I really enjoyed this new release by Alex Finlay ! It’s fast-paced, and I thought the different characters and storylines really tied together well in the end ! The plot really had me engaged and wanting to find out how everything connects ☺️ Highly recommend !

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed If Something Happens to Me. It was nicely paced, the characters and the plot were engaging, and the ending was pretty surprising. This does have some heavy topics in it, ex: bullying, teen suicide, etc, so be warned if these are issues for you. There is a decent amount of misdirection, and it's enough to keep you guessing throughout.

Over the course of three novels, Alex Finlay has quickly established himself as the go-to author for propulsive and escapist summer reading thrillers. His 2024 release, If Something Happens to Me continues this tradition and capitalizes on his skill at writing twisty plotlines with fast-paced prose.


Ryan Richardson is the central character in If Something Happens to Me. Five years ago, Ryan’s girlfriend, Ali, was forcibly taken from the car where she and Ryan were having a romantic evening. Ryan was violently hit over the head and only remembers fleeting moments of the scene and vehemently denies any involvement in her disappearance.

Unfortunately, the authority’s focus and public opinion was not in Ryan’s favor, turning his life into a living hell. Ryan makes the choice to change his name and distance himself from the horrible memories. Until one day, on a trip in Italy, he gets the news that Ali’s car has been discovered submerged in a lake not far from where the kidnapping occurred. In the car, two dead bodies and a note in Ali’s handwriting saying “If something happens to me…” As if that weren’t enough to open old wounds, Ryan sees in the distance, within the Italian crowds, the face of the man he only briefly remembers seeing that fateful night when Ali vanished.

Was he right all along?

Meanwhile, a new sheriff’s deputy in the small Kansas town rocked by this case finds herself on the front-line of a murder investigation—albeit not the one anyone was expecting. And a mobster in Philadelphia is confronted with a tragedy of his own, one that just might tie all the pieces of this puzzle into one unbelievable truth.

Alex Finlay uses multiple points of view to propel readers through this tangled web of lies. Short chapters and a writing style that virtually casts a spell over readers make If Something Happens to Me a one-sit read. The term summer blockbuster was created for works like this—compelling enough to lure readers away from other activities, but light enough to not require intense concentration.

Alex Finlay deploys some literary slight-of-hand in his telling of If Something Happens to Me. It’s a technique that has been used—to varying degrees of success—several times in recent years, but fortunately here, the speed at which readers consume the novel help to make this decision feel closer to inspired storytelling, rather than a manipulative tactic designed to create a false shock.

One thing that is often overlooked in the analysis of the works of Alex Finlay is the overall moral and message each of his books holds. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in the action and adventure of his twisty plots, that one can miss how each book contains a solid basis of true emotion leading to growth potential. In If Something Happens to Me, it seems the lesson is that everyone makes mistakes, and we can either condemn people for them forever or we can give them a chance to learn and evolve from those misguided choices.

What is abundantly clear is that picking up an Alex Finlay novel is never the wrong decision. This is a talented writer who knows the type of book he excels at writing and consistently provides that his many fans.

was pleasantly surprised by the one. A few of the twists really caught me off guard and I was not expecting them. Love that from Alex

Another Finlay book that I really enjoyed! I felt like I was watching a James Bond crime movie, hooked and fast paced. Highly recommend if you are in the market for a crime thriller that had some fun twists.

Whoever said if you're seeking revenge dig two graves-one for your enemy and one for yourself.

It's been a long time since I literally could not put this book down. A twist midway thru, the setting in Kansas City where I live. Always a great way to connect to a book. However, it was not only the setting but the whole story line. Plot and character driven is what you get with this.

Five years ago, a young couple is jumped on the banks of the Missouri River. The young girl Ali is taken and her boyfriend is ripped out of the car and knocked unconscious. Now a native to Leavenworth, Kansas - 40 miles east of Kansas City, Missouri, (home to the Kansas City Chiefs) is assigned to the case when the missing car is found at a local lake. With two unknown men found in Ali's submerged car, Poppy is making a new start after an honorable discharge. She is now working for Leavenworth police department assigned to the case. Ryan has left Leavenworth and is now in Europe and Ali was never found. With the case reopened, Poppy is getting mixed messages and finds that something more personnel is about to be revealed.

The first half the book, the narration is set in Leavenworth and Poppy reopening the case. There seems to be another thread with the mobster in Pennsylvania and a family tragedy. A tragedy that connects all the characters together and of course thickens the plot.

A special thank you to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Love this book! Fast paced and well written. I couldn't stop turning the pages. Alex Finlay is one of my favorites and for good reason!

This is my first Alex Finlay book, but it won’t be my last! I found this incredibly addicting and finished it in two days. The story is fast-paced and the chapters are just short enough to keep you going, even when you should probably be doing something else. There are multiple POVs and a large cast of characters, but I never found them overwhelming or confusing. How the characters fit together is a bit of a mystery and the plot does require some serious suspension of disbelief, but ultimately I found the payoff satisfying.

This was my first read by Alex Finlay, and I was not disappointed! I’m running to read his backlist. He was obviously blessed with a gift of weaving a complicated web of intersecting characters and timelines without losing the plot, and the short chapters made the book fly by! It also helped that I didn’t want to put it down.

If you enjoy suspense and are looking for a good thriller to quickly binge, grab your popcorn and buckle up!

A fast paced thriller involving a cold case and small town mafia. Alex finlay has written and easy and enjoyable read with this novel.

Poppy is working on the case when they pull out the car that belonged to Allison when she disappeared all those years ago. She doesn't believe that Allison boyfriend had anything to do with it. Can she get to the bottom of this case?

Grab a copy for a perfect beach read that will keep you hooked!

Thanks to St martins press, NetGalley and Minotaur books for this ARC

Wow! This was my first Alex Finlay book and upon finishing it, I immediately added several more to my TBR list. This thriller had me on the edge of my seat turning pages. The twists and turns were unexpected and the cast of characters were memorable and well developed. When I read a thriller I want to be surprised and I want to get to know the characters and them to have depth and Alex Finley delivered.

Ryan and Alison were high school sweethearts until the tragic night that Alison was taken right in front of him. Things in their small town had never been the same since that night. Fast forward five years and Ryan receives a phone call that changes his life and sends him on a mission to rectify what happened on that stormy night many years ago. "If Something Happens to Me" is full of puzzle pieces that perfectly fit together to tell this thrilling story.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alex Finlay is one of my favorite authors and this one was so good! It’s told from 3 different points of view and in typical Alex fashion when I finally connected dots between the 3 my jaw hit the floor. It was fast paced and engrossing throughout. I would definitely recommend if you like thrillers about the mob and unsolved mysteries!

Throughout this book I felt a strong sense of nostalgia and regret for Ryan, who lost the love of his live Alison on a stormy night in Lover's Lane. To add to the injustice, Ryan is at first deemed a suspect in her murder.

There are mobsters and internet trolls and an accountant with a moral dilemma. And don't forget the guy with the missing pinky. There's a deputy with the unfortunate name of Poppy (really, the name made it hard to take her seriously!). There are things happening in multiple parts of the the world, from Kansas to Pennsylvania and England, Italy, and France.

Finlay is determined to keep you on your toes, though, because you know these disparate locations and people will eventually converge. How and why are the beauty of this book, which reaches its conclusion through a series of twists and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for another thrilling arc by Alex Finlay!

A fast-paced thriller with mob ties that will have you hooked from the beginning.

Alex Finlay's use of multiple perspectives and alternating time lines twists a web that makes you think you have it all figured out, until all of a sudden you don't.

I personally found some of the characters and timelines far more interesting than the others but understand the need for them all to complete the story.

3.75/5

Alex Finlay has proven himself as a tremendously talented author, delivering intense and twisty tales. This book is no exception!

Having lived in Kansas for 30+ years, I was instantly hooked and greatly enjoyed all of the Kansas references. It made it all the more fun of a read to relate to the various references!

The story follows two timelines that merge to show the broader picture and tie the mystery together. From beginning to end, the action was continual. Anyone who can tie Leavenworth, KS to Italy to the UK in a thrilling and enthralling manner deserve 5 stars in my book!

I was fortunate to both read and listen to the book; both are available now and I highly recommend getting your copy as soon as possible!

This book starts out with a bang. Ryan and Allison are just two kids going to Lover's Lane when the car doors are opened and Ryan is hit on the head. He is able to see Allison as she gets dragged away from the car, and then she's gone. Ryan is a suspect, but after a serial killer is arrested and Allison's DNA is found at his house, the case is closed.

Five years later, a car matching the description of the Allison's father's (the one they used at Lovers Lane) is dragged up from the bottom of the lake with the bodies of two unknown men. But no Allison. Ryan is a suspect again, but he's on a trip to Italy.

An international search is on. The authorities want Ryan, and Ryan wants to find answers. Just what happened to Allison?

I didn't want to put this book down and finished it in a couple days. Are there some holes in the plot? Probably. But it's fun and compelling with plenty of close calls, which is perfect.

My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you SMP for the ARC. Respectfully, no. I liked his other books, but this was like an old man wildin on FB.

I was hooked the second I read the title of this novel and even though I knew there would be some "in case I go missing" clues (like any good Crime Junkie should have at the ready), I was still surprised with every discovery and turn of events. I can't recall the last time I read a mystery novel that included multiple character's POVs and timelines, but I found the whole concept very exciting. The bad guy reveal at the end I was able to foresee and I found that the motives were a little foggy, but I spent about a month reading this book so I have to chalk it up to having enough time to both solve the mystery myself and forget some of the details along the way.

I quite enjoyed this book and it was my first Alex Finlay read. I had the privilege of reading the ebook as well as listening to the audiobook. I flew through it in one sitting because I HAD to find out what happened. It kept me engaged throughout. I will say, I preferred part one the best. It started off strong, introduced characters well but just gave enough to keep you guessing. I particularly enjoyed the separate POVs and how they were all eventually intertwined. The man hunt search around the world is not something that typically "ticks my box" but it was still really enjoyable. The premise of the book was great and unlike anything I've read before. I would certainly recommend this as a physical read, an audiobook, or both, like I did! Lot's of twists and turns!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Alex Finlay for sending this ARC ebook of If Something Happens to Me, in exchange for my honest review.

I’m calling it now, this book will end up in my top ten at year’s end! It’s easily one of the best books I’ve read so far this year! This book is so well written; I don’t know that I’ve ever read a multi point of view story that fit together as seamlessly as this one does. Normally, with multi-POV I can get frustrated that it’s not connecting and that never happened here. The link is right there, staring you in the face, and I still missed it! There are no red herrings or trick elements that leave plot holes at the end. He wrote a straight forward story that is still full of suspense with a very intelligent plot that is perfectly paced. Everything is explained in time and there’s not a hole to be seen! Sometimes when a plot is this good the character writing can suffer; not here!! There’s a lot of characters in this story, but they are all utilized very well. None of them feel superfluous or simply there to move the plot along. Each one is well developed with clear and realistic motivations, even the side characters! I know this may sound like a generic review but honestly I just don’t want to get too detailed for fear of giving away key elements! This book is an absolute must read for thriller fans and it’ll be a top recommendation for me going forward! Finlay is an incredibly talented writer so if you’ll excuse me, I have to go put all of his books on hold at my library now!