If Something Happens to Me

Hidden agendas, good pacing, and vibrant characters. Another fantastic thrill ride from this author.

A young couple falling for each other travel to a secluded spot on a romantic rainy evening. This novel hooks you early on with the freaky disappearance of the vehicle and Ryan’s beloved girlfriend Ali . . . you are left desperate to know more. Head hurting and heartbroken, Ryan is left on the ground with a limited memory of what took place. In his statement to the police, Ryan recalls being struck and yanked from the car, Ali’s frightened scream still resonating in his ears. With little to go on the case sits unsolved, leaving Ryan under a dark cloud of suspicion. He spends the next five years haunted by that terrible night before new evidence emerges.

I highly recommend finding out what happened to Ali on May 28, 2024.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of If Something Happens to Me for my unbiased evaluation.  5 stars

I kept Alex Finlay’s upcoming novel, If Something Happens to Me, simmering in my inbox, waiting for the right moment to dive into the suspense I always find in the pages of his books. Finlay brings us a Philadelphia mobster, an honorably discharged MP who returns to her hometown to work for the sheriff’s office, and a law student trying to not look at his past when his community thought he was responsible for his girlfriend’s disappearance. Now, make sure you stick with the different storylines because what a tangled web Finlay weaves that beautifully untangles to reveal the twist like a 2x4 hitting you between the eyes before you get fitted for your own pair of concrete shoes.

Ryan and Alison go to Lover’s Lane one night when a storm is brewing. Just as things get hot, the car door is wretched open, he is hit over the head by a guy missing his pinky finger, and he never sees Alison again. He is eventually cleared when DNA is located at the campsite of a serial killer, but he moves away and changes his last name to escape the past. Five years later and confronted on a trip to Italy with law school friends by a stranger from the past, Ryan finds time has run out in escaping what happened that night. Ryan finds himself ditching his law school friends to find out the truth about that night and to find closure. If Something Happens to Me has enriched characters and a plot that keeps you guessing only to be thwarted in your detective skills. If you have read any of Finlay’s other books, this one will not disappoint. If you are looking to read your first book by Finlay, you will turn into a huge fan. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy. Opinions expressed are my own. This book will be published on May 27, 2024.

#netgalley #arc #bookstagram #StMartinsPress #IfSomethingHappenstoMe #AlexFinlay

I absolutely loved this book. I was sucked in from the moment I started reading until the very end. This book is full of twists and turns that I never saw coming. The writing and character development are amazing and it’s so fast paced, there isn’t a moment that drags. Will definitely be recommending!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this advance copy!

⭐The benchmark for a great thriller has just been raised! ⭐

(1) Be patient:
✔There are multiple POVs; three storylines alternating in part one and Finlay manages to unite them in parts two and three
✔This means there’s a wide range of characters to keep track of, everything from teenagers to sheriffs to serial killers to mobsters, but all great characterization and distinct
✔There’s an international setting: Leavenworth, Kansas to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Lackford and Bury Saint Edmonds, England to Montepulciano, Italy to Cordes-sur-Ciel and Paris, France
✔You’ll need to suspend disbelief in parts!

(2) Things you’ll love:
✔Short, pacey chapters with easy reading
✔Tension created with bullying, abduction, murder, suicide, mob torture
✔Transition moments allow your heart rate to slow and emotions to kick in after being sparked by grief/redemption story
✔Brain stimulation of ciphers and cryptic notes
✔Time span; over five years
✔Adrenaline-fuelled twists sparked by revenge
✔The ‘aha’ moment when the title makes sense

I absolutely loved Alison and Ryan’s story!

Set aside time as you’ll want to binge-read this one.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.