This is one of my favorite books by Alex Finlay so far.
I love the idea of the note from the past coming to haunt our characters today.
I loved the twists and turns in this fast paced thriller.

If something happens to me by Alex Finlay was an edge of your seat thrill ride. The short chapters in the second half kept me reading “just one more.” I love how it all came together about halfway through. I thought it was unique, relevant, and exciting. I enjoyed this author’s last book and will be on the lookout for the next one!

This was such an unexpected gem for me! Alex Finlay books have been pretty hit or miss for me, but this one is by far the best and my favorite. The pacing was great, and I really felt the suspense and high stakes throughout this entire book. Starting off the story with such a stark difference in the cast of characters (a budding lawyer on a trip in Itay, a new deputy sheriff on her first day, and a mob boss in Philly) was so great because it really made you invested in the story and how all these different storylines were connected. I felt the characters were really well fleshed out and their motivations made a lot of sense to who they were - I felt so connected to them (and yes, I mean all of them). I loved everything about this book, and it is definitely one of my new favorite thrillers of all time!

It isn’t always easy to put your past behind you, something that Ryan is very familiar with. Five years ago his girlfriend Ali was kidnapped as he lay there, unable to help after being on the receiving end of a blow to the head. Some believe that Ryan had something to do with it, and even though he was cleared there is still some suspicion that hangs over his head. In an attempt to move on with his life Ryan has changed his name and now attends law school.
He thinks that this is all behind him, but a phone call from his father changes that. Ali’s car has been found submerged in a lake, and there are two dead bodies inside, along with a cryptic note: If something happens to me…

This was a novel that I had high hopes for; between Finlay’s previous novels and the prologue to this one I found myself super excited to dive into If Something Happens to Me. Sadly this was not the page-turner that I had hoped it would be. The chapters are short, which helps to make it a fast-paced novel, but there were just so many pieces to the story that were too unbelievable to me; some things were a little too far fetched for my tastes. I also found it to be rather predictable, but this might be due to the fact that I have read his previous novels.

The audiobook was okay. I did like that there were multiple narrators used, especially since the novel is told from the viewpoints of multiple people. I found the pace to be rather slow, especially for a thriller, and at times the delivery was flat and monotone, but not always. Overall the audiobook didn’t really live up to my expectations and didn’t necessarily add to my enjoyment of the story.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second time reading Alex Finlay and I was super excited when I got the arc. Maybe my expectations were high, I didn't like this one. The book started well, with a gripping plot but unfortunately failed to keep it till the end. First of all, there are too many characters to keep up with. Generally, I prefer fast-paced books with short chapters but here I was frustrated as the POV kept changing in each chapter, the emotions were all over the place. Either stick to one situation with small chapters or give long chapters if you switch between different timelines.
I will still pick another Alex Finlay book as I like the writing style.


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Finlay weaves an intricate and pacey tale with multiple points of view and vivid locations across the US and Europe.

Part 1 is 3 POV and sets up the rest of the book beautifully—drawing the reader in to care and understand the characters and their motivations, while simultaneously wondering how all three of these stories fit together.

Really enjoyed those book and recommend to anyone who loves a good adventure story.

If Something Happens to Me tells the tangled story of the death of a mysterious girl.

I did not like this book. It started out strong enough, but then grew to be confusing. There were way too many characters and POV shifts. I couldn't keep everyone straight nor did I care to. I also thought the characters were cartoonish (especially the ones involved in the mob). The ending wrapped up too quickly and tidy...not believable.

I was given this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

The twists and thrills of this book had me flipping the pages so fast! I read this book in one day, it is very fast paced! This was my second Alex Finlay novel and I am going to need to read all the rest!

5 stars and will be recommending to friends!

Great book, very fast read. There were twists that I did not see coming (biggest compliment I can give a book). The characters were interesting and try to figure out how they all linked together was like a puzzle. I will be reading this author again.

3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of If Something Happened to Me.

Five years ago, high school couple Ryan and Alison are parked at Lover’s Lane when they are suddenly attacked. Ryan is hit over the head and Alison is ripped from the car, never to be seen again. Blame naturally falls on Ryan as the boyfriend, resulting in Ryan changing his name and trying to move on from the traumatic event. Now, Ryan learns that Alison’s car has been pulled from a lake in his hometown, catapulting him back into the events of five years ago.

I listened to the bulk of this audiobook ARC while in the car on a day trip, and all of the action and the fast pace made the drive seem to go quicker. I believe that character development could have been a bit stronger to make me more connected to the characters, but I enjoyed this on the whole. The main twist in the middle got me, which I appreciated, and it was a wild ride from there.

I’ve picked this book up three times now but I cannot seem to make it past the first 5%. Sadly, I don’t think I’m the right reader for this as I am not interested from the start and have to DNF.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC via NetGalley.

*rating one star as I have to give a star rating per NetGalley requirement td

This started off great but then dragged a bit in the middle, it was just trying to do A LOT. I do really enjoy how Finlay wraps up everything at the end of all his novels, but sometimes it feels like it a chore to get there.

Thank you to the Publishers and Netgalley for allowing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great book! So many twists, turns, and surprises that really made it hard to put the book down! There are multiple POVs and several different storylines that all come together in a really great ending! Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

A DNF for me, so not going to rate. Just could not keep my attention and I had no desire to pick it back up.

ARC received via NetGalley

Wow. Alex Finlay has done it again. Loved the differing perspectives and how everything came together. Another great thriller from one of my favorite authors.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and the various locations it took place: Leavenworth, Kansas, Philadelphia and Tuscany, England and Paris. The POV's were also varied and that made it interesting.

The story starts with Ryan having been knocked out by an unknown person when he was with his girlfriend, Ali and her car gone. When he wakes up she's gone, assumed kidnapped. He ends up the main suspect but there's no evidence. That doesn't prevent podcasters and Internet trolls from keeping his name in people's minds and suspicions. Ryan ends up moving and going to law school and even changes his name.

I thought it was a good mystery that kept me on my toes and held my interest. I liked the characters and I loved the female detective's name of Poppy. Not too intimidating of a name for a sheriff, right?

This twisty thriller had me hooked from page one! Ryan Richardson and Alison Lane are having a quiet moment by Suncatcher Lake when suddenly, Ryan is attacked, and Alison vanishes without a trace. Though never found guilty, Ryan is haunted by the press and changes his name, hoping to start fresh in law school.
Five years later, Deputy Poppy McGee is on the case when a submerged car is pulled from the lake, revealing a cryptic note in Alison’s handwriting: If Something Happens To Me. Meanwhile, Ryan, now on a school trip to Italy, is pulled back into the nightmare.
With multiple perspectives and shocking twists, this fast-paced thriller kept me on the edge of my seat. Poppy’s determination to unravel the mystery made her my favorite character. Finlay’s return to his twisty, character-driven plots is nothing short of brilliant—I couldn’t put it down!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS THRILLER IT KEPT ME WANTING TO READ THE ENTIRE TIME. I FINISHED THIS BOOK IN TWO DAYS BECAUSE I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and the author for sharing this ARC with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

Alex Finlay is back again with another heart-pounding, page-turning, keep-you-guessing-until-the-very-end thriller!

Five years ago, a small town in Kansas was rocked when a beautiful young girl, Ali, goes missing. She was last seen with her boyfriend Ryan at a lake front spending their last night together before they head off to college. Every one of course suspects the boyfriend, who has only fuzzy memories of the night, because he said he was knocked unconscious by a strange man who was missing both of his pinky fingers. Where is Ali and the car they were in? Who is this mysterious man and why would they want to take this young girl?

In another state, a mob boss is seeking retribution for crimes made against his family. He will stop at nothing to get his revenge. What horrible act caused his insatiable need for revenge and destruction?

In present day, a young veteran has moved back to her small town in Kansas and joined the sheriffs office. Her first task - reopening Allison’s missing person case because two divers have found her car in the lake- and two unidentified bodies are inside. Also found at the crime scene, a note that was preserved written by Allison. On the envelope it reads: If Something Happens To Me….

Alex Finlay is one of my favorite thriller writers. His stories are always fresh and so well thought out. This book has SO many moving parts, characters, locations, time periods, and points of view and it was organized and presented perfectly. I felt like there was a twist and turn every 50 pages and had me absolutely feral trying to figure out what was going on.

This book has it all - murder and cover ups, government corruption, secret identities and cyphers, parenthood, betrayal, cold cases, romance, loyalty, brotherhood and friendship, revenge plots, and so much more!