I found this book to be very average in terms of thrillers. While I was intrigued enough to keep reading, I never felt overly connected to the characters or their stories. I also felt like things all came together a little too easily, and the plot was fairly predictable in the end. The action scenes left quite a bit to be desired as well.

I did enjoy the short chapters and multiple POVs which made for a very quick read.

thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. i enjoyed this from beginning to end and there were many twists and turns throughout the book. you think you know what happens and then another clue pops up and you were sadly mistaken. i like how the book took place in multiple places throughout the world. at first it was hard to keep up with the different places and characters but towards the middle/end it all adds up and makes sense.

No family is without its secrets.

Ryan Richardson had been pining for Alison Lane (Ali) for years. They have known each other since 9th grade, and cared for each other for a long time. They will be leaving for different colleges soon. Their special night is interrupted by rain. Back to her father’s BMW, it was looking like Paradise by the Dashboard Lights would finally become a reality, two teens parked in a Lover’s Lane in Leavenworth, Kansas. Alison does not hit him with an I gotta know right now, but they are this close to heaven when the car door is ripped open. Ryan takes a heavy blow to the head, and comes to on the wet grass. The car, and Ali are gone.

We meet Ryan again, the presumed perp, five years later, long suspected of and hassled about that night. Ali has not been heard from. On vacation in Tuscany, his father notifies him that the missing BMW has been found. As if that is not enough, he receives a note in his hotel room from a mysterious stranger, demanding a meeting, and the game is afoot, sending Ryan on a quest to find out the truth of what had really happened that terrible night.

Poppy McGee is late of the military, an MP, having earned her discharge by standing up for herself in a suitable fashion. She had hoped for a gig on the federal level, FBI maybe, but finds herself stuck, instead, in Leavenworth, Kansas, her home town. Her father’s friend, Sheriff Ken, had offered her a safe landing. Deputy Sheriff McGee soon finds herself up to her neck in the five-year-old disappearance. Way to begin!

Shane O’Leary is a very bad man, a Philadelphia gangster with few qualms about the occasional homicide. We soon learn of his involvement in everything;

These three will twirl around each other for the rest of the book, with chapters alternating among them, as each pursues a goal.

Poppy and Ryan are appealing characters, finding a way forward after having faced some serious challenges. O’Leary has a bit of appeal from his love of family. But really, he is a straight up monster.

Finlay offers us a range of venues, from the small city (under 40k pop.) of Leavenworth to the metropolis of Philadelphia, from Tuscany to a small hamlet in the UK to Paris.

"I had never done, really, a European setting and so it is set part in Kansas. I thought a contrast for that would be Ryan on this trip in Italy. It starts with me having a trip in Italy when I was finishing the book What Have We Done?. I always thought this would be a cool setting. And then I finished the novel in Paris, so I naturally wanted to weave that into the story, which I did. And while I was in Paris for this extended period where I had gone just to finish the book, my wife and I went to this small village I had lived in in the UK as a boy. I hadn’t been back in forty years…so that was in the book as well. It was personal travel that inspired settings, but also just things that had stuck with me for forty years. "– from the promo

The secondary characters are given sufficient attention, adding depth to the characterization of the primary three. And Finlay has done a wonderful job of giving several of them explanatory, if not exactly exculpatory, three-dimensionality.

Poppy, in particular, confronts frenemy, Agent Fincher, a fed, who wants Poppy to share details on the investigation. She offers up some details of her own, but leaves us wondering if she is for real.

"The agent sits there appraising Poppy, watches her eat. Eventually, she says, “Are you familiar with Russian folklore, Deputy Sheriff McGee?”
This is too much. Poppy gives the agent a lazy-eyed stare. “Do I look like I’m familiar with Russian folklore?”
Agent Fincher allows herself a smile. “In Russian folklore there’s someone called the Holy Fool.”
The woman is an oddball or genius, Poppy can’t tell which. It’s possible her schtick is just a tactic to get Poppy to talk.
“The Holy Fool is an outsider—sometimes an eccentric, sometimes crazy, sometimes just a child. But it’s their outsider status that makes them a truth teller.”
“I’m not sure where this is—”
“You heard of the story ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’?”
What the hell, Poppy decides to bite. “The story about the emperor who’s told he has a magical outfit and everyone plays along even though he’s naked?”
Agent Fincher snaps her fingers. “Everyone except a little boy. He’s a Holy Fool—someone who’s free to state the truth.”
“What’s this have to do with anything?”
“Oh . . . I don’t know. After you punched your commanding officer in the nose, I was hoping you were one.”
“One what?” Poppy asks.
“A Holy Fool.”
Poppy shakes her head. This lady’s been looking into Poppy’s background. Following her. What’s her deal?
“In real life, our Holy Fools are whistle-blowers. People willing to sacrifice loyalty to their job or other institution to expose the truth.”"

So, should Poppy trust this person or not?

Many novels offer a thing called payload. What did you learn? This is a look at some real-world thing, how certain activities are carried out, the details of philatelic theft, how drugs are transported, how money is laundered, how even benign activities are undertaken. Although there is a bit of this in looking at how O‘Leary launders his income, this was an area in which the book was lacking. While that mote of depth was absent, this will take nothing away from the pace or fun of the book.

If Something Happens to Me is a tale of murder, bullying, REVENGE, passion, and a core mystery (why was Ali kidnapped?) that explains it all. It will keep you guessing and flipping those pages. The only thing that will happen to you on reading Finlay’s latest is that warm, filling feeling of having just read a very satisfying thriller.

Review posted – 10/11/24

Publication date – 5/28/24

I received a ePub ARE and a hard copy of If Something Happens to Me from Minotaur in return for a fair review. Thanks, folks, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.

A very interesting read. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this book. It wasn't really for me, but I am sure that it will be loved by the right audience.

This is a suspenseful, twisty thriller that will geek you turning pages past your bedtime. The alternating chapters kept me guessing and the cat and mouse aspect was really well done.

I've really enjoyed Alex Finlay's books in the past and this was another one that did not disappoint. I flew through this one which was nice. You are on the trip with the narrator as he tries to live his life while still trying to figure out what happened to his girlfriend 5 years ago.

This is my second Alex Finlay book, and it's easy to say I am a huge fan! I loved this book, and I could not stop reading it! I recommend Finlay to all of our patrons who come in looking for suspense and thrillers. Can't wait to read more!

Thank you to the author and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

This one was okay. I think I’m just not that into plots that feature an organized crime storyline. The story is definitely fast-paced, but there were so many characters and subplots that I found myself getting mixed up quite a bit. If you’ve enjoyed this author’s other books, then you’d probably enjoy this one because it has similar vibes.

This book was just “meh” for me. I felt like I was reading it because I had to finish it instead of reading it because I wanted to finish it. I can’t quite put my finger on what it was.

Alex Finlay’s If Something Happens to Me is a solid thriller with an intriguing premise and plenty of twists to keep readers engaged. The pacing is brisk, and Finlay does a good job creating suspense that builds as the story unfolds.

That said, the novel occasionally struggles to maintain momentum, with some plot points feeling predictable or overly convenient. While the characters are interesting, a few lacked the depth needed to make their motivations truly compelling.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable read for fans of the genre, and a decent choice for a weekend thriller.

If Something Happens to Me delivers exactly what I’ve come to expect from Alex Finlay: a fast-paced, suspenseful story full of twists. The premise hooked me right away, and I was genuinely curious to unravel the mystery at the heart of it all. The pacing was tight, making it an easy page-turner.

However, while the story kept me guessing, some of the twists felt a bit over-the-top or rushed. The characters were engaging enough, but I didn’t feel as connected to them as I wanted to, and some of their decisions didn’t always feel realistic. That said, the tension and sense of urgency made it a gripping read overall.

This is a great choice if you’re looking for a quick, twisty thriller that doesn’t require too much emotional investment. While it wasn’t as strong as some of Finlay’s previous works, it’s still an enjoyable ride for fans of domestic suspense.

I was entertained and on the edge of my seat from start to finish. I think I'll have to add Alex Finlay to my auto-buy author list.

Alex Finlay’s If Something Happens to Me is a gripping, multi-layered thriller that takes readers on a fast-paced journey across continents, unraveling mysteries and secrets that have festered for five long years. With his signature style of weaving multiple perspectives, Finlay delivers a story packed with twists, suspense, and emotional undertones, though it occasionally falters under the weight of its ambition.

The story centers on Ryan Richardson, a man haunted by a traumatic night when his girlfriend, Ali, was violently taken from him. Though he escaped suspicion thanks to a lack of evidence and a strong defense, Ryan can’t escape public scrutiny—or his guilt. When Ali’s car is discovered submerged in a lake, the revelation ignites a chain reaction of events that forces Ryan to confront his past while chasing answers across Europe.

What works well here is Finlay’s ability to craft compelling, distinct characters whose paths intertwine in surprising ways. The sheriff’s deputy in Kansas and a grieving mobster in Philadelphia bring unexpected depth and unique stakes to the narrative. Finlay’s depiction of international settings, from Tuscany’s rolling hills to Paris’s glittering streets, adds a cinematic quality that keeps the story visually and emotionally engaging.

However, the novel’s fast pace sometimes feels like a double-edged sword. The constant twists and turns can feel overwhelming, leaving little room to fully connect with the characters’ emotional journeys. Some plot points, while thrilling, stretch plausibility and detract from the grounded tension that makes the best thrillers unforgettable. Additionally, while the multiple perspectives are intriguing, they occasionally disrupt the narrative’s flow, making it harder to stay immersed.

Overall, If Something Happens to Me is an entertaining, globe-trotting thriller with plenty of surprises to keep readers turning pages. It’s a solid choice for fans of Alex Finlay’s work and readers who love complex mysteries with interconnected storylines. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of Finlay’s best work, it’s still a compelling ride that lingers after the final page.

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

This was my first Alex Finlay book and while I did enjoy it, I expected more from it.

As I was reading and I was enjoying it- these separate storylines that I could tell would tie together- there came a point where it seemed the author got to thinking “What if this crazy shit happened?” And then let’s add this and this and so on and so forth. So while I do like my thriller type books to be action packed, this was almost pushing my limit on what I could feasibly swallow in fiction scenarios.

What I liked:

I thought the cover was great. A little intriguing!

I loved when Poppy met the young podcaster and he was like listen to episode 18.

I thought the ending was a nice way to tie up (or mostly tie up) things.



Bottom line: I would read another book by Alex Finlay. I wish this one would have had more of an angle from podcasters/internet sleuths because I feel we could have been entertained by that POV.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

This is objectively a well done book and I think it will be fantastic for the general commercial reader. It was a little predictable and strangely paced for me.

Beginning this book I was extremely confused because there were like 4 separate character POVs but it wasn’t hard to follow like some multiple POV books are. I felt the writing in this story was very well done and the short chapters made it easy to devour in a short period of time.

The first twist in this book had my jaw on the floor. I knew something along those lines was coming but for the life of me i could not figure it out until it was revealed. The second twist was extremely predictable and a bit of a bummer but i don’t think that was avoidable.

After hitting the 50% mark, i finished the rest of the book in a single sitting, i had to know what happens. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller that grips you and has you needing answers.

This was decent. A like not a love for me. The twisty turns were pretty good. Some things were obvious but I enjoyed the unfolding of the shock & awe’s enough to keep reading, quickly.

Ooh this was a fun and quick thriller! This was the first I've read of this author, but it did not disappoint! It was very engaging throughout, and while I didn't completely love the ending, it was still a very solid read.

This was my first Alex Finlay book and I enjoyed it. I liked how the plot unfolds and the story develops. I actually guessed the twists pretty early on but the story telling kept me hooked throughout. It's fast paced. My one complaint is that at some point you feel like there are too many things happening at once. Other than that, it was a pretty good read.

Thank you Minotaur and Netgalley for my copy!

Ryan Richardson has spent five years reliving the worst moment of his life - the night just before the start of college when his girlfriend Ali disappeared after being forcibly taken by an unknown man. With a cloud of suspicion over his head, as the blow to his head left him not able to give the police any usable information, Ryan's whole life changes in an instant. While on a summer abroad trip to Italy, Ryan sees the man of his nightmares. As Ali's case gets thrust back into the limelight at home, will Ryan be able to figure out what actually happened?

I would give this novel 3 1/2 stars if the rating system allowed. I liked the overall flow of the book, with a fast paced plot and good characters. As a big mystery thriller reader, there were certain aspects of If Something Happens to Me that just missed the mark. With years of suspicion hanging over his head, the fact that Ryan made certain decisions just did not ring true. There was also a problem with the conclusion that I could not ignore. Overall, the novel was good and was one I would recommend to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to read and review this book was entirely my own.