If Something Happens to Me starts off with a horrible crime. A young couple on a Lover’s Lane. One is ripped out of the car and the other is driven off and disappears. A young life is ruined when, even though someone else is charged with the crime, he cannot shake being called a murderer. Five years later, the car reappears. It is learned that this abduction was not exactly a surprise. She knew she might be taken. She had left behind a clue in case she was.

This was a global adventure with people from small town Kansas, Georgetown Law, Philadelphia crime families, France, and Italy all working to solve the same mystery. What happened to Ali? Was Ryan involved? Are his memories really that or guilt driven nightmares? Poppy comes back from the military to serve in her town’s police force just in time to try to find out. You are never quite sure who to trust. That makes this a real page turner.

A highly entertaining thriller - a perfect movie material!

Thhanks to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for this ALC! This audiobook was narrated by a full cast of wonderful narrators providing the full on, enjoyable motion picture effect and bringing the characters to life.

Synopsis –

Ryan’s girlfriend Alison was taken from right under his nose. That night has been haunting him ever since along with the suspicion that surrounds him like a shadow. When on a summer trip to Italy, he learns that Ali’s car has been found submerged under a lake in their hometown and a note preserved in her bag, saying “If Something happen to me …”. Ryan has to find out the truth when he meets the man who has been in his nightmares all this time.

Review –

Finlay has a distinct trademark style of plot construction and creating characters whose lives intersect in unimaginable ways. This one’s no different and it delivers on every aspect we look for with thrillers.

The alternating narratives between the characters are deployed so cleverly that they will effortlessly misdirect us. I especially loved detective Poppy McGee’s thread and started rooting for her the moment I sensed her potential and realized she is the underdog. Poppy’s investigation starts the cat and mouse chase that will ultimately wreak havoc on the masterplan at play.

It's more of a thriller than a mystery for seasoned thriller readers who can sniff out the big twist early on. Although a few things were a bit too far-fetched, there were so many other elements that made this a winner – a gangster and his henchmen hunting their rivals, a heartwarming/innocent love story, a street smart detective and a creative interlinking of the lives of characters that would be quite impossible to guess.

With short pacy chapters that I love, the pages turn themselves & the tension builds to a crescendo The ending was the anticipated, explosive high-octane drama that finally settles all our confusion and speculation. I’d love to see this as a Hollywood blockbuster!

Definitely worth a read for lovers of the genre!

This was a completely gripping story following multiple viewpoints that deal with the disappearance of a teenage girl, and the family of a mob boss. The stories begin in completely different states, but eventually converge in a twist that I didn’t initially see coming, yet even once I figured out the connection I didn’t know how it was going to play out. There are many key characters, so you have to pay good attention, but the audiobook narrators do a great job and that helped me to keep everything straight. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

One night changes the course of his life. Something he can't remember entirely, the loss of his first love, a death he was blamed for but never charged, and the course of his life changed forever.

Unimaginative, lacking a spark to draw me in I hoped for more but refuse to give up on Finlay's work.

I love the audio with the different narrators. It was helpful, especially at the beginning, because there was a lot of different perspectives and storylines. It was hard to keep track at first but once the connection was revealed it was pretty cool.

This book reminded me a little bit of a different book I read about a cold crime and a suspect hating the spotlight, only this one was done well, with characters I cared about and wanted to root for and mystery that was fascinating to follow. I don’ read many thrillers and mysteries and I am not great at guessing what’s coming but I enjoyed guessing this one. I figured out some things about two seconds before they were revealed and some others I was just surprised. I really enjoyed the story, the journey, the characters, the different locations, the guessing and the end. It was great time listening to this book.

This is unfortunately a case of being so incredibly excited for a book and then being let down.
Was this book bad? No, not at all. And the audiobook? Very enjoyable with the use of multiple narrators.
Then why the disappointment? After having really enjoyed What Have We Done by Alex Finlay, I was hoping to be similarly captivated by If Something Happens to Me. I was so eager to dive into this story through both physical book and audiobook in the hopes of an immersive experience. With this book, it all just felt a bit too predictable.
I'm one who is not unhappy when I guess what's to come in a mystery/thriller. There are many that I've read, "figured out," and have still thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, each step of the way through this book's plot could have been predicted by someone with even minimal focus on the story. If the hard hitting plot points are that expected, it just doesn't work.
What saves this book are the interesting characters, the inclusion/exploration of poor decision making by both children and adults, the analysis of the different responses to grief, and an ending that at least wraps the story up nicely.
Do I think you'll enjoy this book/audiobook? Yes, I do. Do I think it will be memorable? Unfortunately not.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

If Something Happens to Me was a great thriller with a twist about 60% of the way through that really did stop me in my tracks.

Told from multiple perspectives, it's the story of a man who has to confront the disappearance of his girlfriend and a new cop who has to figure out a new mystery that has been uncovered in her town. And there is also a third story that all weave together.

It's a quick fast-paced thriller with three great narrators that kept my attention and I finished it in just two days (exactly how I like my thrillers), so it's highly recommended!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Oooh, me like! High school sweethearts Ryan and Ali take a drive to a lovers lane when Ryan is suddenly pulled from the car and Ali is abducted, never to be seen again. He has one small glimpse of the person and that he was missing a finger from both hands. But, despite his please he becomes the only suspect and this label forces him to change his name and try to rebuild his life.

Poppy is brand new to the local police department and is out on the case when the car Ali was taken in is found years later submerged in a lake. In it are the bodies of two men, but not Ali. What they do find is a letter that survived the waters with “if something happens to me written on the envelope”.

This had it all: mystery, dual narrations, dual timelines, interwoven stories. I really, really liked it!

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I liked the idea of this book. However, I was often confused what character and what timeline I was experiencing. It was a unique plot line when the truth came out, but then I wasn’t wholly on board with it. It was almost too extreme. The book works as far as a crime drama, but it lacked thrill for me.

The audiobook did have a cast of narrators with Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh giving voice to various characters. This enhanced the listening, but I still wasn’t always able to decipher who was who.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin’s Press, and author Alex Finlay for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Many thanks to @macmillian.audio for the gifted audiobook. Below is my honest review of this edge-of-your-seat thriller.

Five years ago, Ryan’s life was turned upside down when he and his girlfriend, Ali, were attacked while parked in a secluded area near their hometown. Ryan awakes with hazy memories and mounting suspicion pointed in his direction because Ali and their car are missing. Even though he was never charged, he became the central suspect for many, and as the years passed with no leads, he changed his name to escape the scrutiny. Now a law student, he is on a European trip with some classmates when he gets the call he has both craved and feared. Ali’s car has been found. Instead of finding Ali’s body inside, there are two dead men. Then, while in Tuscany, Ryan inexplicably sees the man who attacked them - the one face from his hazy memory. Thus starts a twisty international thriller told from the perspective of Ryan abroad and the new deputy sheriff back home in Kansas - with the help of an envelope found in Ali’s car addressed “If something happens to me.”

This was my first Alex Finlay book, but it won’t be my last. It was a complex story with many unexpected layers. I loved how he used subtle writing tricks to make readers think the story was heading in one direction when it was pretty different. How the pieces were being put together simultaneously in Europe and the US was very fun, and the way the danger mounted the closer we got to the conclusion was very enjoyable. I found so many stories and characters intersecting at specific points that I needed to pause to recall how they fit together. The narration was outstanding - with three distinct and fantastic narrators. If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller, this one is lots of fun.

If Something Happens to Me tells the story of Ryan Richardson in the aftermath of his girlfriend disappearing. Ryan and Ali had parked by an isolated lake where Ryan was knocked unconscious. When he awoke, the car and Ali were both gone and he was the prime suspect in her disappearance. Years later, Ryan has changed his last name and is studying abroad with his law school cohort when he receives a message from a man he remembers from his last night with Ali. The story is told through the perspectives of multiple characters across the US and Europe. It was really satisfying to see all the threads come together in the end. I'd say this is Finaly's best work so far. The narrators for the audiobook were good and it was a thrilling listen.

Thanks to Netgalley I was able to listen to an review this audiobook. I may even be pushing my 3 star rating a bit. There was so much to keep track of, different cities and from MPOV's, which made it hard for me to keep up with.

I have recently become a huge fan of Alex Finlay, and I loved this book. Full of twists and turns, and loved that it was based in the Midwest. The Mobsters were an extra bonus. Well written and great storyline.

Thank you, #Netgalley and #MacMillanaudio, for this ARC.

Welcome to Leavenworth, Kansas! This military town is just 45 minutes from my home in the KC metro, so I quite enjoyed the familiarity of having characters in my part of the country. Here are some other things I liked:
🚗 The action-packed opening sucked me right in. Two teenagers find that they are not alone on Lover's Lane. They are separated by unknown assailants.
👮‍♀️ Poppy McGee is really new in her job as deputy, but she hits the ground running. Loved her moxie and determination to follow the path of truth now matter what.
😎 The book takes us to Philadelphia, Italy, rural England, and Paris. Loved the treads that were being more tightly woven together with each page.
🤩 The Malcolm Gladwell bits scattered throughout. I am a fan of his books and loved the nods to the quirky things you learn from them. The facts from Agent Fincher about tall men really caught my attention. Less than 15% of US men are over 6 feet. A weird stat for me as my three boys are over 6'1".
Why not five stars? The Epilogue was a bit abrupt and I just wasn't a fan of all the endings. Still on board for the next Alex Finlay, for sure!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC. All opinions are my own.

I loved trying to figure out how everyone in this story was connected. (I didn't figure it out) I went into this one blind and didn't realize it was going to have an element of mobsters and witness protection! It definitely made for a wild ride.

Read this if you love:
Trying to solve cryptic notes/puzzles
Organized crime
Action/fast paced
Multiple pov

Thank you MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Let me begin by saying I am a big fan of Alex Finlay's work! And this is another for me!

I like going into the books I am reading/listening to without knowing the premise. I find a lot more excitement, mystery, and overall fun in not knowing what is going on ahead of what I am going into. I think that made this book even better (I think it makes most books better).

I really enjoy books with multiple timelines and points of view, as well as a sense of mystery in where everything is heading. This book really pushed all those buttons for me. There were moments of shock, twists, and intensity- all things that I look for a mystery/thriller/suspense.

Is this literary fiction? No. Is it a fast and fun read, absolutely.

I give this book 4 stars for originality, fast paced, and multiple storylines/narrators. It takes quite a bit to make a book a full five stars for me, or I guess the exact right mood? All that being said, I do think it is worth the quick read/listen at the end of the day.

I really enjoyed listening to If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay. The narrators were great and made the story come alive. I was on the edge of my seat and I loved every minute of it!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Alex Finlay for the complimentary audio. All opinions expressed above are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
If Something Happens to Me
By: Alex Finlay
Narrators: Helen Laser, John Pirhalla and Paul Dateh
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Pub Date: 5/28/24
Another phenomenal thriller from Alex Finlay. This audio had a full cast which I really enjoyed. Helen, John and Paul were amazing. They really embodied the characters for me.
Ryan Richard’s still struggles with the events from 5 years ago. His girlfriend Ali was ripped out of his car at lovers lane. Everyone in their small town believes he killed her. Ryan’s family hires a good lawyer and he was never charged. The torment he went on through, with everyone believing he’s a murder. He ends up changing his name. He’s now studying to be a lawyer.
When a YouTuber locates Ali’s car in Suncather lake with two unidentified men in the front seat and a note that needs a cipher to decode, Poopy, a local sheriff deputy, begins to dig into the case. What she finds is a hornets nest that involves a lot of people including her dad and brother. Will she figure it out?
Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Alex Finlay for the ARC of this book.

I'm a little torn with this one. I enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. The writing was great, and I'm curious to read more by this author. My issue with it was that I struggled to keep up with all of the different characters. I think a list of characters would have helped, or maybe even reading along on the physical copy would have helped. The narrators did awesome. I just struggled to keep up with who was who. It has multiple POVs and different stories within the plot. This book has a lot of wonderful reviews, so if you're curious about it, I say give it a try! The ending was definitely unexpected, and had that big reveal moment.

#macaudio2024

Read if you like:
#️⃣ Multiple POV
🧮 The Accountant
📚 Short Chapters
🔀 Twists and Turns
🔫 Mobsters

This book is very fast paced in the way it was written with short chapters that end with cliffhangers and then as the chapter ends moving into another POV that you can’t figure out how they all come together and connect, until bam! It all connected!

I feel like the amount of different pov, timelines, locations, and what not created a hard to follow plot with keeping everything straight which reduced my enjoyment of this thriller, but it definitely played out like a movie as I read.

Thanks so much to the publisher for my ALC and ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!