📖 Book & Audiobook review 🎧

If Something Happens To Me by @alexfinlayauthor

Okay, this was craaaaazyyyy and I loved it.

If Something Happens To Me is about an abducted highschool girl presumed dead, a high profile crime boss, and a young sheriff trying to put the pieces together after new evidence is uncovered years later.

This book is an action packed thriller with several different character driven POVs. Listening to each characters perspective had me barreling through until the story collided with a twist, like a lightbulb switched on, and they just kept on coming. The audiobook features multicast narration, which I love. I thought each narrator did a great job with their characters voices. There’s so much going on in this book, in the best way, and the narration made it easy to follow along. I really loved the way the author wove these storylines together. The pacing held my interest the entire time. The short chapters always left me in suspense wanting more.

I really love mob stories so that was the whipped cream and a cherry on top for me. I think this story would make SUCH a good limited series. Especially after listening to the audio.

This was my first book by this author and I’m so looking forward to reading more!

Thank you to @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for this gifted advanced reading copy and advanced listening copy! If Something Happens To Me is out May 28th and I can’t recommend it enough for my suspense lovers.

This starts off really slow.
It took quite a while to see how everything tied together and while waiting for that I was kinda bored.
Once things came together and started to make sense it was more exciting, but it took too long for me and had too many MCs that were not evidently linked together.
This is the first Alex Finlay that didn't blow me away, so I am willing to call it a one off.
Much love to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ARCs.

2.5⭐️

Okay, this book really had some things that WORKED for me, and others that just fell a little flat.

I usually love a multiple POV story, but for some reason this just didn’t work for me. Although there were more than I usually read, I don’t think it was the number of POV’s that I had a problem with, but rather the relevance. I think that the same story could have been told without including the POV of specific characters. I think that this also lead to the “twist” being a little more recognizable.

The story was definitely well told and thought out, and the overall outcome was truly what I wanted from this book. I think that it just got lost along the way for me.

That being said, I did finish it in less than a day. It’s definitely an easy, fast read! Regardless, I am very thankful to the author and publisher for this ARC! Many thanks!

By far my new favorite by Alex Finlay always delivers such a solid edge of your seat thriller and this one is no exception! In this story we follow Ryan who has experienced a very traumatic event that left him with a severe blow to the head and a spotty memory with his girlfriend Ali disappearing into thin air. Because her body and car were never found Ryan was never charged however suspicion always follows him since he was the last to see her. When he’s traveling abroad he gets a life changing phone call. Her car has been found…with two dead me a mysterious letter written by Ali: If something happens to me….

In a fast paced thriller crossing different parts of the world, each character paths collide resulting in an explosive ending! I absolutely love this action packed, tense entertaining story. I was easily able to connect with each character and love how Alex writes from each POV. I love that we got to tour the world in this book and I was so surprised at how it all fit together like a puzzle in the end. The ending wasn’t completely believable however, that’s what I loved about it! Alex Finlay will continue to easily be an autobuy for me and as always I look forward to his next book!

What do I think of Alex Finlay’s newest book?

I loved it! He always brings his A-game to his stories, and once again he blew me away with this fun, fast-paced, pulse-pounding, mafia-laced thriller!

In a story epitomized by secrets, lies and revenge, it’s nearly impossible to know who to trust, and when the dead bodies start piling up and secrets are slowly revealed, it’s a race to see who’ll make it to the end!

No one was more surprised than me that I enjoyed this so much. I’m not a super huge fan of crime family stories, but this pulled me in from the jump with super speedy chapters and a constant flow of action and intrigue. I couldn’t wait to get back to it every time I had to step away. With great characters, world travel and a wildly engaging story, I can definitely see this making its way to the big screen at some point, and I’ll be in line for it!

You may be tempted to think this is just a fluff action story with one-dimensional mafia goons, naive small-town characters and young adults in peril, but the thing I loved most about this story is how wonderfully human and accessible ALL these characters are. It would be easy to just say mafia = BAD, but Finlay shows a vulnerable side of every character that allowed me to feel empathy, though not approval, of even the worst actions they took. That’s a tough trick to pull off, but he did it beautifully. I finished the story having liked or sympathized in some way with every major character!

I listened to this on audio while reading along on my Kindle. The narration by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla and Paul Dateh was excellent and I highly recommend both formats! Check out the author’s note at the end for a fun little insight into the book and Finlay’s writing style.

This is everything I want out of a mystery/thriller. Fast paced, interesting characters, attention keeping plot. The book kept the story moving and stayed engaging. I was invested the whole time. The audio performances were great. My first book by Finlay & it won’t be my last!

5 stars

I went back and forth between the audio and the ebook. I'm so happy I had access to both because I couldn't stop this one. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Trying to figure out how all the different POVs fit together was just a puzzle that I couldn't get enough of. I always go in blind and I would recommend that you do the same if you can. I feel going in blind with thrillers just makes the twists that much twistier and the turns that much more curvier. You don't know where you're supposed to go. You don't have any preconceived ideas of what the book is about.

Normally I have some sort of idea what's going on and start picking up on little things, but, honestly, idk if the book was just THAT GOOD or if I'm extra tired from work being crazy, but I didn't see this one coming until right before it happened. My jaw literally dropped. I had to pause the audio and just stared at my phone for a few seconds. I then grabbed the ebook to make sure I didn't hear that wrong.

The twists! The turns! The heartbreak! Picture it, I'm Charlie Day with red string all over my mind trying to piece everything together. IYKYK. I literally just finished and maybe the excitement/sadness of it being over (THAT EPILOGUE) is heightening my love for this book, but I hope not.

This is my first Alex Finlay book (although his entire catalogue is already on my TBR) and this book just made me oh so very excited to dive into the rest of them. Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh did such good jobs narrating this book. All the characters were brought to life in such a believable way.

Thank you, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for the ARC and ALC of this wonderful book.

This was an enjoyable reading journey from beginning to end. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there was some new plot twist thrown in that had me rethinking. I did feel like it got a little long at the end, but it tied up all the nicely and came together in a very satisfactory way. This one was a solid four stars for me. Thank you, McMillan and NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook.

I’ve got to say, I was quite impressed with this one! I’m not usually one for books involving crime families but I really enjoyed If Something Happens to Me. It just took me 2 days to read it once I started, with breaks to work and sleep. This is my second book by @alexfinlayauthor and I’m definitely a fan! The characters were well developed and relatable, and I was rooting for Ryan! This book is told through multiple POV throughout and that really helped to keep me invested and to get a better understanding of the characters. I read the book and also listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narration! The narrators did an excellent job and really helped me to relate to the characters.

Listening to the audiobook of “If Something Happens to Me” by Alex Finlay was an unforgettable experience. The story’s gripping narrative and complex characters had me completely immersed. Ryan Richardson’s harrowing journey to uncover the truth behind his girlfriend’s disappearance is both heart-wrenching and exhilarating. Finlay’s skillful storytelling, combined with the excellent narration, made for a thrilling listen that I couldn’t pause. The twists and turns kept me guessing, and the emotional depth of the story resonated with me deeply. I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone who loves a good mystery with a strong emotional core

After reading The Night Shift by Alex Finlay, I became a big fan of his writing! He keeps you on your toes and throws in the perfect amount of twists to keep you guessing from start to finish.

The chapters for this one were short and intriguing but unfortunately it didn’t give me that adrenaline rush like his other book. Maybe the whole mob thing threw me off lol idk but I can say it was different and I like that! I would still recommend this one if you enjoy fast-paced thrillers with a little something different!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC in exchange for my honest review 🤍

This is a twisty and thrilling mystery book that will keep the pages turning long into the night. The story is told from multiple points of view in a dual timeline fashion. Since the chapters are short and the narrative shifts you a kept on the edge of your seat the entire time. The book centers on the disappearance of Allison five years earlier. She was with her boyfriend, Ryan Richardson, at “make-out point” when the door to the car was ripped open and Ryan was knocked out and yanked from the car. For years everyone believed that Ryan was lying about that night and a cloud of suspicion has followed him wherever he goes. Ryan has since changed his name and seems to be moving on with his life and is on a trip to Italy with his law school classmates when he is visited by the man who has only existed in his memories of that night. Around the same time, Allison’s car is recovered from the bottom of a local lake with two unidentified men inside. A young sheriff’s deputy named Poppy is working on the case despite the fact her boss, the sheriff, has relegated her to manning the tip line and avoiding the investigation. In true mystery/thriller fashion their paths cross and the stakes are high. I enjoyed how seamless this book was. Alex Finlay was able to jump around characters, time and the world in an effortless manner. The characters all had rich lives and secrets to uncover so there was never a section of the story that felt less than the others. This book definitely has summer beach read/ road trip vibes.
I listened to the audiobook which features a multi-cast narration. Each of the readers delivered excellent performances complete with accents. I was able to get lost in the story thanks to the care they took with each of their parts. Thank you to MacMillan audio for the advanced listening of this book, the performances and presentation were all top notch.

If Something Happens To Me is a fast paced mystery that doles its clues out as deftly as it switches narrators. Our main points of view come from Ryan, a man who was accused of killing his high school girlfriend and is now in Italy on a college trip. The mystery around what has happened to her has plagued his life, but he’s about to be sent across Europe in search of answers.
We also hear from Poppy who has returned home after being discharged for slapping her superior officer. She’s starting a new career in police enforcement and her first case is gonna cut close to home.
Then there’s Shane, the crime boss from Philadelphia, hell bent on revenge.
I really enjoyed this book, especially the first half. The best part was figuring out how all these different characters were connected.
I listened to the audiobook version of this book and it has a cast of narrators, Helen Laser, John Pirhalla and

This was the first book by Alex Finlay I have read, and I am hooked! I loved all of the pieces of this story and how they played together. I was hooked from the very beginning! Very great read/listen!

Ever read that book that you totally thought you were tracking right until all of a sudden you're hit right in the face with the realization that the truth has been right in front of you for half a book but you hadn't even seen it at all?!?! Well if not, be warned, you only think you know how to read between the lines before 'If Something Happens to Me.' This twisty turny book will have you hooked from the beginning. How in the world do all the threads come together in such a way that makes so much sense once you step back and see the finished piece? If you like thrillers, mystery, family drama, etc. you MUST add this to your TBR immediately.

This was an absolute joy to listen to and I am so thankful to #netgalley and #MacMillanAudio for allowing me to listen to the #arc.

I’m thinking audiobook is not the way to go for this book. There was a lot going on- characters, multiple locations- and I had trouble keeping it all straight. A little far fetched, this one missed the mark for me. I think reading a physical copy would have been better.

This was an easy listen. I liked the multiple narrators. I lost track of characters midway through, but caught up later on. Overall a good book.
Thank you netgalley for the prerelease audiobook.

Loved this book, finished it in one setting!

POV from three main characters a female cop, a college student and a mob boss (some others sprinkled in). At first I was irritated by the multiple voices, I am not a fan of graphic audio but this makes it easier to understand the character changes. It all makes sense later.

It was a super intertwined story but not confusing. Easily question how everyone is tied together but then suddenly there is a twist and everything clicks and then the story takes off! Once you understand the twist it isn’t difficult to see who did it but it’s still an exciting journey to the end.

Exciting, fast read.

Posed to Goodreads.

Overall this was fine- kept my interest and the narrators were good. I'm not sure I will recomend it to anyone.

"If Something Happens to Me" by Alex Finlay presents a promising premise with a good amount of suspense initially. However, the experience was a little marred by an overwhelming number of characters and multiple points of view that were hard to follow, which made it difficult to connect with any of them or understand their relationships. Despite these issues, the 3 narrators delivered a solid performance that added to the overall listening experience.

Thank you #Netgalley and #MacMillanAudio for allowing me to read this early in exchange for an honest review.