Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an ARC copy of If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay.

Ryan and Alison (Ali) are about to graduate. They go to Lover's Lane to spend their last intimate time together before they begin their new lives at different colleges. Suddenly someone busts through the car and knocks Ryan out. When he comes to, the car and Ali are gone. 5 years later, Ryan is in Italy when a series of events unfold that brings everything to the present. Ali's car was found submerged in water with two unknown men, not Ali. And there is a cryptic note found with Ali's handwriting on the envelope titled, "If something happens to me...". What happened to Ali and where is she? Who are the men in the submerged vehicle? Why is Ryan seeing a man he believes took Ali in Italy?

I am a fan of Alex Finlay books! They're easy to read, fast-paced, action-packed, and overall great stories. Like his other books, this one is told in different POVs chapter by chapter. There are multiple settings in this story such as Italy, Kansas, and Pennsylvania. I never felt like there was a dull moment. Each chapter leaves some sort of next reveal and there were some good twists. I always felt like I could see Finlay's stories as movies or TV shows. Always a good time!

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, for an eARC of If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay!

What a bingeable book! This one sucks you right in from the very first chapter - 5 years ago, Ryan & his love Ali were enjoying each other's company in her father's car when she was taken - Never to be seen again and presumed dead. A cloud of suspicion has always hung over Ryan, even though he was never charged. He's changed his name, and in another country is trying to enjoy his "new" life.

That is, until he gets a call that Ali's car has been found in a nearby lake in his hometown. Two dead mean are inside along with a note she left: If something happens to me...Then, Ryan sees "pinky man" from that night and he will stop at nothing to figure out what happened to Ali.

Finlay is a master of multiple POVs that are seemingly completely separate, but weave together in the most intricate and satisfying way. This book is so easy to binge not only because it's delicious, but the chapters are so short, about 5 pages each.

I really enjoyed this one and would love to see more of the police force that worked on this case in upcoming novels!

Alex Finlay never disappoints! This is the third novel I’ve read in the Finlayverse and it was such a page turner! If you’re looking for fast paced, edge of your seat, no boring filler moments, pick this one up! The story follows Poppy a new detective assigned to a case that hits too close to home. I loved the dual perspective, dual timeline and dual timezone? Everything came together fantastically in the end, 4⭐️

Thank you to Minotaur Books for an advanced readers copy of this title via NetGalley.

Twisty and fast paced and a great way to kick off my summer reading. The short chapters and multiple narrators make it an easily bingeable book. Some of the twists were kind of predictable but didn’t make it any less entertaining. This is probably my favorite Alex Finlay book and I would definitely recommend if you’re looking for a thriller to keep you on the edge of your seat.

This story is told through multiple points-of-view from narrators in Leavenworth, Kansas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a couple different countries in Europe. There is a young man trying to move forward with his life after being a suspect in his high school girlfriend's death, a new deputy sheriff who has returned to her hometown and thrown in the middle of a complicated investigation, and a gangster dealing with difficult situations in his "business" and in his personal life.

I'm purposely not giving many details so I don't accidentally spoil anything, but even though a few of the connections between characters seem random at first, be patient because everything comes together! The book has a well-balanced mixture of likable characters and others I didn't care for. My favorite character is Deputy Sheriff Poppy McGee and it would be great if she appeared in a future book leading a new investigation. I liked the action of the story, even when I had to suspend disbelief or wish some characters would have made different choices. There is a long, detailed epilogue to wrap things up, and I'm glad the author doesn't go the obvious route with everything at the end. There are some violent scenes, but I still recommend this book to readers looking for a fast-paced thriller.

I received an advance copy of this book at no cost from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

Really enjoyed this!! Second book by the author and both have been better than average thrillers. I will say there were a lot of characters so I did get slightly confused but it did not take away from the suspense.

Will read more from this author

Thank you to net galley for advanced copy of this book

I tore through ALEX FINLAY’s latest thriller IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME. Buckle up, friends! This is an attention-grabbing, page-turning delight to read!

I’ve been a fan of ALEX FINLAY’s since his debut EVERY LAST FEAR, and this might be my second fave of his. It's totally on brand - a twisty plot, action-packed, multiple POVs & a swirl of mysteries culminating in a wholly satisfying ending.

Much like EVERY LAST FEAR this book blended action with the emotional stories of these characters. I really appreciate a human connection in my books and enjoyed how the past and present events were woven together.

A play-fair puzzle of story for sure and no, I didn’t see the thing coming. Well played!

THE SYNOPSIS 👇🏻

It’s been five years since Ryan Richardson’s life changed forever. Spending his last night before heading to college with his girlfriend Ali was perfect until the unthinkable happened. The car door rips open. Hands yank Ryan out. A swift blow to the head. And the last thing he remembers are Ali’s screams as she disappeared into the dark of night.

In the aftermath, suspicion surrounded Ryan, but no evidence + a good lawyer meant he never faced charges. Now Ryan has a new name & a new life as a law student. During a trip to Italy with his classmates he gets a call — Ali’s car was found. And inside it are the dead bodies of two men. But no sign of Ali. When a man from Ryan’s past surfaces in Italy, he sets on a quest for answers.

Back in Kansas, the newly appointed Sheriff’s Deputy, Poppy McGee, is working Ali’s case and learns she’s more connected to this mystery than she realized. And in Philadelphia, mobster Shane O’Leary, navigates his own family tragedy, seeking the justice that’s eluded him.

Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio + Minotaur Books + NetGalley for the ARC. I had the great fortune of doing a combo of the eARC and AudioARC. Helen Laser, John Pirhalla and Paul Dateh did an outstanding job on bringing these characters and this story to life.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME is a must-read summer thriller!

Wow did this have an interesting, grab you from the first chapter premise!
Ryan’s high school girlfriend, Ali, was pulled from the car they were in and never seen again. Ryan of course was very much a suspect. Several years later, Ryan is moving on. He is in law school and has escaped the constant suspicion. Ali’s car is found submerged in the local lake with two male bodies. Ali’s body isn’t in it.

Enter new local police officer Poppy. She is given many grunt tasks to investigate and ultimately makes more headway than anyone else.

I really enjoy Finaly’s writing style. The pages flew by. The chapters would often end on a cliffhanger which only made me want to get back to that person’s perspective. Poppy was my favorite character. She was smart and ethical enough to keep going when she started to face answers she didn’t like.
Very action packed with multiple POV.

What didn’t work for me was a huge part of the plot. Organized crime as any part of a story never interests me. Obviously many other people disagree with me. Mob stories are prevalent in TV,movies and books. While this didn’t work for me, it might make this story and absolute must buy/read for other readers. As expected, there is violence on the page. Anything with torture elements is a no-go for me.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this murder mystery with a twist. Several surprises and overall a very satisfying story. I will be looking for more books by this author.

This is an absolutely bingeable mystery that kept me guessing the whole time. The quick chapters made it super easy to read on & off. Its split into three parts and the twist in part one really threw me, I did not see it coming…but I do wish there were slightly more to the story as I didn’t feel satisfied with the ending, I needed more info to feel it was wrapped up. But overall thought it was such a fun read that kept me guessing. Thank you Net Galley & Minotaur Books for the digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.

New summer thriller from Alex Finlay - If Something Happens to Me.

"A teenage girl disappears from Lover's Lane. Her boyfriend claims he was knocked out and doesn't remember what happened, except for the man with no pinkies. Now the car they were in has been found in a lake - except there are two men inside and no sign of the girl. And a note in an envelope addressed with - If something happens to me."

There are three storylines. As a reader, you are unsure of how the timelines fit together or what the connection between them is. But Finlay pulls back a piece at a time and you realize that's it's crime fiction disguised as a thriller. There are some reveals and surprises but you will recognize this plot. Finlay does add a couple of extra layers to a familiar plot. And the ending has a big wild expolsive moment and then another part that was a bit of a letdown. Finlay does make you care about a couple of the characters. It would nice to see them in future stories.

Fans of Alex Finlay and crime fiction should enjoy this

I really enjoyed this fast-paced thriller by Alex Finlay!

The novel starts with the MC Ryan, who lived through the trauma of his high school girlfriend Ali being kidnapped out of their vehicle five years ago. No body was found, but of course Ryan is the primary suspect. Ryan cannot recall most of the details surrounding the event, but he has retained an an image of the man who attacked them. Although Ryan was never charged due to lack of evidence, he changes his name and moves on with his life to help escape his past.

Fast forward five years and Ryan has graduated college and enrolled in law school. He is traveling Europe with several classmates when he receives a call that Ali's missing car has been found, though her body is not inside. Later during his trip, he also believes that he sees the man who attacked them. Even more shocking, the police find an envelope in Ali's submerged vehicle labeled “If something happens to me," spurring the unraveling of this mystery.

I loved seeing how all the players in this thriller come together at the end. Overall, this is a great mystery if you prefer:

*Dual timelines
*European setting
*Multiple POVs
*Mafia/organized crime

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this e-book to review!

I’d never read anything by this author but I really liked this book! The POVs coming together well, and the short chapters, constant questions, and suspense without dragging it out. I wasn’t shocked to my core but plenty of little twists that kept me interested!

An edge of your seat thrill ride!! I was hooked from the first chapter! So many twists and turns, I barely could keep my head straight...but in a good way!! It was an easy read with lots of tension building throughout, many characters and POVs but the author manages to bring it all together to a satisfying conclusion, the adrenaline definitely kicks in in several places throughout. You will def want to binge this one...

Another action-packed page-turner readers have come to expect from Findlay! Ryans life is upended when he becomes the main suspect in the disappearance of his girlfriend, Alison, years ago as a teenager. When a car surfaces in the nearby lake, it is assumed that the body inside is Alison’s. However, Alison’s body is not recovered but rather two other young men and a note in Alison’s handwriting saying if something happens to me….
At the same time the bodies are found, Ryan, is in Italy with his law class when he sees the man who has haunted him since the night Alison has gone missing..
How are the bodies tied to Alison’s disappearance and who is the man ryan keeps seeing? That is what a young detective, poppy, tries to find out as long as she can stay alive.

This is typical Findlay-a fast-paced, page turner that will pull the reader in from the first pages. The multiple view points and changes of setting and scenery are easy to follow and all coincide together in the 1/3. Findlay has never been one for deep characterization, but his protagonists are always likable and easy to root for. A fun beach read perfect for this time of year!

Thanks to the publisher for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.

If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay goes on sale May 28 2024 from St Martin's Press

I was engrossed in this book from the first chapter! We meet Ryan who’s young life was completely flipped upside down when he’s the first suspect in the disappearance of his girlfriend Ali. All he has is The Monster he sees when he thinks about that night and the fact he knows that she was the love of his life and he would never hurt her. 

This book has multiple story lines that are somehow tied together and as we get closer to understanding why, everything starts to unravel in a multi-country mystery chase, solving the puzzle of what really happened that rainy night.

Finlay's books have been hit or miss with me, but I believe this might be his best one yet.

I would like to thank St Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my review. My opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Alex Finlay, wonderfully narrated by the cast of Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

In high school, Ryan and his girlfriend Ali were parked at the local lover's lane when the car door was ripped open and Ryan got a blow to the head. He was yanked from the car, hearing Ali's screams as she was taken. No trace of Ali or the car was found, and while Ryan was considered a suspect, he was never charged. But Ryan can't forget that night and has dreams of the man who took Ali. Five years later, Ryan has changed his name and is in law school, trying to put his past behind him. But then in Italy with classmates, Ryan gets a call from his father that Ali's car was found with two dead men inside and a note from Ali inside. When Ryan sees the man that has haunted his dreams, he begins a race to find him.

Another thriller that will keep you on your toes from Finlay! Told from multiple POVs - Ryan; Poppy, the detective on the case; and Shane O'Leary, a Philadelphia mobster. It was atmospheric, as Ryan chased his man, and I enjoyed Poppy's character immensely. You may have to suspend reality along the way, but isn't that why we read? This book was tense and gripping and had me glued to the pages to see how all these characters would intersect and the mystery would end. Bravo!

I’m always down for a good mystery thriller and I’ve read wonderful things about Alex Finlay. I went into this book blind mostly because I wanted to be surprised.

It has three POV’s , Ryan, whose girlfriend was kidnapped from his car one night. Poppy, a war veteran-that returns home to work as a deputy sherif on the case. Shane, the head of a crime organization.

I enjoyed the initial fast paced nature of this novel once it picked up, you were able to get into it rather quickly. I did think there were way too many point-of-views to keep up with. It made the plot more confusing and kind of convoluted. I mostly figured out the twist early on and the plot kind of lost me from there. I just wished there were more surprises. Overall , a fair read but not my cup of tea.

Thank you to Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review !

I got this as an ARC and meh. Maybe I just read this at the wrong time but I was so confused through the entire book. There’s a million different POV’s and timelines and it gets so muddled so quickly. I also don’t like thrillers or mysteries where it’s from a detectives POV which is what a big part of this was. Not to mention the “twists” were so predictable😤. Very painful read overall.

Alex Finlay books are always so fast paced and suspenseful and I love it! They are so easy to read and are like a great popcorn thriller with tons of action to keep you engaged the whole time. I appreciate that he reveals twists and turns throughout the whole book rather then just throwing them in at the end. Also the settings in this one are just *chefs kiss*.

With that said, my one complaint with this book was at times the timeline and different POVs was confusing and I was not sure how the author was going to weave them all together. I don't know why I had any doubt though, because Finlay always pulls it off in the end. This one is not my favorite of his books ( I gave it a 3.75 stars but rounded up on here), but I still recommend it especially if you like his other works as well.