I truly enjoy every Alex Finlay book I've ever read and If Something Happens to Me is no exception!

I was captivated from the get-go, was hooked at the very first twist, and didn't want to stop listening until I found out what really happened!

Thank you NetGalley and MacmillanAudio for the ALC of this Thriller!!

A fun little thriller, Ryan had history of a girlfriend's abduction which he can't stop thinking about years after the fact. He continues to have nightmares of that night and insanely, sees one of the men across the world that appears in his dreams. He starts uncovering many clues across the world, realizing that he might be able to solve the mystery that has haunted him for so many years.

Overall, an interesting story, I just couldn't get hooked. The audio was reasonable, just felt like the story was predictable and not catchy.

It was a good mystery. Not the best but entertaining enough. I enjoyed The narration and the audio ,pomade the book a bit better. It was also a shorter book and loved that it did not drag on.

I adore Finlay's books! They're so suspenseful and full of surprises that keep me eagerly turning the pages. I was completely taken aback by this particular book when everything finally fell into place.
The chapters are told from various perspectives, and they're short but packed with excitement. There's never a dull moment in this book. I definitely recommend this one.
The audiobook version of this was fantastic.

For readers seeking a fast-paced mystery that’s relatively short (7 hours) on audio with several skilled narrators, I suggest If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay. It’s the author’s first novel I’ve read.

Five years ago, Ali, a teen girl, disappeared without a trace. The discovery of her car at the bottom of a lake sets this propulsive plot in motion. Ali’s boyfriend Ryan and Poppy McGee, a new deputy sheriff in town, seek answers from different parts of the world.

The setting is based in Kansas and also includes several European cities. The story is told from several characters’ points of view which held my interest. I appreciated the way the title and cover reflect a key plot point. As a Midwesterner, I related to the mentions of Kansas, but the mob involvement felt unrealistic.

The audiobook narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh was very well done and enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for advance access to this audiobook.

Thanks so much to Macmillan Audio for an advance audio copy of If Something Happens to Me.

Ryan has been tortured reliving the night five years ago that resulted in his girlfriend being taken from him. All he remembers is someone taking her, but has no clues as to who it could be. Then finally after so much time has passed, he received a call that her car has been found, there are two dead men inside along with a note from Ali that says “if something happens to me…”

Simultaneously, a mysterious face from Ryan’s past shows up, triggering a memory from that night. Now, in a foreign country halfway across the world, he takes off after this stranger desperate for answers. He forms an unlikely alliance with a green detective and a wronged mobster in hopes of discovering what happened to his girlfriend, and clearing his name once and for all.

In true Alex Finlay form, here comes another story that starts with a bang and does not slow down until the last page. Alex has a fantastic way of creating a sense of urgency in his books that feels unique to other authors I read. The narration also helped convey this even better.

I did give this one three stars because ultimately, I felt no connection to the characters and I just could not get into the mafia aspect. I read a fair amount of mafia romance, and of course expected these two experiences to be different, but for some reason it just didn’t come together for me.

Basically at the end of the day, I know I am in the minority of people who didn’t love this one - especially in the minority of people who typically love Alex but didn’t love this - so take my disjointed half-assed review with a grain of salt and give it a go. This in no way stops me from looking forward to his next release.

This was a DNF for me. It just felt all over the place and frustrated me. This is the 2nd in a row that I’ve DNFd. I think he’s just not for me.

If Something Happens To Me by Alex Finlay is a fast-paced mystery/thriller that expertly intertwines characters past and present to keep readers on the edge of their seats. It all starts when high schooler Ryan is sitting in his car while it rains with his girlfriend Ali, only to hear her scream as she’s violently attacked, he’s hit on the head and ripped from the car, and left behind. Naturally, people in town look at Ryan suspiciously because he was the only one supposedly there that night and all he can seem to remember are some vague details that others have trouble believing. Eventually authorities connect Ali’s disappearance with a local serial killer and Ryan tries to move on from the past. That is until Ali’s car is finally found with two unknown dead men inside, alongside a cryptic note that states “If Something Happens To Me.”

What unravels is a winding string of details that don’t seem to go together but must somehow. It’s up to a local sheriff working in Ryan and Ali’s hometown to put the puzzle pieces together. This book has fantastic characters, fun twists, and ultimately a fascinating bigger mystery connecting them all. The audio was also engaging and helped the whole read feel fast-paced and engaging. Highly recommend for mystery/thriller fans and those that appreciate multiple perspective and timeline stories!

It isn’t always easy to put your past behind you, something that Ryan is very familiar with. Five years ago his girlfriend Ali was kidnapped as he lay there, unable to help after being on the receiving end of a blow to the head. Some believe that Ryan had something to do with it, and even though he was cleared there is still some suspicion that hangs over his head. In an attempt to move on with his life Ryan has changed his name and now attends law school.
He thinks that this is all behind him, but a phone call from his father changes that. Ali’s car has been found submerged in a lake, and there are two dead bodies inside, along with a cryptic note: If something happens to me…

This was a novel that I had high hopes for; between Finlay’s previous novels and the prologue to this one I found myself super excited to dive into If Something Happens to Me. Sadly this was not the page-turner that I had hoped it would be. The chapters are short, which helps to make it a fast-paced novel, but there were just so many pieces to the story that were too unbelievable to me; some things were a little too far fetched for my tastes. I also found it to be rather predictable, but this might be due to the fact that I have read his previous novels.

The audiobook was okay. I did like that there were multiple narrators used, especially since the novel is told from the viewpoints of multiple people. I found the pace to be rather slow, especially for a thriller, and at times the delivery was flat and monotone, but not always. Overall the audiobook didn’t really live up to my expectations and didn’t necessarily add to my enjoyment of the story.

Excellent audiobook! The narrators did a fantastic job of bring the story alive. Loved the story! Loved the audiobook!

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of If Something Happened to Me.

Five years ago, high school couple Ryan and Alison are parked at Lover’s Lane when they are suddenly attacked. Ryan is hit over the head and Alison is ripped from the car, never to be seen again. Blame naturally falls on Ryan as the boyfriend, resulting in Ryan changing his name and trying to move on from the traumatic event. Now, Ryan learns that Alison’s car has been pulled from a lake in his hometown, catapulting him back into the events of five years ago.

I listened to the bulk of this audiobook ARC while in the car on a day trip, and all of the action and the fast pace made the drive seem to go quicker. I believe that character development could have been a bit stronger to make me more connected to the characters, but I enjoyed this on the whole. The main twist in the middle got me, which I appreciated, and it was a wild ride from there.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and the various locations it took place: Leavenworth, Kansas, Philadelphia and Tuscany, England and Paris. The POV's were also varied and that made it interesting.

The story starts with Ryan having been knocked out by an unknown person when he was with his girlfriend, Ali and her car gone. When he wakes up she's gone, assumed kidnapped. He ends up the main suspect but there's no evidence. That doesn't prevent podcasters and Internet trolls from keeping his name in people's minds and suspicions. Ryan ends up moving and going to law school and even changes his name.

I thought it was a good mystery that kept me on my toes and held my interest. I liked the characters and I loved the female detective's name of Poppy. Not too intimidating of a name for a sheriff, right?

I thought the narration was excellent and I enjoyed having three different ones, two females and one male who all read for different POV's. It was very effective.

I really liked the story, with all it twists and turns. I loved how Shane’s storyline was weaved into the others and how and so didn’t see the plot twist coming!

But I would have liked this book better if I had read it instead of listening to it. The male narrators weren’t doing it for me; I felt like Shane’s was caricatural and Ryan’s was passive. I really liked Poppy’s, though! She was natural and interesting.

I loved The Night Shift so I was super excited to get this book! While not as gripping as that one, If Something Happens To Me is a solid, fun little thriller. I loved the multi cast narration, and the younger main characters. There was one storyline at the beginning that I really didn't care for but it made sense once you get to the twist. Overall, this is a good listen.

This is my 2nd book by Alex Finlay, and I'm really enjoying his works. This book is told from multiple POVs so it keeps you guessing as to what happened. It's a really good thriller book that takes you to different parts of the world. I can't wait to read more my Alex Finlay!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book.

There are many characters and POVs in this slow-burn thriller. I enjoyed learning how the puzzle pieces of the plot came together. The narrators expertly brought the characters to life while adding intensity and intrigue. Entertaining, original, and suspenseful describe this intricately plotted thriller. Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my audiobook.

A mysterious encounter at a car accident and a missing woman center around this thriller that takes readers around the world. Multiple narrators create suspense. This was fast-moving on audio although difficult to follow the plot at times unless really concentrating.

i loved this book! i haven’t been reading audiobooks lately especially with reading arcs and other books i want to read but audiobooks is something i haven’t listened to in a while but overall i did enjoy the book and the characters as well!

Ryan’s life is turned upside down when his girlfriend Ali is ripped away from him. Accused of killing her and only in high school, he changes his name and moves on in college. Years later he sees the man who took Ali and races against time to find out what happened. What he finds out will astound you.

Right from the get go this book draws you in. Two teens, on lovers lane in the middle of the night before they go away to college. A night to remember. But then, Alison goes missing and Ryan wakes up alone. At least that’s his story. Five years later, Ryan, taking a new last name, is moving forward with his life after that fateful day when his girlfriend was taken from him, believed to be murdered by a serial killer. But when her old car is found in the lake with two dead bodies in it, questions come up, it just for Ryan, but for the police and everyone involved.

I found his to be fun and fast paced. Most chapters ending on a high, with some sort of unanswered question making me want to continue on. It was fun figuring out how the different perspectives played with one another, and where the story was headed. I really enjoyed Poppy, the cop, as a character and liked watching her work.

Complex, twisty and fast paced, even though it seemed very long. I will definitely be giving Finlays other work a look at.