5 Stars

This was my first 5 star read of 2024. I started reading it off and on, and sat down last night to read further...needless to say I started at 24% and never stopped reading.

The story begins with Alison and Ryan, high school sweethearts on their final date before leaving for separate colleges. That night would be one that Ryan never forgets and constantly revisits, but not with fond memories.

Shane O'Leary and his wife, Gina, have suffered a tragic loss. Blinded by their anger and grief, they are determined to make everyone involved pay and will not stop until the task is completed.

Chaz is nearing retirement, looking forward to spending his final years with his grandson and enjoying life at a slower pace.

Poppy McGee is the new sheriff in town, with a lot to prove. Brought on as a favor to her father, Poppy will need to show the department that she is more than just a pity hire.

This story was thriller perfection. The story was told from multiple POV's however, it all tied back to the main plot. The twists were unpredictable and the reader was left with complete closure at the end. I would absolutely recommend this book and cannot wait to see it out on retail book shelves.

I am so grateful to the author, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. This book was such a great read and I look forward to the next release from Mr. Finlay.

Five years ago, Ryan Richardson was pulled out of his car and beaten up at the same time his girlfriend was abducted. He's not criminally charged because of lack of evidence, but thanks to podcasts and the press, he's charged by public opinion, with many people thinking he was responsible for her death. With no body and no one believing the story that a man with no pinkie fingers abducted her, Ryan changed his surname. Now he’s getting his law degree, when the Pinkie Man returns to his life.

The story is told from multiple points of view and when the story comes together at the end, the twists and turns of who to trust makes for an enjoyable read.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES MAY 28, 2024.

Ali is kidnapped while at Lover’s Lane with her boyfriend Ryan, and he becomes the prime suspect in her disappearance. Years later, in Italy on vacation, he learns there is much more to the story after a note Ali left behind is found.

I really enjoy Alex Finlay’s books. This is written in such a way that when a twist was revealed, my jaw literally dropped. The storylines converge and connect in a way that I just didn’t see coming! This book starts out as a slow burn but then picks up when more information is revealed. I hate to say too much for fear of spoiling the story, but just know that you’re in for a thrilling ride if you pick this book up!

Thank you to Alex Finlay, Minotaur books, and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

Wow!! What did I just read?! I couldn’t put this book down!! The characters were well developed and I found myself staying up way past my bedtime to finish it. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this incredible book! I will definitely be sharing it with all of my fellow book lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. martins Press/Minotaur Books, and Alex Finlay for an advance copy of If Something Happens to Me in exchange for an honest review. I’ll start this off by saying that I don’t think Finlay can do anything wrong, I truly love all of his books.
We find ourselves quickly immersed in a story that is told with multiple POVs that happen throughout three main cities. Each individual POV kept me hooked but I was confused to how everything would flow together. As always, Finlay made everything flow so so so smoothly as the book went on and the end was truly mind blowing to me. I don’t want to say much else because I hope you pick this one up and experience it yourself on May 28th, 2024!!

4 Stars

This one started good, got a little slow, but then definitely picked up about 60% through. I really liked the characters, even O'Leary. My favorite was Chaz. Love me an old softie tough guy. Alex did great again. The epilogue lacked a little something for me but other than that it was great.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

On a side note, it did not really take me 3 1/2 weeks to read. I got sick and quit reading for a good week or 2.

And the twists just keep coming!
This is my first time reading Alex Finlay, but it won't be my last.
In this international thriller Ryan and Ali are having a night together at Lover's Lane when all of a sudden Ali is grabbed from the car by a stranger. Ryan is initially a suspect but what follows next takes us on an international search to find the truth of what happened that night.
This book is full of twists and turns that you won't see coming and the chapters are short and keep you engaged.
It's told through multiple characters that are interesting and you genuinely want to keep reading to see how they are connected. I love good arm chair travel and this book has it, taking us to Italy, France, and, the USA.
I highly recommend this book if you like thrillers!
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I have mixed feelings on this, I really liked Alex Finlay's first 2 release, but the latest ones weren't a hit for me. The plot didn't draw me in and felt formulaic in parts. It was a lot of action and suspense, and i'm not sure that is my cup of tea in books. I did enjoy it but will not remember it in a week.

Such a twisty book! This book kept me guessing and entertained throughout. I really liked all of the backstories coming together through the book. Different than any of the thrillers I’ve read.

In true Alex Finlay fashion this was quite the page turner. I will say this is different than his other books, and I'm not sure I liked that part. There is the missing girl presumed dead, and all the mystery behind that was interesting. It's when we find out why everything happened like it did that lost me. I feel if I say anything more it will be a spoiler. If you love this author like I do then don't miss out on this one. Just know it's a little different.

Five years ago Ryan and his girlfriend Ali drove to lovers lane for a romantic evening but the night ended with tragedy…Ali was kidnapped and Ryan became the prime suspect. Ryan has tried to put the past behind him by changing his last name and entering law school. On a trip to Italy Ryan is suddenly thrust back into the past as new leads in the case send Ryan on a wild goose chase to find the truth.

If Something Happens to Me is an exciting new mystery/thriller by author Alex Finlay. This novel was such a thrill ride with parallel stores, cryptic messages, and a young man who can’t let go of the past. I will warn readers that this novel has some graphic content (torture) which was very violent and gory. That being said this was a fantastic fast-paced read that I didn’t want to put down..a must read for 2024!

I have enjoyed several of Alex Finlay's novels in the past couple of years and this one is no exception. The story opens with a mysterious disappearance of a girl, a possibly falsely accused young man and the appearance of a car with 2 dead men. Related? Red herring? This novel has a lot of twists and turns and while may dally with the edge of disbelief, is well plotted and easy to pull together by the end. It was an ambitious and solid thriller!

✨If Something Happens to Me ✨⁣
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⁣Genre- Thriller. ⁣
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⁣Length- 336 Pages. ⁣
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⁣My thoughts- Alex Finlay has delivered another twisty, addicting thriller! For the last five years, Ryan has lived in the shadow of one horrific night. When his girlfriend, Allison, vanishes from the local lovers lane Ryan is the main suspect and a cloud of suspicion hangs over him. But then Ali’s car is found submerged in a lake and Ryan spots the man he thinks abducted her… ⁣
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⁣This is such a fun book. It’s a fast paced, intense story with several different distinct characters and voices! If Something Happens to Me is one of those fantastic thrillers that you pick up one morning and completely ignore all responsibilities and obligations for the rest of the day! I loved it! ⁣
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⁣I recommend this one to thriller fans. Four stars! ⁣
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⁣Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in return for an honest review. If Something Happens to Me publishes on May 28, 2024.

If Something Happens to Me is a captivating and well-crafted thriller that will leave readers guessing until the very end. I really love this author's writing and I appreciate so much receiving an advanced copy of this upcoming book in exchange for my honest review!
One of the standout features of this book is the way the author expertly brings together multiple storylines and characters. At first, it may seem like there is a lot going on and it's hard to see how everything will come together. However, Finlay's skillful storytelling gradually reveals the connections between the different threads, creating a satisfying and cohesive narrative.
The characters in If Something Happens to Me are well-developed and the pacing of the novel is spot-on, with the tension building steadily throughout. Finlay knows exactly when to ramp up the suspense. The story kept me engaged and eager to see how everything would transpire. If you're a fan of suspenseful and intricately plotted novels, this book is a must-read. 4 1/2 stars rounded up.

This is one of my favorite authors and he has done it again with this book, very well written, and a very fast page turning read. I stayed up late a few nights to finish it. Ryan Richardson and his girlfriend Alison Lane are a young couple madly in love and looking for a little privacy at a local lover's lane, they are startled by the door opening and a man hitting Ryan over the head making his lose consciousness, when he wakes Ali and her car are gone. He of course is considered the main suspect and although cleared by investigation, the public and podcasts are relentless in pursuit of proving he did it. He eventually changes his name and move to another city for college. Five years late while on a trip for college with some of his classmates he gets a cryptic notice to meet someone at a certain location, which he ignores, he then gets another and after catching a glimpse of the man who he believes hit him over the head the night his girlfriend went missing, he goes to the meeting, which is with that man. The pace picks up quite a bit at that point, Ryan goes to the town where the man lives, things don't go well, his dad tells him that Ali's car had been found submerged in a lake with two bodies in it, a local mob type also has an interest in Ali from something that happened during school. A new to the job Deputy Sheriff, Poppy McGee, is tasked with investigating the two men in the vehicle and becomes very involved in the events that happen. Overall a very good book which I would highly recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #Minotaur Books for the ARC.

This was an okay read for me. I found it hard to connect with any of the characters and felt the writing was a bit flimsy. I’ve loved Finlay’s work in the past but this one missed the mark. I enjoyed Poppy’s POV most of all. The Taylor twist was what shocked me the most but other than that, it just wasn’t for me. I will continue to read anything by Finlay & I thank Netgalley for allowing me an advanced copy!

For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has been haunted by a traumatic night when his girlfriend Ali was abducted, leaving no trace. Despite enduring suspicion and public scrutiny, Ryan changes his last name, enters law school, and attempts to move on. However, his past resurfaces when Ali's car is discovered submerged in a lake, containing two dead men and a cryptic note in her handwriting. The narrative unfolds through multiple characters and timelines for a unique story.

I find this book difficult to rate. The beginning was really interesting and enjoyable but about 70% in I was ready for it to wrap up. The plot is definitely interesting and I was waiting to see how all the point of views would tie together but I found myself getting confused because there were so many characters and multiple timelines. It took me a minute to mentally draw a map and figure out how everyone was connected.

Overall, I'm really happy with the story and how it wrapped up. There were no loose ends and it all came together well.

More of a crime/ mystery than a thriller about a girl presumed dead 5 years ago
Blends in multiple time lines from different points of view taking place in several locations in America & Europe which can be a bit confusing at times
Interesting interplay between good & evil
Entertaining read that suspends belief
The plot was interesting but I never connected with the characters very much and something fell flat for me
Short chapters & all in all worthy read

A brilliant and action packed thriller. I just recently discovered this author and I need to read all the books! Such an intense book I couldn’t stop reading!

Mobsters, a feisty young deputy sheriff and a law student make up the main characters of this twisty, crime novel. Five years before the story begins, a high school student named Ryan was parked at lovers lane with his girlfriend Alison. A man broke into their car, hurt Ryan and kidnapped Alison. Alison was never seen again and Ryan was considered a suspect in her murder until one of Alison's hairs was found on the sleeping bag of a serial killer. The only thing Ryan remembered about the man was that he was missing his pinky fingers and he never believed the serial killer story. . Ryan is now a law student at Georgetown and is on vacation in Italy with his girlfriend Nora and some other friends. One day Ryan and Nora go on a hot air balloon ride and below them on the ground he sees a man staring at him, a man missing his pinky fingers.

Poppy is a woman in her early twenties and a new deputy sheriff. Her father was friends with the current sheriff Ken Watson and Poppy is eager to make a name for herself. When a car is pulled from the river that turns out to be Alison's car, she feels a spark; maybe she can find out what really happened to Alison. In another scene a mobster named Shane O'Leary and his wife Gina are trying to help their young son who is being bullied. Shane runs a big criminal enterprise and has lots of people working for him but finds he still cannot help his lonely, sad son. How these various stories come together is done in a layered and twisty way. The author does a great job of slowing doling out information so the readers can gradually understand what is happening and what is at stake for the various characters.

I generally don't like mobster stories but I did like Poppy who was smart and fearless and I liked Ryan who was trying so hard to run away from the past where he was a suspect and lived with never knowing what happened to Alison. I thought the short chapters worked well since there were a lot of characters and the book had good pacing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.