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!

I found the audio a bit hard to follow along as there were many characters and different stories going on.

I was hooked in the first part of the book but I just didn’t enjoy the 2nd part as much. I did like how it all came together at the end.

Every single one of Alex Finlay’s books amaze me. They all have multiple characters and multiple POVs and it never gets confusing. The way all the characters are developed it’s impossible to not be in awe but the way he writes. I can never get enough of his books.

If Something Happens to Me is a mystery about a missing girl Ali, who is presumed to be dead. Her boyfriend at the time Ryan, was with her when she was taken. If it was not for his lawyer it would have been a slam dunk to arrest Ryan for her murder. Five years later Ryan moves across the globe and there is a break in the case. Ali is alive and we go on an adventure filled with twists and turns to find out what happened on that night.

A story that goes across multiple characters and multiple continents makes it feel like there was never a dull moment. I could not put this down. This book lacked a bigger twist or a major reaver that shocked me but the way the story is told and the way it's written that shock value twist was not needed.

I will continue to read everything and anything Alex Finlay puts out. Definitely check this one out.

Just finished listening to this one and it’s a good one!

This book is narrated by several POV and I always enjoy that. If Something Happens To Me is no different. We meet Shane O’Leary, Allison Lane, Ryan Richardson and Poppy McGee and follow them through the book, picking up other characters along the way.

I enjoyed the story and was intrigued as it unfolded. However, it mostly wasn’t huge gasping reveals? The twists weren’t completely obvious, however, so overall it was enjoyable.

There was one part (maybe two?) that was unbelievable surrounding Allison’s disappearance and I couldn’t quite wrap my head around it. Otherwise, an enjoyable listen, for sure!

Advance listening copy provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio but all opinions are my own.

This is an example of a book that was objectively pretty good, but just not a subgenre that I enjoy.
Ryan experienced a profound trauma in high school when he suffered a blow to his head and woke up to find his girlfriend missing forever. Since then he has been chastised and blamed for her disappearance. Now, while on a college trip in Italy, he receives a phone call that her car has been located including a note titled 'If Something Happens To Me'. Slowly but surely the details of what really happened to her begin to unravel.
There were so many elements that worked here: short chapters, fast-paced plot, multiple POVs that made sense, and a compelling storyline. For a while, I was pretty captivated by the story and wanted to know how the plot would be resolved. But as the mafia plot became more significant, my interest waned. I have a much greater proclivity for a classic psychological thriller, but if you're interested in cat-and-mouse thrillers, pick this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC!

Half hometown crime story half international adventure, this book follows a small-town deputy as she jumps into a cold case file as new evidence comes to light as well as the story of the former suspect in the case as he studies abroad thousands of miles away from his past.

I absolutely loved this one! Right from the beginning I couldn't put it down. The multiple locations kept the book moving quickly, the characters were interesting, the backstory was good, I just really loved it. There was one twist in particular that I absolutely did not see coming and actually went back to make sure I understood it correctly. The different pieces and settings just came together so perfectly. I'm a big fan of this author and I loved Night Shift, but this one is my new favorite from him!

The narration in this book was excellent. All of it was engaging and kept a fast-moving plot going even faster. Extremely well done!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh, who collectively do a fantastic job with the story! Loved the audiobook and highly recommend it!

Ryan and Ali are in her car on Lover's Lane when the door is yanked open. Ryan is hit in the head and Ali is kidnapped. Ali has never been found and everyone believes Ryan has killed her. Fast forward 5 years and Ryan has changed his name, his in law school and on a trip to Italy when Ali's car is found submerged for many years in a lake back home. In the car are 2 men killed execution style and Ali's purse is in the car with a cypher encoded note. Who are the men and where is Ali?

I found this story after reading the first couple of chapters in a Minotaur Sampler. This one ticked all of my boxes with police procedural, murder, mystery, and suspense! Its a face paced, twisty plot with likeable characters and a believable story. Highly recommend!!!

If Something Happens to me is an entertaining thriller for anyone who enjoys whodunnits, globetrotting, or some Sopranos-style mob plots.

The POV shifts between several main characters, and the audiobook enlists three different narrators to heighten the differences. Ryan is trying to enjoy his law school trip abroad to Italy when he receives disturbing news about the case of his missing (presumed dead) high school girlfriend. Poppy is a young woman acclimating to her new job as a sheriff's deputy in Kansas. And Shane O'Leary is a mob boss in Philadelphia. It takes a bit of time to understand how his story connects to the others, but when the pieces fall into place it is a satisfying twist.

Sensitive readers are encouraged to check content warnings before reading.

Review to be posted May 8, 2024 to Goodreads and May 23, 2024 to Instagram.

If Something Happens to Me
Alex Finlay
Pub: 5/28/24
4.5☆

Ok, I loved this one! It was fun, fast, and a total bingefest.

If Something Happens to Me was exactly the type of thriller/mystery I crave. It was a twisty and addicting story that completely sucked me and kept me totally guessing (and second guessing) to the very end. There’s multiple POV’s and a lot going on with this quick moving plot but Finlay skills weaves everything together while keeping you on the edge of your seat. The writing, the characters, the pacing… it was all so freakin good. I could not put it down, and devoured it in a few hours.

What I loved;
✨ Twisty Thriller
✨ Addicting Who-Dun-It Mystery
✨ Heart Pounding Suspense
✨ Multiple POV’s

The multicast narration of Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh was fantastic. With the multiple POV’s it was so helpful to have distinct voices for each character to keep their story lines straight. They all did such a great job bringing this story to life.

What a fun and wild ride! If you’re an audio fan definitely give this one a listen. Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

This book has a lot of intricacies to it. Multiple timelines and POVs. There were more than I generally care for but for readers that enjoy all this "chaos", this may be a book for you.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

This book wasn't for me. There was a lot going on. I listened to the audiobook and found it hard to follow.

This was a slow paced thriller but it all came together and the plot twist was well constructed. It was indeed a suspenseful book, as it keep me on the edge of my seat to figure out what happened to Ali ( is she dead or alive) and would Ryan be able to solve the case of that dreadful night or will he die trying as he follows clues in conjunction with the Kansas sheriff department to resolve this cold case. There are so many characters and so many secrets are revealed but in the end the puzzle is complete.

📖 Book & Audiobook review 🎧

If Something Happens To Me by @alexfinlayauthor

Okay, this was craaaaazyyyy and I loved it.

If Something Happens To Me is about an abducted highschool girl presumed dead, a high profile crime boss, and a young sheriff trying to put the pieces together after new evidence is uncovered years later.

This book is an action packed thriller with several different character driven POVs. Listening to each characters perspective had me barreling through until the story collided with a twist, like a lightbulb switched on, and they just kept on coming. The audiobook features multicast narration, which I love. I thought each narrator did a great job with their characters voices. There’s so much going on in this book, in the best way, and the narration made it easy to follow along. I really loved the way the author wove these storylines together. The pacing held my interest the entire time. The short chapters always left me in suspense wanting more.

I really love mob stories so that was the whipped cream and a cherry on top for me. I think this story would make SUCH a good limited series. Especially after listening to the audio.

This was my first book by this author and I’m so looking forward to reading more!

Thank you to @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for this gifted advanced reading copy and advanced listening copy! If Something Happens To Me is out May 28th and I can’t recommend it enough for my suspense lovers.

This starts off really slow.
It took quite a while to see how everything tied together and while waiting for that I was kinda bored.
Once things came together and started to make sense it was more exciting, but it took too long for me and had too many MCs that were not evidently linked together.
This is the first Alex Finlay that didn't blow me away, so I am willing to call it a one off.
Much love to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ARCs.

2.5⭐️

Okay, this book really had some things that WORKED for me, and others that just fell a little flat.

I usually love a multiple POV story, but for some reason this just didn’t work for me. Although there were more than I usually read, I don’t think it was the number of POV’s that I had a problem with, but rather the relevance. I think that the same story could have been told without including the POV of specific characters. I think that this also lead to the “twist” being a little more recognizable.

The story was definitely well told and thought out, and the overall outcome was truly what I wanted from this book. I think that it just got lost along the way for me.

That being said, I did finish it in less than a day. It’s definitely an easy, fast read! Regardless, I am very thankful to the author and publisher for this ARC! Many thanks!

By far my new favorite by Alex Finlay always delivers such a solid edge of your seat thriller and this one is no exception! In this story we follow Ryan who has experienced a very traumatic event that left him with a severe blow to the head and a spotty memory with his girlfriend Ali disappearing into thin air. Because her body and car were never found Ryan was never charged however suspicion always follows him since he was the last to see her. When he’s traveling abroad he gets a life changing phone call. Her car has been found…with two dead me a mysterious letter written by Ali: If something happens to me….

In a fast paced thriller crossing different parts of the world, each character paths collide resulting in an explosive ending! I absolutely love this action packed, tense entertaining story. I was easily able to connect with each character and love how Alex writes from each POV. I love that we got to tour the world in this book and I was so surprised at how it all fit together like a puzzle in the end. The ending wasn’t completely believable however, that’s what I loved about it! Alex Finlay will continue to easily be an autobuy for me and as always I look forward to his next book!

What do I think of Alex Finlay’s newest book?

I loved it! He always brings his A-game to his stories, and once again he blew me away with this fun, fast-paced, pulse-pounding, mafia-laced thriller!

In a story epitomized by secrets, lies and revenge, it’s nearly impossible to know who to trust, and when the dead bodies start piling up and secrets are slowly revealed, it’s a race to see who’ll make it to the end!

No one was more surprised than me that I enjoyed this so much. I’m not a super huge fan of crime family stories, but this pulled me in from the jump with super speedy chapters and a constant flow of action and intrigue. I couldn’t wait to get back to it every time I had to step away. With great characters, world travel and a wildly engaging story, I can definitely see this making its way to the big screen at some point, and I’ll be in line for it!

You may be tempted to think this is just a fluff action story with one-dimensional mafia goons, naive small-town characters and young adults in peril, but the thing I loved most about this story is how wonderfully human and accessible ALL these characters are. It would be easy to just say mafia = BAD, but Finlay shows a vulnerable side of every character that allowed me to feel empathy, though not approval, of even the worst actions they took. That’s a tough trick to pull off, but he did it beautifully. I finished the story having liked or sympathized in some way with every major character!

I listened to this on audio while reading along on my Kindle. The narration by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla and Paul Dateh was excellent and I highly recommend both formats! Check out the author’s note at the end for a fun little insight into the book and Finlay’s writing style.