Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook copy.

Lets start with the pros. The audiobook was really good. I really liked the different voices for each Point of view. The chapters were extremely short so it made it feel like a really quick read
Now the cons. There were too many POV’s. Sometimes I was getting a little loss, trying to keep up with the different characters
Overall, the book was OK for me

This one started off so good. Then it seemed to kind of drag in the middle. It felt kinda YA in a sense. That kinda threw me for some reason. I didn't expect the twist which added a lot to the story for sure. As much as there was going on I was never truly sucked into the story. I found the end to be a bit everywhere and hard to keep up with. I listened to this one and was able to go back and re-listen to parts and that definitely helped. The narrators did a great job. It just wasn't my favorite. I know others who have and would love it though. So definitely give it a shot!

"If Something Happens To Me" by Alex Finlay is a thriller that will grab you and not let you go.

Poppy McGee is the new deputy sheriff in town. She is working on the Allison Lane case about a girl who was abducted and went missing years ago. This book jumps around in time and location and from one set of characters to another. It is pretty confusing, and it takes a while before the stories come together. Some people like this style of writing more than I do.

The narration was quite good. It was done by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh.

Themes of bullying, revenge, parenting, and support of friends are prevalent. There is some violence in this one.

Characters - 4/5
Writing - 4/5
Plot - 4/5, but confusing
Pacing - 4/5, fast, constant action
Unputdownability - 5/5
Enjoyment - 2/5
Narration - 5/5
Cover - 4/5
Overall - 32/8 = 4 stars

Thank you to Netgalley, MacMillan Audio, and Alex Finlay for providing this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars! I couldn’t stop listening! Over the years, Alex Finlay, has become a go to author for me whenever I wanted to read or listen to a well written, edge of my seat, good psychological thriller. When I saw that he had written a new book, If Something Happens To Me, I was excited. I listened to the audiobook that was well narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla and Paul Dateh. It was extremely well plotted, fast paced and so compelling. As I already mentioned, it was hard to pull myself away once I started listening to it. The characters were easy to like and they felt quite convincing. If Something Happens To Me was set in both Leavenworth, Kansas, in various places in Europe annd in Philadelphia and was alternately told from the POV of Ryan Richardson, Deputy Sheriff Poppy McGee and Shane O’Leary.

From the moment Ryan Richardson and Alison Lane met they were destined to become boyfriend and girlfriend. Ali had transferred into Ryan’s high school when she was about fifteen years old. Now both in their senior year of high school, they were both about to embark upon a new journey. Graduation from high school was around the corner and college was on the horizon for both of them. It was not surprising that they ended up at a place called Lover’s Lane on one such night, just days before graduation. They had chosen a secluded spot under a familiar tree where they spread out a blanket. Unfortunately, Mother Nature chose to pick that exact moment to produce a threatening rain storm. Ali and Ryan ran as fast as they could back to Ali’s father’s BMW to get out of the rain. To Ryan’s and Ali’s shock and surprise, they were not alone. Someone was waiting for them by the car and proceeded to hit Ryan over the head. The blow was hard enough to make Ryan loose consciousness but not before he recognized a very distinguishing feature about his attacker. When Ryan came to, Ali and the car were nowhere to be found. Ryan was suspected of having something to do with Ali’s disappearance but there was never any hard evidence to confirm that. Many people in Leavenworth, Kansas had their suspicions about Ryan. There was a cloud of guilt that hung over Ryan from whatever happened that night. He blamed himself for not being able to protect Ali better that night. It was hard for Ryan to escape the constant whispering behind his back, rumors that spread and the ongoing speculation about Ali’s disappearance. Ryan was forced to change his last name so he could try to live a normal life and try and put that awful night behind him.

Five years later, Ryan found himself in Italy with fellow students from his law school when Ryan received a very unexpected call from his father. Ryan’s father informed him that he had just been learned from reliable sources that Ali’s car had been discovered at the bottom of the lake in their hometown of Leavenworth. More surprisingly, though, was the discovery of two bodies of unknown men in what had been Ali’s father’s car. Ali was absent. She had not been found in the car but her handbag had been found. Situated inside Ali’s handbag was an envelope in a plastic bag. It was amazing that the plastic bag protected the envelope for all those years. Upon examination, it was noted that the outside of the envelope read, If Something Happens To Me. It was verified that it had been written by Ali. Had Ali suspected that someone was trying to hurt her or abduct her? As Ryan learned all this new information about Ali, he saw someone who was vaguely familiar to him. Ryan realized that he was looking at the man who attacked him that night and was probably responsible for whatever happened to Ali. Was he right? Had Ryan really seen that man? Why was that man in Italy? Why had he appeared now when Ali’s car had just been discovered?

Just before the discovery of the car that Ali and Ryan had been driving five years ago, Poppy McGee had returned home to Leavenworth, Kansas. Poppy had been in the Army but was discharged much to her embarrassment. Back at home, tasked with the responsibility of caring for her father who had been diagnosed with cancer, she had been hired as the deputy sheriff. The sheriff had asked Poppy to follow up on leads in the case that involved the car associated with Ali’s disappearance. As Poppy began to go over the old evidence that had been gathered and collected pertaining to this case, she became convinced that it had not been handled properly all those years ago. What would Poppy uncover? Who could she trust to help her unravel her suspicions?

I felt that If Something Happens To Me was one of Alex Finlay’s better thrillers. It was right up there with Every Last Fear and The Night Shift for me. I felt that the character development was believable and well thought out. The short chapters were appreciated and I enjoyed all the twists and turns that Alex Finlay included. If Something Happens To Me was suspenseful and kept me guessing until the end. The ending was satisfying and tied all the loose ends together in a good way. If Something Happens To Me was about revenge, repaying debts, well hidden secrets, father/daughter and mother/son relationships, the importance of family and relying on instincts. I really enjoyed listening to the audiobook of If Something Happens To Me by Alex Finlay and highly recommend it.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of If Something Happens To Me by Alex Finlay through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: May 28, 2024
Huge shoutout to @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for this twisty read

Ryan’s girlfriend Ali is taken one night while they are at a lovers lane. Ryan was the main suspect and had to change his last name to get away from the notoriety. When Ali’s car is found with bodies in it, five years later, the mystery really starts. Is she alive? Is the mafia involved? Who’s this rando contacting Ryan? There are a lot of moving parts and characters with intertwining stories. When they all came together, it made me say “duh, I should’ve realized that” 😂 Overall, this was a quick and fun thriller

💭 MY THOUGHTS: This was my first book by Alex Finlay and I wish I would have read one of his books sooner! He does an amazing job of juggling multiple characters, timelines and settings to weave a complex and intriguing story that has you bingeing eagerly to find out what’s going to happen. I truly didn’t know how all the characters were connected until the end.

I listened to the audiobook and the three narrators all did a fantastic job with the character voices. Having multiple narrators really helped keep the characters clear for me since there’s a lot going on.

Read for:
🔎 Multiple POVs
🔤 Three Subplots
🖤 Girl Gone Missing
🌀 Major Twists & Turns
⁉️ Keeps You Guessing
🎁 No Loose Ends

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Spice Level: 🧼 Squeeky Clean

This was a hard book for me to get through. I had it in both print and audiobook and that didn’t seem to make much of a difference. The characters were all over and the book just didn’t flow as I had hoped.

This was one of my most anticipated reads for the summer after enjoying Night Shift a few summers ago, and I was extra excited to get this as one of my first pics through the MacMillan Audio Influencer Program 🤩

There’s A LOT going on in this one, and to say it kept me guessing is a bit of an understatement. I was hooked from the beginning and flew through listening to find out it what was going on. Lots of moving parts means lots to tie up and I was impressed with how it all came together. The narration was well done and translated well at 2x.

That being said, there were some triggers I felt - and if bullying is one for you, be aware.

4/5 ✨

wow, wow, wow.
I cannot recommend books enough that beautifully connect dots and have twists that make sense.
Bonus when they add up and elevate the story.

I am also a sucker for multiple POVs and jumps from past to present. If you want a thriller that will have you wondering if everyone is in on the crime and is literally non-stop, this is it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Alex Finlay for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I do enjoy an Alex Finlay book!

The start was a slow burn for me, but once I got into it the story took off. I enjoyed the unveiling of the plot as what was thought to be the big reveal was only halfway into the story! The second half was full of even more surprising events.

The ending to me was a bit of a let-down, but it did not sour my opinion of the overall plot and book.

Shoutout to the great narrators, I really enjoy hearing multiple voices from all the characters. Helps to keep people straight in my mind.

Overall, a great plot with great details and a storyline that kept you guessing along the way.

Truthfully, the beginning of this story was a bit difficult to follow along with. Each chapter we were bounced between different POVs and different narrators. Once I was halfway through listening to this book, I was able to get a better understanding of the characters and what was going on.

The story was very interesting and was a wild ride, but because it was a bit difficult for me to get into, I'd still rate it a 3.5.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me listen to this Audio Arc.

Poppy has just started a job as a deputy at the sheriff’s department in her hometown. She is almost immediately put on the case of Allison Lane, a girl that was presumed dead when she disappeared years ago. The story believed was that she was killed by a serial killer, but when her car is found with 2 dead men inside that theory no longer fits. There is a lot more going on than Poppy could have ever imagined and she will have to put all her skills to the test to get to the bottom of this one!

Shew! This book is full of characters and story lines, but when they all come together it is magical. Finlay does an amazing job of tying everything together after taking the reader down an exciting road full of twists and turns! I loved it! The narrator was fantastic and kept me engaged from the start!

Ryan is trying to forget his past but even abroad, it finds him. Will he finally learn the truth of that terrible night?

Ugh. This one was good. I was hooked and ready for the roller coaster that is Alex Finlay’s thrillers. A few good curve balls I didn’t see coming is always a major plus. A couple story lines going on here and the culmination was 🤌. I’ve been reading Alex Finlay’s books since his 90s era thriller, Night Shift. I think I’ll be tagging along for all future books as well. Alex has a flair for a bloody mess so be prepared.

Audiobook: 🎧🎧🎧🎧
Spice: 🌶️

Thanks @netgalley for the ALC.

Ryan has been living a nightmare for the last five years. His girlfriend was attacked and taken right in front of him. He only remembers a man with an original face and both of his hands were missing the pinkie finger. Although, the media believes Allison was the victim of a serial killer, Ryan has still faced suspicion for Allison's disappearance. Ryan has changed his name and believes that the worst is behind him, until he sees the man with missing pinkies in Paris. Ryan is determined to find the man and finally find out the truth on what happened to Allison.

This was a crazy story. We follow four characters and try to figure out how some of them are connected to what happened to Allison. This mystery/thriller was fast paced, and I ended up finishing the audiobook in one day. If you enjoy a suspenseful mystery that will keep you on your toes, this is a perfect book for you.

If Something Happens to Me is out now!

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review If Something Happens to Me. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I’m not going to lie, this one really, really just disappointed me. I love Alex Finlay and was really excited, but it fell really flat.

Title: If Something Happens to Me
By: Alex Finlay

Genre:
Fiction, Mystery, Thriller


Red Flags:
Language, Infidelity, Murder, Mobsters, Bullying, Suicide,


Summary/Review:

Ryan keeps having dreams of the fateful night on which his girlfriend Ali disappeared.
Poppy is the new sheriff’s deputy and is working an old cold case.
Shane O’Leary aka. The godfather is known to be a Philadelphia crime boss.

This is my first novel written by Alex Finley and I felt like it was to my advantage. I went into my reading blind with no expectations. The premise is slightly unrealistic, narrated from multiple points of view and did become confusing. However, once I slowed down, the puzzle pieces started to fit together. The plotline is fast paced, has some elements of predictability, but overall I did enjoy the quick read!

*I started this novel reading the ARC Ebook, then I received the Audio and the narrator did a wonderful job! The multiple points of view were easier to understand audibly.

Thank you to Alex Finlay St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#Ifsomethinghappenstome
#alexfinlay
#Stmartinspress
#macmillanaudio
#netgalley
#audiobook
#advancedreadereditions

This was a wild ride and I was totally here for it! I didn't expect those last couple of twists at the end and I love that. The fact that this had a happy ending made my heart smile. I can't wait to read what Alex Finlay puts out next! He is on my always-read list!

If Something Happens To Me by Alex Finlay is a fast-paced thriller about a girl missing in Kansas and presumed dead, a deputy sheriff assigned to the cold case after the missing girl's car is found in the lake, and a Philadelphia crime boss. There are three main points of view in this story: (1) Ryan, the boyfriend of the missing girl who was accused of murder and is now a law student on holiday in Italy; (2) Poppy, the new deputy sheriff who is also a war veteran, and (3) Shane, the head of a major crime syndicate in Philadelphia. While at first I didn't understand how Shane was related to the missing girl, once his relationship was revealed, the pieces started to fall into place. There are at least two major plot twits, which I didn't see coming.

I listened to the audiobook version of this thriller, which was admirably narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh. I definitely recommend this audiobook to anyone who enjoys thrillers and mysteries with unexpected endings.

Job well done on this one!

At first I found it a little hard to keep up with different plots and timelines, but it all came together so well and I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked this book!

It kept me guessing once dots started connecting and I kept wanting more, more, more.

A really great thriller twist with this one!

Summary: Ryan Richardson has lived with the nightmare of his high school girlfriend Ali being taken for the past 5 years even though it's hazy. To his surprise, while abroad for a trip in college, his father calls to tell him that Ali's car has been found submerged in a lake with two men inside and still no trace of Ali. To top things off, Ryan sees the man who has haunted his nightmares for the past 5 years while on his trip. With the help of a young sheriff's deputy back home, Ryan takes off to piece together the clues Ali left him all those years ago.

Thoughts: This was my first Alex Finlay book and it did not disappoint. The many character points of view were a little daunting at first, but I quickly caught on to each person. This one was hard to put down because every time I got into that character's story, the chapter ended and we were on to a new character. I loved how all the pieces came together at certain parts of the book, and I kept kicking myself for not seeing the bigger picture sooner. Ryan was so brave throughout the story trying to piece together all that happened that fateful night, along with the help of Poppy McGee back home in the states. I also loved the 3 epilogues in the end to see what happened to some of the main characters within the story.

I highly suggest listening to this story. Narrators Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, Paul Dateh did a fantastic job bringing each POV to life and making it easy to understand which character was the focus of each chapter. Listening to this also made it more mysterious because I never knew what was coming next.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the #gifted ALC of this book.

Read if you love:
❤️Twists and Turns
❤️Thrillers
❤️Mutliple POVs