3 ⭐️. Much like my experience with The Night Shift, I liked this book but didn’t love it. It starts so strong, very fast paced and full of mystery with short chapters that fly by. Unfortunately, once the book’s biggest reveal happens around 60-70% I lost interest and nothing all that unpredictable seemed to happen. Also, the book suffers from way too many POVs, I lost track of who everyone was at the end. Honestly I was so confused by the last few chapters because I couldn’t even remember who they were talking about… not good. I wish the entire book was like the first half in pace and story intrigue, it could have landed in the 4star plus area. This book definitely suffers from over complicating the shorter story, causing way too much disbelief.

I listened to the audio book and while it did have male and female narrators, I still couldn’t distinguish between all the POVs… but the narrators did a good job given the big task of so many people. This is a short 7 hour audio that I easily listened to in one day.

I would also go in blind with this one, it will be more fun to see how the story unfolds but know you will have to pay attention to who everyone is!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this advanced listeners copy in exchange for my honest option.

What a journey!!! Okay, I really enjoyed this one. It was a quick and easy read. Once I got started, I didn’t want to put it down. I loved the dual storyline on this because it made it really intriguing to figure out. I pieced a lot of it together but Finlay absolutely nailed the storytelling.

Thank you to Netgalley, SMP, Minotaur and Macmillan audio for the ARCs of IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME BY ALEX FINLAY!

This is a very well-crafted story, with interesting characters and lots of unexpected twists. I really enjoyed it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was interesting to listen to three stories unfold and try to figure out how they were connected. Maybe someone else would have figured out what was going on sooner, but I took the entire ride and enjoyed not knowing till things were revealed. I enjoyed the changing narrators.
Overall, this is a very sad story that speaks to things I hope I never encounter. I was once again reminded that many do not have life on their own terms due to circumstances often out of their own control.

Thank you to #MacmillanAudio and #NetGalley for my ALC audiobook

This is my new favorite book by Alex! Wow. The narrator was awesome and the plot was stellar. It took me a few chapters to find my footing in the plot and then I was quickly captivated. I highly recommend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this ALC. I enjoyed the beginning and end of this story but felt the middle dragged a bit causing me to lose focus and get bored with the story. There were a lot of characters to keep track of but I think the narrators did a great job bringing them to life. I’m giving this a 3.5 rounded up to 4. I would have liked more action in the middle and characters that I felt more attached to.

Well, another night of lost sleep thanks to Alex Finlay making me binge a book. That’s probably more my lack of responsible adulting more than anything, but he’s still to blame.

In Finlay’s signature style, he expertly weaves together multiple story lines, If Something Happens to Me is a twisty, page turning, action packed, and binge worthy thriller. With three distinct story lines, Finlay had me guessing up until the end how they would tie together. With a well-developed plot this is a perfect thriller to get you out of a reading slump. I highly recommend going into this book blind and make sure you have a few hours to spare because you won’t want to put it down!

Now if only someone would pick this one up and make a mini-series of it, I’d binge watch this in an instant.

If Something Happens to Me comes out May 28, 2024! Huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books or on Tiktok @speakingof.books

This was my first audiobook by Alex Finlay and I can definitely understand now why there is so much hype around his work. This book was thrilling and kept me guessing cover to cover. There were several interesting characters and the character development was fantastic. I enjoyed the different storylines, POV and timelines and the narrators were all fantastic.

I will say I have enjoyed all the author's previous books. If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay is a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. As a 46-year-old who has read her fair share of suspense novels, I found this audio version particularly compelling. The narration is superb, bringing an added layer of tension to the story.

What sets this book apart is the twist in the middle. Without giving anything away, it's a game-changer that you truly do not see coming, reshaping everything you thought you knew about the characters and the plot. It's clever, shocking, and perfectly executed.

Finlay's writing is sharp and engaging, making it impossible to pause the story. Each character is vividly drawn, with complexities that make them feel real and relatable. This isn't just a mystery; it's a profound exploration of human resilience and the secrets we keep.

Overall, If Something Happens to Me is a must-listen or read for anyone who loves a good thriller with a memorable twist. Alex Finlay has done an outstanding job with this one, and I'm already looking forward to the next book!

💥 Pub Date: 5/28/2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

• part thriller, part police procedural
• fun twists & turns
• quick chapters

I love how the reader gets transported to different parts of the world - truly feels like escaping. Definitely a bingeable read. This is my first audio from the Macmillan Audio program and the narration was very captivating!

🗣 Thank you to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review this book via both gifted eARC and audiobook! All opinions are honest and my own.

Alex Finlay does it again!
Audio 4.5 stars
Story 4 stars

This was a great audio book/read. Fairly quick but with a twisty plot line to keep you hooked. The audio focuses on a few different narrator/character perspectives with alternating chapters. Starting with Ryan Richardson, now a law student, who in high school was questioned in the disappearance of his girlfriend, Ali. As a young couple they were parked on lover's lane when Ali is ripped from the car and Ryan hit in the head. The only thing Ryan can remember is an average man with both of his pinkies missing. Flash forward to Ryan in law school and on a school trip when he spots this mysterious, 8 fingered man around the time that Ali's car is discovered in a body of water with 2 unidentified bodies and a mysterious coded letter. Ryan will do what it takes to track down this man and find out what happened to his missing girlfriend.

The audio and narrators for this book were amazing! There were multiple narrators and it made the plot that much easier to follow. They did a great job portraying the characters.

Five years ago, Ryan Richardson and Allison “Ali” Lane have an abrupt and scary ending to their date on “Lover’s Lane.” Ryan is knocked out and Allison, along with her car, are missing. Even five years later, Ryan remains under suspicion for the disappearance of Allison despite his attempts to move forward with life. While on a summer trip abroad to Italy with his law-school classmates, Ryan is notified that Ali’s car has been found submerged in a lake back home. Ali, however, is not in the car but rather two unidentified deceased men. A coded note written in Ali’s handwriting was found in the car and, miraculously, it was not destroyed after all of these years. While in Italy, Ryan finds the man who has haunted his dreams since that fateful night five years ago. He sets out to find out who this man is and understand what happened to his long-lost love, Allison.
I read this book via audiobook. The narrator was easily understood, and he successfully differentiated each character’s voices and accents. This story was told from multiple character perspectives. I believe the story may have followed two separate timelines, but I was unable to tell for sure as there was no specific call out to dates and the chapters began with locations. I think having the date/timeframe referenced may have helped the audiobook be a bit less confusing. I did enjoy the mystery and the characters were well developed. There were a lot of characters and trying to keep track of who was who and how they interconnected was a little difficult at times. Overall, I enjoyed the audiobook, but I think maybe for this one, the physical book may have helped me follow along a bit better.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me the opportunity to provide my honest opinion on this advance audiobook copy.

What a great mystery/thriller - there were lots of tense moments throughout the book. I did feel like the end went a little long, but overall great read!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Net Galley and Alex Finlay for the opportunity to review this arc of the audiobook If Something Happens to Me.
5 years ago Allison goes missing. She was on a date with Ryan. He remembers nothing from her disappearance and until someone else is convicted of her death, popular opinion is that he’s guilty.

We follow along with Poppy on her first day as a sheriffs deputy, Ryan traveling abroad and Mr. O’Leary and Michael out of Philadelphia.

There were so many entangled stories that I had to restart the book and map out the characters and their progression. In doing so, I figured out at least one of the twists.

I always love when there is a cast of people working to tell the story in an audiobook. It did help to keep the characters straight. However, with names like dodge and dash and unclear timelines I was very confused.

That being said. It was a great story. Unlike anything I’ve read lately.

I went into this knowing I've enjoyed the author's previous books but knowing nothing about this one. I feel like that works best for me to go into thrillers/suspense books blind! I listened to this on audio, which made the multiple POVs (some with similar names) confusing to keep track of at first, but probably wouldn't have been an issue in print. Multiple seemingly separate and intriguing storylines hooked me from the start and I basically kept finding excuses to listen until I finished. I feel like I always write short reviews for thrillers but I find that half the fun is being completely shocked by the plot! Definitely get this one when it comes out on 5/28!

I recently had the pleasure of diving into "If Something Happens to Me" by Alex Finlay, and what an immersive experience it was! This was my first foray into Finlay's writing, and I must say, I am thoroughly impressed and eager to explore more of his work.

What struck me immediately about this audiobook was the exceptional cast of narrators. Each voice was distinct and compelling, drawing me further into the story. The use of multiple narrators added depth to the characters and helped to distinguish the various timelines, making the listening experience incredibly engaging.

The narrative itself is a masterful tapestry of intersecting stories and timelines, expertly woven together to create a suspenseful and riveting tale. At its core is the disappearance of Ali, a mystery that haunts Ryan as he tries to navigate the aftermath and clear his name. The tension builds steadily throughout the book, with each revelation and twist keeping me eagerly anticipating what would happen next.

One of the standout aspects of "If Something Happens to Me" is its exploration of the impact of Ali's disappearance on those left behind. The emotional depth of the characters is palpable, adding a layer of complexity to the story that resonates long after the audiobook has ended.

The discovery of Ali's car and the cryptic note sets off a wild and at times, harrowing, goose chase that leads to a truly satisfying conclusion. Finlay's storytelling is superb, keeping me on the edge of my seat and guessing until the very end.

Overall, "If Something Happens to Me" is a gripping thriller that delivers on all fronts. It's a testament to Finlay's talent as a writer and storyteller, and I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone looking for a captivating read that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

Fast paced, several good twists that I didn't see coming. The first half of the book is better, and I really did not like one part of the ending/epilogue, but overall a great read. Enjoyed the multiple narrators.

It’s been five years since Ryan’s girlfriend was abducted and everyone has thought that he murdered her. But when a vehicle is found in a lake near their hometown, questions arise about what actually happened that night. Poppy is ex-military and has recently started working for the law department in town. She soon finds herself being drawn into the mystery of that night as well, and with every new answer, more questions arise.

This book is fast paced with short chapters and multiple POVs, making it difficult to put down. The characters were also well written and easy to root for, even as some of their secrets were being revealed. I really liked Poppy as a protagonist and appreciated her portrayal. I did want a bit more development from her and all the characters though – they were decent overall, but a bit more depth would have really elevated this for me.

I really wasn’t expecting this book to take the direction it did. I didn’t necessarily prefer the direction it took and it felt a little cheesy, like in a blockbuster <spoiler>mafia</spoiler> film sort of way. However, if you enjoy that genre, you’ll probably love this one. I still did quite like this read, I just didn’t love it.

If you enjoy slow burn thrillers with multiple POVs that slowly come together in a fascinating way, then you’ll probably love this one. My thanks to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work, which will be published May 28. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Alex Finlay did it again!! This was my second Alex Finlay book and I was so invested in Ali and Ryan’s story. The way Alex builds a plot and develops characters really captivates me. It’s almost difficult for to describe what it’s like reading his books.

The multiple POVs added to the fast paced story and built up to every twist you come across.

I was able to read along the eARC while listening to the audiobook and both were easy to follow and switch back and forth from. The multiple narrators did a fantastic job making the story come to life.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

Five years after his girlfriend disappeared, Ryan gets a phone call about a discovery on the case. Then, after spotting the distinct-looking man he remembers from the night of the crime, Ryan sets off to try and find out what really happened that night.

While I admit this author has been a bit hit and miss for me, I really liked this one. It reminded me of the style of his first book with the spy-ish type action, which I don't normally love, but the plot and storyline were so good that I didn't care. The action was non-stop and I was surprised several times when I realized what was going on. The characters were all likeable and I enjoyed the multiple perspectives. The narrators were good, but I really liked the female narrator, she might be one of my favorites. The Night Shift is still my favorite by him, but this one is a close second!