali or the car, a cloud of suspicion hangs over Ryan. But with no proof and a good lawyer, he’s never charged, though that doesn’t matter to the podcasters and internet trolls. Now, Ryan has changed his last name, and entered law school. He’s put his past behind him.

Until, on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father: Ali’s car has finally been found, submerged in a lake in his hometown. Inside are two dead men and a cryptic note with five words written on the envelope in Ali’s handwriting: If something happens to me…

Another win for Finlay and might be my current favorite. With having an ecopy and audio I binged through this one so fast. I’m a huge fan of the short chapters that kept me wanting to know more. I thought for sure I had it all figured out, but that twist threw me. Loved the note and the rush to figure out what it meant. Don’t want to give anything away, because it’s a must read. Fast paced and fun to read - 100% recommend!

This book started off strong for about the first 50 pages:l. Then it just lost my interest. I was throughly confused on what was actually happening at some points during this book.
The characters weren’t memorable.

If Something Happens to Me, by Alex Finlay, is a fast-paced thriller with short chapters and multiple POVs. It’s easy to binge and keeps you guessing throughout.

Ali went missing without a trace, and her boyfriend Ryan was accused of her murder/disappearance, but was never charged. Five years later, her car is found submerged in a lake with the body of two men inside and a note in Ali’s handwriting that reads “If something happens to me…”.

This book follows three storylines in three different locations. I listened to the audio book, and the story is told by three narrators: Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh. Having three narrators significantly helps keep track of the three POVs/storylines. All of the narrators did an excellent job reading/playing their parts.

If you’re like me, and like to speed up your audiobooks, the narrators were easily understood at 2x speed (at least to me).

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advance copy of the audio book.

Happy Publication Day to If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay! A huge thank you to NetGalley, Macmillian Audio, and Alex Finlay for providing me the opportunity to listen and review If Something Happens to Me, out for publication today.

Oh what a riveting, tangled web you weave Mr. Alex Finlay! This book had me hooked from the first few pages. I enjoyed how Finlay opened the story, with rich descriptions for the characters and setting, the brief backstory between the first two characters, and the small town feel of Leavenworth, Kansas. The end of the first chapter, moving into the second, snapped me to attention asking myself, “What just happened?!” Finlay expertly intertwines the characters and their situations. Each chapter kept me engaged and begging for more. Wow, does Finlay have the gift of leaving the reader in suspense!!!

The three audiobook readers were outstanding! I loved listening to the change in voices for each of the characters, their expression and pacing. The flow was absolutely perfect! Each reader made the book come to life more and more with each passing chapter. These readers were exemplary in capturing what every author would want in audio readers for his/her novel.

This book has it all…suspense, deceit, secrecy, love, heartache, and many levels of loyalty. If Something Happens to Me is the second book I have read by this author and has solidified my decision in making Finlay’s books an instant purchase. Do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book NOW! A fantastic summer read. This fast-paced suspense novel will leave you breathless and wanting to read another one of his books immediately!

"If Something Happens to Me" had potential, but it fell short in several areas. Finlay's writing often diverges into irrelevant social commentary, using characters to voice opinions on social media, yoga, tourism, and more. This detracts from the plot and feels unnecessary.

**Pros:**
- **Quick Read:** The book's pace makes it easy to get through.

**Cons:**
- **Basic Writing:** Over-explains simple concepts, which can feel patronizing.
- **Irrelevant Commentary:** Characters serve as mouthpieces for the author's opinions on unrelated topics.
- **Flat Characters:** Lack depth and connection, making it hard to root for anyone.


Overall, *If Something Happens to Me* is a basic thriller that lacks the depth and engagement needed to make it memorable. While the framework had potential, the execution left much to be desired.

Reading Between the Wines book review #42/130 for 2024:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: If Something Happens to Me
Author: Alex Finlay
Available TODAY!!

Sipping thoughts: Wow! What a flip in the script! I was not expecting what I read. I love it when you are thinking one thing and then all of a sudden you realize that you had it all wrong. The first chapter opens with a bang and the thrills don’t stop there. Just imagine if someone you loved disappeared and then you get a cryptic message that says “if something happens to me…” The mystery behind the message and the kidnapping all stems from a mistake that carries over into many lives. I really enjoy Finlay’s writing style and I could not read this one fast enough.

Cheers and thank you to @MacmillanAudio and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @IfSomethingHappensToMe.

#IfSomethingHappensToMe #AlexFinlay #MacmillanAudio #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

This book started off with a bang and kept that same energy the whole way through. There was a lot going on - lots of characters and various settings. At times, I had to pause to focus on who was talking and where we were. That didn't take away from the enjoyment though. There were good twists and turns that helped answer all the questions I had throughout the story. The chapters were quick and easy to read. There was also nonstop action that kept me entertained and invested in what was going to happen. This was my first read by this author, but it definitely won't be my last.

I enjoyed the full cast narration consisting of Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh. It helped to keep up with the various main characters.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Ryan and Ali are your stereotypical high-school sweethearts... that is until, and accident and abduction leave Ryan concussed confused and alone. Ali is no where to be found, and the police have no leads other than Ryan. However, with a lack of evidence and a good lawyer, Ryan is never charged. Fast-forward years, and Ali's car is found, bringing the case and its suspicions regarding Ryan back to the forefront. However, Ryan is no long a teenager, and there is a new police force on the job of investigating the case.

Overall, I found this book to be enjoyable and interesting, keeping my attention, but the win really goes to the audiobook production. I am a sucker for good multi-cast narration, as well as "podcast" and other news setups. I found this novel really flowed nicely, and was a great audiobook to enjoy. The story did have some far-fetched actions/activity, and I was a little disappointed with the new sheriff, but again the audiobook was very enjoyable.

This is my second outing with Alex Finlay. I rated The Night Shift 3.5 stars—certainly high enough to want to snatch up another Finlay offering. I couldn't put down If Something Happens to Me—it even distracted me from the discomfort of a required fast day! It earns 4.33 stars.

Chapters jump around between multiple characters, locations, and timelines. It took a while to figure out how certain segments fit in, allowing for some truly satisfying aha moments throughout the book! Not only were there several twists, but there's a lot of action. If you are on the squeamish end of the spectrum, be aware that there is quite a bit of violence. However, most mystery/thriller lovers—versus strictly cozy mystery lovers, for instance—will probably not be unduly alarmed.

This review is necessarily concise—the bendy narrative path and connection-weaving mustn't be spoiled. Just note that this is a high rating coming from me. If you know how our preferences line up, you'll likely know whether this is also a good bet for you. If it is, enjoy . . . and message me when you're done so we can compare notes.

The audiobook is well-narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh. Laser and Pirhalla are quite familiar to me; Dateh is new to book narration, which I only know from looking into his experience (that is, his performance wasn't lacking).

This unbiased review is based on an audio ARC supplied by the publisher—Macmillan Audio from Minotaur Books. Publication is expected May 28.