The way I absolutely loved this (audio)book👏🏾😅

Perfect for fans of:
✨Fast-paced thrillers
✨Multi-POV
✨Unreliable Narrator(s)/Lots of Shady Behavior
✨Podcast storyline
✨Short Chapters that leave you wanting more

⭐️IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, OUT MAY 28th ⭐️

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the review ALC!!!

#MacAudio2024 #ifsomethinghappenstome #alexfinlay #macmillanaudio

Really enjoyed this one. Good plot, with detailed characters and compelling writing. I'll definitely be seeking out more of this author's work.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

✉️This was a quick read with several twists! I was invested in this story from the beginning and kept trying to guess how it would end but I didn’t see any of the twists coming. 🤯

✉️Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
Ryan’s world changed when he saw his girlfriend’s abduction over five years ago. His only memory of the abduction is a man with missing pinky fingers snatching her from the car. Now as a law student, Ryan is studying abroad when he spots a man with missing pinky fingers. Ryan is sure this is the same man responsible for the abduction. But why is he in Italy and why did he go out of his way to make sure Ryan spotted him?

✉️This was my second book by Alex Finlay and I’ve enjoyed both! This book is such a quick read and I found myself itching to pick it up whenever I put it down. Buuuuut I was overwhelmed by the amount of characters in this one. There were so many to keep track of and they all seemed to have multiple nicknames used throughout the book. I don’t know if I’d recommend the audiobook for that reason. More than once I had to backtrack while reading just to figure out which character was being discussed. However I still enjoyed this one overall and would recommend it if you want a quick, bingeable thriller!

✉️Thanks to @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for my advanced copy! IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME publishes today!!

This is my favorite Alex Finlay novel he's written. The book opens with two teens on a date gone wrong when one wakes up the next morning to find his date has completely disappeared with her car. All Ryan can remember is getting hit on the head and some men grabbing Ali. He has spent the 5 years since trying to recover and rebuild his life, although he has never been fully able to forget Ali or dodge suspicion from the public.

Finlay takes us on an adventure of a tale. There is real suspense in this book. I found it difficult to put down because I wanted to find out what happened to Ali. Her car is found while Ryan is on a college trip and the momentum takes off. Ryan soon realizes everything is not as it seems. Meanwhile, a young deputy picks up Ali's case and ties to the mob seem to be present. She's ordered not to speak to a former FBI agent and yet can't help but be intrigued by some of what the woman is telling her. All of it leaves the reader guessing and wondering how it will all end up.

I really enjoyed this book. The audio was super well done. I was pulled into the story. There are short chapters that are well-acted which led to a book that felt action-packed and had my heart racing. The ending is great and feels real to the story. The characters are likable and I loved being able to travel to Kansas, Philadelphia, Italy, and England all in one story. I have enjoyed all of Finlay's novels but this one solidifies him as a must-read author.

I flew through this book and didn’t want it to end. The characters were great and so was the narrator. I absolutely loved this book and the way the multiple story lines tied together!

This was an insanely fun and twisty thriller. It was so entertaining discovering how all of the pieces fit together. At first, I was confused about what exactly was happening, but the moment it clicked was well worth the wait.

Alex Finlay masterfully weaves together these different characters and seemingly different stories into a wonderfully cohesive whole that was massively entertaining. Everything about this book was amazing fom start to finish.

The narrators Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, Paul Dateh all do a fantastic job bringing this story to life. This was one of my favorite audiobooks so far this year.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio, for this ALC. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

It’s been five years since Ryan Richardson witnessed the kidnapping of his girlfriend Alison Lane in their hometown of Leavenworth, Kansas. Ryan was left injured, with a vague recollection of his attacker, who was never found, and Alison and her car disappeared without a trace. Initially a prime suspect in her disappearance, Ryan is eventually acquitted, but the unwanted media attention surrounding the case forces him to change his name.

In the present day, he is a law student at Georgetown and while visiting Italy with a group of friends he is informed that Alison’s car was found submerged in Suncatcher Lake with the bodies of two men and Alison’s bag with a cryptic note. Ryan, able to decipher the note, embarks on his own quest to find out what happened to Ali.

In Leavenworth, Kansas, Poppy McGee, who only recently joined as deputy sheriff after being discharged from the army, is pursuing the investigation into Ali’s disappearance. She has her hands full, reviewing case files from five years ago, trying to locate Ryan and decode Ali’s message. As she delves into the details pertaining to Ali’s disappearance, Poppy begins to suspect that there are people close to her who might know more than they are letting on and unbeknownst to either Ryan or Poppy there are other forces at play and people with their own agenda who are monitoring their movements.

A cleverly crafted thriller with well-thought-out characters, If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is a gripping read. A lot is going on in this novel, but the author deftly weaves it all together into a twisty and suspenseful fast-paced narrative presented through multiple perspectives in short chapters and not a boring moment. I will admit that I could predict one of the major twists/reveals midway through the novel, but this in no way detracted from my overall experience because there were plenty of surprises along the way.

I loved the full-cast audio narration featuring Helen Laser and John Pirhalla and Paul Dateh, which made for a riveting immersion reading experience that I finished in one day.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller! As with most books in this genre, there are OTT elements, but don’t overthink it and just enjoy the wild ride!

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"I need to see you. I know who you are "

When you are in hiding, telling the truth or lying, the bad guy or the good guy, the above are not words you want to hear. In the fast paced crime drama, If Something Happens To Me, by hook you from the start, renowned author Alex Finlay, too many people know about people they shouldn't know about at all.

Ryan's life exploded in a moment, the car door ripped open, a blow to his head and pulled from the car. The last memory is his girlfriend Ali screaming and then...nothing. The car was gone and so was Ali.

Everyone believed he hurt her but there was no proof, no body to investigate; so he changed his name and moved away. Now 5 years later, traveling in Italy he gets the call. They found the car. There are two dead bodies in it but neither is Ali. They did find a note from her written on an envelope; it just says, "If something happens to me." Nothing else on it.

Then in what is way too much of a coincidence, he sees one of the men from that night in Tuscany. Thus begins a chase across Europe, but who is chasing who, and who is really leading the chase may lead to unwanted truths.

I was enthralled by voice actors Helen Laser, John Pirhalla and Paul Dateh performing this exciting thriller. The author seamlessly brings the deadly consequences of childhood bullying to light as the catalyst to much of this mystery; it became an important story while entertaining me.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my

Alex Finlay is undeniably a great storyteller. His newest book revolves around a cold case when a car belonging to a local girl who went missing years earlier is discovered submerged in a lake. The audiobook is the way to go for this book, in my opinion, since it helps keep the changing perspectives straight.

This was an interesting book, though I personally found it slower than Alex Finlay’s others. This isn’t a bad thing, the story lent itself to that pacing. Told in alternating views, I thought the audiobook narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh was the better way to consume this because the distinct voices helped me keep straight whose perspective we were in. All three did a great job, and Helen Laser never disappoints!

Five years before the events of the book, a student named Ryan Richardson was out with his girlfriend when a man opened Ryan’s door and pulled him out. His girlfriend Ali was never seen again, sending shockwaves and rumors through the small town. Many locals thought Ryan must be responsible for Ali’s disappearance, or at least he knows more than he has let on. There’s no evidence of Ryan’s involvement, but that doesn’t stop the harassment aimed at Ryan.

In the present, Poppy McGee has just returned to her hometown to start her new job as the deputy sheriff and Ryan (going by the surname “Smith) is in Italy with some friends from law school. When Ali’s car is found back in their hometown submerged in a lake with two dead men in the car, Poppy is assigned the case and Ryan’s attorney reaches out. Who are the two men? How long has Ali’s car been in the lake? There’s an envelope with a cryptic cypher inside and a note in Ali’s handwriting: “If something happens to me”. Poppy will do whatever it takes to help find out what happened to Ali even if

The story follows three storylines: Ryan in Italy when he learns about Ali’s car, Poppy newly hired at the Sheriff’s office and working the case, and a man named Shane O’Leary in Philadelphia. Shane’s story centers around his son, who is relentlessly bullied at his new school, and his “business”, which involves some highly illegal activity. It’s not immediately clear how and when the stories will intertwine, but that is part of the intrigue reading this book.

There are a lot of secrets that are revealed throughout the mystery. Poppy was the most likeable character and the most well-developed. Ryan’s story was a tad action-y in my opinion, but it was easy to empathize with him having to start over in life just to escape the gossip around him. Shane’s story was interesting—I couldn’t figure out how it would tie in but it was clear it was going to be linked to Ali’s disappearance and the two men in the car.

The ending was satisfying, though I wanted a bit more than we got. It seemed to wrap up quickly and then move to a lengthy epilogue. I felt there was one character who didn’t get enough closure at the end, but the others were tied up neatly. I personally enjoyed his last book, What Have We Done, but it seemed that other readers may not have. This is stylistically more similar to Finlay’s first two books.

An engaging book though I did find it slow at times. Ryan’s story held my attention the least, but thankfully the story didn’t feature him too much. Fans of Finlay’s first two books and who like a good mystery will enjoy this!

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Wow wow wow. My husband and I listened to this together and our mouths literally DROPPED at some of these twists. This was such a great read!!

I'm a sucker for a novel with multiple viewpoints, and the gasp I gasped when I realized how the narrators' stories all fit together added a whole star to my rating. I enjoyed most of the readers' choices and voice work, and even though one of the narrators wasn't my favorite, I do think they made sense for the character. I didn't predict all the twists and turns, and I felt satisfied by the resolution. I'd recommend this to thriller lovers and folks who like full cast narration.

“Whoever said if you’re seeking revenge dig two graves, one for your enemy and one for yourself, had it almost right. ”
📖 
Thank you so much to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the ALC! 
🎧 
A fast-paced thriller that dives right in from the beginning. I could tell immediately this would be a quick read. Short chapters with mini cliffhangers. I enjoyed the multiple locations- Kansas, Italy, U.K., France.
🇫🇷 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇮🇹
I did feel as if there was too much going on within all the different side stories and I would have preferred more depth. It was a short read and adding a couple more hours would have been perfect. I would suggest going in blind and not reading too much about the plot. It ends up being a little over-the-top, and suspension of disbelief is required, but it definitely gripping and a fun ride! I enjoyed the energy, for sure. 🔥
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Helen Laser, John Pirhalla and Paul Dateh did a fabulous job on bringing these characters and this story to life. 💫 
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Fast paced and absorbing mystery thriller.

After a traumatic event he experienced as a teenager, Ryan Richardson had to reinvent himself and learn to exist without his girlfriend. Allison disappeared with the thugs who took her and was never seen again. Ryan lived for years under a cloud of suspicion and changed his name and went on to law school but never forgot his first love. On a trip with school classmates to Italy about 5 years later, Ryan gets a call that the car Allison was in has been discovered at the bottom of a lake. Allison’s body is not inside but a note in her handwriting leads Ryan to believe that she might still be alive. A mad hunt ensues. The situation involves a young Kansan deputy working her first job and a group of mobsters in Philadelphia.

Although quite convoluted and complex, the plot was great. Lots of characters both good and bad. I liked the writing style and the different locations. The narrative shifts in point of view and I loved listening to the audiobook while reading along in the E-book (both ARCs provided by the publisher).
Especially enjoyed the multicast performance on the audio which enhanced the entire experience. The book was fast and fun and I definitely recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio ARC if something happens to me.
It was a good story, unfortunately the audio version I received had some chapters out of place including the epilogue in the middle of the story. I hope this gets resolved when it’s released because it seems like a good story.

This was a wild ride. I was so confused in the beginning as to what was happening but once everything comes together it was great (and twisty if you ask me!) I love how Finlay weaves seemingly different storylines into a cohesive thriller. I thought the ending was fantastic and enjoyed learning the backstories of the characters, I liked the audio as Helen Laser is one of the narrators and she always gives an excellent narration.

This was really good. While, there were a lot of characters, they tied together wonderfully. The ending was super satisfying. Great narration!

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is a well-crafted, perfectly plotted entertaining entry in the mystery/thriller genre. The story takes place from multiple viewpoints and places, so you're not sure at first how they're connected. At the start, a teenage girl is taken in Kansas, leaving her boyfriend unconscious and without any clue as to what happened. It's later assumed that she was taken and killed by a local serial killer. Five years later, we meet the girl's boyfriend, who is now in law school traveling abroad. We also meet a curious deputy sheriff in the same town, who becomes involved in her case when her car is finally recovered. The last storyline is about a mobster in Philadelphia. There is a lot going on, but the short chapters and distinct characters make it easy to follow. There is a great a-ha moment when we figure out how all the characters' lives intersect. The storyline is cohesive and tightly plotted. The characters have depth and agency and I loved getting to know each character. Though, they're not always perfect, I find Finlay's characters intriguing and love that the female characters are strong and resourceful. If Something Happens to Me is an action-packed, satisfying mystery where all of the mysteries are resolved, feel organic, and are unexpected. I listened to the audiobook, which was well narrated and kept me riveted.

Thank you St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I liked this book a lot and it kept me intrigued the entire time througout. Sometimes, I got a little confused with the characters but overall it was a fun read that tied together nicely. I will be looking to read more books by this author!

I loved this!! I read it with my eyes and then also listened to the audiobook. I loved the story and the narrators. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen and review.

"If Something Happens to Me" is a whirlwind of drama!

There were multiple narrators of this book. Poppy - a newly minted Deputy Sheriff returns to her hometown. Ryan - thought to have killed his high school girlfriend, now traveling abroad, and many more small character points of views.
At times I was very confused because it didn't come together until about 75% of the way through the book. Once all the characters storylines came together and merged, everything made sense.

I expected a lot from this book because I love Alex Finlay's other books, but I was slightly disappointed with this one.