3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Summary
If Something Happens To Me is intricately plotted and compulsively readable. While I guessed some of the twists, I was eager to keep reading to see where the story was headed and how the author would tie everything together. It’s set in various cities across the world, which is fun and different for a missing girl mystery. My biggest hang up with the book is that so much of the mystery's unraveling happens due to chance. After a while, favorable outcomes start piling up, distracting from the reading experience and disrupting the emotional resonance of the story. If this bothers you, I’d recommend skipping this one. Otherwise, the complex plot, compelling characters, and interesting locales make it worth picking up.

Audio
We get various POVs throughout the story, voiced by 3 different narrators. The female voices are performed by Helen Laser, who I LOVE! She does a wonderful job here bringing them to life. The two male narrators are new-to-me voices, but I’m not sure I noticed a difference between the two, except when we got one right after the other. Based on the context of the first few lines, it was always clear whose POV we were in, so I’m not sure the third narrator was strictly necessary.

Characters (3.5/5)
There are a lot of characters and it’s not clear how they’re all related at first. Some are more prominent at different parts of the story, and some don’t make it to the end. This made it harder to stay close to any one character. I do think this was necessary based on the level of complexity to the plot, but I didn’t feel much of a pull to anyone in particular.

Atmosphere/Setting (4.5/5)
These characters trot all over Europe and the US throughout the course of the story. We visit Italy, France, England, Kansas, Philly, and probably others that I’m forgetting! This globetrotting fits the story well – it’s a complex plot and the expansive setting reflects the various threads we’re trying to follow at once.

Writing (4/5)
Nothing specific to note. The dialogue is effective and the narrative is engaging. No WOW factor.

Plot (3.5/5)
- The plot is quite complex, and the reader gets all the information that individual characters get… so we know more than any single character. This is always fun, but perhaps gave too much away… I guessed most of the twists.
- I love a thriller with unreliable characters where I’m not sure who I can trust and this one delivered!

Intrigue (4/5)
I felt compelled to keep reading even though I guessed many of the twists. The plot is complex enough that I wasn’t sure how the author would eventually weave everything together.

Logic (2/5)
This is my biggest issue with this book. So much of how the answers are revealed hinges on chance. It's understandable for this to happen once or even twice in a book as complex as this one, but it’s not just once – over and over again, the characters catch a lucky break that propels the story forward. While it was satisfying from a plot perspective to keep things moving, it distracted and pulled me from the story when it kept happening. A huge part of the emotional resonance of a story like this is that it could happen to anyone, in any town, and the continual lucky breaks dispel this connection with the story.

Enjoyment (4/5)
The complexity of the plot plus the varied settings held my interest despite the plot holes and the somewhat predictable twists. I really enjoyed it!

I listened to this as an audiobook. The story had a perplexing start with various points of view, but the narrators skillfully differentiated between the characters. Halfway through, I believed I had figured it out, but the multitude of unexpected twists kept me guessing until the end.

The reading experience could have earned a 4.5-5 star rating if the conclusion had been slightly more extensive. The narrative unfolded with such intensity that it left lingering questions by the end. To prevent any plot gaps, some chapters could have been shorter or the author could have opted for a more extended book.

Overall, a good quick thriller! Be sure to give it a listen on May 28th. Special thanks to Macmillan Audio!

Alex Finlay always writes books that I enjoy and this one was no different.

The only thing I really struggle with in reading Alex Finlay books is a double edged sword because I LOVE fast paced books BUT his tend to be so fast paced that I feel like I don’t really get to know the characters all that well. So I sorta wish I could learn more about a character before other characters and twists are thrown in.

Even though I couldn’t keep the characters straight or remember all of them I was still able to enjoy reading this one. It was fun to see this story play out. You def feel very untrusting while reading it.

I opted for the audio and that was very well done. Looking forward to reading more of his work.

IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME by Alex Finlay is an intense thriller that had me on edge!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This multiple perspective story was made even more engrossing with a cast of narrators. I love cast narrations, and this cast nailed it. I am so grateful to @macmillan.audio for access to this title publishing on May 28th.

This story starts with a teen Ryan and girlfriend heading out to have an intimate moment only to be interrupted by a storm! They race back the car and as they settle in, it all goes black for Ryan. When he wakes up, he is alone in the field, his girlfriend and the car are gone.

I was gripped by this story immediately and it rarely let me relax and the events unfolded that explained this event and those following in the years after. I didn't catch on to the structure for a bit, but that made it all the better when it clicked!

I loved the ability to listen while following along on digital. A huge thanks to @minotaur_books & @netgalley for this ARC.

This is a true thriller with a deeper dive that made this story one that will be remembered. I highly recommend.

Book Review - If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay
Narrated by Helen Laser; John Pirhalla; Paul Dateh


Ryan and Ali appear to be the perfect high school sweethearts until their special night at Lovers’ Lane goes unexpectedly awry…

Ryan awakes with a throbbing headache, and Ali is nowhere to be found. As this story unfolds, the listener is taken on a whirlwind journey, getting to know each of the main characters and their intentions. The plot moves from Leavenworth, Kansas to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to various places in Europe, eventually concluding in Georgetown, Washington DC..

Throughout this book, corruption and conflict seem to be lurking at every turn! Noone can be trusted and everyone seems to be a suspect! This book follows Ryan’s quest to find out what happened to his one and only true love. Not everything is what it seems, but Ryan perseveres in a quest to find answers! This fast-paced thriller hooked me right from the start as I grew increasingly intrigued as the plot unfolded.

When Poppy returns to her hometown from the military, she is faced with the unsolved case of Ali’s disappearance. During her investigation, she uncovers a lot of evidence that relates back to her family. How will she handle this? Tension arises as Poppy stives to find the truth. My allegiances swayed throughout the story; the story is told through multiple voices, which adds to the suspense and overall quality of the story. The narrators, Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh do a beautiful job giving voice to each character as they struggle to either find or hide the truth.

There were times in which I felt like the story could have moved at a slightly faster pace, but there were several twists within the storyline that I definitely did not see coming!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Alex Finlay, and Macmillan Audio for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fast-paced mystery featuring just the sort of twist that I love!

Five years ago, Alison Lane was abducted and her boyfriend, Ryan, knocked out and left to face the suspicions of their small town. Now Ryan is on a trip to Italy with his law school friends when a face from the past appears and tells him that Alison is alive but he disappears before Ryan can find out any more.

Meanwhile back in Leavenworth, Poppy McGee is starting her first day as a deputy sheriff when Alison Lane’s car is found in the local lake by some cold-case solving podcasters and there’s two male bodies in it but no sign of Alison.

In Philadelphia, gang boss Shane O’Leary is trying to find out how his teenage son is settling into his new school, but his accountant, whose daughter goes to the same school, uncovers something that isn’t going to make his boss happy.

We switch between these three storylines at a rapid pace as the plot drives forward and the links between them, at least some of them, emerge (the one that tips up late in the novel is my favorite sort of spoiler, (view spoiler)). Short chapters with cliffhanger endings kept me listening but as everything converges, the switches between scenes become a little frenetic and the lack of credibility rises.

Poppy and Ryan are sympathetic likable protagonists though Ryan seems rather prone to making foolish choices and gets away with them because he’s 6’4”. Not having that size advantage, Poppy mostly sticks to due process though she does break protocol a couple of times.

The Philadelphia section was less successful for me, both in the novel and in the audiobook. It moves between several perspectives and feels a lot less authentic than Poppy and Ryan’s strands. I’m not sure how much research the author has done on gangs but it read a lot to me like he’d got most of his information from movies and TV and these characters, with a few exceptions, are cardboard cutout Philly bada bingers.

The three narrators of the audiobook are nicely fitted to their sections but the reader of the Ryan chapters should avoid English and Australian accents in future projects.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the audiobook review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early audiobook edition of “If Something Happens to Me” by Alex Finlay, narrated by Helen Laser, John Pirhalla, and Paul Dateh. The narrators did a good job with the various characters who were telling their stories. This book moves quickly and is fairly short.

This is a story about the disappearance of Ali. Five years ago, the day before they were going to leave for College, Ryan and Ali were enjoying one more night out. When they returned to the car, Ryan was hit in the head, rendering him unconscious and Ali was taken and has not been found in the 5 years since the incident. Ryan has never forgiven himself.

Then everything begins to change, Ali’s car is found with two dead guys in the car. The two dead guys raise questions that cannot be answered. They do not fit the narrative. A new deputy sheriff, Poppy wants to get to the bottom of what really happened 5 years ago, because none of the evidence makes sense. Meanwhile, Ryan sees his attacker in Italy, while on a college trip, and the attacker demands a meeting.

The jumps between Poppy’s story, Ryan’s Story, and a third storyline that eventually plays into the other two. The three storylines come together nicely and as I mentioned in the beginning it moves quickly. I finished the book in two days – with a full day work schedule.

There is one part that tweaks me, this will not make sense until you read the book. Why was an individual who had to pay back debts to a loan shark able to afford an extremely elite school?

I liked this story, it was a little confusing when you had to figure out what timeline you were in. There was no announcing of the date, year when you started the chapter, it would have made much more sense and been less confusing. I also felt it could have been great and shorter. The narrators did a fantastic job with the characters. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

An addictive fast-paced thriller!! I was intrigued throughout the whole book and flew through this twisty book. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, but they each add something special to the story. My first Alex Finlay, but won’t be my last.

This was my 2nd Alex Finlay thriller and it didn’t disappoint! Five years ago, teenaged Ryan’s girlfriend Ali was taken from in the car right beside him. He was questioned for her murder, even though her body was never found. Tormented to the point of changing his name. Poppy is the new Deputy Sheriff in town and Ali’s car has just been discovered in the bottom of the lake where she disappeared… with two dead bodies inside the car, and neither of them Ali. There was a cryptic note found in the car with “If Something Happens To Me” written on the outside. Poppy goes on a deep dive to determine what really happened to Ali. And you’ll never guess just how sinister things get. There’s mobsters, missing persons, crooked FBI agents, dirty cops, and multiple webs that take a lot to untangle. This thriller hands the reader a lot to keep separate so be prepared. There are a ton of different viewpoints, locations, time frames, etc. but they all come together at the end to make a compelling story. There wasn’t really an “ah-ha” moment for me, no major twist, and at the end they were still mentioning characters I still didn’t quite know who they were. The premise of the novel was good but it could have been better with fewer points of view and less side characters unnecessary to the plot. Overall, I would recommend reading this one but be prepared to be fully focused or else you can get easily lost. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Oh boy, full of action - Ryan's story definitely intrigued me - what happened to ALI and where is she? Ryan's story takes him all over the world which was fun. To think five years later, Ryan's insane past catches up with him. You get a missing girl / presumed dead, a new sheriff who's trying to figure everything out. Lots of POVS in this one which took some getting used to in the very beginning to sort out all the storylines. Overall a fast paced and addicting story. This is my second book by this author and I really enjoyed The Night Shift.

'If Something Happens to Me' by Alex Finlay is probably my favorite novel by this author. The audio narration is great. I thought the storyline was interesting and complicated. Even though I figured out quite a few things in the book, I still enjoyed it a lot.

This gripping thriller immerses you in a world of multiple perspectives, brought to life by a diverse cast of voice actors that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With every twist and turn, you'll find yourself captivated, unable to tear yourself away as you eagerly anticipate what comes next. This is a heart-pounding journey that will leave you guessing until the very end, making it a must-read for fans of mob intrigue and police procedural thrillers alike. Prepare to be swept away by the relentless suspense and intricately woven plot of this extraordinary tale.

I so wanted to like this one, but I just couldn't get into it. I gave it a good 50% before I have to give up. I know this book will do well with all the Finlay fans out there. I will give it a try at a different time.

This was a great thriller, and my first from Alex Finlay! You’ve got some mystery and suspense to start with, and then pure thrill through the end of the book. I was listening to this so raptly that I didn’t even pause to think there might be a twist coming up, and it totally surprised me. I loved there were multi POVs, and the chapters were just the right length for me. I almost think there could have been more to this book, but at the same time I’m glad the pace never slowed.
As for the narration, I really liked the narrator for Poppy’s chapters. The one who did Ryan’s was ehhh - just okay. But I really did not enjoy the narrator for Shane O’Leary’s chapters. ESPECIALLY when he voiced a woman’s character- he spoke in a super high pitched voice and I would cringe and pray for it to end. I even started going to the ebook to read those chapters because I didn’t want to listen to him. At least it was multi- cast narration so I didn’t have to listen to him too much.
4.5/5 rounded up

I loved the nonlinera timeline and I kept guessing what was actually happening through the first two parts. I figured it out by part 3, but I think that was the point. Overall engaging story!

There were several players over several years and multiple locations - while that seems like a lot - hold on. Mob bosses and their minions, men who served in Iraq together, the FBI add in Poppy and Ryan and a you have a story that will keep the pages turning and the reader waiting for it to all come together. Tied up with a bow Alex Finley has done it again The audio from MacMillan is a 10 out of 10. Amazing

A quick and thrilling read. Some of the POVs made the story hard to follow at times. I liked how everyone’s stories connected. Narration was good.

I loved If Something Happens to Me by Alex Finlay. The story and characters were riveting, and I could not put this down. I loved it front to back.

Finlay's latest is definitely a fast-paced action-packed popcorn thriller. The chapters are short and the plot moves fast, which was great. Unfortunately, a few issues made this just an OK reading experience for me. There are a lot of characters and I found it was hard to connect with any of the characters. The different POVs, timelines and locations made it feel messy. I will say, the multi-cast narration was well done. But at the end of the day, I found this book to be entirely too predictable and not one that will stick with me for very long. Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio and Alex Finlay for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.