3.5⭐️ rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the e-ARC of IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME by Alex Finlay in exchange for my review. This novel will be released on May 28, 2024.

CW: abduction, murder, parent death, cancer, bullying, suicide, addiction, gambling, drug overdose, child death, dementia

I tried to pick this up a few weeks ago, and soft DNFed it when I wasn't in the mood. I wasn't going to come back to it. I DNFed one other book by the author and thought maybe the author just wasn't for me. But, I kept seeing good review after good review pop up on my feed, so I decided to give it another chance.

I thought I had the twist figured out, but I was so wrong in a great way. There are a lot of characters, and I had trouble keeping track of who was who. I wish each character's name was stated at the beginning of their chapter so we could remember whose POV we were in. Also, the epilogue was three chapters long, and it didn't need to be. All of those things slowed the book down for me. Most of the reviews I've been seeing say this is fast-paced, but I found it to be more medium paced. Despite what I've mentioned, I did enjoy this and was intrigued to find out what happened next every time I had to put it down. I'll be going back to the book I DNFed by the author at some point, and I've also added his other books to my list and look forward to picking them up in the future!

There was a lot of buzz about this book and I was very excited to read it. It got a lot of really good reviews and high star ratings, but I found it really wasn't my thing. I think I definitely read this wrong.

There are so many 4 and 5 star reviews for this book on here so when I was granted an ARC of this novel on Netgalley I was super exicted to dive right on in. For me, this was a very low, very meh three star rating. I actually thought about giving it a 2.5 but the readability factor made me reconsider. Because even with my very lackluster reaction to it, it was a thriller and suspense-y and very readable. I honestly just found it predictable and cliche.

My boyfriend has watched Goodfellas about a million times. He turns Casino or The Departed on anytime they are on television (which is A LOT lemme tell ya). He has seen the entirety of The Sopranos at least three times. Quotes Scarface and The Godfather like they are part of the Bible. So just by association I feel like I have had a lot of exposure to mob stories and mentality just from living with someone who is superduper into the genre. And I think that is a big reason why this one didn't work for me.

In my very humble opinion, if you are an author who wants to write about the mob in your latest and greatest summer thriller, you probably need to do more research than just by watching an episode of Law & Order: Organized Crime. The mob parts of this book really are what dragged it down. I found them implausible, predictable, and cliche. The mob boss's behavior was particularly eyeroll worthy and if he were real, would have been killed off within a week of gaining power. And I only know that from watching The Godfather in my rearview mirror. You think Michael Corleone would have become the character he was by being pussy-whipped by his wife? By spending exorbitant amounts of time and funds to hunt down someone he blames for his son's suicide? No, I got that wrong. He spends exorbitant funds and manpower to find a so-called bully that his WIFE thinks is responsible for their son's death. My god parts of this were like Thirteen Reasons Why: Philly Mafia Edition. It really really didn't work for me.

And honestly I read so many reviews talking about "The Twist" and "This is how you write a thriller" and I honestly just don't get it. I really truly don't. I figured out every single twist this book brought to the table. Easily. Without really even trying. It was predictable. And also for the record, this one got added to my list of "books with stupid epilogues." Seriously. The last chapter was really just unnecessary.

It was decently written I guess, and immensely readable (I read the last half in one sitting), but I don't think there is anything new here that you cannot find in every single summer blockbuster thriller that will be hitting the bookshelves in the next three months. I think there are going to be people out there who love this, because they love these kinds of books, and that's great. If I had read it 5 years ago I probably would have liked it more also. But for now, it just wasn't meant to be.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. If you can suspend disbelief long enough to buy the outlandish twists and convenient timing of everything in this book, you will enjoy it. All told, it’s a wild fast-paced ride that will probably make for a fun limited TV/streaming series.

I just could not put this book down. The more I flipped the pages, the more I had to know the answer to each new lingering question. This is definitely the book to pick up if you are in a reading slump.

It’s five years after Ryan’s high school sweetheart disappeared during an evening rendezvous between the couple. Everyone fears that Alison is dead and Ryan may have had something to do with it. Ryan has changed his last name and is in Italy on a law school trip when he sees the man that took Ali. Ryan has never gotten over that night five years ago when his life changed drastically. Is this his chance to find out what really happened that night? Or is his mind playing tricks on him?

Meanwhile, back home, Ali’s car has been found submerged in the lake with two dead men and an unexpectedly well preserved cryptic note thought to be written by Ali. Ryan is the only one that can decipher the note and when he does he knows exactly where to find Ali…in the clouds.

As the book flips between now and then and several different seemingly unconnected characters, the thrill factor escalates. I heard myself gasping out loud and, at one point, had to pick my jaw up off of the floor. Do yourself a favor and set aside enough time to read this one in one sitting. You won’t be able to put it down.

This expertly crafted enigma deserves all the praise. Well done Alex Finlay. I loved every gripping moment of this masterpiece! This is one I’ll be recommending for years to come.

Thank you to Minotaur Books, NetGalley and the author for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another great read from one of my favorite authors. Although this wasn't a fast paced roller coaster ride I enjoyed the slow moving pace. I was hooked from the beginning and the story kept me interested and wanting to see what the outcome would be.

Yess on this one - short chapters, twisty storyline, multiple POV, twisty timeline. I needed a good thriller and it delivered! Need to now get to the Alex Finlay backlog if this is what I’ve been missing!

This is a well-written, entertaining fast paced thriller. It is a real page turner with short chapters, which is told from the point of view of several engaging characters, and has heartbreak, murder, mystery, suspense, secrets, revenge, twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Mr. Alex Finlay, from whom I received an advanced reader copy of this fantastic novel. This is my honest opinion.

This is my second of Finlay's books and I can confidently say it will not be my last! I absolutely loved this tense and twisty thriller and definitely had my jaw on the ground at the end of part one with that massive reveal...if you know you know. I loved the settings in France, England, Italy and Kansas and could easily picture the environments while also feeling like the characters were fully fleshed out and I really cared about what happened to them. Finished this in just a few sittings and can not wait to read more of his backlist!

Thank you so much Netgalley and Minotaur for my review copy! Definitely recommend getting yourself a copy when it publishes May 28th.

Ryan Richardson's life was ruined when he was attacked in the middle of the night and watched as his girlfriend Ali was taken, never to be seen again. Five years later, he thinks he has moved on: he has a new life, is working his way through law school, and is on a summer trip to Italy with his classmates. But back in his hometown, his girlfriend's car is found, reopening the case. A young sheriff's deputy, Poppy, is investigating the case and hunting down leads that brings the case a lot closer to her family than she expects. And Michael is an accountant working for a mob boss. Their three stories all connect back to the night Ali disappeared through plenty of twists and turns.

I have adored Alex Finlay's past books but this one just did not connect for me. The book moves extremely quickly, bopping back and forth between the various characters and making you want to keep turning the pages. The plot was not always the most surprising but had plenty of exciting moments and suspense to keep me entertained. My issue was just that the story and characters did not have enough time to bleed, all of their stories were just put into this blender and you move so quickly between all of these plots that by the time you settle into one character, you are onto another trying to situate yourself again. But Finlay is a great thriller author and despite these issues made a fast and fun read that will entertain those who have enjoyed his past great thrillers.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy of If Something Happens to Me in exchange for an honest review.

Five years ago, Ryan Richardson's life fell apart. His girlfriend was taken while they were on a date, he sustained a head injury and couldn't remember anything, and everyone suspected Ryan of killing Ali. His college basketball career never happened as it was supposed to and how he's changed his name and is in law school.

While on a school trip to Italy with his classmates, Ryan gets a phone call from his father. Ali's car has been found with two dead men and a mysterious note inside. Then Ryan sees the man who took Ali, the one memory he has of that dreadful night.

Ryan goes on a worldwide adventure trying to figure out what exactly happened to Ali and never guesses that the answers may lie with a young Kansas deputy sheriff and a Philadelphia mobster.

My thoughts:
This was the best thriller I've read in a long time. The multiple perspectives kept me intrigued and when the seemingly separate plot lines started to entwine, my jaw hit the floor.

This was my second Alex Finlay book and the first one I read was on audio and I thought was just meh. I couldn't take my eyes off the page for this one and have since recommended it to multiple people. The fast-paced, twisty adventure was thrilling and there was great character development, despite the multiple plot lines.

I cannot recommend this one enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the digital copy. My review is honest and voluntary.

After reading and enjoying What Have We Done I was really excited to give another book by Alex Finlay a try. If Something Happens To Me did not disappoint! This book is a fast paced and action packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I loved the truly unique characters and different storylines. The shorter chapters helped me fly through and devour this book. I definitely recommend this for fans of fast paced thrillers!

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this fast-paced thriller! While the final twist at the end did not completely surprise me, I did not predict the twist at the middle that connected all of the stories together. This was definitely one of my favorites of Finlay!

Ryan Richardson has been living a nightmare for the past five years. One terrible night the car door was ripped open and he was yanked out of the car with a crushing blow to his head. His girlfriend disappears without a trace. With suspicion hanging over his head, he has to change his name and move on. While on a summer trip abroad with his law school classmates, the guy who jerked him out of the car on that fateful night appears and wants to meet with him. Ali's car has been found at the bottom of the lake with two dead men inside. This story is so fun to read. It is told from several points of view but is told seamlessly and I never got confused. It is easy to follow and a quick read. I really liked it! Thanks to @NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

One of my new things is to not read the summary before I start reading a book. I'll read it before deciding whether to request a book, but otherwise I want to go into the book as blind as possible. That worked wonderfully for this book! It was a slow start as the various characters and storylines were being developed. It meant I could enjoy the different story lines, not knowing how or when they would merge. I almost felt this book could be the start of a series featuring Poppy McGee (what a name!) and Chantelle Luna. And as much as I generally do not like long epilogues that answer all the questions, I felt like this one did a good job of giving enough of an idea about where the characters move on to without the neat little pretty packaging many authors succumb to!

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME is a just what you should pick up if you're in the market for a fast-paced thriller. It jumps right into the mystery in the first chapter, and is consistent all the way through. The characters are quite dynamic, and Finlay gives you a little bit of everything. At many points it feels like the storylines will never cross, and then the mystery unravels and I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty shook by it. Between the descriptive Italian setting, and the race to discover the truth, this is a thriller you won't want to put down.

*3.5 rounded up*

Alex Finlay is back with another novel of multi-POVs, interwoven fates, and people who can inexplicably kick the ass of anyone who tries to come after them, Finlay somehow continuously writes the same story over and over, while keeping it fresh and the twists exciting. This is probably my favorite Finlay novel in a while as I felt that What Have We Done was a bit convoluted and hard to follow.

The story in If Something Happens to Me is compelling, and I thought the twists were all earned and lit me up! Another interesting thing about this one is that I actually loved all of the characters. Even the designated bad guys had me on their side at certain points. I wanted everyone to win somehow!

The only thing that really knocks it down for me is the epilogue, which was either made me angry or made me wonder “why even include this”. Finlay cannot help himself sometimes when it comes to wrapping things up. He also loves letting his audience know how he feels about the current state of affairs in the world, which I could also totally do without. Especially because all of his characters seem to share the same sentiments. I would appreciate if his characters were a bit more, well rounded when it comes to their personal ideals.

All in all, it was a fun and easy read. Finlay will keep me coming back for now. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for this honest review.

A few years after Ali's disappearance, Ryan has put his life together. On a trip with fellow law students, Ryan entertains the idea of a new relationship. Only to be stalled by the discovery of Ali's car. And two murdered men. Ryan becomes obsessed with discovering the truth.
Great suspense. I loved all the shifting elements - plot lines converging, twists and shady people. Very well done.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book! If Something Happens to Me was a wonderful and thrilling read that was fast-paced and well-planned. We have Ryan, a young man still haunted by the disappearance of his high school girlfriend, Alison Lane; Michael, an accountant working for a terrifying crime syndicate leader; and Poppy, a small-town police officer who suspects that the truth to the Alison Lane disappearance is closer to home than she thinks.

The plot was impressively developed with three different characters’ perspectives that eventually converge. I had a strong sense of intrigue throughout the book and the author did a great job keeping me insatiably curious. My one gripe is that the switching between POVs was very fast and abrupt. I could get whiplash from how quickly I was yanked from one perspective to the other, and some of the chapters in each character’s eyes were as short as just a couple pages. I felt like I would have enjoyed more time getting settled into each character’s role before being shifted to the next perspective, but the momentum was definitely fast to keep the story moving!

Another well written, fast paced book by this author. At the beginning of the book there were many characters introduced that I was uncertain how they fit into the storyline. I kept reading and after several plot twists,( I never saw coming), the story all came together.
Highly recommend. this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ADR.

“If Something Happens to Me” is a gripping thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. For the past five years, Ryan Richardson has been haunted by the night his girlfriend, Ali, was taken. With no trace of Ali or her car, suspicion hangs over Ryan. But when Ali’s car is finally found submerged in a lake, Ryan’s search for the truth takes him from Tuscany to the UK and Paris. This was a fast read that I thoroughly enjoyed. The chapters were short, there were multiple points of view and multiple locations. It was an exciting read from beginning to end.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.