Thank you Macmillan Audio and Minotaur for my free ARC of If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay — available now!

Read this if you:
🍿 enjoy fast-paced, easy to read popcorn thrillers
🤨 don't mind if you can kind of guess the direction things will go
🌽 can handle corny tropes — no spoilers, but this is one of my least faves

Years later, Ryan is still haunted by the day that his girlfriend vanished into thin air after a carjacking. Everyone just assumes that he killed her and hid her body, because his story DOES sound incredulous, even to his own ear. But when the car is finally found at the bottom of a lake with the bodies of two men inside, it's obvious to everyone that someone else was involved in Ali's disappearance.

Okay y'all — no spoilers, but this went a direction I'm just not at all a fan of. I find it kind of lazy, which I know is rich coming from someone who's never written a story in her life, but it's just not to my taste and I lost interest pretty hard in the second half of the book. I generally like Alex Finlay so this is a one-off miss for me. Definitely give it a try if you're looking for something fast-paced and don't have any hard "heck no" tropes/inclusions in thriller books. Happy to share if you want to know in advance, just DM me!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a fast past entertaining thriller! I did get a little confused with all the characters (I had to take notes)🙃 but the different narrators made it easier 😂 I loved the short chapters and how the different POV’s intertwined together. It was such a fun binge read!

Read if you enjoy:
▪️Chapter cliffhangers
▪️Multiple POV’s
▪️Short chapters
▪️Fast paced
▪️Lies and twists

If Something Happens To Me is a fast paced mystery-thriller that has a lot going on (in a bad way).

This one is a hard one for me to review, it was so fast moving and compelling but so many things fell flat.

I feel that the main issue for me was too many POVs. This led to items being revealed by one person and then another character had to be told or find out on their own later in the book. It duplicated a lot of effort and while reading it felt tedious. The amount of point of views also meant that we didn't spend a ton of time with Ryan, who is portrayed as our main character.

It also went in a very different direction than what is alluded to in the summary. This could work for a lot of people but unfortunately it ended up being a plot direction that I do not enjoy in novels.

I love Finlay’s twisted plots and fast-paced writing but I think what I most enjoy about his books are the characters. Even though this is a darker thriller full of crime and plenty of bad guys, the characters (for the most part!!!) are decent people. Sure, they all are flawed and have made plenty of mistakes but the majority are good people at their core. Even the mob boss is an incredibly devoted husband and father. It’s just so rare to find so many nice and likable people in this genre.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME was a great story with plenty of twists I didn’t see coming. I loved the time the characters spent in Europe and the relationships and friendships they kept over the years. A few bits were maybe a tad outlandish but overall it was an action packed story that I couldn’t put down!

3.5/5

This thriller had a lot going on in it: murder, abductions, mob ties, corrupt law enforcement and so much more!

I found that this book was an interesting listen - it was definitely more of a mob/organized crime thriller than what I typically read. I don’t love talk of torture and disfigurement (normal things that you would associate with mob enforcement) so I did not love that part of this book but I still enjoyed it overall.

This is my second Alex Finlay - The Night Shift was my first. I would read more books written by him for sure and look forward to seeing what he puts out next!

The audiobook for this was pretty good and I very much appreciate the advanced copy from macmillan audio and netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have been a reader of Alex Finlay's previous books but he's never been a must-read author for me. This was another quick and entertaining read that didn't leave much of an impression. While I enjoyed the story and the action, I felt like it was executed poorly. Too many location settings, too many characters and multiple POVs made it hard to keep everything straight. The writing style trended into the over-explaining territory, "saying" instead of "showing." I'll probably read more of Finlay's books but this one won't land on any of my top lists.

If Something Happens to Me is a mystery/thriller that perhaps seems surface level at first glance; however, has a truly complicated web of betrayal, hurt, lies, and a LOT of history.
Although I think this book was well done, it didn’t strike me as super memorable, and I will say I don’t have a lot of interest in the subjects approached in this book (mobs, crime bosses, witness protection, etc). If those are things you love to read about I suggest picking it up. If you were like me and thought it would be more “small town” true crime, don’t expect that to be the case.
3.5/4 stars

This novel is a fast-paced thriller about a missing girl presumed dead, a notorious crime boss, and a new deputy-sheriff trying to put the pieces together. There are three primary narrators: Ryan, once accused of his girlfriend’s murder, and he is now on a law school trip in Italy. Poppy, a young war vet who returns home to Leavenworth, Kansas, to work as the deputy sheriff, and Shane, the head of a major crime syndicate in Philadelphia. A few additional POVs are mixed in. How the narrators/story fit together is a bit of a puzzle, but seasoned thriller readers will most likely figure out how the pieces connect early on. It's a wild ride.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

What I loved:
Multiple POVs
Fast Paced
Short chapters
Action packed

Another highly anticipated read for me that did not disappoint. I was hooked from start to finish and loved all the characters and locations. Even though there were multiple POVs and settings the author never made it feel overwhelming or confusing. I never wanted to stop listening because I just wanted to know how it was going to all come together. All three narrators did a fantastic job with these characters and it really helped to keep things from getting confusing. Whether you prefer physical books or audiobooks I definitely recommend this one! And go in blind!! Thats the best way to do it

4.5 ⭐️s rounded up

Alex Finlay knocked it out of the park with his home run twist.

Often with thrillers, an author tacks on a twist that is not only from out of left field, but from completely different ballpark, just because twists are expected in this genre. Not so in this book. I absolutely loved that I didn’t see a major twist coming, but when revealed, made perfect sense.

So close to being a 5⭐️read. But any time my *humble* amateur sleuth brain thinks “Why didn’t you…..?” of the crime-solving characters, I give the 1/2 ⭐️ to me instead of the book.

If Something Happens to Me would make a great summer beach read for those who prefer page-turners over rom-coms.

A romantic night between Ryan and his girlfriend, Ali, turned into a complete nightmare. All Ryan can recall from that night is a blow to the head, the car door being yanked opened, and Ali screaming as someone took her away.

This audiobook grabbed my attention from the beginning but it left a lot to desire by the end. Too many characters, too many stories, and too many locations to keep up with.

There is just way too many POVs, especially coming from a thriller book. I found myself confused often, even with the multiple narrators. This has nothing to do with the narrators themselves, simply the fact that there is way too much going on. All the POVs seemed to intersect each other (not seamlessly) and I had to keep rewinding.

There was a lot of over-explaining in this book as well- basic things at that. I was not a fan of the ending either; it was predictable, anticlimactic, and felt rushed. I was hoping for a crazy, action-packed finale but it just did not deliver.

I would love to read more from this author but this one didn't quite work for me. Again, take my review with a grain of salt because you may enjoy it.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary ALC, NetGalley, and the author.
Pub date: 05/28/24

Grab yourself a copy of this book now! I read this in one day, it was so gripping. Ali and Ryan are high school sweethearts at their favorite spot when Ali is grabbed without a trace. Ryan doesn’t know if she’s dead or alive. Years later Ryan gets a call that they found Ali’s car and a note that says “if something happens to me”. Then Ryan sees the man he thinks took her, the man with the missing pinky fingers. That man confirmes that Ali is alive. Now Ryan needs to find Ali.

There are multiple characters and at the beginning you, as the reader, have to figure out how everyone is connected. This book surprised me. I wanted more. I feel like everything fit together perfectly.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this audiobook. The 3 narrators did a fantastic job. I absolutely love when the audio is a cast of narrators. It really makes the story easier to follow while listening. I enjoyed this book so much I plan on having a copy on my shelf!

I believe this is my first Alex Finlay book and it was really fun and exciting and also I was sucked in from the very first chapter. (I may be a little biased as well since I live in Kansas and I ALWAYS enjoy a good book that takes place here)

The dual timeline wasn't terrible but I it was hard to follow at times, especially considering we were also flipping between cities and characters.

The audio was great. I really enjoyed it!

This is my fourth read by this author. I was excited about this one based on the descriptions since it gave me that first book feeling and I’m happy to say that I couldn’t put it down once I started. I found it immensely readable even though I saw several of the twists coming. I was enjoying the story and the characters so much that I didn’t care. I started on audio then picked up the ebook to finish when I couldn’t stop reading. The audiobook is narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh. All the narrators did a fantastic job with smooth and compelling voices for the story and characters.

The story is told in third person with multiple narrators. Ryan is currently in Italy with law school classmates and was previously accused in the case of the disappearance of his high school girlfriend, Ali, in Leavenworth, Kansas, but the case was ultimately attributed to a captured serial killer known as the Missouri River Killer despite his denials. Poppy returns to Leavenworth to be near her sick father and starts her new job as a Sheriff’s deputy the day that Ali’s car is found in a local lake five years after her disappearance. Shane is trying to run the “family business” in Philadelphia while juggling the issues his sensitive son is having in his new private school.

The belongings in the car include a protected enveloped addressed “if something happens to me” and the note inside is a book cipher code but Poppy and the forensic scientist are at a loss as to which book to use to decipher it. I really enjoyed the three separate storylines in this novel and the journey to bring them all together even if I found it a bit predictable. It was filled with compelling characters, intrigue and gripping thrills throughout. I easily read this one in a day through stress-filled trips to the vet for a dental procedure.

Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and Minotaur Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

My first Alex Finlay book, and I inhaled it. What a wild ride!

 I suggest going in blind if you can. The gripping suspense starts almost immediately. The story is fast-paced and told in a multiple-POV format with short chapters that keep the action moving. Three action-packed storylines span the globe and involve an array of characters, leaving the reader guessing how it will all converge. And the stakes are high, so there are several tense moments.

I enjoyed Finlay's writing style. The characters are vivid and jump off the page. You have to suspend disbelief sometimes, but this was a fun, edge-of-your-seat thriller. It was hard for me to stop listening to it, and I finished it in a day, which is rare for me with audiobooks, even when I love them.

I look forward to exploring Finlay's backlist now.

Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh narrated the audiobook.
I love full-cast narrations, and this cast was stellar. They made it very easy to keep track of all the different characters, and their performances added to the suspense. The performance of the character Shane was a standout and the voice fit the character so well. Thriller lovers and anyone looking for a highly entertaining audiobook will enjoy this!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook!

I couldn’t put this one down! The story did not disappoint and kept in the edge of my seat and guessing until the end. I

I struggled with this one. The many different characters, settings and timelines were too hard to keep up with while listening to the audiobook and I found myself confused by the end of the book. I will say that it started out strong though and I was pretty invested until the other characters were introduced and then I started to lose my way. Might be worth reading this one instead of listening if you decide to give it a go. Many of my friends have enjoyed the book so my review is definitely in the minority.

If you are looking for a binge-able mystery/thriller? Look no further.

I listened to this book in less than 36 hours. I was hooked from the beginning. This is a fast pace, easy read with an interesting if not a little unrealistic storyline. The short chapters kept the story action packed. It was a fun time even if I guessed some of the twists.

I enjoyed the multi-POVs and each narrator did an amazing job! Poppy was an exceptionally likable character for me in this books which doesn't happen commonly in mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Minotaur books for this free ALC!

The high ratings on this book have me a little disappointed. I was expecting a great book and it just wasn't.

It was hard to keep up with the four different locations and the four different points of view. I did listen to the audiobook but I don't think that would have added any more confusion.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Have I been sleeping on this author? This was a nice, quick, succinct thriller-ish story. I think I need to check out this author's backlist for sure. No complaints on the narration either.